Chapter Seventeen
“I T’S BEAUTIFUL, Renz!” she exclaimed softly nang ipakita sa kanya ni Renz mula sa ibaba ang talampas at ang waterfalls na bumabagsak sa tila lawa sa ibaba at tumutuloy sa dagat. Sa paligid ng mga bato ay wild flowers in varieties of color.
Ang dagat ay napakalinaw na kahit sa baybayin ay ni hindi makuhang lumabo sa paghampas ng mga alon sa buhanginan. Nakatayo siya sa baybayin. At kahit sa ganoon kababaw ay may pagkaliliit na isda siyang nakikita na umiikot sa mga binti niyang nakalubog sa tubig.
She shrieked and went out of the water. Sinalubong siya ni Renz na nanggaling sa batuhan. Nakasuot ito ng puting cotton shorts at puting kamiseta. On his hand was a purplish pink wild flower.
Isiniksik nito iyon sa likod ng tainga niya. “Alta Tierra’s beauty paled in comparison to you, Shannon.” His eyes surveyed her face with unconcealed admiration.
Sinikap niyang pigilin ang pagngiti. “Hindi ko maiugnay sa iyo ang poetry, Renz, because I don’t think you need that,” aniya. “You attract women like fish to a bait.”
He gave a boyish grin. “No women had been honest enough to give me that kind of compliment. Until now.”
Umangat ang mga kilay niya. “Don’t pull my leg, Navarro. I’ve been reading articles about you, your association with wom—” Biglang nagpreno ang dila niya. Her eyes wide with embarrassment.
The grin gave way to chuckle. “I’m flattered.”
She shook her head defensively. “Hindi iyon sinasadya. It happened when I saw your photo with Steffanie when the scandal—” She stopped in midsentence, inabot ni Renz ang ugpungan ng sarong niya at banayad siyang hinila palapit dito. Upang hindi iyon matastas, napilitan siyang sumunod hanggang sa ilang pulgada na lang ang pagitan nilang dalawa.
“Huwag mong bawiin ang sinabi mo,” he said huskily. “There’s something between us, Shannon. I don’t know what it is but I know it is too powerful to ignore. At inaamin ko ang damdamin ko sa iyo. I want you.”
Hindi makaapuhap ng salita si Shannon. Kinakalas nito ang buhol ng sarong niya at hindi niya malaman kung paano iipunin iyon pabalik. Maybe she didn’t try harder, dahil ang sunod niyang nalaman ay bumagsak iyon sa paanan niya, sa buhanginan, leaving only her briefs.
The blue eyes feasted her body for a long while before his hand moved to her breast. He touched his knuckles to her nipple ever so lightly it felt like a gush of wind against her skin.
Kung tinitigan lang nito ang dibdib niya, he would have gotten the same reaction. Her nipples responded to the merest breath of stimulation.
She gave soft gasping sound as something like warm liquid flowed down in between her thighs. Then Renz molded her against him as he claimed her lips. He slid his tongue into her mouth like a sword into its sheath. Ang kamay nito ay ipinagpatuloy ang pagdama sa dibdib niya, stroking and teasing them.
Hinila siyang pababa ni Renz sa buhanginan habang hinahagkan. Para siyang alipin sa kanyang panginoon. Nararamdaman niya ang magaspang na buhangin sa bahagi ng likod niya na hindi nasasapnan ng sarong. But it didn’t matter. She was dizzy with desire. She pressed against him eagerly. Ang mga kamay niya ay nakapulupot sa buhok nito habang tumutugon siya ng halik.
Waves swished along the shore. Binabasa niyon ang mga binti niya. Subalit hindi iyon nararamdaman ni Shannon. Passion as sudden and intense as a tropical storm swept her. Her mind drugged with the scent of Renz’s hair and sunkissed skin. Ang sariling tibok ng puso niya’y bumibingi sa kanya. She knew nothing of her surrounding and cared less.
Pagan desire swelling with every touch of Renz’s devastating fingers, with every nip of his teeth, with every burning pressure of his lips against hers.
“Shannon...”
“Don’t stop,” awat niya rito nang maramdaman niyang humiwalay ang katawan nito mula sa kanya.
“I can’t, Shannon ,” wika nito, his voice thick with passion. “Hindi ko magagawang angkinin ka ngayon... dito…”
Her eyes snapped open. The blue eyes were hazy as he gazed down at her. “I’ve got more finesse than that...”
“No...” Tumaas ang kamay niya sa bibig niya upang pigilin ang pag-ungol sa matinding kahihiyan. She was mortified. Muli ay pinatunayan na naman niya kung gaano siya kababa sa paningin ng lalaking ito. She was a fool to believe the poetic compliment he paid for her.
Hinagilap ng mga kamay niya ang sarong niyang basang-basa na mula sa tubig at mabilis na itinapis sa kung paano na lang. Tumayo siya. When Renz reached for her, she struggled wildly.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me ever again!”
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. “Shan—”
“Don’t say a word, Navarro!” Nag-akma siyang tumalikod pabalik sa pinanggalingan nila. Subalit nasa braso niya ang kamay ni Renz.
“Shannon, listen to me...”
She savagely turned to him. “If you say another word, I swear I’ll scream...” Nag-aapoy ang mga mata niya sa matinding galit. “And don’t follow me, makababalik akong mag-isa sa villa!”
Tumaas-baba ang dibdib ni Renz at sinundan siya ng tanaw palayo. Half-running, tinungo nito ang dagat at doon ibinuhos ang anumang damdamin sa pamamagitan ng marahas na paglangoy at pagsisid.
“KUMAIN ka nang kumain,” ani Yaya Adora at inilapag sa harap niya ang ikatlong putahe. “Hindi ko naiintindihan kayong mga kabataan. Si Naya ay lagi na lang sinusukat ang baywang. At kapag nadagdagan nang bahagya, nagpa-panic at kung maaari ay ayaw nang kumain.”
Napangiti siya. “Ang uri ho ng trabaho ko’y nangangailangang manatili akong slim, Yaya.” Nilagyan niya ng isang serving ng ulam ang pinggan niya at sumubo.
Naupo sa tapat niya si Yaya Adora at pinakatitigan siya. “Alam mo bang ikaw ang kauna-unahang babaeng dinala ni Renz sa parola?”
Parola. She missed the place. Kahapon ng hapon pagdating nila sa isla ay inaasahan niyang sa parola sila tutuloy. Subalit sa villa siya dinala ni Renz.
Villa Navarro was more of an old castle than a villa. Sa itaas ng chopper, para itong kastilyo na nakatayo sa isang talampas. Tulad sa isang hari na nakatanaw sa kanyang nasasakupan. And she could get lost in one of its many hallways and passages.
Nag-angat siya ng paningin sa matandang babae. Nang ipakilala siya ni Renz dito kahapon ay kinakabahan siyang isa na naman ito sa mga taong namumuhi sa kanya. But she was wrong, though strict, Yaya Adora was warm and welcomed her with honest smile. Her husband was an American. She’d recently been a widow and worked in a hospital in Texas when Doña Beatriz Navarro offered her a private job.
Tinanggap nito iyon at mula noon ay naging bahagi na ito ng pamilya Navarro sa loob ng dalawampu’t apat na taon and had been Nayumi’s private nurse.
“Kahit ho ba si... Vanessa ay hindi nakarating sa parola?”
Bahagyang umasim ang mukha nito pagkabanggit sa pangalan ng ex-girlfriend ni Renz. Kagabi ay sinabi mismo ni Renz dito ang sirkumstansiya ng unang pagdala nito kay Shannon sa isla. Nakita niya ang panghihinayang sa mukha nito.
She admitted she was Vanessa’s fan. At hindi nito pinalalampas ang show nito araw-araw. Humahanga ito sa mga pagkakawanggawa nito sa mga kabataan, lalo na sa mga street children. And that Vanessa’s affection and interest seemed real.
“Kahit si Vanessa,” sagot nito makaraan ng ilang saglit. “Pero dalawang beses na siyang nakarating dito sa villa at nananatili sa loob ng dalawang araw. Hindi miminsang pinilit niya si Renz, using both feminine wiles and her profession, na dalhin siya sa parola. But Renz refused firmly.”
“Walang choice si Renz, Yaya. May mga tao dito sa villa. Mahihirapan siyang ipaliwanag kung bakit may buhat-buhat siyang walang-malay na babae na ang suot ay T-shirt niya.”
It was the old woman’s turn to smile. “Ang mga Navarro ay bahagya nang nagpapaliwanag ng mga bagay na ginagawa nila, Shannon. Unless they deemed it necessary.”
“Hindi niya gustong pag-uusapan siya ng mga tauhan sa rancho.”
“He couldn’t care less.”
“Yaya...” umiiling niyang sabi, “gusto ninyong lagyan ng malaking kahulugan ang pagdadala sa akin ni Renz sa parola.”
Nagkibit ng mga balikat ang matandang babae. “Hindi aktwal na nakikipag-away ang mga lalaking Navarro sa mga babae, Shannon. And Renz had never been so cross with a woman that he almost killed his favorite stallion.”
Sandali siyang hindi kumibo. Katatapos lang niyang mag-shower at pababa sa hagdanan para sa tanghalian nang harangin siya ni Renz sa may bungad ng hagdan pababa. Tulad niya, nakapag-shower na rin at nakabihis na ito.
“Huwag kang humarang sa hagdan, Renz,” she said coldly, binawi ang braso niyang hawak nito.
“Will you listen, damn you...” He was speaking furiously. “The reason why I stopped and couldn’t go through with it because—”
“Bakit ka sumisigaw, Lawrence?” nakatingalang sita ni Yaya Adora na lumabas sa sala nang marinig ang malakas nitong tinig.
Tumingala ito sa kisame, gritted his teeth then uttered an oath to himself. Pagkatapos ay bumaba ng hagdan at lumabas ng kabahayan. If it were possible for the whole villa to shake and crumble as he rammed the door closed, natabunan na ng rubbles at debris sina Shannon at Yaya Adora.
Sinundan ni Yaya Adora sa labas si Renz. Tangkang tawagin ito subalit nakasakay na ito sa kabayo. At nakita nito nang hagupitin iyon patakbo. Isang bagay na hindi nito ginagawa, whipping a horse.
She sighed. Kaninang tanghalian iyon. Hindi pa bumabalik si Renz at gabi na. “Well, not this particular woman, Yaya,” aniya rito. Her voice bitter. “He hates me. We’d been at each other’s neck since the first time we met.”
The old woman’s knowing smile was dry. Tumayo at niligpit ang pinggan niyang wala nang laman. “Huwag mo nang hintayin si Renz. Matulog ka na. Nasa rancho iyon dahil sa nakalipas na dalawang araw ay tatlong baka na ang namamatay. Kaninang nasa dagat kayo ay dumating ang kaibigan niyang beterinaryo mula sa Batangas. Natitiyak kong magkasama ang dalawa sa bahay-rancho.”
SHE HAD been asleep for hours. Napabangon siya nang marinig na may nagbukas ng pinto ng silid niya. Kinapa niya ang bukasan ng ilaw sa lampshade sa ibabaw ng night table at binuhay iyon.
Sa malamlam at pulang ilaw ay nakita niyang nakatayo si Renz sa pintuan. His hand still on the door handle. And he was still in his working clothes.
“W-what time is it?” Her sleepy voice came out as a whisper.
“Almost eleven...” he whispered back.
“Ngayon ka lang dumating?”
“Hinintay ko pa ang speedboat na maghahatid kay Edgar...” He paused, “ang vet, sa Batangas. Hindi siya makapagpalipas ng gabi dito dahil graduation ng anak niya bukas ng umaga. He had to be there early but he will be back after lunch tomorrow. The speedboat will pick him up,” he explained.
“Bakit kailangang sa Batangas manggaling ang beterinaryo?” Ang tanong ay para lamang may masabi siya dahil humakbang ito papasok. Nagsimulang bumangon ang kaba sa dibdib niya.
“Taga-Sto. Cristo ang pamilya niya. Ang ama niya ang dating beterinaryo sa rancho hanggang sa mamatay ito. Edgar married someone from Lemery a year ago.” Isinara nito ang pinto. “And let’s drop the veterinarian subject, Shannon.”
Shannon’s heart started to beat harshly against her chest as the door clicked softly. “W-what do you want? It’s late...”
“I’m dying, Shannon.” Naupo ito sa gilid ng kama niya.
“W-what?” Nagtangka siyang bumangon subalit pinigilan ni Renz ang magkabilang balikat niya at inihiga siyang muli.
“From wanting you... from wanting to be inside you.” Ang kamay nito ay ginagap ang laylayan ng oversized T-shirt niya.
“R-Renz... what are you doing?”
“I want you so much, Shan, I’d die if you say no.” His voice was husky. Itinaas nito ang T-shirt niya sa ulo niya at hinubad iyon, bale-wala ang tangka niyang pagpigil dito. Her panties followed next.
Hinagilap niya ang bedsheet upang takpan ang katawan.
“Your modesty fascinated and intrigued me, sweetheart,” he whispered. He placed his mouth against her ear biting her lobe gently.
May gumapang na masarap na kilabot sa katawan niya sa init na nagmumula sa hininga nito.
“Y-you couldn’t want someone like me, Renz. I’m a tramp... a vamp—”
Tinakpan ng bibig nito ang anumang sasabihin niya, sucking her lips hungrily. His tongue made love to her mouth. Darting in and out, exploring the sweet crevices of her mouth.
Shannon gave a gasping breath.
“The reason why I stopped this morning,” he murmured as he kissed the corner of her lips. She tried to open her mouth to cut off his explanations but he caught her lips, biting them gently.
“I stopped because I couldn’t afford to make love to you in the sand. It would be uncomfortable for both of us and time would be short. I want to spend the whole night... or day making love to you until we are both senseless.” His hand cupped one breast and fondled it with his fingers.
Shannon moaned. His explanation was immaterial. Nakahanda siyang ipagkaloob ang sarili rito sa sandaling iyon. “You... smell of hays... of cows and of horses...” she said incoherently.
A low chuckle vibrated in his throat. “Does it matter?”
It was her hands who answered the question. They madly searched for his shirt buttons. Nagmamadaling tinanggal iyon nang isa-isa.
“Tell me you want me, Shannon, tell me,” he commanded, tinulungan siya nitong tanggalin ang sariling damit. Isinunod nito ang pantalong maong na inihagis sa sahig.
“I want you, Renz.” Right or wrong. I won’t even
try to understand. She might get out of this hurt
and bruised. But let the devil take tomorrow. She
wanted him tonight.
“Oh, Shannon, darling.” Dumapo sa mga balikat niya ang bibig nito, giving her soft flesh love bites. “My mind was filled with you the whole afternoon. I’ve been wanting to do this since that night in my yacht...”
I love you, Renz. Her mind screamed the words. Her hand pulled his hair, she arched her body, to give him access to her breasts. He acquiesced, his mouth moved to her naked breasts, took turns in kissing and stroking her pink nipples with his tongue. While his hand moved down to the mound of her femininity.
Shannon shivered with uncontrollable passion. “Love me, Renz, please... now,” she begged wantonly, pressing her thighs against the hardness of his desire.
Blue eyes were smoldering with passion as he poised himself between her thighs, he thrust not-so-gently. But the promised of haven had barrier that he pushed twice as hard the second time.
The pain was unbearable that she couldn’t contain her cries.
Huli na nang marehistro sa isip ni Renz ang dahilan ng barrier. Full and hard, he drove inside her.
MATAGAL nang tulog si Shannon at nakasiksik sa dibdib niya. Nararamdaman na niya ang matinding pangangawit ng braso. Subalit wala siyang balak alisin ang ulo nito sa pagkakaunan sa braso niya kahit hindi na niya maigalaw iyon kailanman.
Kanina pa siya nakatitig sa kisame. Hinahanap doon ang kasagutan sa maraming katanungang gumugulo sa isip niya.
Shannon The Temptress. Her innocent eyes were at odds with her sensual mouth...
Yes, innocent because she’s a virgin. No. Was a virgin. He took good care of it.
He wanted to shake her for some answers. To hurl at her for deceiving him... for making him believe she was the worst tramp who walked on earth.
No. She didn’t deceive him. Hindi siya pinaniwala nito ng kung ano-ano tungkol sa sarili nito. He assumed. He assumed the worst of her like the rest of the world. Kahit ang relasyon nito kay Basil ay itinanggi ni Shannon. Basil was her friend—iyon ang pinakadiin-diinang sabi nito.
He wanted to wake her up for explanations. But she could barely speak to him the second time he made love to her. His promise of loving her the whole night until they went flat on their stomach never happened.
Kahit ang pangalawa ay hindi niya sana gustong gawin, she would be bruised as hell. But he didn’t want her to sleep with pain as the last thing on her mind. He had to make it up for her. She deserved that much.
Gently... he loved her. The foreplay had been longer this time. He taught her many things in the art of love. Shannon was a willing pupil and a fast learner, being so passionate herself. He wanted to satisfy her in every which way possible... hindi dahil obligasyon niya iyon, tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa sa mga nakatalik niya.
But because he wanted to give her the satisfaction and happiness she brought him. Kaligayahang hindi niya alam kung saan nanggaling. Though he was sure what he felt came from within.
At sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa buhay niya, when they both reached their climax, the feeling of satisfaction was overwhelming.
It wasn’t just the thought of sexual fulfillment. May iba pang hindi niya kayang tukuyin.
Shannon moaned. Lumuwag ang pagkakayakap sa kanya na tila ba gustong kumawala at umiba ng puwesto. Suddenly, he was alert. Ang isang kamay niyang nakapatong sa noo niya ay bumaba sa katawan nito, pulling her closer possessively.
“Hmmm.” Her lips touched his chest, giving a soft kiss in her sleep.
“Sleep tight, my darling,” he whispered as mixed emotions filled his chest.