Promiscuous (Who's the slut?)

Chapter Sixteen

Like is different from love. But what about lust?

"You can come with me."

Five words. If I had not seen him mouthing the words I wouldn't have thought it possible for Rave to make that proposition. I abruptly sat on the bed, staring at him.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

I shrugged my shoulders. I hate it when people get so dense, of course he knew why. I rolled my eyes and breathed a sigh of exasperation.

"Cut the crap Rave. You don't like me." Those words felt like an acid on my tongue. Why does it have to be so? Maybe because he's the first guy who didn't swoon over you.

"Look. If you could just see your face there's a big sign written all over saying GUILTY." I roughly folded the dress. I'm not angry. Why should I? I don't care about him lest like him.

"Guilty of what? Let's just say... I can take you in." He planted both hands on his hips.

"Take me in? Wooooahhh. Getting charitable, aren't we?" I hate it. Pity. That's the worst part of it. Can't help being sardonic.

He strode toward me, towering me over his six feet built.

"It's not charity if..." His words sounded bare. Rough. Rugged. That bedroom voice of his. Great. Him. On my bed. Nope. On... me. I rolled my eyes for the second time. I felt disgusted with my train of thoughts. I rubbed my arms feeling hot shivers down my spine.

I looked up. Wrong move. His eyes were roaming, up and down. My cheeks were burning. Is it still possible for someone... already ruined to blush like I do? Bull. Whenever I thought about that long time ago fiasco... I felt... hot and devastated. I was disgusted to myself for mooning over a pair of phantom eyes. Eyes that until now haunted my dreams.

At the same, I felt so low giving myself freely to some faceless stranger. I would have accepted it if I'd have a one-night stand with someone at least I'd known for just the sake of flirtation. Well hell, that was in the past.

He grabbed my shoulders at both sides and made me get up. I almost collided into his chest. My body was a heat away from his. God. He tipped my chin upward with one finger. Those black eyes. He bent his head down... slowly, inch by sweet inch...

My lips had parted involuntarily. My eyes were wide open.

He didn't kiss me. He just bent his head to reach my... ear. Thrice now. Damn.

"You can give me something I need, in return." I swore the hair on my nape stood on ends. I could see the pulse on his throat beating wildly. His arms were suddenly on my waist when I swayed a little. He caressed the small of my back.

Dumb. Move.

"You're strong... You can take me Maire. And women are... flexible." He deliberately spaced out the words. Flexible? Strong? Take him? Good God. For the first time in my life, I'd been rendered speechless by a man. A man I vowed I loathed. He painted scenes in my head that was unadulterated. Overrated.

I was just used once. I hadn't even remembered a single thing about it.

I wouldn't let anybody, any man... gain control over me again. Not even this sensual trance.

I shoved him on the chest hard enough.

"You're not any different from the boys I've ever met. You're just worse... because you're a hypocritical bastard." I was so furious. He was compromising me. He was the same with all the men I've used. Ruined. He looked down on me as a whore.

A sex object.

A promiscuous.

Well, he didn't deny it from the onset of his job. I was just that for him. Another job. So what's the fuss?

"You say boys, darling? I'm a man, a real one at that. They can't handle you, can they?" He was twitching the side of his lips in a mocking way.

He raised his brow. "And you might be forgetting... you're the bastard. And where will you go if not with me?" He smiled softly.

I twitched my lips in a sarcastic way. "Aren't you conceited? I'm Ms. Butterfly, remember? I can land wherever I want. They'll accept me with arms open wide." I turned my back on him, not wanting him to see my heart breaking into pieces.

Heart? Break?

He grabbed my arm and whirled me about. His grip was so tight I could have a bruise. I challenged his dark, angry scowl.

"You'll jump into bed with another man just to sustain your luxury? Or to have a lodge?" It was just a mere whisper but there was an underlying note of danger and anger.

I laughed horribly. Sarcastically. Bitterly. "Haven't I been doing that? Aren't you reading the society pages? What do you care about my escapades? Or... no, no. I'll repharse..."

I pulled out of his grasp furiously and inched my face closer to his.

"My sexcapades..."

Then and there, he laughed aloud. For the first time, he really laughed. Locks of black hair fell down on the side of his face. He looked like a naughty boy than a rugged bodyguard. I bit my lower lip. I didn't know what to feel. My emotions were like a roller coaster ride with him.

"What's.... funny?" I barely made out the words. My brow went up. I tapped my finger to my forearm when he still didn't cease from shaking. He straightened up and a slow playful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"You're going with me whether you like it or not."

"Oh?... how? You'll tie and gag me?" I challenged.

This man is absolutely next to impossible! One minute he's uncaring, then he transformed into a beast... the next to an annoying nuisance.

"I told you, you can come with me. Only..."

"Only that I have something you needed which is?"

He traced one finger over my shoulder down to my forearm ever so slowly... down to my fingers. He fitted my hand over his. Soft fingers over callused ones.

"You'll be my se..."

My thoughts were running wild.

S-e-x-u-a-l partner?

S-e-x-m-a-t-e?

Am I going to say yes? No. Yes. I have nowhere else to go. Kesa naman mapunta ko sa mga DOM, at least Rave's still at the peak of his... Gosh. What am I thinking?

He smiled as he surveyed the myriad expression on my face. He cupped my cheek.

"I needed a servant. A maid. Or whatever you call it in return for a free board and lodging."

He dropped my cheek like a potato. I blinked my eyes in amazement. And disappointment.

Disappointment? No way. More of relief. 'Way, hypocrite.

Marie Claire Enrique?

Bastard daughter of an elite politician, illegitimate but still an heiress.

The beautiful lady who has conquered countless of men.

Ms. Butterfly. Darling of the press.

A servant to her former bodyguard?

I gulped. Damn.