PIGIL niya ang kanyang hininga at malakas ang kabog ng dibdib habang unti-unting binubuksan ni Brad ang pyramid. At parehong nalaglag ang kanilang mga panga ng makita kung ano ang laman niyon. Napatingin siya sa mukha ni Brad and saw admiration in his eyes habang nakatingin sa kuwintas na laman ng pyramid.
“This is beautiful Alexandra.” Hinawakan nito ang kuwintas and scrutinized it under his eyes. He looked at her. “Bagay ito sa iyo.” And his stare dropped at her neck.
Napalunok siya. She could not believe it but the necklace was so exquisite and beautiful. It was a choker. Two inches ang lapad ng gintong maliliit na chain ang disenyo. At pinapalamutian iyon ng ibat-ibang malalaki at mamahaling bato. At ang pinakatampok na bato na nagsisilbing pinakapalawit ng kuwintas ay isang malaking Diamante. The Diamond was an inch in diameter. At Kumikinang ito kapag tinatamaan ng liwanag.
Hindi biro ang halaga ng kuwintas. Milyon-milyon iyon.
“To the woman I love…”
She blinked thrice. Mula sa pagkakatitig sa kuwintas ay lumipad sa mukha ni Brad ang paningin niya. Bigla ang pagkabog ng kanyang dibdib sa tiim ng titig ng binata. At ano ang sinabi nito?
“To the woman I love…” His voice was thick with laden emotion.
Alex suddenly found it difficult to breath as the heavy pounding of her heart intensified. His deep gaze bored to hers like a digging knife. Ngunit kaagad na kinalma niya ang nagririgodong damdamin.
“Hey!” Pinunit niya ang magic na bumabalot sa kanila upang ibalik ang lahat sa kasalukuyan.
His amused chuckled vibrated inside the room. Naroroon sila sa loob ng silid kung saan siya nito iginapos ng halos hubad. And the thought na silang dalawa lamang sa apat na sulok ng silid gave her chills. “What happened to you Alexandra? Why do you look so stunned?”
“You said…” She looked confused.
Na lalong nagpalakas sa tawa ni Brad. “Binasa ko lamang ang naka engrave sa kuwintas na ito. Why, but you look as if a man proposed to you.”
Namumula ang mukha sa pagkapahiya na hinablot niya ang kuwintas na hawak nito. At mula sa hugpungan niyon ay nakaengrave ang ‘To the woman I love’ in Japanese texts. Lumipad sa mukha ni Brad ang paningin niya. “You know how to read Nihonggo!”
Kibit ng balikat ang iginanti nito.
“You tricked me Brad!” Nanggigil na wika niya. “Now I’m having second thoughts trusting you. Hindi ka mapagkakatiwalaan.” Galit at nang-aakusa ang titig niya.
His handsome face turned stone hard sa sinabi ni Alex. “Wala ka ng magagawa pa Alexandra. The deal has been sealed. Makakasama mo ako sa lahat ng lakad mo. Though I assure you I will never desire your heirloom.” Muli nitong kinuha sa kamay niya ang kuwintas. “This is already a treasure lady. And it will surely look good on you.” He looked at her eyes. “Now, turn around.”
“No—“
“No buts honey.” His smile did not reach his eyes. “Sumunod ka ng maayos ng walang problema.”
Labag man sa kalooban ay sinunod niya ito. Mula sa likuran ay isinuot nito ang kuwintas sa leeg niya. She was looking at their reflection in the mirror. At pigil niya ang hininga habang isinusuot ni Brad ang kuwintas sa kanya.
“See… the necklace looked good on you Alexandra.”
Kinapa niya ang kuwintas sa kanyang leeg. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. Kaagad na nakalimutan niya ang galit sa binata habang minamasdan ang sariling repleksiyon sa salamin na suot ang kuwintas.
To the woman I love…
She felt the corner of her eyes moistened. Ang kuwintas na ito ay para sa lola niya. Subalit bago pa man maibigay ng lolo niya ang alahas para sa nag-iisang babaeng minahal nito ay bumalik ang mga Amerikano sa Pilipinas. And the general found himself on the defensive side and his forces retreating.
“Alexandra…”
Nag-angat siya ng paningin and saw Brad’s handsome face.
“Magpahinga na tayo. Malapit ng sumikat ang araw.” He held her arm and the firm grip did not surprise her anymore.
Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang kanyang pinakawalan at nagpaakay na sa binata.
DINALA siya ni Brad sa silid nito.
“Hey, what is this?” She shrieked when he handcuffed her.
“I’m just making sure you’ll never escape,” he smiled mockingly. He attached the other handcuff to his arm. “Now, we’re tied together. Where ever you go, I’ll be there too.”
“This is nonsense!” She hissed.
He just shrugged his broad shoulders. “Naniniguro lang Alexandra.” Lumakad ito palapit sa kama, dragging her.
Nanlalaki ang kanyang mga mata habang napilitang lumakad pasunod sa lalaki. “What is this all about?” Ngayon ay galit na ang boses niya.
“We’ll sleep together,” he said casually. Gamit ang isang kamay nito ay tinanggal nito ang suot na pantalon. Naka t-shirt at boxer shorts na lamang ito.
“Ayoko!” Matatag na tanggi niya.
“Look Alexandra, you have no other choice, okay? I don’t take chances. I know what you are capable of and I don’t trust you. Siguradong tatakas ka sa anumang pagkakataon na magkakaroon ka.”
She looked at him with calm but blazing eyes. “You could not just let me sleep with you!”
He chuckled amusedly. “I’m not sleeping with you woman. You are not my type. I want my girl to be all woman, someone I can lure in bed.” Napailing ito. “I admire your confidence though.”
“Bastard!” Nanggigil na angil niya. Ang kapal naman ng mukha ng unggoy na to para pintasan siya! He just made her feel ugly and undesirable! “Excuse me! You are not my type either! Wala kang modo at mukhang butete!”
Isang malakas na tawa ang pinakawalan ni Brad. “It’s okay. I know you just said that because you felt insulted. Had I not said that, you might have jumped on my bed already. Sometimes, being honest really sucks. I should have known better.”
“No! Totoo ang sinabi ko. Hindi ako papatol sa iyo kahit ikaw pa ang pinahuling lalaki sa mundo!”
He grimaced. Mukhang tinamaan sa sinabi niya. Siya naman ngayon ang napangiti.
“Let’s stop this nonsense Alexandra. Matulog na tayo. Remember, marami pa tayong misyon.”
She sighed. Inaantok na rin siya. But then again, ayaw niya itong makatabi sa pagtulog. Baka kung ano ang gawin nito sa kanya. Nakaposas pa naman silang dalawa.
She looked at him. Her eyes roamed around his statusque figure. He was so tall and muscled all over. Makapal ang balahibo nito sa paa and she imagined that he must have thick hair on his chest too. And she finds men with hairy chest sexy.
“Stop sizing me up woman. I know you rated me ten, right?” His mouth twisted annoyingly.
Patuya rin niyang ginantihan ang ngiti nito. “Well, to tell you honestly, I rated you six. Just a little bit over five anyway. I have been with a lot of gorgeous men a hundred times better than you!”
His smile faded.
“Feeling dumped, huh, loser?” Her grin widened.
Tumalikod ito at humiga sa kama, dragging her with him.
“Hey!” She landed on the bed, right on top of him. She felt his hard body underneath her softness. He was looking at her with smoldering eyes and she was gravely affected by it. She suddenly became conscious of their intimacy.
She swallowed hard. His smoldering gaze mesmerized her for seconds. She felt warm breathing fanned her face and realized that his face was moving closer to hers.
He was going to kiss her!
A warning screamed inside her mind. Kaagad na umalis siya mula sa pagkakubabaw dito. She made sure na merong sapat na distansiya sa pagitan nila ng lalaki at tumalikod siya.
She felt her flesh trembling.
She had been with men in the field. She had flirted with them in some of her missions. But she was never affected like what she felt right now. She was always cool and composed. Until she met Brad.
Titig pa lamang ng lalaki ay nanunuot na sa kanyang kaibuturan. His mere presence proved to be lethally electrifying to her senses. She lost her focus when he was around.
Ang isiping magkasama sila sa iisang silid at magkatabi sa kama ay lubos na lumiligalig sa damdamin niya. They were so close and sleeping together in an inviting queen size bed.
She threw the naughty thought away. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at pinilit ang sariling makatulog.
She was getting worried. She needed to rein her emotions before it was too late, before it might cause any complications with her mission. She was used to danger, to facing any dangerous combat in the field, to fighting with men and comrades in a battle, but she was not used with this treacherous feeling.
It was a weakness she knew she needed to overcome. And she knew it won’t be that easy.
She sighed.
BRAD silently studied her slender figure. She was facing away from him but her sexy back filled his eyes. She was wearing jeans and leather jacket but she still looked sexy. She had long limbs.
He had seen her body and it was lovely. She had smooth, creamy skin, a contrast to her unbelievably military skills. He can’t believe that she was an FBI agent.
He shook his head. No, she was more fit to be a model, not an FBI ward. She had statuesque and elegant figure, frail lovely face, swan-like neck and limbs that stretch for what seems like eternity.
You cannot really judge a book by its cover. Alexandra is a perfect personification of that cliché.
Napabuntong-hininga ang binata. He can’t imagine the surge of foreign emotion to him as of the moment. He felt as if he wanted to protect her. Kung siya nga lamang ang nasunod ay ayaw na niyang sumuong sa delikadong gawain ang babae.
He had volunteered to do the dangerous mission for her but she proved to be a pain in the ass. Hindi bagay sa katulad nitong babae ang ginagawa nito.
But then she was an FBI agent for crying out loud! He knew she had faced dangerous missions and sought hundreds of merciless criminals in the field. As a SEAL, he knew how was it be to become one.
Napatiim-bagang siya. Hindi nga ba at napilitan siyang magretiro dahil muntik na siyang mamatay sa gitna ng giyera? He was in Afghanistan, fighting with terrorists, when a bomb exploded at his direction.
He had been comatosed for months. When he recuperated, he was diagnosed unfit anymore to go in a combat again. He was sent home for an early retirement.
Dalawang taon na rin ang nakalipas at payapa na siyang naninirahan sa Davao City. He felt as if he was perfectly fit again. But he could not go back anymore. He was already retired.
Inasikaso niya ang Banana Plantation na minana niya sa sa kanyang ina. Sa loob ng maikling panahon ay mas lalo niyang napalapad ang nasasakupan nito.
Hindi niya alam kung ano meron si Alexandra at napukaw nito ang pag-aalala sa damdamin niya. He knew he was attracted with her. She was beautiful, sexy and fearless. A dangerous combination.
Brad sighed. Lying in his soft bed with a beautiful yet dangerous woman at his side pulled sleep away somewhere. Galing sila sa isang delikadong misyon but he can still sniff her sweet fragrant. It tickled his senses.
His hand moved. He was about to touch her back when he realized that what he was up to was sheer madness.
But he really wanted to touch her! To caress her smooth, creamy white skin and feel her soft body against his. The thought made his testosterone level hit the ceiling. But he controlled himself.
He took a long deep breath, calming him.
Ngunit hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan niya makokontrol ang sarili sa loob ng gabing iyon. Mag-uumaga na ngunit mailap ang antok sa kanya.
She was silent. Hindi niya alam kung nakatulog na ba ang babae o gaya niya ay mailap din ang antok para dito. She moved.
He cleared his throat. “Hindi ka rin ba makatulog?”
ALEXANDRA stiffened. She heard his low bedroom voice. Napapikit siya. Why should he possess that kind of a voice and affect her?
Pakiramdam niya ay nanuot sa kanyang kalamnan ang tinig nito.
And God, why was he asking her the obvious?
“No,” paangil na sagot niya. “I am dead asleep now.” Her voice was full of sarcasm.
He chuckled.
She really wanted to turn her back around and face him. But she was dead afraid to do so. She already imagined how his dark eyes burned her back and how much more if she faced him. She curled like a child.
“Nilalamig ka ba?”
“No!” Once again, she snarled. She felt him moved and before she knew it, she was already covered with a thick blanket. Hindi siya nagpasalamat. How could she gayung halos ay magdikit na ang mga katawan nila sa ilalim ng kumot?
Kinuha niya ang isang unan at pasalampak na inilagay sa pagitan nila.
Malakas ang naging tawa ni Brad. “Relax Alex, I won’t touch you. I can easily mistake you for a man, you know, so don’t think that your female charms will work on me. And please, tumigil ka sa pagpapacute.”
Nanlaki ang butas ng ilong niya.
Siya, nagpapacute dito? Que horror!
Hinarap niya ito. “Hoy! Hindi ako nagpapacute sa iyo no! Masyado kang arogante at bilib sa sarili para mag-isip ng ganyan. You are not my type!” She stressed every word. Iningosan niya ito at nagmamadaling tumalikod uli. He was staring intently at her and she can’t handle it. Her heart hammered against her chest.
bitin ako!!
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