Pleasure BOOK 2: VICTORIA ✓

Chapter 12

VICTORIA'S POV

Kailangan ko nang bumili ng waterproof na make up. Prenteng humiga ako sa kama at paulit-ulit na nagpasalamat na hindi binuksan ni Simoun ang ilaw. Dahil kung ginawa niya 'yon sure ako na makakagawa ako ng hakbang na pagsisisihan ko. Hindi naman pwedeng magsuot ako ng salamin sa mata sa loob ng shower. Hindi ko nga nadala ang salamin ko eh. Ilang oras ang inabot ko sa harapan ng salamin mailabas ko lang ang dapat na itsura ng mukha ni Victoria. Alam ko na magdududa na sya sakaling magsuot uli ako ng shades sa susunod lalo na sa gabi kaya iniwan ko na kanina. But as I felt the makeup drip from my face—especially when he took his time to wash it—I was nothing but a ball of nerves. 

Nagpapihit pihit ako sa kama, iniisip kung gaano ako kasaya sa piling ni Simoun at kung gaano rin ako nasasaktan. Being with Simoun was amazing, but being with him as someone else hurt. It was as if my body was drawn to his, and his to mine. Ang pagkagusto ko kay Simoun ang isang bagay na hindi ko pa nagawa buong buhay ko. At sa tuwing kasama ko siya nakakalimutan ng isip ko na nandito lang ako dahil sa business. All my inhibitions dropped. I trusted him for some reason. I felt safe around him every single time I was in his presence.

 I finally slipped off into a light sleep, and it didn’t shock me one bit that he was there to greet me. 

My hair blew back as I rode through the countryside. Rolling hills and lush grass called to me and filled my nostrils as the horse pounded its hooves against the ground. I closed my eyes and held my arms out, standing up in the saddle and taking in the moment. But a masked figure rode up be- side me. I sat back down in my saddle and looked over at him.

Alam kong 'sya' iyon dahil sa suot niyang jeans at T-shirt.

He came up, riding evenly with me, and looked over at me through the two holes in his mask. Hindi ko makita ang kulay ng mata niya, pero alam ko kung sino siya. Pero alam ko na sya ito.

 Simoun.

He was underneath the hood. 

He galloped ahead of me, and I furrowed my brow in confusion. Natakot ako pero naexcite din. Binilisan ko ang pagpapatakbo para makasunod sa kanya sa kagubatan.  Then, I came upon a small cottage.

 It was quaint. Made of stone and had beautiful flowers planted out front. Vines grew up the sides of the place, and a small watering hole sat off to the side. I recognized the horse tied up there, eating and drinking.

Iyon ang kabayo nung naka mask na lalaki.  

 It was Simoun's horse. 

Bumaba ako sa kabayo ko saka siya itinali sa isang puno. Lumakad ako sa harapan ng bahay, bukas ang pintuan. Sa loob ay nakatayo ang lalaking naka mask, walang pang itaas at pawisan.  My eyes raked up and down his form. The rings of his abs. The swell of his chest. The girth of his cock as it hung between his legs. Even how his thighs pulsed and bulged with veins. 

It was Simoun standing in front of me. 

Walang salitang lumapit ako sa kanya. Tumitig ako sa mga mata nya pero imbes na makita ko siya ay nakita ko ang maliit na salamin. They reflected back the blonde hair and blue eyes, the contoured makeup that made my nose smaller and my brow bigger. Bumagsak ang luha ko sa mga mata nang hawakan ko ang pisngi niya.

He nuzzled into my warmth. An intimate moment shared with a man hidden from view.

 “Bakit ka nakasuot ng mask?" tanong ko.

“Hindi ako ang nakasuot ng maskara, Amber. Ikaw,"

I sat straight up in bed as beads of sweat dripped down my cheek. Para sa isang panaginip na may magandang senaryo, it haunted me in the back of my mind. I slung my legs over the edge of my full- size bed and drew in a deep breath. Dalawang beses akong kumurap para maalis sa isipab ko ang hubad na katawan ng naka maskarang iyon.