In Love with the Dragon - Chapter 4

"Any comment?" Spike prodded her when she did not speak.

"What can I say?" Qila asked uneasily.

"Well, you may preen and say, 'yes, I want you, too!' Or am I too fast?"

"I don't know your true name, your true character, your--" she gasped.

"Whoa! You will know my true everything tomorrow. But for now, be true to yourself. Do you want me, Qila?"

Qila stared at his magnetic eyes again. They were commanding her to think and to do things against her better judgment.

"Yes..." The affirmative flew from her lips without passing her brain.

"The sweetest word," Spike praised her. "You won't regret it. I promise," he declared throatily.

He did not touch her physically but he was caressing her face with his eyes. Her lips felt as though he had kissed them. They were swollen and puffed-up. She was steadily given a dose of his charisma.

"Stop looking at me, Spike!" she protested to him when her heart would not stop beating a tattoo.

"Why?" Spike whispered huskily. His eyes traced the contours of her jaw and neck. "I like looking at you, Qila..."

His voice was like a finger slowly stroking her spine, up and down...

Qila squirmed in her seat. Her soft hair on her nape had stood up. She had goosebumps on her arms. Her flesh was trembling as a strong reaction to his subtle seduction.

"Please..." She swallowed a silent scream. "Stop..." She closed her eyes and firmed her lips.

"What do you feel, Qila?"

"I--I feel like you are touching me, Spike!" she accused him between her gritted teeth. She opened her eyes to look at him sharply. "You have eloquent eyes!"

"I just want to be sure that Dollie is not in your mind, Qila," Spike said softly. His eyes caressed her mouth.

"Oh, Spike!" was all she could say.

They ate their late lunch for two hours. It was dinner time when they finally went out of the restaurant.

When Spike was not flirting, he was a good conversationalist.

During the meal, Spike asked questions about her life. She told him about her late mother. She even told him about Marlow and Herman. Maybe, the small amount of champagne she imbibed had loosened her tongue. Or Spike was just a very good listener.

Or more accurate, Qila was attracted to Spike. Period.

"Where are we going?" Qila asked when they rode a red sports car. She was feeling mellowed and relaxed with good food and stimulating company.

"Home." Spike grinned at her while driving.

"My home is--"

"From now on, my home is your home, Qila," he intervened gently.

"Wait a minute!" Her independent self was roused. She had awakened from his seductive spell at last. Her heart was beating fast again. "I want to go to my home, Spike!"

Spike glanced at her. He shrugged nonchalantly. "Okay."

She watched the familiar landmark breathlessly. She did not speak again. And she did not look at him. She kept her eyes on the window.

The sports car stopped. She peered at her attic window. No light. Of course, she did not switch on the light.

"Qila," he murmured her name.

She turned to him reluctantly. She was startled because he was so close. Without a word, his arm pulled her to him. His hand cupped her jaw and kissed her cheek.

Their lips met tentatively at first, tasting and savoring one another. When it started to deepen, warning bells gave a tinkle. Qila pushed him. She was gratified when she felt his heart was beating wildly.

"You are mine, Qila!" Spike kissed her again but it was a gentle nuzzle on the corner of her lips.

"We just met each other, Spike. How can you be so sure?" she whispered while she tried to control her arousal.

"I am sure," he reassured her. "As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, Qila!"

"Oh, Spike! Let's get to know each other first," she suggested carefully.

"Yes, I agree," Spike acquiesced in a frustrated tone. "I'll give you one month to get to know me!"

"One month?"

"Oh, Qila! I'm killing myself from refraining to make love to you!" Spike burst out.

"Oh..." Qila was suddenly galvanized into action. "G-goodnight!" She tried to open the door but it did not budge. "Let me out, please!" She was panicky.

"I'm not scaring you, Qila!" Spike move back to the driver's seat. "Okay. I won't do anything you don't like! Is that fine with you?"

"No, it's not fine with me! Spike, you can seduce a cat by just staring at it!"

"You mean, I can seduce you with a look?" Spike asked flirtatiously. His mesmeric eyes stared at her.

"Yes! I mean, no! Spike, you're maddening!" She closed her eyes while speaking with gritted teeth.

"Did you know this is our first fight as a couple? Let's make up," Spike pulled her again in his arms gently. His lips rubbed her closed mouth sensually.

Qila had never been kissed like this. Her bones turned to water. She wanted to lie down and give him all that he craved.

No, this was not right. She did not know him...

"Say no, Qila, and I will stop..." He nuzzled her neck and her shoulder. He inhaled the musky fragrance of her growing arousal.

"No," she whispered in a sob.

Spike stopped as he promised. He kept breathing her innate scent. Inhale. Exhale.

Qila was motionless. She was not breathing. His smell was clean and manly.

He pulled himself away from her. He faced upwards and exhaled aloud. His skin was flushed and had a sheen of perspiration.

"You try the saint in me, Qila!" he said humorously. He was smiling when he turned to her. "Goodnight, Qila. Sweet dreams!"

She did not answer. The moment she heard the door was unlocked, she opened it hastily.

One man held the car door while the other man handed her the hamper and the grocery bag.

Without looking back, Qila walked fast towards the three-story structure. She ran upstairs until she reached her door. When she was inside the flat, she heard the car's engine. She peeped at the window. She had seen the receding tail lights of the sports car.

Spike was an influential and wealthy man. He could afford two steaks and a bottle of champagne from an exclusive restaurant. He had two bodyguards. He owned a hundred-million-peso sports car.

"What does Spike see in me?" Qila was removing her clothes to get ready for a warm shower.

Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment. Her neck and her ears were flushed red. Her eyes sparkled. Her lips were bee-stung. Her face was glowing. She had never seen herself like this.

She touched her lips where his mouth caressed in a restrained manner. She closed her eyes to savor him again.

"You have one month to get to know him, Qila. After that... what?" she asked herself.

She stopped soaping her body. She was shivering but feeling very hot.

"Stop, stop, stop!" When she was toweling herself, she felt his hands caressing her body.

"Spike, stop spooking me!" Qila scolded the air around her.

She donned her nightshirt and cotton knickers. She laid flat on the bed and pulled the sheet over her. She reviewed the hours she spent with him.

Qila embraced the soft body pillow. She sighed breathlessly.

Spike could kiss! He passed the test with flying colors. He was a smooth kisser. His lips were not so wet and not so dry.

'Am I ready to go all the way?' The question floated inside her mind as she slept deeply.

Her emotions were chaotic when she entered the attic flat earlier. She did not notice the lights were switched on. Someone was there.

Someone was still there...

A shadow walked over her and observed her while she was sleeping.

His mouth spread widely in a leery smile. His eyes appreciated the shapely legs that was exposed by the white short pajamas. His hand touched the air as though combing her long hair.

Qila had the likeness of his Wendy. The same slender built, the same serious expression, the same sex appeal...

'You are perfect, Qila Arrow! Perfect in every way!' He chuckled silently. 'This is the only thing that is missing in your life!'

He pulled a small bottle with sprayer from his right pocket. He covered his mouth and nose before he sprayed liquid in the air. He watched the rain-like particles entered her nose and her mouth while she breathed freely during sleep.

He put the tasteless and colorless powder on her powdered milk, cereal jar, coffee granules, chocolate powder, and mini-bottles of seasoning in the kitchen pantry. He diluted the powder in distilled water and injected it to the milk cartons, the juice tetra packs, the water bottles, and the other liquids found in the refrigerator. He worked carefully and methodically.

When he was through, he glanced again at the sleeping Qila.

'Sleep, my child. Your time is near. You will come to me!'