The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd

Chapter 37: Home

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" Napakapit si Vanna sa leeg ni Cloud nang pangkuin siya nito.

"Taking you home." He smiled as he walked towards the door.

"Hindi ako puwedeng umuwi. My mom will overreact if she sees my wounds," kontra niya. Hindi naman pinansin ng binata ang sinabi niya at nagpatuloy lang sa paglakad.

Her forehead creased.

"Ibaba mo na lang ako. Kaya kong maglakad," she bargained when he still didn't stop. Naasiwa siya na buhat-buhat siya nito. Tinawanan lang siya nito at pumasok sa elevator.

"Cloud, ibaba mo ako," she said in a serious tone. Tiningnan siya nito ng mataman na parang tinatantiya ang reaksyon niya. Nanatili naman siyang seryoso kahit na sa loob-loob ay parang gusto niyang matawa sa itsura nila.

Cloud slowly put her down a minute later. Her leg hurts a bit when she tried to put her weight on it. Hindi na lamang niya ito ipinahalata.

"I can't really go home in this condition," she said as she scrutinized her face on her reflection. Sariwa pa ang ilang gasgas niya sa mukha.

"Hindi naman kita sa bahay n'yo iuuwi, sa bahay ko." Ngumiti ito.

"-natin dati," dagdag nito. He smiled as he pulled her waist and tugged her close to him. Her heart trembled in delight. She momentarily closed her eyes when he kissed her temple.

"Puwede namang sa suite na lang tayo magpalipas ng gabi," sambit niya. His manly scent filled her nostrils as she buried her face on his neck. She could feel his adam's apple moving and it felt good.

"Kung ganito tayo ka-sweet, hindi tayo puwedeng magtagal sa teritoryo ni Vaughn Filan," natatawa nitong sambit.

Kunot-noo siyang napatingala rito.

"You're still afraid of my dad until now?" she asked.

"Nah." He shook his head.

"Your hotel has full surveillance cameras, baka bigla tayong pasukin, ayoko lang maistorbo," he winked.

Napangiti na lamang siya nang halikan siya nito sa noo.

*****

Nakapangalumbaba si Vanna sa kitchen counter habang pinagmamasdan si Cloud na nagluluto ng pancake. Pareho na silang late nagising kanina.

He's only wearing boxer shorts and blue apron. Kita ang maliit na pilat sa tagiliran nito. He looks hot while putting the freshly cooked pancake on a plate.

Napangiti ito ng lingunin siya. Lumapit ito sa kinaroroonan niya at inilagay ang pancake sa harapan niya kasama ang maple syrup.

"Tikman mo nga kung masarap," nakangiti nitong wika.

"No need. For sure masarap 'yan parang ikaw," biro niya rito. She teasingly raked her eyes on his body.

"Naughty," Cloud chuckled as he kissed the tip of her nose. Pinamulahan siya. Only then she realized the implication of her sentence.

Kung may makaririnig sigurong iba ay mag-iisip na nang kung ano-ano.

She smiled as she remembered what happened last night. Pareho na silang inaantok nang makauwi sa bahay ni Cloud. They slept on his bed just like how they used to. Ang kaibahan lang, yakap-yakap na siya nito habang natutulog at hinayaan naman niya.

She loved burying her face on his chest and inhaling his manly scent especially that he's half naked. The mixed smell of his cologne, aftershave and sweat is intoxicating. She loved it more when she woke up with the same smell.