RISQUÉ 1: Forbidden Temptation

Chapter 22

Cordovan
#893F46

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HINIHINGAL na napahiga si Diana gitna ng vineyard at natatawang hinampas si Cormac. "Sabi mo maglalakad lang tayo papuntang vineyard pero anong ginawa mo? Parang katulad lang din ito noong nakaraang buwan pagkauwi natin mula sa Pleasure House. Pinasama mo ako dito tapos nakatatlo ka sa akin."

"Is it my fault if you always stirred the hell out of me?" tugon ni Cormac sa pagitan nang paghabol nito ng hininga. "I really want to take you for a walk but then you look so delectable in your red floral sundress. Hindi mo ba alam na kahinaan ito ng mga lalaki?"

Diana laughed. "Hindi ko alam. Nakapagsuot lang ako nito kasi check up ulit ni Mike ngayon."

Sandali itong natahimik. "How was he by the way?"

"Getting better. Sumubok itong maglakad pero hindi niya pa rin kaya," sagot ni Diana at nilingon ito. "Speaking of Mike, I remember how I met you in the hospital. You were so rude that time."

"I am not, baby. I was holding myself because of you," depensa ni Cormac at humarap sa kanya. "I am not lying when I said I was drawn to you that day. Kahit na alam kong may asawa ka na."

"Hindi ko ito natanong noon pero bakit? I was just... me," Diana said as if she couldn't believe how he admired the beauty in her. "There was nothing special about me. My hair is bland. My nose is not that nice to look at. Hindi gaano kakapal ang labi ko at walang nakakaantig kapag tumingin ka sa mga mata ko. Over all, hindi ako ganoon kaganda at—"

Hindi na naituloy ni Diana ang kanyang sasabihin nang mapansin niyang nakatitig lamang si Cormac sa kanya at halatang hindi nakikinig.

"Nakikinig ka pa ba?"

"How can I when I have this beauty in front of me?" Cormac said, smiling while looking at her face. "In my eyes, you are perfect Diana."

Diana gulped and then almost cried when she realized that he was serious. He had been consistent after three months of knowing her. Who wouldn't love a consistent man?

"I am saddened, Cormac. That I couldn't give back the affection you are giving me," she said, which made Cormac disagree.

"Don't be, baby. I am satisfied with what I am receiving from you," sagot nito at hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi. "It makes me the happiest that I have been."

Ever since he came home drunk, he always had that look on his face whenever he stared at her. She got so used to it that she now sought the same from Mike and she didn't even receive half of it.

The same amount of words, the touch, the kisses, and the efforts. She was unable to receive it from Mike anymore. And she knew she was doomed the moment she compared her husband to Cormac.

Diana traced the outline of his lips using her finger. "How can I ever hate you before when you are this charming and sweet? You don't deserve any of my spite and for that, I am deeply sorry."

Umiling ito. "Nope, baby. It was your attitude and your sharp tongue that made me desire you the most. So don't you ever apologize."

"Talaga? So kapag pinagmumura at inalipusta kita ngayon, okay lang sayo?"

"Kahit tapak-tapakan mo ako, sinasabi ko sayo, magpapasalamat pa ako," sagot nito at pinupog siya nang halik.

Umalingawngaw ang tawa ni Diana sa gitna ng vineyard nang makiliti siya sa ginawa ni Cormac kaya pinigilan niya ito. She could only laugh that loud with Cormac.

"S'ya nga pala, ano palang plano mo sa birthday mo? Sa sunod na linggo na, ah," paalala ni Diana dahilan para matigilan ito.

"I don't celebrate birthdays," tipid na sagot ni Cormac.

"Ano? Bakit naman?"

Sandali itong hindi kumibo, nagnilay-nilay kung sasagutin ba nito ang kanyang tanong.

"I was an orphan, you see."

Diana gasped. "Talaga?"

"What's with that reaction? First time seeing a good-looking orphan?" biro nito kaya tiningnan niya ito nang masama.

"Don't put me off."

"I was kidding jeez. Ito na nga. Magku-kwento na. When I was seven, my mother left me in front of the orphanage. I lived in that orphanage for eight years until someone adopted me. And that is my adoptive father, Mattias Castellano who is a wealthy vintner. He decided to adopt me at the age of fifteen when I was able to answer his question about the difference between a white wine and a red wine. Nobody can’t answer it except me."

Nanatiling nakinig si Diana at sinenyasan itong magpatuloy sa pagkuwento.

"Mattias's wife died young and they didn't even have the chance to have a child. He took me in and trained me to be a vintner and he named me his heir. It was such a waste that he didn't get to have his own son because he was good father." Bigla itong napasimangot habang nakatingin sa langit. "He was the father everyone wish to have, including me. Bago ako nakapagtapos sa kolehiyo, namatay si Papa sa araw ng kaarawan ko. Kaya simula non, hindi na ako nag-celebrate ng birthday, respeto para sa papa ko. Halos sampung taon na rin."

"I was an orphan too, you know," biglang wika ni Diana dahilan upang gulat na mapalingon ito sa kanya. "What's with that reaction? First time seeing a good-looking orphan?"

Sa halip na maasar ito, natawa lamang nang malakas si Cormac. Pero bigla itong napatigil nang maalala ang kanyang sinabi. "Pero totoo nga?"

"Oo. Wala akong maalala kasi three years old pa lang, nasa bahay-ampunan na ako. Unlike you, nobody adopted me," Diana continued. "And because of that, I got bullied. A lot. I learned to be brave at all times because the world is cruel. Nagsariling sikap ako para makapag-aral pero high school lang ang kinaya ko. Mike was my childhood friend from high school who became my boyfriend and now my husband. If you are wondering how am I able to speak English fluently, that is because I love reading English novels."

"Oh, that's why..."

"Yes. But enough talking about me, how about we celebrate your birthday this time?" tanong niya upang mapakurap-kurap lamang ito. "With me, Gio, and Nanang Nene. Alam kong may dahilan ka pero sa tingin ko naman mas matutuwa ang papa mo kung nagce-celebrate ka ng birthday sa halip na ipagluksa mo siya. No loving parents would like to see their child like that. If you were in shoes, would you?"

Hindi nagsalita si Cormac, nanatiling hindi pa rin nakumbinsi.

"I'll cook for you and I'll give you a present if you will celebrate," pang-uudyok niya rito.

Cormac eyed her excitedly and nodded. "Sure. Okay lang naman siguro kung dumalo mga kaibigan ko? Well, hindi ko sila iimbitahan pero matagal na nilang hinihintay na mag-celebrate ako ulit ng birthday kaya aasahan kong mag party crash ang mga kupal na 'yon."

Napahalakhak si Diana. "Oo naman. Ikaw ang bahala. It's your birthday after all."

Nakangiting hinapit siya ni Cormac at hinalikan ang kanyang leeg. "I wonder what's your gift. Can you spare me the suspense and spill it?"

"Nope. Sa birthday ko iyon ibibigay sayo kaya humanda kang mabighani."

"If you are referring to yourself, you already make me amaze," wika nito sabay kumababaw sa kanya. He started to give her tiny kisses on the lips.

Diana hooked her arms on his neck. "You are right. The gift was me, but there will be another one. I've been working for it for quite some time."

"I wonder what that is..." bulong nito sabay humalik sa kanyang leeg. Hanggang sa bumaba ang halik nito patungo sa kanyang dibdib at sa wakas sa kanyang pagkababae.

Diana closed her eyes and spread her legs wider for him. "Ohhh..."