THIS SHOULD BE PARADISE. To be sitting on this sofa, leaning your head against the shoulders of the man of your dreams. His arm draped around your shoulders. Your other arm laid across his chest, hooked on a shoulder. His free hand on top of his lifted knee, hoisted by his foot atop the edge of the coffee table.

It is true love, when you don’t think of something dirty all the time you are with him. That even if you are both sitting in silence, your heart is contented.

They were past the lusting stage, maybe.

Maybe, they should be already moving to the next level of this relationship.

But as Stacey stared blankly at the TV, she felt uneasy.

For some reason, the silence between them that used to be comforting at first, has found its way to bother her.

Nagnakaw siya ng tingin kay Renante. Mga mata lang ang kanyang ginalaw.

He was very attentive with the show they were watching on TV, casted via his WIFI connected smartphone. It was a suspense thriller. Renante loves shows that absorbs him and makes him think.

No wonder he wasn’t afraid with her stalker issues. That is his advantage. He won her heart by landslide by helping her out.

Renante had on a pair of tight dark blue boxers, with a sinful stitching style that emphasized the crotch area, and a white turtleneck shirt that was slightly loose, made of thin fabric for a glimpse of his sexily sculpted torso. His hair was a mess of jet black, tossed by his fingers.

At heto siya. Naka-gartered high cut shorts na puti at tank top na dilaw. It fitted her body like skin— tight and sculpting her every delicious curve. A pink scrunchie tied her dark hair to a low ponytail.

May boses na kumukukit kay Stacey na gusto niyang magliwaliw.

Mag shopping.

Mamasyal.

Mag-clubbing.

Then Stacey remembered the reality.

Paubos na ang reserba niyang pera.

It doesn’t matter if you have millions in your bank account. Kung puro labas lang naman ang pera pambayad ng bills, mortgage, pagkain, supplies at kaunting ginhawa; at kung wala namang pumapasok pabalik na pera, wala rin.

She needed to establish a new business with the little money she had left.

Stacey remembered Piccollo’s call last night. Bakit kaya tumawag ang lalaking iyon?

Hindi niya sinagot dahil pagod talaga siya. Siguradong dadaldalin siya nang dadaldalin ni Piccollo. May lahing makulit din kasi ang taong iyon.

Her mind was already fleeting all over the place and Renante did not even notice.

Stacey snuggled closer to him. Dama niya ang paghila ng braso ni Renante para humigpit ng pagkakayakap sa kanyang balikat.

He was still attentive to the show he was watching.

Will he be offended if she tells him she’s bored of this set-up? That they should try doing something new?

That maybe, what they really needed to go to the next level? To start planning their wedding. Will they have kids or not? Tutal, nagsasama na rin naman sila sa iisang bahay.

“Pizza or fast food?” tingala ni Stacey rito, nakasandal pa rin sa balikat ni Renante.

He remained silent for a minute or two. He just could not look away from the screen. When the scene was safe to ignore, Renante finally turned to her. Maingat ang kilos nito, siniguradong hindi siya maiistorbo sa pagkakasandal dito.

Nilapatan siya nito ng halik sa abot ng mga labi nito, sa kanyang noo na bahagyang tumatama sa kanyang buhok. Then he smiled at her.

“Fast food.”

Tumuwid si Stacey ng upo. “I’ll have them delivered then. What fast food do you want?”

Magaan itong tumawa. Inabot nito ang remote at in-exit ang pinapanood nilang series. Kasunod niyon ang pagpatay sa TV.

Binaba na rin ni Renante ang mga paa.

“No deliveries. We’re going out to eat fast food,” tayo nito.

Napatingala siya sa lalaki dahil hindi pa nakakatayo tulad nito.

“We’re going out?”

“Yes. Because I think you’re not in the mood for watching TV.”

Halata bang nabagot siya?

“Did that offend you, I’m sorry—” tayo niya, “—Look. The series is nice and all—”

She shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

Renante took her hand.

“You used to speak your mind often. Bakit ngayon, nagtitiis ka diyan kung nababagot ka sa ginagawa natin?”

Nagpatangay siya rito. “I just…” Napasinghap siya dahil tumuloy-tuloy sila sa kwartong ginagamit ng lalaki.

Hanggang sa naipasok siya nito sa banyo. He pulled her forward, shut the door, then shoved her against the tiled wall of the open shower stall. Aalis sana si Stacey sa pagkakasandal doon nang ipitin ng matigas na katawan ni Renante.

He gave her the hottest gaze and the sexiest smirk.

“You just what?”

Nakipagtitigan siya sa mga mata nito. Stacey was ready to melt anytime but not today. Not now when kissing his lips was closely at hand.

She’d stay in tact and alive for those lios.

For his kisses.

“I can compromise, you know, Mr. Villaluz,” she tugged on the collar of his shirt, bringing him closer to her. Her hot aggression made him smile naughtily. “If I can withstand your massive heck of a hard cock, then I’m sure, I can binge-watch the lamest TV series with you.”

“So, you think it’s lame?”

Her smile wad sly, like she knew a scheme that will end the world. “I’m just speaking my mind.”

“Very good,” kawit nito sa isa niyang hita sa balakang nito. “Because I will need your incessant feedback on my fucking. Right now.”

He lowered his head to the side of her neck. His lips trickled against her skin, dragging softly that made her close her eyes and shudder in delight.

Stacey held onto him tight, in a way that paralleled with how she would never let go of this relationship. Halos bumaon ang mga daliri niya sa magkabilang balikat ni Renante habang nagkikiskisan ang kanilang mga katawan.

His lips trailed up, finding her jaw then pressing on her cheek. Hinarap niya ang mukha rito kaya nagtagpo ang kanilang mga labi.

Sumilip siya sa ilalim ng mga pilikmata, sa kalagitnaan ng pamumungay ng kanyang mga mata. She saw him with eyes closed, savoring their torrid kisses. It was her who surrendered and it was him who attacked with great concentration. Their smacking lips echoed in the bathroom. Their brisk movements, rough rustling and scratching of their clothes played in the background.

Napatingala siya. Napabuga ng hininga.

Through all these years, how could Renante stay this damn hot? She was literally slipping, weak in the knees. Damang-dama niya ang paninigas nito na mariing kumikiskis sa kanya. She helplessly parted her thighs wider for him. His other hand snaked from the small of her back to her nape.

Renante pulled her into an embrace so he can move her away from the wall.

Dinala siya nito sa toilet bowl na nakababa ang takip. Pinihit patalikod, marahas na pinatuwad.

Napatukod si Stacey ng mga kamay sa water box niyon na gawa sa babasaging materyal. She gasp at how quickly he tugged down her shorts, along with her panties. The tightness of her shorts roughly scratched against her skin as it was being pulled down.

Dumikit si Renante sa kanyang likuran. He placed a palm below her butt and pushed them up, feeling her slit stretch up along in that gesture.

Sinalo naman ng isa pang kamay ni Renante ang kanyang baba. Sakop ng kamay nito ang ilalim ng kanyang baba at bandang itaas ng kanyang lalamunan. He tilted hee head to face his direction.

Sa kanyang pagkakatuwad, halos nakatingala na siya sa lalaki.

“Bored of watching TV with me, pero pagdating sa sex, excited na excited ka,” mayabang nitong ngisi.

Kitang-kita ni Stacey sa mga mata ng nobyo na may binuhay siya rito. His gaze turned shadowy and dark, the kind the contrasted how gentle and kindly he treated her as his girlfriend. Those days when they used to be fuckbuddies all came back to her.

He looked at her as intensely as this— a meat he could not wait to predate.

His fingers squeezed between her butt cheeks. They slid down and located her slit. Nagsimula si Renante sa marahang pagbakat sa kanyang hiwa. She held her breath as his fingers moved up and down, tracing her slit.

Their locked gazes never faltered. With her mouth drop open, Stacey knew that she was already a helpless case. She was already at the point of no return. Her strong, independent image all tossed aside. Love and lust made her Renante’s instant slave.

His fingers fucked her until she was shaking, shuddering and wet. Impit ang kanyang mga ungol, nagmamatigas kahit alam niyang pinalambot na siya ng lalaki.

Hinila siya nito paalis sa pagkakatuwad. Paglingon, nakapaghubad na ito ng boxers.

Stacey could not help marveling at his cock— proud, long and erect. It saluted her, congratulating her for doing a great job at making it so hard.

Umupo si Renante sa takip ng toilet bowl at bago pa nakahuma si Stacey, hinatak na siya nito paupo sa kandungan nito.

She placed her hands on his shoulders, anxiously rubbed his arms as she watched Renante jack himself.

“Hurry up, please, hurry,” she begged.

His other hand clutched her hip possessively. Nasa madilim na panggigigil sa mukha ng lalaki ang ebidensya na nagmamadali na rin ito. Na hindi na ito nakapaghintay.

Stacey rubbed her breasts on his chest.

“Renante,” she hotly murmured in his ear before she began sucking it.

Renante released a heated sigh. “Shit, Stace…”

The penis is a self-lubricating beast. Omce Renante was done smearing his slime all over the body of his cock, he lifted her ass. Stacey cooperated in anticipation. She only planned to sit on his gently but he gripped on her waists and forced her down.

“Ah!” mangiyak-ngiyak niyang daing. “Fuck.” Bawi niya matapos magulat. She met Renante’s eyes that held a dangerous glint. “Sinagad mo naman agad!”

Ngumisi ito. “Stop complaining and start fucking.”

The space was too small, but there’s nothing a horny woman like her won’t do. Sinikap niyang maka-squat sa kinauupuan nila para mas mabilis niyang maatras-abante ang balakang.

Renante slouched a little in cooperation.

At doon na nagtuloy-tuloy ang kanilang pagtatalik. Stacey threw her hips back and forth, each slamming impact were as strong as her need for him.

Renate gaped, under her mercy now. His drooping eyes watched weakly as he turned red all over. He reached for her ass and alternatively squeezed and spanked. At sa bawat palo nito, lalong ginanahan si Stacey na bilisan ang pagsakay dito.

His thickness stretched her wide open. If his cock wasn’t smooth enough, the friction would enflame her slit and worse, really rip her. Renante really knew what to do when he made sure his cock was properly self-lubricated.

Kaya heto siya, sarap na sarap. Napatukod siya ng noo sa noo ng lalaking naghahabol na ng hininga. Just watching their bodies fusion like this was enough to take their breaths away.

Stacey released one shallow breath after another. Bumabagal na siya dala ng pagod. Siyang upo niya rito.

“Ah!” daing niya. Sumagad na naman kasi ang ari nito sa loob niya.

Sabay yakap ni Stacey sa leeg nito bago marahang gumiling. She circled her hips then rubbed against him up and down. His cock moved along with her— swirled inside her, pushed and pulled.

Renante ran his hands at the sides of her body, feeling her shape. His hands traced her like she was the sexiest being alive.

To her surprise, he pulled up her tank top. Naipon ang damit sa ibabaw ng malulusog niyang mga dibdib na nilantad nito.

“Oh, hot damn,” he admired her breasts.

“Oh, yes…” she smiled.

Tuloy-tuloy pa rin siya sa pag giling dito nang hablutin ni Renante ang isa niyang dibdib. He squeezed to pop forward her hardened nipple before he sucked aggressively.

“R-Renante!” ungol niya.

“Oh, ang sarap mo talaga,” hapit ng isa nitong kamay sa kanyang bewang para mas maglapit sila.

Hanggang sa naging pabilis na ng pabilis ang kanilang mga kilos. He ate her breasts and left each of them reddish, nipples outstretched from the way his mouth tugged and pulled and flicked on them.

 A lot of things may have already changed between them and their relationship, but never the sex. Never their sex that had always been this good. So good.

Sabay na silang umaalog sa kinauupuan. Renante made his upward thrusts, matching the timing of her riding on him.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” Pawisan na silang dalawa pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin.

“Like it?” he moaned, tucking the strands of her messed up hair behind her ear.

“I always like this. Fuck, Renante. I want to do this again and again with you!”

“Then, round two tayo sa kama!”

Renante grabbed a handful of her hair behind her head to pull her down for a torrid kiss.

Their lips met again, moaning and grunting and shuddering in between each kisses.

Crack!

Whatever cracked, that did not stop them.

Mas naging hayok pa sila ni Renante. Mas nanabik. Mas binilisan ang pag-angkin sa isa’t isa. Binuka ni Renante ang mga hita. He steadied to thrust upward harded, making her bob up and down. Her bobbing breasts slapping his collar bone, his jaws and chin.

She looked into his eyes, and he looked into hers. They were flushing, droopy with delirious daze.

“Ang sarap mo. Napakasarap mo,” ungol nito, halos kapusin ng hininga. “Pwede ka bang araw-arawin?”

“Araw-arawin mo ako. Gabi-gabihin mo na rin.” She pleaded him with weak, soulful eyes.

“Isama mo na rin ang hapon at tanghali.”

“Oh, Renante!” there was a tinge of plaint in her groan. “Balak mo yata ako lumpuhin kaagad!”

“I won’t let that happen. As much as I want to fuck you to death, I just can’t. I want to live my one whole life with you, Stace.”

Sasagot na sana siya, pero nangibabaw ang panginginig ng kanyang katawan. “A-Ah… Ah…”

She became uneasy. Sobra-sobrang sarap at kiliti ang tumatalo sa kanyang katinuan. It was as if she was writhing, but it was pleasure uncontainable that’s driving her insane.

Mabilis na nakahalata ang lalaki.

Renante thrust faster. “That’s it, Boo. It’s alright… Let it go.” His voice was soothing.

Stacey dropped her mouth open. Her heart raced. Her eyes widened. Her breathing shallowed and puffed faster.

“Come for me! Come for me!” he encouraged sternly as he impaled her faster and rougher.

“Ah!” liyad niya.

Renante caught the back of her head with his hand.

Stacey came first. Orgasm punched her in one big surprising blow.  And yet, their ride continued.

Her wetness spilled all over his cock and wet the ends of his shirt. Each time they pull away them slam back together, drops of her wetness would jump up. Manginig-nginig siyang humagod sa matigas nitong dibdib. She purred contentedly against his lips and cried when his cock began throbbing inside her.

It vibrated so hard it shook her whole system. He came so much she was filled. He even overflowed, his thick sperm smeared down the sides of her inner thighs. Stacey could not help biting her lower lip.

Naguluhan siya dahil nagmamadaling tumayo si Renante. Hinila agad ni Stacey pababa ang tinaas nitong tank top niya.

Nang makatayo na sila, doon lang niya nalaman kung bakit.

“Fuck!” She was horrified. She stared at the broken toilet cover. She wildly turned to Renante. “Iyan ba ‘yong nag-crack kanina?”

“I’m sorry it broke,” he panted, staring with disbelief at the broken toilet cover as well.

She gave the toilet a one last look. Nang ibalik ang tingin kay Renante, medyo nakayuko pa rin ang ulo nito. Mistula itong musmos na nahuling gumawa ng kalokohan.

Nangingiti siya nung una pero hindi rin napigilan ang matawa.

Renante was relieved. He finally managed a low chuckle as he slowly shook his head.

.

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***

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MONDAY. Nasa opisina na nito sa VVatch si Renante. Nahuling umalis ng bahay si Stacey. Dinahilan niya kay Renante na late siyang pupunta sa Hibla.

Nagdadalawang-isip si Stacey kung aabangan ba ang ina sa bahay. Ngayong Lunes kasi raw ito babalik para i-video ang bahay para sa vlog nito.

Stacey just had this urge to confront her mother again. Gusto lang niya makasigurado na wala itong sasabihin kay Renante tungkol sa koneksyon ng nanay nitong si Luz sa pagkamatay ng kanyang Tito Manuel.

If Renante should know anything, Stacey wanted to be the first one to tell him about it.

Pero naisip niyang huwag na lang. Baka kakapakiusap niya sa ina, maisip nitong ang pagsabi ng totoo kay Renante ang paraan para maghiwalay sila. Her mother surely wanted them to break up. So, no. She decided that she wouldn’t give Artemia that idea. Kaya umalis rin si Stacey ng bahay.

She dressed up nicely, the way she usually does when going to office. Stacey put on a pair of red straight pants, an ankle-strap silver high heels and a white spaghetti-strapped top with layered ruffles. Hinayaan niyang nakalugay ang lagpas-balikat na buhok. She side-swept her hair, mostly curtaining the right side of her face and tucking the left side behind her ear. The hairstyle exposed her left thick white loop earring.

Nung Linggo pa siya niyaya ni Kylie makipagkita sa Sondra’s. Pero hindi siya pumayag dahil para sa kanya, para sa kanilang dalawa ni Renante ang weekends.

Nasa ikalawang palapag si Kylie nang matagpuan niya. Masaya itong ngumiti sa kanya, iniwan saglit ang pinagkakaabalahang i-drawing sa tablet nito. Kylie tied her blonde-dyed hair in a single French braid. She looked like a cute doll also because of her sweet yellow puffed dress.

Nilapag ni Stacey ang bag sa mesa bago inusog ang upuan.

“Kylie, what is this business idea na gusto mong pag-usapan?” bungad niya agad dito.

“I knew you’ll be interested!” Kylie watched her occupy the sear across her on that table by the balcony. Presko ang hangin sa pwestong iyon. Idagdag pa sa maaliwalas na aesthetic ang mangilan-ngilang display ng mga nakapasong halaman at hanging plants.

“Of course. You see, ayoko na patagalin ang pag-secret kay Renante na hindi na ako ang may-ari ng Hibla.” She could not help a weary sigh. “Kapag nalaman niya iyon, but at the same, sinabi kong may bago na akong business, for sure, wala na siyang ipag-aalala pa.”

She didn’t want him to have more worries. Lalo na’t hindi lingid sa kanya na namomoroblema ito sa VVatch.

“Then, stay seated here for a while and rest a bit,” ngiti nito. “Let’s wait for Piccollo.”

Nasamid siya saglit bago napabulalas.

“Si Piccollo?”

Is that why he called her last Saturday?