Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 10

LUCIEN had avoided Neriah for the past three days. No morning coffee. No random walks. No messages. No accidental encounters.

Nothing.

And that made Neriah furious. Hindi niya alam kung may nagawa ba siyang hindi nito nagustuhan.

Ang pinakaayaw niya sa lahat ay iniiwasan siya at hindi siya kausapin, kahit hindi man nagustuhan si Lucien.

She grew up being straightforward. Lahat ng ayaw o gusto niya ay sinasabi niya. She was bold in her actions and vocal in her words—ganun siya pinalaki ng kaniyang mga magulang.

Misunderstanding was caused by not communicating.

And this was exactly why she was now overthinking.

So, Neriah marched straight into Lucien’s hotel suite after discovering he was inside.

Agad namang nag-angat ng tingin si Lucien nang pumasok si Neriah. His expression immediately tightened—a guilty man.

Good. Neriah thought.

“Bakit mo ako iniiwasan?”

“I’m not.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Neriah habang nakapamewang sa harapan ni Lucien. “Yes, you are!” she exclaimed.

“I…” Hindi naman makasagot si Lucien.

Hindi naman niya puwedeng sabihin rito ang mga napapanaginipan niya. Neriah might think of him as a pervert. Hindi naman sa ayaw niya ang mga panaginip na ‘yun, pero natatakot siya na baka mawalan siya ng kontrol sa kaniyang sarili. And that was the scariest part for him—to lose his control.

“May nagawa ba ako?” tanong ni Neriah. Maayos naman silang nagkahiwalay noong nag-dinner sila sa hotel suite ni Lucien.

Lucien could feel it. Beneath the irritation of her voice was something else—concern and confusion. Napatitig siya sa dalaga. Pakiramdam niya, siya ang nasasaktan dahil sa ginawa niya kay Neriah. Iniwasan niya ito nang walang pasabi. But how could he tell her…

“Wala.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Umiling si Lucien. “It’s just me.”

Neriah frowned. “Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?”

“Wala.” Umiwas siya ng tingin. He didn’t dare to look at her because every time she looked at Neriah, he would remember his wild dreams. “Mas maganda siguro kung hindi muna tayo magkita.” Sabi ni Lucien. Naningkit ang mata ni Neriah. “I’m busy with some business—”

“Bullshit.”

Nagulat si Lucien sa pagmumura ni Neriah. “Did you just cuss?”

“Oo,” tugon agad ni Neriah. She cussed without shame and regret. “Can you just tell me the reason why you were avoiding me?”

Hindi sumagot si Lucien.

“Lucien Hale Verdan!”

Lucien closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As though gathering courage. “Neriah, please… give me a break.”

“Anong break ka diyan?” Her frustration finally exploded. “Ikaw ‘tong umiiwas sa ating dalawa—”

Lucien suddenly pulled Neriah and pushed her onto the sofa, pinned her hand against the backrest, and knelt on the sofa, placing Neriah between his thighs and kissing her.

Nagulat man si Neriah sa ginawa ni Lucien, pero agad siyang tumugon sa halik nito.

They kissed passionately.

Saka lamang nila itinigil ang kanilang halikan nang pareho silang kapusin ng hininga.

Neriah thought before that her first kiss would be just a peck, but she didn’t expect it to be just this good.

“That is the reason why I am avoiding you, Neriah. I am desiring you,” Lucien said as he stared at Neriah for a moment before he let her go and sat beside her.

Inaasahan ni Lucien na magagalit sa kaniya si Neriah dahil sa ginawa niya, pero hindi niya inaasahan na uupo ito paharap sa hita niya. And she was grinning from ear to ear.

“What a coincidence, Mr. Verdan, because I am desiring you too.”

And she kissed him intensely on his lips while her hand was touching his body against the fabric.

As they kissed, both of them knew something had changed. The line between friendship and something more had finally disappeared.

And neither of them wanted it back.

NANG MAGMULAT ng mata si Neriah kinabukasan, she found herself in Lucien’s arms. Nasa mahabang sofa ang silang dalawa. Lucien was leaning into the armrest while she was leaning into him, and they were covered with a blanket. His arms were wrapped around her.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

Neriah moved, facing Lucien. She lifted her hand and traced his face with her fingertips. Her fingertips trace his forehead down to his nose, then finally to his lips.

Then her hand slid down to his chest. Nakabukas ang tatlong butones ng suot ni Lucien na pang-itaas kaya naman malaya niyang mahawakan ang matipuno nitong dibdib.

She doesn’t know what’s gotten into her that she was bold when it comes to Lucien. She doesn’t feel embarrassed after what happened last night.

I didn’t know that he’s a good kisser.

Pero tumalim ang tingin ni Neriah nang maisip niya kung ilang babae na ang nahalikan ni Lucien. And she wanted to kill those women, whoever they are.

Napatigil na lamang si Neriah sa pag-iisip nang maramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Lucien sa kamay niya na nakahawak sa dibdib nito.

Lucien opened his eyes. “I didn’t know that you desired me that much.”

Neriah rolled her eyes. “Now, you know.”

Ngumiti si Lucien. “Yeah, now I know.” He looked at Neriah. Inayos niya ang suot nito na bahagyang nakataas ang laylayan ng suot nitong damit.

“Lucien.”

“Hmm?”

Umayos ng upo si Neriah. Then she narrowed her eyes at him. “Ilan na ang babaeng hinalikan mo?”

Lucien smiled. And want to tease Neriah. “Why are you asking—”

Hinawakan ni Neriah ang panga ni Lucien. “Tell me.”

Lucien chuckled. “Why? Are you going to kill them?”

Ngumisi si Neriah. “That was exactly my plan.”

Napatitig si Lucien sa dalaga. “Seryoso ka?”

“You’re mine,” seryosong sabi ni Neriah. “I don’t want any other women thinking how they could get you… or thinking that you’re a good kisser.”

Lucien chuckled. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Neriah na nakahawak sa panga niya. He wanted to tease her more, but he just remembered how she killed that drunkard the first time they met. Of course, Neriah can kill anyone if she wants to.

“Ikaw lang.” Sabi ni Lucien. “You’re the first woman I've kissed.”

“I’m your first kiss?” Naninigurong tanong ni Neriah.

Tumango si Lucien.

Gumuhit ang malawak na ngiti sa labi ni Neriah. “Good.”

Napailing na lamang si Lucien. “But I think we need to take it slow,” sabi niya.

Nagkibit ng balikat si Neriah. “Fine with me,” she replied. Walang problema ‘yun sa kaniya. Para bang getting to know stage.

Pero nauna ang halikan kaysa sa getting-to-know-you stage? Sabi ng konsensiya niya.

That was an exception. Neriah reasoned.

“Pero kaya mo ba?” tanong ni Neriah at bumaba ang tingin sa pagitan ng hita ni Lucien.

Lucien was erected…early in the morning. He quickly pulled the pillow from his back and covered his erection.

“I’ll take a bath.” And he quickly disappeared from the living room.

Natawa na lamang si Neriah. “He’s so cute when he blushes.”

When they were kissing last night, Neriah felt Lucien’s erection, pero hindi siya nagpahalata dahil gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang gagawin ni Lucien.

And to her surprise, Lucien had his self-control.

“Next time, he will lose his self-control.”

And she will make sure it will happen.

Anytime soon.