THIRD PERSON

Keegan pinched the bridge of his nose while looking at the sunrise from the horizon. There were visible stubbles on his face and dark circles on his eyes due to lack of sleep.

You ask why he looks like shit? Well, since the stealths were on leave due to his master's honeymoon—he had to do all the job himself. This means he is in charge of the surveillance and, at the same time, an on-field stealth to keep a close eye on them.

He also kept in touch with the associates that guarded Sachal's family and friends. As a personal butler, he thought he would only take care of his master's necessities and do his best to assist him—he never expected it to be this exhaustive.

"Diamond, I am tired." Hindi niya mapigilang reklamo. A few beeping sounds from Diamond's systems followed his short rants.

"Here are local bridges in your area by height. Please choose according to your preferences." She replied. Nawalan kaagad ng emosyon ang mukha ni Keegan.

"I mean, I want to rest, Diamond." Tamad nitong pagka-klaro.

"Here are local cemeteries in your area—" Napahilamos na lang ng mukha si Keegan. Talagang papatayin siya sa kunsumisyon ng amo niya. Diamond still have her filter off, that's why she's acting like a rude and sarcastic AI.

"Incoming call alert from the satellite phone. What's it gonna be, accept or ignore? Your choice, obviously." Napahinga na lang siya nang maluwag. Satphones are only used for emergencies. He can't ignore it no matter what.

"Accept."

"Hello? Keegan, pa order nga ako ng pizza! Tapos bigyan mo rin ako ng groceries good for two days! Naubusan na ako ng pagkain dito sa yate! Pakibilisan ha!" He heard Leticia nagging from the other side of the lane.

Nagtitimpi niyang kinagat ang labi niya. "You used a satellite phone just for a pizza?" Hindi makapaniwala niyang atugal dito. "Has anyone in your family had severe mental problems? Bakit lahat ng Salvatore may saltik sa utak?" Bulyaw niya pabalik. Namewang na napangiwi si Leticia dahil parang nangaamok na naman ng away ang lalaki.

"What? Isusumbong kita kay Arlecchino! Sinong may saltik sa utak ha!"

"Sino ba may sabi sayo mag-camping ka dyan sa gitna ng dagat na walang kasama! Binilin ko sayo magbaon ka nang maraming pagkain! Dio mio!" She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. That's right, she rented a yacht and spend days in the middle of the ocean near the Kamari Beach. Trip niya lang.

"Can't you just shut up and bring me food? Isusumbong kita kay Arlecchino kung hindi mo sinunod sinasabi ko!"

"Isumbong mo! Mangisda ka na lang dyan para may makain ka!" Binaba niya ang tawag at napahilot na lang ng sentido.

Damn it! Kailangan madagdagan ang sahod niya!

"Who is it again this time?" Antok nitong bulong sa sarili nang mag ring ang phone niya. When he looked at the screen, tinatamad niya itong sinagot.

"When is he coming back?" Diretsong tanong nito sa kanya.

"A day after tomorrow. I expect everything to be ready, and everyone will be informed of our arrival. I don't want any mistakes to happen." Seryoso niyang tugon dito. Ilang segundong katahimikan ang namutawi sa kanila.

"I did a background check on her. She came from a prominent family that worked for the government. She's not as simple as the other women. She might have ulterior motives for marrying into the family." Keegan licked his slightly dried lips.

It's true. Her personality is more complex than other women and more unpredictable than she looks. Though he doesn't know if she has other motives for marrying him, she doesn't pose any threat for now.

"Roan, I understand your concern, but he is overly concerned about her. If you try to pull something, you won't be able to get away even if—"

"We'll see about that."

ೃ⁀✈.ೃ⁀✈.ೃ⁀✈.

She opened her eyes and found herself trapped in the arms of the most dangerous man she knew. If she was any other woman who had known who he truly was, his arms wrapped around her waist should have felt like a cage—trapping her—but instead, it felt warm. And when she looked at her arms clung around his neck—she should have had thoughts of wanting to strangle him, but now, she just wanted to pull him into a morning kiss.

"Hmm. . ." She closed her eyes when he groaned. Gumalaw ito nang konti upang yakapin siya nang mahigpit.

Coincidently, Kage opened his eyes only to smile when he saw his beloved wife sleeping soundly in his arms. He felt like the whole world was within his grasp just by holding her.

He admits he was hopelessly in love with this woman. Ever since the day she saved him, every second of every hour of every day, he thought of her—how she bravely fought off the hijackers, what her natural scent smelled like, the sound of her voice that calms him, and the warmth of her gazes.

He traced her hair with his fingers, fixing a few strands at the back of her left ear while admiring her peaceful, angelic features. Such an innocent face with a fiery temper.

Dumapo ang tingin niya sa leeg nitong puno ng marka na gawa niya. Flashes of how they had made love these past few days surged in his mind, instantly turning him on like a light switch. Now he knew why men are crazy about sex.

His finger brushed her lips as if trying to recall their taste from their last kiss. But then, Sachal opened her eyes and bit his finger. Kaagad itong napaigik sa sakit.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Salvatore!" Masungit nitong singhal sa umaga. Imbis indahin ang sakit mula sa kagat ng dalaga ay napangisi na lang ito.

He leaned on his left arm while looking at her. "You know better than biting the hand that fingers you." She scoffed in disbelief. Ever since the day they get married walang araw na hindi siya minamanyak ng lalaki.

"Will you shut up? Hindi ka ba nahihiya na naririnig ng mga anak mo pinagsasabi mo?" Irita nitong anas habang nginunguso ang tatlong kuneho na mahimbing na natutulog sa lapag.

He laughed and suddenly grabbed her wrists to pin her down to the bed. Marahas na napatingala si Sachal dito habang nangungunot ang noo. Frustration was also visible in her eyes. "We will be leaving a day after tomorrow, and I have work to do. Hindi ako makakapagtrabaho sa ginagawa mo!" She warned.

"No worries, I'll let you rest tomorrow."

"Bakit bukas pa?" Nagkaroon ng hesitasyon ang mata ni Kage dahil sa naging tanong niya, pero hindi iyon napansin ng dalaga.

"The Wifi connection inside the villa was connected to Diamond, so I can see your browsing history." Pag-iiba nito ng topic. Kaagad na pinamulahan si Sachal dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Why would you even view someone else's browsing history? That's an invasion of privacy!" Sinubukan niyang pumalag sa pagkakahawak nito pero wala siyang magawa.

"I've been observing you since our first day, and I notice you anxiously browsing your phone in your free time." Malumanay nitong wika. "I can't be at peace knowing my wife worries about something." Iniwas niya lang ang tingin niya rito.

How can she tell him? He won't understand because he's not a woman.

He sighed. "You are a virgin, Ava. Even if you didn't bleed that day, I know." Napatitig siya rito dahil sa seryoso ng boses niya at dahil sa pagtawag nito sa kanyang Ava (Eiva).

"You are flexible and sporty—you do horseback riding. You were trained in various ways in your flight school and military exercises." He explained. "Those activities could worn out or stretch your hymen. That's why you didn't bleed. You don't have to overthink things because I understand." Malambing pa nitong wika.

She felt something weird in her heart. What was it? Why does he talk that way? Why does he look at her as if he's ready to wash away all her worries and put her mind at ease in any way he can? She never knew she'd want assurance and affirmation from him.

"W-what do you understand?"

"I'm not one of those uneducated pigs who think their dicks define a woman." Niluwagan niya ang pagkakahawak sa pulsuhan nito't yumuko upang halikan siya sa noo.

"Virginity is just a social construct. Instead of degrading a woman because she lost her virginity, why not say she gained experience instead? It all goes down to the perspective of a person. It doesn't really matter."

Hindi maiwasang maisip ni Sachal kung anong klaseng magulang mayroon ang binata. Knowing his identity, she expected him to have a chaotic family prone to blood feud and betrayal. Pero sa nakikita niya ay parang napalaki naman ito ng maayos.

He was able to communicate properly. His emotional intelligence is even more commendable. Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay mas lalo itong naging sexy sa paningin niya.

"Besides, I went inside you. I knew better—" Naputol ang sasabihin nito nang dambahin siya ng dalaga. Now she was on top of him.

Awtomatikong namutawi ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Kage. He finds it amusing that she initiates doing something for the first time. His eyes then lingered on the loose, long-sleeved shirt she was wearing.

"I'm not a morning person, but if you want morning exercise, I can do it." He taunted. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she pulled the collar of his shirt to make him sit up straight.

He lifts his head, gazing at her stubborn eyes. Without any hesitation, she kissed him fully on the lips. She couldn't help it. All this time, she thought it took to be physically fit and handsome for her to be sexually attracted to someone—but in truth, it could actually just be by a person's mindset?

His hands rested on her hips, fingertips digging into her flesh as he nibbled her lips to deepen the kiss—but just as he was about to take control of the kiss to lead, she bit him hard until he tasted his own blood. Gulat siyang napatingin dahil sa ginawa nito.

She pushed him to lean on the bed's headrest and crawled to sit on his lap. Her eyes resembled a tigress's intense and focused gaze as it locked eyes with her prey.

What has gotten into her so suddenly? Hindi maiwasang itanong ng binata sa sarili habang nakatingin dito. The look in her eyes were different.

"What are y—" Everything happened too fast for him to comprehend. Sachal took his belt from the bedside table before circling it around his neck and did a few knots until he found his wrist tied below his chin.

Where the hell did she learn to do that?

"Getting kinky, aren't we?" He mused, feeling a sudden heat because of her attempt to gain dominance.

All through the days of their honeymoon, this was also the first time he saw this side of hers. Madalas ay nagpaparaya ito sa kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin. Ngayon lang ito naglakas loob na mag-demand ng kontrol.

"You will be good for me, right?" His eyes automatically closed with her question. Her hands touched his face—gently tracing his jawline to his neck, leaving a trail of tingling sensations on his skin.

Dahil sa hindi niya pagsagot ay hinila ng dalaga ang dulo ng belt na naging dahilan upang umangat ang pulsuhan niya sa bandang leeg kung saan mahigpit na nakatali ang belt nito. "Hah. . ." He breathed. His voice was shaky and she could feel the vulnerability of his body under her touch as he leaned against the bed's headrest.

Namumungay mata niyang sinalubong ng tingin ang asawa. What was it? What got her confident enough to make a daring move like this?

But, well, she'll have to try harder than that. "You have gotten bold, haven't you?" He teased. Bumaling pakaliwa ang mukha niya nang sampalin siya ng dalaga. He was so shocked that he blinked twice before looking at her again.

"Say that again." Maawtoridad nitong utos.

"You have gotten bo—"Napaigtad siya muli nang makatanggap nang panibagong sampal dito. The pain on his cheek gave him excitement.

She stood up, her eyes blazing with dominance and determination. She placed her left foot on his crotch before pulling the leather belt connected to his wrist and neck—making him look up to her like a leashed dog wanting a treat from his master.

"Mmmh. . .Hah. . ." He breathed. Hindi niya maiwasang mapadaing dahil sa paa nitong mariin na nakapatong sa kahabaan niya.

Unknowingly, Sachal had no idea why she was doing such a thing. All she knows is that, right now, she wanted to dominate him. And she was enjoying every little sound he made. She loves how a light touch would stimulate an involuntary expression on his face—and that he was trying not to give in but ended up letting out a soft gasp on his lips.

"Now, you're gonna be good for me, right?" Dahil hindi kaagad sumagot si Kage ay diniin niya ang paa niyang nakapatong sa pagkalalaki nito, dahilan upang mapaungol ito sa pinaghalong sakit at sarap.

"Y-yes. . ." Kandautal nitong sagot. "I will be good. . .for you." She let out a triumphant smile before giving him a small pat on the head. 

And that's how the captain became the consigliere's tamer.

𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄
ᴮʸ ᴳᵒˡᵘᶜᵏʸᶜʰᵃʳᵐ