OBSESSION TRILOGY 1: Hunger [REPOST]

CHAPTER 9

TRENT TIPPED UP HIS GLASS of wine as he slid a glance at Alice. He had been doing that for the past hour since their family dinner started.

Sa hitsura ng dalaga ay mukhang mag-ha-hyperventilate na ito anytime. She kept on gulping down the water in her glass and he was thankful Mariya wasn't serving her wine instead. If that was the case, lango na siguro ito ngayon sa alak.

Sa totoo lang, hindi niya alam kung paano napapayag ni Jake o ni Amanda si Alice na dumalo sa family dinner nila. Even if she was Amanda's close relative, Trent knew his mother very well. She didn't want any stranger intruding in their private family gatherings.

But it's not as if he was complaining. He liked it that she was here.

Well, if not for the fact that she's visibly uncomfortable under his mother's attention. Nakita niyang nanginginig ang mga daliri nitong inabot muli ang baso ng tubig.

His mother was busy telling Alice stories and including her in the conversations around the table. And the old woman was smiling. Truly smiling. Not the usual elegant and polite but cold stare she would give anyone else not worth her time.

It seemed that Alice picked his mother's interest.

As he stared at Alice's beautiful face, the corners of his lips lifted in a mysteriously victorious smile.

***

KIMING NGINITIAN NI ALICE si Signora De Santis sabay subo sa pasta sa kaniyang platong hindi pa nangangalahati. Sa totoo lang ay nawalan na siya ng ganang kumain simula pag-upo niya sa hapag ng De Santis clan.

Saying she was overwhelmed is an understatement. She didn't know how to act in front of the family's matriarch, although the old woman did nothing bad but to treat her well and include her in the conversations.

Ibinaba niya ang tinidor sa plato at iniangat ang tingin. Muntik na siyang masamid nang masalubong ang matiim na mga mata ni Trent. Sa hitsura nito ay parang kanina pa ito nakamasid sa kaniya.

Wala sa sariling napalunok siya. Tila nauhaw siyang muli kahit na kanina pa siya busog sa tubig. Her hand automatically went to her throat, to the little pendant of the necklace hanging between her collarbones. Her heart fluttered in a frenzy when she saw the corner of his lips lift in response, as if he knew what she was thinking.

Umawang ang mga labi niya at humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. But the air stuck in her throat when his eyes dropped down her lips. He was seated far from her but she could see how his golden eyes darken, how his eyelids drooped down in a sleepy but deadly gesture.

Like a lion's...

She bit her lip in nervous reaction.

Wrong move! her mind immediately shouted.

His eyes were now so dark that the golden irises seemed to glow as the amber rings that surrounded them sparked with fire. He stared at her own transfixed eyes as he determinedly put down the glass he was holding. He elegantly swiped the towel across his lips and left it beside his plate—all while still looking at her—and excused himself from the table.

"Where are you going, caro?"

"Don't fret, Mamma. Kukunin ko lang ang wine na inilaan ko for tonight."

Kumunot ang noo ng ginang. "Can't your staff do that instead?"

Trent leaned down and dropped an affectionate kiss on top of his mother's head. "I can't just order them around, Mamma. They are already busy doing their jobs. I can't afford them slacking in their tasks because I keep on giving them more things to do."

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng ginang and she patted her son's hand on her shoulder. "Very well."

"As if hindi mo kilala si Kuya, Mamma. He wouldn't want anyone else inside the cellar touching his precious wine collections," nakangising sabad ni Jake.

Nilingon ito ni Trent. "Maybe I just learned my lesson well. Ang ibang tao kasi diyan ay basta na lamang kumukuha ng pag-aari nang walang paalam."

Bumunghalit ng tawa si Jake.

Napangiti si Alice sa biruan ng magkapatid at hinarap ang pagkain.

Nagulat siya nang biglang ilahad ni Trent ang palad nito sa kaniya. Tiningala niya ito nang nagtataka.

"I believe the lady wants to help me select the best wine for tonight?"

Kaagad na nagdalawang-isip si Alice. Looking into his glittering golden eyes, her mind warned her that he was into something.

"Sì. Go on, cara."

Nilingon niya ang ginang. Signora De Santis was smiling at her amiably but there was a sparkle of something in her dark eyes.

Hindi napigilang mapaisip si Alice. Ngayon lang niya napagtantong kung kamukhang-kamukha ni Trent ang ama nito ay kaugali naman nito ang ina.

Nag-aalangang inabot niya ang kamay sa naghihintay na palad ng lalaki. The warmth of his hand immediately seeped into hers. Nagpaalam ang binata saglit bago siya iginiya palabas ng dining hall.

Tahimik siya nitong iginiya sa isang mahabang pasilyo nang hawak pa rin ang kaniyang kamay. Walang salita lang din siyang nakamasid dito ngunit grabe ang bundol ng kaniyang puso.

Napansin niyang nalagpasan na nila ang pinto ng opisina nito at paliko sila sa isang maliit na pasilyo kung saan may marka ang bawat pinto na tanging authorized persons lang ang allowed. Sa pinakadulo niyon ay may nag-iisang pinto na dark brown at gawa sa mabigat na kahoy. Nagko-contrast ang rustic design niyon sa modernong interior ng hotel. Huminto sila sa harap niyon.

Trent retrieved a set of keys from his pants pocket with his free hand, inserted the key to the hole and turned the silver metal handle.

A variety of smells—sweet, heady and almost exotic—immediately reached her nose as he pushed the heavy door open. But she didn't have any time to look at what's inside because she was abruptly pulled and then pushed against the hard wood door. All she could do was gasp, but the air didn't escape because Trent had his mouth over hers in a second.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Alice. Biglang nagulo ang takbo ng utak niya kaya naman mariin niyang ipinikit ang kaniyang mga mata. When she did, the feeling inside her surged and overwhelmed her senses. All she could feel were Trent's lips against her own, his tongue delving deep her sweet mouth. She heard someone moan lowly and thought that the sound came from her throat.

She wasn't kissed like this before. Actually, it was a first.

Napasinghap siya nang maramdaman ang matigas na katawan nitong nakadikit sa kaniya. She couldn't breathe. Kusang umangat ang mga kamay niya at pumatong sa malalapad na balikat ng binata. While his hands wrapped around her torso and shoulders and brought her body closer to his.

She was completely trapped between the door and him.

When she thought she couldn't take it any longer, Trent freed her lips and nuzzled her throat. She closed her eyes tightly and raised her head to give him space. He was doing a wonderful job and she couldn't get enough of it.

Trent traced a wet trail of kisses from her throat to the back of her ear and she shivered in response. They were both catching their breaths. Nanginig siya nang maramdaman ang pagtama ng mainit nitong hininga sa kaniyang tenga at leeg.

He brushed his lips against the sensitive outer shell of her ear and whispered. "More?"

Oh god.

***

#Hunted

#And

#Cornered XD

Ang landi ni Trent, letse! haha