Chapter Seventeen
A NG NAPAGKASUNDUANG truce nina Jace at Drew ay nagpatuloy hanggang sa gumabi. Sa bar sa ibaba ng hotel ay may mga slot machines at naglaro ang dalawa. Walang nanalo sa kanila.
“I can’t believe we’ve lost!” bulalas ni Drew nang makabalik sila sa mesa nila. “I should know all the techniques. My father owned this hotel!”
Isang tawa ang pinakawalan ni Jace. Pagkatapos ay lumapit ang isang waiter, he set an enormous margarita in front of her and another for Jace.
Tinitigan ni Drew ang laman ng kristal, ang pinong asin sa rim ng kristal ay contrast sa kulay-dilaw na laman niyon.
Jace raised his glass to her. “Let’s toast,” wika nito. “This is our wedding night and I hope the many nights to come will be as enjoyable as this.”
Pagkabanggit sa “wedding night” ay sandaling natilihan si Drew. Sa nakalipas na sandali ay nakalimutan niya ang bagay na ikinasal sila kaninang hapon lang... that she was now married to him. At bagaman kakaiba ang pagpapakasal nila ay hindi pa rin nito maitatatwang mag-asawa na sila. At hindi niya alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod na mga araw.
Gayunman ay itinaas niya ang kristal. As their glasses touched, she met his eyes. Ipinahihiwatig ng mga mata nito na alam nito ang iniisip niya. She wanted to look away. He made her feel un easy. Isang bagay na hindi niya kailanman nararamdaman sa kahit na kaninong lalaki. But she couldn’t look away.
“To the most beautiful wife a husband could ever have,” Jace said huskily.
“Thank you,” halos pabulong niyang sagot sa papuri nito. Then she took a sip of her margarita, tasting the salty-sweet tang of it, ang mga mata niya ay nanatiling nakatutok kay Jace. And somehow, being married to him didn’t look so bad.
Then there was music in the air, she couldn’t place it but it was jazzy. Itinuon niya ang pansin sa alak niya at muli iyong dinala sa bibig.
“Come and dance with me,” anyaya ni Jace na tumayo.
Nag-angat siya ng paningin. Nakatayo ito sa harap niya, smiling faintly as he looked down at her. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makitang hawak pa rin nito ang baso ng alak. “H-hindi mo ba ibababa iyan?” He shook his head and grinned. “It’s only driving and drinking that is illegal, but not drinking and dancing. It’s fun.” Hinila siya nito nang patayo at inakay patungo sa walang lamang dance floor. “Besides, who’s going to stop us? My wife owns this hotel.” Hindi niya matiyak kung may sarcasm sa tinig nito. Subalit nang mga sandaling iyon ay hindi iyon mahalaga sa kanya. Dinala siya nito sa gitna ng dance floor na may dalawang parehang nagsasayaw din.
The slow, sultry rhythm of the music captured her. Jace was a good dancer. She matched his step for step, every sway of the hips, every turn of the body.
Ang isang kamay nito ay nasa baywang niya kung saan hawak nito ang wine glass. Then he raised the glass to his mouth and sipped from it. Pagkatapos ay inialok sa kanya.
She giggled but drank almost half of the wine, then she tipped her head back ecstatically. “This is silly.”
“Who cares? Life’s a serious business most of the time. Let’s enjoy it to the fullest.”
Hinawakan ni Jace ang kamay niya, then gently sent her spinning away, at pagkuwan ay banayad ding hinila pabalik sa mga bisig nito, at ang mga labi nito ay dumikit sa noo niya.
Kung ang init na naglandas sa katawan niya ay sanhi ng alak ay hindi niya alam. Then he made her spin round again, and she laughed. Buong buhay niya ay wala siyang natatandaang nag-enjoy siya nang husto sa company ng isang lalaki tulad ngayon.
She sighed when the music changed and slowed. Iniisip niyang babalik na sila sa upuan nila. Subalit hindi siya hinila ni Jace paalis sa dance floor. Sa halip ay hinapit siya nito, held her close and she didn’t object.
It felt wonderful to rest her cheek on the soft cotton of his shirt, lalo at nararamdaman na niya ang hilo mula sa nainom. She could feel the beat of his heart just under her ear, and that felt wonderful too.
The music was a soft, romantic ballad that talked of love forever lost. Ang kamay ni Jace ay banayad niyang nararamdaman sa likod niya. And she was aware of the slow shiver working its way up her spine. Bahagya nang gumalaw ang mga paa ni Jace, keeping up a pretense of dancing.
She raised her face and met his eyes. Then the room, the day, ang mga tao sa paligid, lahat ay naglaho, lost in the darkness of his eyes.
Nang ibaba ni Jace ang ulo patungo sa kanya ay may pakiramdam siyang biglang nag-iba ang paghinga niya. Humigpit ang hawak ng mga kamay niya sa mga balikat nito, her lips parting in soft anticipation.
His kiss was perfect. Her arms slid upward to circle his neck as her mouth softened beneath the pressure of his.
Nalalasahan niya ang alak mula sa bibig nito. His mouth was warm and firm, coaxing, hungry, demanding, promising. Sa pakiramdam ni Drew ay umiikot ang lahat sa kanya. The ground seemed to rock under her feet, pero paanong hindi iyon napapansin ng mga nakapaligid?
They had danced some more... drank some. Kung bumilis man ang musika ay hindi na niya alam. She was floating on a sea of pleasure; she was only aware of the strong and warm arms that held her; of other stolen kisses that had followed that first devastating assault on her senses.
SHE WAS laughing when Jace opened their hotel suite and guided her inside. Inihagis niya sa carpet ang evening bag niya at ibinagsak ang sarili sa kama.
Her lids were heavy and yet she had never felt quite so content. Nagmulat siya ng mga mata at sa paanan niya ay naroon si Jace at nakatayo, watching her intently. His eyes dark with blazing passion.
She should be scared, but the wine made her smile and joke. “Have I grown two heads?”
“If you had, I doubt if it would mar your beauty,” he said huskily.
She laughed. “I’ve heard that many times, Jace.” Then her laughter vanished, she looked at him solemnly. “Sometimes I wonder if my beauty is a curse or a blessing.”
“Why do you say that? Women would kill just to have your face...”
Isang malakas na tawa ang pinakawalan niya, almost in a hysterical way. She must really be drunk. “I’m rich... I’m beautiful... gusto ako ng mga lalaki dahil sa dalawang katangiang iyon.”
“I want you not only for those reasons, Drew.” His voice had turned a note huskier, he squatted on the floor and took her high heels off.
Bumangon sa pagkakahiga si Drew at itinukod ang dalawang siko sa kama. “Of course, you want me. I can see it in your eyes,” aniya, sinabayan niya iyon ng tawa, seductive and sensual. She must really be drunk or she wouldn’t be flirting with him this way. Kaiba si Jace sa mga lalaking pinaglalaruan niya. Dito ay nararamdaman niyang tila siya batang musmos at walang alam sa mundo.
Pagkuwan ay tinitigan niya ito. She noticed the scar on his left forehead. Tuluyan siyang nag-angat ng katawan at inilapit ang sarili rito. Itinaas niya ang kamay at banayad iyong dinama nang wala sa loob. Ang nasa isip niya ay itanong dito kung ano ang sanhi ng pilat na iyon. Subalit iba ang inilabas ng bibig niya.
“I want to know your reasons for wanting me, Jace.”
He met her gaze. Inabot ang kamay niya at ikinulong iyon sa mga palad nito. May ilang segundo ang pinalipas bago nagsalita na tila ba hinahanap sa isip ang sagot. Then he took a long and deep breath.
“I... I couldn’t find one reason that is more important than the rest...”
“Why, that—that’s sweet, Jace.” She gave him a soft, lopsided smile.
Jace drew in his breath, yumuko at hinagkan ang mga daliri niya. She moaned in pure pleasure. He raised himself from the floor and joined her in the bed. Lumundo ang bahaging inupuan nito.
Drew felt the weight of his hand on her nape. Pumaloob ang mga daliri nito sa buhok niya, then he bent his head, his lips gently touching her hair, then her forehead, brushing the soft concealing tendrils aside.
Nagpaulan si Jace ng mumunti at nag-aapoy na halik sa mukha niya, at sa leeg niya, while his hands moved to her back with bewildering swiftness, unzipping her dress partially. She felt the shiver of silk on her skin as he pushed her clothes down to her waist. The zip of her dress rasped downwards, as she clung to him as he guided her out of her dress.
Kung paanong pagkatapos niyon ay nakapag-alis ng sariling kasuotan si Jace ay hindi niya alam. He pulled her against him, at nagsindi ang apoy sa katawan ni Drew, as the tips of her lace-covered breasts grazed against the wall of his chest. She was pressed against him, feeling the irregularity of his heartbeat.
He rained kisses on her eyelids, her cheekbones, caressing the tip of her nose, her chin, but not her lips. And it was killing her. She wanted him to kiss her more than she needed air to breathe.
“Kiss me.” Si Jace ba ang may sabi niyon? Or was it her own potent longing she heard?
His tongue stroked her lips, parting them. Then his mouth was on hers, banayad muna sa simula, pagkatapos ay lumalim, nagsisindi ng kakatwang kirot ng pangangailangan sa buong pagkatao niya ng isang apoy. And she drank thirstily from that fire.
“Oh, g od, Drew,” he said hoarsely. “My sweet...”
Pumulupot ang kamay nito sa buhok niya, banayad iyong hinila pababa, tipping back her head, and he kissed her mouth again with a passion that needed fulfillment. Drew’s head was spining, the race of her blood sounding like thunder in her ears.
Pumakabila sa likod niya ang kamay ni Jace upang tanggalin ang hook ng bra niya. He drew the straps down her arms, freeing her breasts from the concealing lace. Then his fingers teased her nipples into an agony of pleasure.
Wanting more, his head went down and kissed her breasts, circling the hot peaks with his tongue. His hands stroked her body, habang unti-unti nitong ibinababa ang lacy panties niya.
May bahagi ng isip niyang sumasalungat sa nangyayari subalit isiniksik niya iyon sa kailaliman. She wanted him now as she had never wanted any man in her life.
“I know you’re drunk, Drew,” Jace murmured in her mouth. “But that won’t stop me from needing you... from wanting you tonight... from making you mine. You are my wife, I have all the right...”
Bahagya na niyang naririnig ang sinasabi nito. Ang buong kaisipan niya ay nasa mga kamay nito na naglalakbay sa katawan niya. His hand parting her thighs. His fingers gentle as he caressed her, then suddenly not gentle at all.
Muli siya nitong hinagkan, mariin. And as he entered her, she cried out.