The Heir's Retribution

CHAPTER 33

Chapter 33: EVERY PIECE OF ME

My hands instinctively reached out for Dominic nang magising ako. My fingers searched for his warmth, but all they found was the cold, vacant space beside me. Kunot-noo akong nagmulat nang makumpirmang wala na nga akong katabi.

Agad akong nanibago dahil nasanay na akong may katabing gumigising. For a moment, I thought he had already left. But then, my eyes found him.

He's sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows, half-naked, wearing nothing but his pajama bottoms. The curtains were drawn shut, except for the small gap where he sat, allowing just enough light to spill in without disturbing my sleep. 

He's stared blankly at the city skyline, his brows furrowed in deep thought. 

Bumangon ako sa kama at lumakad papalapit sa kanya. The toned muscles of his back flexed slightly when he noticed me approaching. That's when I caught sight of the faint trail of smoke curling from an ashtray on the small coffee table beside him— he was smoking.

I straddled his lap, settling in as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His warmth instantly enveloped me. My arms wrapped around his shoulders as I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his clean and masculine scent with just a hint of smoke lingering on his skin.

His hands found their place on my lower back and gently pressed his lips against the side of my head. 

"Good morning, sugar," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. 

 "Good morning," I replied, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. Medyo magulo ang buhok niya, which means hindi pa din matagal ng bumangon siya.

I studied his expression, trying to decipher what was on his mind. 

I tilted my head, a teasing smile playing on my lips.

"So... are you testing how many frowns it takes before you get wrinkles, or just deciding whether the other buildings look more like ants?"

He chuckled, and just like that, his frown magically disappeared. I couldn't help but trace his forehead with my forefinger.

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What, checking for damage? Don't worry, sugar, my forehead's been through worse—mostly because of you."

I giggled at pabirong pinalo ang balikat niya. Before I could pull away, he grabbed my face roughly, his large hand cradling my jaw as he leaned in. His minty breath mixed with the faint scent of smoke, wrapping around me like a lazy whisper. And damn, he was hot—too hot for someone who just rolled out of bed.

His lips hovered over mine, teasing, and I exhaled shakily before murmuring, "You know, smoking used to be a complete turn-off for me. The moment someone admitted they smoked, I'd—" I wrinkled my nose. "—practically gag. I'd think, How dare they blow that nasty smoke in my face? Or, God, kissing them must taste disgusting."

He tilted his head, clearly surprised by the information, his thumb grazing my cheek. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

He adjusted me slightly on his lap, shifting so he could see my face better. Halos mapanguso ako at the loss of contact, instantly missing the warmth of his skin against mine. 

"I always tell you when I don't like something—like when you wear an awfully short dress or when you don't wear a bra."

"Honestly, hindi ko din alam..." I smirked, shrugging, as I ran my fingers through his hair. "Maybe because it just looks hot when you do it."

His expression darkens. His hand on my back pulled me closer just enough to murmur, "You should tell me these things. My body is yours, just as yours is mine."