Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 40: Bubble

Smiles erupted on our faces, and he came close to me, nuzzling my cheek. We love each other. With each push-in. With every pull-out. With our fingers laced on both sides of my head. With the hard slap of his hips. With the scrape of his teeth over my shoulder and the soft kisses to my neck. 

He groans as euphoria envelops us, hugging me closer as we simultaneously finish. His hands gently swept up and down my back as he rolled me on top of him.

"That was..." I trail off. Hindi ko na kailangan magsalita dahil naiintindihan niya na ang gusto kong ipahayag.

"Yeah." James' chest expands with another big intake of air. "It was."

Binalot kami ng katahimikan ng ilang minuto hanggang sa tinawag ko siya sa isang tamad na tono, "James?"

Hindi siya sumagot, pero naramdaman ko ang pagpisil niya sa bewang ko.

"Teej." Pag ulit kong tawag sa kanya ng pabulong habang tumitingala.

"Red?" Nakataas ang dalawang kilay niya pero bakas sa mukha niya ang kasiyahan. "Yes, baby?"

"...Don't leave me, okay?"

I noticed the way his eyes softened, and he pulled my body closer so he could kiss me. "Never. Stay with me today?"

I hook my leg up over his. "I'm staying," I tell him, not asking permission.

We're both lying in the bed together, our limbs entwined like two loose threads that coil around each other.

Nakapulupot ako sa mga braso niya habang nakaharap sa kanya. Nahagip ng mata ko ang mahabang peklat sa gilid ng kanyang tiyan. Pinkish pa ang peklat na parang bago. Pinasadahan ko ito ng daliri ko, "Ito ba yung gunshot dati?"

"No." Bulong niya at itinulak pababa ang kamay ko, kung saan makikita ang mas maliit at kupas na peklat kung titingnan ko ng maayos. Tumango siya patungo sa unang peklat na nahawakan ko. "That's a new one. I had two men coming for me, I had to escape off a knife with my hand."

Tumango ako at hinaplos ang magkatabing peklat.

"Ano namang ginawa nila sayo noong nakaraang araw? Pinarusahan ka talaga?... Torture?" Bulong ko, kinikilabutan.

"I was interrogated. They made sure that I didn't leak private information." Tango niya at alam kong ayaw niya i-detalye ang mga nangyari.

Gulong gulo akong napatingin sa kanya, "Hindi ba ikaw ang team leader—you're the captain. Are your subordinates not backing you up? Wala ka namang ginawang masama."

He did break a rule, but I'm biased.

"The council sent agents from other branches. Men who don't know me personally, so they won't take it easy."

Nahulog ang panga ko sa sinabi niya, "What did your family say about it?"

They're so protective of each other that I think the siblings would've rallied against doing it to him.

They own the company. Can they even do it to—I don't know—the heir?!

"We abide by strict rules, baby. It's a tradition that was made even before I was born. I respect it, and I understand why they had to."

Napairap ako. I still don't like this 'council'. 

"And only Sky and I know about this. The yakuza, our missions, everything. I'm telling Jamie but... maybe in the future."

Tumango ako pero di ko napigilang mapakagat ng labi sa guilt.

Dahil sa sinabi niya, naalala ko ang huling binanggit ni Jamie bago pa ako umalis sa tabi niya kanina.