Rye held Gillian in his arms. He let her cry on his shoulder. All movements ceased. Only their breathing shook their bodies gently."Did I hurt you?" he murmured thickly."N-no, you didn't..." Gillian raised her head to look at him. They gazed at each other. "I'm sorry. You must think of me as a cry-baby.""You are brave and strong. I admire you, Gillian. You are untouched by the venom of the underworld." His hand cupped her cheek. His thumb crushed the teardrop which was about to flow down.The gesture was tender but she did not want to talk about her past.Gillian twirled her tongue on his flat nipple. "Gillian!" he groaned his surprise.She was kneeling over him. "I don't want to waste our time together, Rye.""You recover fast!" He observed while his hands cupped her breasts."I want you, Rye!" Her palms worshipped his wide chest and muscular shoulders. "I don't deserve you but I will take this night for us!" she declared throatily."Oh, Gillian!" he moaned aloud when she kissed t

Gillian knocked on the door of her parents' house.The structure was made of six container vans. Four vans were attached to each other. Two vans were the living area and the other two were the office and bedroom of Jamil and Genova. The makeshift house was painted with colors: pink and sky blue.There were two small container vans on each side, painted simply in white. One was occupied by Tita Chedeng or Nurse Sanchez and the other by Ginny. The nurse left Rye's employ to be a companion to Genova.Presently, Ginny was staying-in at the hospital with Gillian. They were both working as physical therapists. Ginny was just an internist. She enrolled at the nearby university."Come in, Li-an!" Her mother and the nurse were in the garden at the back of the structures."Hello, Mother! Hello, Tita Chedeng!" Gillian greeted cheerfully. "I brought grapes and oranges." She raised the bag of fruits."You need them more." Genova kissed her cheek. "How's the baby?""My monthly check-up and ultrasoun

Rye held and comforted Gillian until the sobs became occasional hiccups. She was slouched on his lap. Her face was on his neck. She could smell the masculine perfume that he wore. Desire rippled like winding river down her spine.Gillian wiped out her tears with a hand."I'm sorry I cried on your shirt again." She used the handkerchief Rye had wordlessly given her. She blew her nose.

Gillian slept through the night. It was a dreamless sleep. She woke up refreshed the next morning.Rye was sitting at the nearby chair. He was reading the newspaper."Good morning," she croaked chirpily."Hi! Good morning!" He quickly folded the paper and stood up. "Did you sleep well?" he queried with a gentle smile."Yes. How about you?" She smiled back while struggling to get up. She seemed smothered with the sheet. She was wearing pajamas and a nightshirt. Both colored white.Rye helped her. "I'm sorry. Were you uncomfortable? I had to cover you."Her wide eyes questioned him."I slept here with you and I want to... lessen the temptation." His neck and ears reddened with embarrassment but his eyes scorched her with a burning desire.Gillian blushed when she understood. She looked anywhere away from him. "I--I want to go to the bathroom..."She closed the door and leaned on it. She was serious when she told him that she did not want to have sex anymore. Her first reason: she was pre

The large house sat on a hill with an overlooking view of the restless sea. Its private beach was empty. The waves formed foam against the rocky formation on the dark sands. The sun just started to set, rendering the skies with purple, orange, and red hues.Rye put down the binoculars."What's the plan?" Jim asked while he watched appreciatively the magnificent Pacific Ocean.