Chapter 30

"Cheers!" usal ni Tamara nang salinan ni Reid ng champagne ang flute niya.

"For our future!" Reid uttered and clinked their glasses.

Weird. Bakit sinabi iyon ni Reid? Future. Wala naman silang future. Baka nga iyon na ang una at huli nilang wedding anniversary. Sa susunod na taon ay may kanya-kanya na silang buhay.

Wala siyang rason para malungkot. She wanted freedom from him. Reid had a life of his own. Ang riding club ang buhay niya. At di iyon ang mundo niya.

Huminga siya nang malalim. "Mami-miss ko itong riding club oras na maghiwalay tayo."

"Hindi ka ba dadalaw dito?" tanong nito. "Magkapit-bahay lang naman ang lake cabin at ang riding club."

"Ewan ko." Baka lalo lang niyang ma-miss si Reid kapag dumalaw-dalaw pa siya doon. Baka mahirapan lang siyang mag-adjust.

"Bakit ba pinag-uusapan natin ang paghihiwalay natin samantalang wedding anniversary natin? Cheer up!" May inabot itong kahita sa kanya. "For you."

"Wow!" usal niya nang isang kuwintas na may white gold horse pendant doon. At may maliit pa iyong diamond sa dibdib. "Para sa akin ito?"

"Yes. Regalo ko sa iyo. Do you like it?"

"I love it!"

Kinuha nito ang kuwintas at isinuot sa kanya. "As expected, it looks good on you," he said with admiration in his eyes.

"Wala man lang akong regalo sa iyo. Sorry."

"Hindi naman ako mahirap I-please."

"Anong gusto mo?"

"A kiss."

Ilang sandaling nag-usap ang mga mata nila. What's wrong with a simple kiss? Di naman mabigat ang hinihingi sa kanya ni Reid. He gave her a very beautiful gift. Wala namang masama kung suklian niya iyon.

Tumayo siya at lumapit sa kinauupuan nito. She bent down. "Happy anniversary, Reid," she whispered.

The moment their lips touched, she knew that it won't be just a simple innocent thank you kiss. There was nothing innocent about the kisses they shared before. And this one won't stop the moment it started either.

Hinawakan nito Reid ang batok niya at ibinuka ang labi. As if he was so hungry for the taste of her. Humawak siya sa balikat nito kundi ay lulubog siya sa lupa. Their were even hotter than the dormant volcano nearby. She could feel the ground shake even if there was no earthquake.

Nahigit niya ang hininga nang palalimin nito ang halik. Pero di ito tumigil. Walang sinuman sa kanila ang gustong tumigil. Mula sa balikat nito ay humaplos ang kamay niya sa buhok nito. Why did it happen all the time that whenever they kiss, they were insatiable? Ano bang ginagawa ni Reid sa kanya?

Naramdaman niyang may pumatak sa braso niya. Di niya iyon pinansin. She just kept on feeling Reid's kisses. Nagsunud-sunod na ang patak. DI na nila iyon nagawang balewalain ni Reid. Lumalakas na ang ulan.

Tumayo si Reid. "Get inside the cabin," utos nito at hinila siya.

Nanlumo siya nang mamatay ang ilaw sa lantern. Basa na rin ang mesa kung saan sila nag-dinner. Even the champagne flute overflowed with rainwater. Ni hindi rin niya nasagip ang tulip na bigay sa kanya ni Reid.

"Ay! Nabasa na lahat," malungkot niyang usal habang nakatanaw mula sa bintana ng lake cabin. "Tapos na ang anniversary celebration natin. Bilis naman."

Nang lumingon sa kanya si Reid ay titig na titig ito sa kanya. "I am not sorry at all," he said in an enthralled voice.

Nakasunod ang mga mata niya sa bawat kilos nito nang dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kanya. Sinuklay ng daliri nito ang basa niyang buhok. That simple act was so sensual. Parang nahipnotismo siya nang kalasin nito ang buhol sa shoulder strap ng itim na dress na suot niya.

Bumagsak iyon sa paanan niya. Only her undies remained. His eyes roamed on her body with appreciation. "I never thought that you are this beautiful," he said in a very raspy voice. It sounded so weak. As if he was vulnerable at the moment.

If he was vulnerable, so was she. She was exposed to him. Pero wala man lang siyang ginawa para takpan ang sarili niya. A part of her was telling her that he made her feel powerful because he could make her feel so weak.

He planted kisses all over her face. From the top of her head, her eyes, her nose and her ears. Parang bata siya na tinatakam nito.

Halos di na siya humihinga nang halikan nito ang gilid ng labi niya. He was teasing her. She couldn't control herself at all. She cupped his face and kissed him fervently this time. She couldn't wait any longer. She must have him.

"A little impatient, are we?" Reid teased.

"I will kill you after this, Reid Alleje," she warned.

He gave her what she wanted and kisses her back. Na-frustrate siya nang maramdaman ang basang damit nito sa balat niya. She was almost bare but he was still fully dressed. It was a bit unfair.

"I suggest you take off your shirt, Mr. Alleje."

"Why not do it yourself?"

She gnashed her teeth. "I might ruin your expensive shirt."

"It's okay. Marami ako niyan."

Di na siya nagdalawang-isip pa. She almost ripped off the buttons of his shirt as she takes it off him. She thought she heard him laugh. Maybe he was laughing over his effect on her. She didn't give a damn. All she wanted was to feel his skin against hers. Just for him, she was capable of anything.

Bigla siyang natigilan nang matanggal ang shirt nito. Di na kasi niya alam kung ano ang susunod na gagawin. Or she was just awed by its beauty. Natakot siya na baka ma-disappoint niya ito.

"What's wrong, Tamara?"

Umiling siya at ibinaba ang tingin. "Nothing."

He nudged her chin up. "Then why did you stop?"

She bit her lips. "I-I don't know how to please you."

Hinawi nito ang buhok niya na naligaw sa mukha niya. "Hmmm… let's see. I will show you what pleases you first. You might get an idea."

Bago pa siya nakapagtanong ay hinalikan nito ang leeg niya. She was so heady with sensation she didn't notice that he was stripping the rest of her clothes along with her insanity. Unti-unting nawala ang inhibisyon niya.

He laid her down gently on the carpet. Ilang saglit siyang napatitig sa kisame. Malakas ang pagbagsak ng ulan doon. Kasing lakas ng tibok ng puso niya.

Napalitan iyon ng mukha ni Reid. He was staring at her with those coal black eyes burning with passion. "Scared?"

 "No."

"Good." Then he slowly lowered his bare body against hers.

Her eyes widened. She was shocked with the intimacy. She never thought that a simple contact like that could bring utmost sensation. Only a few moments and they will become one.

"Tell me if you are hurting."

"I am not." Hinaplos niya ang mukha nito. "You are so beautiful, Reid."

"So are you," he whispered as their lips met.

His tongue imitated what his body did to her. He took her to greater heights. They were burning and she didn't care.

She was not scared of anything as long as she was with Reid. Not even the storm or the harsh wind. She was brave because she was brave enough to love him.