Chapter 1: Fever Dream

She’s naked. Bare. Her breasts bounce slightly with every shift of her hips.

“Ohh... Rainne…” a soft moan escapes her lips.

Her nipples graze his chest—hard, needy.

“Fuck,” he hisses, his voice deep and ruined.

Mariing idiniin ng babae ang kaniyang dibdib kay Rainne. Kumikiskis—nang-aakit. As if her breasts were made for his mouth.

High pa rin siya sa gamot, ramdam pa rin niya ang sakit ng suntok ng walang-hiya niyang ama— habang hindi maipagkakaila ang init. Ang maingay na tunog at ungol habang gumagalaw ang balakang nito para sa kanya.

Tangina. Totoo ba ‘to?

Then she leans in, humahagod ang mainit na dila niya sa leeg niya. The friction is brutal—perfect.

Malagkit ang titig nito na parang sinasamba ang buong pagkatao ni Rainne.

She grinds down harder, her slickness coating him, sliding over the bulge. “Feel that?” she whispers, licking the shell of his ear. “You’re so hard, Rainne…”

“Shit,” he groans. “Come here…”

But she grabs his wrists, pinning them above his head. “No touching, baby…”

Ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagdiin ng babae sa pagkalalaki niya.

Malambot—it feels like a goddamn reward sa lahat ng sama ng loob na mayroon ang lalaki.

Then she leans forward, letting her breasts fall against his face—suffocating him with softness, heat, scent. His tongue darts out, desperate to taste—

But she pulls back, laughing softly. Devilish.

“Ano, bitin?” Her fingers trail between her thighs, coating herself again.

“Fuck…” he groans, chest heaving.

His mouth tempts to take one of her nipples—sip it, suck until she arches and cries his name.

“Hindi ka pa handa sa susunod, Rainne…” she whispers darkly. Parang may ibig sabihin.

She dips her fingers lower, deeper, and lets him watch. Then lifts them to his lips.

“Taste me,” she whispers.

He wants to suck. To taste. To feel her wetness slide over him—

“Sir.”

His eyes snap open.

In its place—white sheets. A ceiling fan. A dull ache in his ribs.

And her.

Ari Valencia.

Rainne blinked. His throat was dry. His chest, damp with sweat. But the heat between his legs—real. Obvious.

Putang ina.

He tried to sit up, only to wince at the sharp jolt in his ribs.

“Careful,” came a cool voice from his left.

He turned—and saw her. His nurse. Fully clothed. Professionally cold.

In tight scrubs. Hair in a bun. Skin golden and glowing under the soft island light.

Untouchably distant.

Exactly the opposite of the woman riding him moments ago in his dream.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to see you twitching and moaning like a pornstar. Sumasayaw ka sa kama, Mr. Marquez,” she said, deadpan. “High ka pa sa gamot. Side effect.”

Side effect, my ass.

Rainne forced a smirk, masking the throbbing between his legs. “You sure you didn’t sneak into my dream, Nurse Valencia?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you always this inappropriate, or do I just bring out the worst in you?”

“Maybe the best,” he muttered.

Her fingers brushed his chest—skin on skin—para i-adjust ang monitor cable sa dibdib niya.

“You crashed a sports car into a concrete barrier doing 160. You’re lucky you still have legs.”

That explains the cast around his thighs.

Shit. Another touch on his chest. She could feel how warm he was. How his abs clenched under her touch.

“You always touch your patients like this?” he teased, eyes dropping to her curves.

“Shut up.”

Her hand slipped lower. Too low. Just above his waistband. Hindi niya sinasadya. She jerked back—but not before feeling it.

Hard. Hot. Ready.

Rainne groaned. “Keep going, Nurse. I’m sure it’s part of the treatment.”

Gago.

His groans under her touch made her chest tighten.

“Relax, Nurse. You’re not the only one turned on.”

Just as she was about to react, her phone buzzed.

A beat.

She turned to glance at it. Dr. Esguerra – Dad’s Oncologist.

The air shifted.

Rainne tilted his head. “Bad news?”

She didn’t answer. She turned away—quick.

He watched her quietly. Slim waist. Hips that swayed even when she walked stiff. Full lips she kept pressed tight.

She moved toward his IV drip, but he saw it—that subtle shake in her hands.

“Ari.” His voice softened, just a little.

She didn’t turn. Just adjusted the IV drip without looking at him. “Focus on your recovery, Mr. Marquez.”

As she checked his vitals, her fingers brushed his skin again—too lightly to be innocent.

Rainne looked up, eyes half-lidded, voice low. “Tingin ko kailangan ko pa ng isa pang dose, Nurse.”

Ari arched a brow. “Ng alin?”

“Ikaw.”

Ari’s lips parted—caught off guard.

“Next time you show up in my dreams… I won’t let you leave until you’re shaking.”

Their eyes met.

Not just a glance—but something deeper.

There was something about it.

A flicker of something crossed her face. Not surprise. Not anger.

Something else. Something that made Rainne’s pulse spike again.

Her eyes.

A silent war is happening inside her. She was affected.

Why?

“Keep dreaming, Mr. Marquez…” It took her a second to realize what she just said. Too late—hindi ‘yon ang ibig niyang sabihin.

“I will,” he said softly.

Just as she was about to leave—

“Rainne, stay with me. Don’t close your eyes. Help is coming.”

A sudden flash of memory hit him.

It hit him like a whisper from a storm.

City lights. Thunder. Her eyes—

“You…”

She paused, glancing back.

“You saved me.”

But she looked away.

“Get some rest Mr. Marquez, you'll undergo therapy in no time.”

And just like that, the moment was gone. But no matter how cold she acted…

He wasn’t imagining the fire in her touch.