Chapter 15

Baba's words were tantalizing Dulce, seducing her, painting a bright red image in her mind and body. Fire. His breath on her skin was sending shivers up her spine. Oh, God, she wanted him. Wanted him in a way she had never wanted anyone or anything before.

"Baba," sambit niya, bahagyang lumayo rito. Pawis na pawis siya. Ito na ang huling pagtitimping kaya niya. At kahit sa ganito ay para bang nagiging masokista siya. Why deny herself such promise of pleasure?

Bago pa niya matugon iyon ay nagmamadali siyang tumalikod at natagpuan ang sariling nasa garden niya. Ni hindi niya binalak na doon magtungo ngunit ang pintuan palabas mula sa komedor ang siyang tanging nakita niyang daan para malayo sa napakainit na komedor.

Kailangan din niyang magpalamig. Kailangan niyang mag-isip. Ngunit napakahirap. Inabot niya ang hose at nagdilig—ng hangin. Basta't pinisil niya ang sprinkler ng hose at tumayo sa gitna ng hardin, halos wala sa sarili. What the hell am I doing here?! I should be with him, damn it! I want to be with him.

She felt so confused for a while she wanted to cry.

"Anong ginagawa mo diyan?"

Agad siyang napapihit at dahil dala niya ang hose ay nabasa si Baba. Agad niya iyong ibinaba. Kunot na kunot ang noo ng lalaki. Nang humakbang ito palapit sa kanya ay bigla niyang itinaas muli ang sprinkler upang basain ito, saka siya napatawa. Thank goodness for this distraction.

Napatili siya nang takbuhin siya nito at agad na maabutan. Kinabig siya nito at hindi na pinakawalan. Kinuha nito ang hose mula sa kanya saka siya binasa niyon. Nag-agawan sila sa hose, kung minsan ay tila pinagbibigyan siya nito.

"This is crazy," sambit niya nang matagpuang basa na sila kapwa.

"Baka mapasma ka nga pala. Ikaw talaga. Halika, maligo na tayo."

Ang isiping sabay silang maliligo ay may kiliting dulot sa imahinasyon niya na agad niyang pinalis. Nagtungo na siya sa silid niya at salamat na hindi sumunod si Baba, kundi nagtungo sa sarili nitong silid. She took a shower, scrubbing herself as hard as she could. Para bang mabubura ang init sa bawat kuskos niya. Who the hell was she kidding anyway?

She put on her silk robe afterwards. Lumabas na siya sa banyo upang mabigla nang makita sa kama niya si Baba. Nakahiga lang ito roon, bagong paligo base sa basang buhok nito, nakalagay sa likod ng ulo ang magkabila nitong kamay. Tila ba nais siyang tuksuhin ng triceps nito. Suot nito ay isang pantalong maong, marahil dahil wala siyang naempakeng pambahay sa pagmamadali niya nang dalhin ito sa ospital.

Apparently, gods take a stroll down earth every once in a while and find a place on a mortal's bed, like mine. Gods in old jeans. Old tight jeans that make the mind draw crazy images based on the protruding holy part between the thighs.

Pinamaywangan niya ito. "At ano ang ginagawa mo rito?"

"Malungkot sa kuwarto, eh. Dito na lang ako matutulog."

"Masuwerte ka!" Inirapan niya ito, saka nagtungo sa closet. Nagpa-palpitate na siya. Naupo siya sa tapat ng salamin, natutuksong tingnan mula roon ang lalaki. Nakatingin din lang ito sa kanya, may ngiti sa labi. Magkakasunod ang naging paglunok niya. Kunwa ay kaswal siyang nag-brush ng buhok. Kakaligo lang niya, naiinitan na naman siya! Buwisit na lalaki talaga!

Napasinghap siya nang tumayo ito. Marahan itong lumapit sa kanya, humawak sa mga balikat niya. "Gusto mo ng masahe?"

"Hmmm?" sambit niya, parang nais ipikit ang mga mata. Damn the man!

Marahil inisip nitong pag-oo iyon sa alok nito gayong nagtatalo pa ang kalooban niya. Nagsimula ang banayad nitong pagpisil sa balikat niya hanggang sa marahan nitong ibaba ang roba niya, sa gayon ay dumulas ang tela hanggang sa itaas ng kanyang dibdib. Dudulas pa iyon pababa kung hindi niya inagapan. Nag-init ang buong mukha niya ngunit tila hindi napansin ng lalaki. Nagpatuloy ito sa banayad nitong pagpisil at paghagod sa kanyang balat.

Mainit ang mga palad nito at malambot, bagaman halatang hindi kamay ng isang lalaking nagpapasarap sa buhay. Those were the hands of a working man. Very warm hands that felt so titillating against her skin.

"Baba..." sambit niya. Ang nais niyang sabihin dito ay tigilan na iyon ngunit hindi niya nagawa. Isang masahe, ano ang masama doon?

Nang magmulat siya ay nakita niyang nakatingin ito sa kanya mula sa salamin. Nagtagpo ang mga mata nila. Habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya ay bumaba ang mga labi nito sa balikat niya. He planted a soft kiss on her skin. And it took only that for her senses to go on hyperalert.

It was as if she took a drug that heightened her senses. Napuno ng nerve endings ang buong katawan niya. The slightest touch sent a shiver to her spine, driving her mad. Muli ay inilapat nito ang mga labi sa kanyang balikat at sa pagkakataong iyon ay nagtagal doon ang mga labi nito. He then stuck out his tongue to taste her, like a dribble of honey was trickling down her skin and he was in no hurry to taste it. Like he was only too willing to make the most of a taste test.

The sight of him doing that was driving her mad. It made her feel like a goddess, and this being was paying her homage. And when his lips reached the side of her neck she shivered. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Marahan siya nitong iginalaw sa gayon ay makaharap siya rito. He tilted her chin up and kissed her like his hunger for her was all-consuming.

She tingled all over and kissed him back with all the passion she had been trying to hold in. Oh, he was delicious—sweet, raw, intoxicating. She gasped when she felt his hand on her breasts that were now exposed. The robe slid down to her abdomen without her noticing it.

He kneaded her breast, gently tweaking a peak. Sa ilang sandali ay nais niyang mapahiya sapagkat dumaan sa isip niya na inilalantad niyon ang bagay na bumabalot sa sistema niya—ang labis-labis na rubdob at init. But then she decided to face this head on. She decided to give in. For once in her life, she surrendered in complete and total abandon. She pressed her breast to his palm, ugring him to do whatever he wanted.

She was his. With all her heart and soul.

He sucked in his breath, telling her how he loved her surrender. He kneeled in front of her, touched her neck and the valley of her breasts before capturing the taut peak of one breast between his lips.

Oh, sweet mother of all creation.

She swallowed hard, trying her best to control her movements to savor the luscious sensation. Nag-uunahan ang mga sensasyon sa sistema niyang binaha niyon. Now she wanted to see him naked too. It wasn't fair that he wouldn't show his body to her. Hinawakan niya ito sa balikat.

"'Ba..." malambing niyang anas.

Nagtagpong muli ang mga labi nila. Hinigit niya ang baywang ng pantalon nito. Iyon lang ang tangi niyang magagawa sa posisyon nila. It was enough. He looked straight into her eyes and she hoped he read through them what she couldn't bring herself to say. Bahagya itong ngumiti, hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi. He understood.

He stood up, still looking at her. Their eyes never broke connection. He unbuttoned his jeans and uzipped his fly. But he stopped. Kung nasa sinehan sila, marahil napa-"boo!" na siya. Parang nasa kalagitnaan na ang isang magandang pelikula nang biglang masira ang projector.

Napatingin siya rito, ipinagsalubong ang mga kilay niya na tila sinasabi, "Anyare?" Umalog-alog ang balikat nito sa walang tunog na pagtawa, saka hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi. Inilagay nito ang mga kamay sa likod, bahagyang kumunot ang noo na tila sinasabi, "Well, go ahead, lady. I'm yours."

She bit her lower lip, feeling naughty and tense at the same time. Maingat niyang hinawakan ang baywang ng pantalon, saka iyon maingat na ibinaba. She gasped seeing how strained his white underwear was from his arousal.

She looked up. The man was looking up as well, his body rigid. Tila mayroong blower sa batok niya, nasa high speed. She felt so very hot once again. She touched the garter of his underwear... but she couldn't bring herself to pull it down though she was dying to.

This felt forbidden and there was excitement from that too and yet she couldn't do it, for crying out loud. So coy all of a sudden. Isang sundalong handang sumugod... basta't may mauuna sa kanya.

Muli siyang napatingala nang madama ang banayad na paghaplos ng lalaki sa kanyang pisngi. Once again, it seemed as if he needed no further explanation from her. At sa sandaling iyon ay umapaw ang pasasalamat niya rito. He was a sweet and sensitive man underneath all the ruggedness.

He stepped out of his pants and then gently slid down the last piece of clothing he had on.

Looking at his engorged manhood, the first thing that came to mind was how beautiful it was. How beautiful he was all in all—the muscular chest, the rippling muscles of his abdomen, and this lean length of him. Her second thought was—she wished she had her sketchpad with her.

Of course she had seen naked models before. Ngunit natural na iginuhit lang niya ang mga iyon at hindi hinawakan. Ni isa rin sa mga iyon ay hindi aroused nang iguhit niya at ng mga kaklase niya.

She tentatively touched it, her hand shaking. This was new to her but that did not mean she didn't know things. Of course she did. She placed her hands on the tight globes of his buttocks, pushing him to her. She planted a damp kiss below his abdomen. Again, he sucked his breath through his clenched teeth.

"Halika," sambit nito, hinawakan siya sa kamay at maingat na itinayo, bagaman mayroong pagmamadali ang bawat pagkilos. Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang roba niya sa sahig. Pinangko siya nito at maingat na ibinaba sa kama. There was passion his eyes, a promise of wild pleasure as he looked at her nakedness, again making her feel like a goddess of beauty.

He kissed her hungrily before his lips slid down her breasts, sucking the tips eagerly, his tongue lashing up and down, until she was clutching the sheets, feeling as if the blissful sensation would take over her.

His lips started to move down her body, drawing cicrcles on her skin until she felt his breath on her thigh. It shook her, the intimacy of this. And just knew he was the man she wanted to share this with. She felt it. Her soul cried out to be with this man this way, this private and personal.

She sharply drew in her breath as she felt his lips between her legs, stroking every crevice before focusing on a small bud. The intensity of her desire shook her. Soon she was moaning with desire, wanting more—wanting him—all of him.

Not long after she felt something strong building up inside of her, something so foreign and exciting. She moved to contain it—but it was something that was meant to erupt. And did.

"Baba!" she said.

And she felt their bodies joining. There was an abrupt pain and he immediately stopped moving. She opened to see him confused, as if he was thinking this over! She was caught in the middle of disbelief, pain, and the need to see this through. She arched her hips up and that settled it.

Naging napakaingat ng galaw nito habang hinahaplos ang kanyang pisngi, dinadampian ng halik ang kanyang mukha. Ang isa nitong braso ay nakatukod sa kutson, habang ang isa ay nasa likuran niya, nakayakap, tila sinasabi sa kanyang naroon lang ito, nakaalalay.

The pain ebbed away. His hand let her go to stroke the eager little bud as he thrust deep, again and again, his breath shallow and fast. She started to get lost in the sensations again until she felt him burried to the hilt. She called out his name as she reached her final overwhelming climax.

It was exquisite.

NATUKLASAN ni Dulce na ang mag-inin sa kama habang nakayakap sa kanya ang mainit na braso ni Baba ay isang karanasang hindi niya ipagpapalit sa kahit na ano—well, with the exception of making love with him. There she was, in all her nakedness, while the man was lazily stroking her arm. Nakatalikod siya rito, ang likod ay nakalapat sa katawan nito. Gising na sila pareho at kapwa walang imik.

This felt very natural, like it was something that she was bound to do. Yet this was also surreal. Talaga bang may isang lalaking nakayakap sa kanya sa ibabaw ng kama niya? Did he really feel so perfect being there? Na para bang ihinulma sila sa isa't isa sa ganoong paraan?

Nadama niya nang hagkan siya nito sa batok. Nagtayuan ang balahibo niya sa katawan at nakita marahil nito, ikinatuwa, sapagkat nadama niya ang pag-alog ng balikat nito. Mayamaya pa ay nadama niya ang reaksiyon ng katawan nito.

"Baba..." sambit niya. Yes, she wanted him again. In fact, she immediately felt so hot. Ano ba talaga ang mayroon ang lalaking ito?

Hinapit siya nito palapit dito. His hand started caressing her, stroking her, while her back was still turned from him. Naipikit na lamang niya ang mga mata. Soon, his length started touching her center.

She gasped. What an erotic way to tickle her senses, she thought. Batid niya sa mga sandaling iyon na walang ibang lalaking maaaring makapagpadama sa kanya ng ganoon. In fact, she couldn't envision herself with another man that way anymore. She wanted Baba. And only him.

Soon, he was gently easing into her while he rubbed her where it mattered. She tingled all over and thought this was indeed a delicious breakfast appetizer. The feel of his hard tumescence sliding into her again and again drove her wild until her body shook in ecstasy.

She felt his hand on the side of her thigh, holding her steady after his final thrust. Niyakap siya nito, hinagkan sa gilid ng leeg. "Hmmm... Dulce, Dulce..."

Napahagikgik siya. Para bang gigil na gigil ito. "Well, good morning to you, too!"

Tumawa ito. "Puwede bang dito na lang tayo habang-panahon?"

Pumihit siya. Nabura ang ngiti niya nang makitang sa kabila ng ngiti nito ay seryoso ang mga mata nito. Those amber eyes told her just how much he wanted to be with her and it melted her heart. Niyakap niya ito at habang nakahilig sa dibdib nito ay naalala niya ang mga kuwento nito nang nagdaang araw. At naisip niyang tama ito sa hiniling nito. Sana ay ganoon na sila, kung ano sila ngayon, habang panahon. Walang nakaraan, walang haharaping kasalukuyan.

But then she also wanted to share with him his pain. Nais niyang malaman nitong naroon lang siya. Dinampian niya ng halik ang dibdib nito.

"I'll be here for you, Baba." Nilingon niya ito. "Alam mo 'yon, 'di ba?"

Nakangiting tumango ito, hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi. She was starting to really love that gesture of his, made her feel so precious. Matagal silang nanatili sa ganoong puwesto hanggang sa hagkan nito ang ulo niya. "Magluluto ako ng almusal."

"Let me help!" Agad siyang naupo sa kama.

"Ako na lang. Gusto kong magpahinga ka. Reyna ka ngayong araw na ito."

Ngiting-ngiti siya. Reyna? Walang problema.

Bumaba ang mga mata nito sa kanyang dibdib, saka lang niya naunawaan na bumangon siyang walang saplot. Noon lang nagbalik ang hiya niya. Agad niyang hinagip ang puting kumot, itinakip sa dibdib. Ngumiti ang lalaki, saka tumingin sa kutson. Sinundan niya ang tingin nito. Mayroong mantsang pula sa bed sheet.

She felt herself blushing. And it was stupid because last night and earlier she was the queen of passion. Itinaas ng binata ang kanyang mukha, dinampian ng halik ang kanyang labi.

"Salamat, Dulce."

Ngumiti siya. Nais din niya itong pasalamatan. She wanted to tell him how much she appreciated his gentleness. And his expertise. And well, maybe commend his overall performance since it was quite fantastic. Sa huli ay tanging ngiti lang ang nagawa niyang ibigay dito. Muli nitong hinaplos ang pisngi niya, saka tumalikod.

Nagtungo na siya sa banyo at naligo. She found herself singing, "'Cause you make me feel... You make feel... You make me feel like a natural woman..."

Panay ang ngiti niya. She felt sore but complete somehow. And she was honestly, with all her heart happy. Parang mayroong nakapasak na hanger sa bibig niya at hindi na maalis ang pagkakangiti niya.

Oh, I'm no longer a virgin, naisip niya mayamaya. Sa totoo lang, noon lang iyon dumaan sa isip niya. At nabura ang ngiti niya para lang parang baliw na muling mapangiti sapagkat totoo ang nadarama niyang saya. Baba was still there and yesterday he said he wanted to take her home! And the thought of being with him for all time was very appealing. Maybe they can stay together in his farm in Cavite. Gagawa at magdidisenyo pa rin siya ng furniture doon, habang ito naman ay magtatanim o magpapastol ng mga hayop. At sa gabi, kapag pagod na itong umuwi mula sa maghapong trabaho, aasikasuhin niya ito. She would give him a massage, prepare his favorite meals.

At kapag siya naman ang pagod ay gagawin nito ang ginawa nito kagabi, aasikasuhin siyang maigi. Mawawala na ang mga gabing mag-isa siya sa bahay, o kapag may lagnat siya at ang tanging kasama niya ay ang bote ng gamot, tissue, menthol inhaler, at libro para pantanggal inip. Baba will be there for her and love her. And she will be there for him as well.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. This was a gift. Baba was a gift. Life was turning out to be perfect.