Paint Me Red

Chapter 17: Safeword

I can hear his rugged breath beside my ear. Medyo yumuko siya at isiniksik ang ulo niya sa leeg ko at saka niya idinantay nang marahan ang kanyang kamay sa aking balikat. Nagdulot ito ng kakaibang sensasyon sa aking sikmura at muntik ko nang makalimutan huminga.

"You said you'll train me. How will you do that?" he whispered. His husky voice sent shivers down my spine. Mas idiniin pa niya ang katawan niya sa akin kaya nakadikit na rin ang likod ko sa granite counter. Hindi ako makaalis.

"We'll use, uhm, safe words," ani ko at binalingan ng tingin ang kisame. Nag-iisip kung anong safe word ko.

Inalis niya saglit 'yong mukha niya sa leeg ko at ngumisi sa akin. His eyes flashed a playful glint. "So you're into BDSM, huh?"

"H-Ha?" Nanlaki 'yong mga mata ko nang mapagtanto ko 'yong ibig niyang sabihin. "No!"

"Sure, Scarlett."

"Nalaman ko lang 'yan kay Dani pero I was never involved into that s-stuff!"

"Sure . . ." He smirks. "So what is your safe word then?" 

Nag isip ako at napalinga-linga sa loob ng kusina. Nakita ko ang mga spices na nakahilera sa granite counter at naaninag ko ang sulat doon.

"Galangal root powder?" Wala namang sinabi sa akin si Dani kung mahaba or maikli lang 'yong safeword. 

Napalayo siya sa akin at bumunghalit ng tawa na ikinagulat ko. Natigilan ako at pinanood ko siyang tumatawa. This is the first I heard him laugh, a genuine laugh. 

"Ang haba naman," he said while laughing. "Try again, love."

Love . . . Did he realize what he just called me? Isa pa, wala namang nakatingin kaya bakit niya ako tinawag na love? I tried not to mind it at nag isip muli pero walang pumapasok sa utak ko. 

"How about Arc?" he said while closing the distance between us again.

"Arc? Your second name? Why?" nagtatakang tanong ko. Based from what I heard from Amber as an obsessive fan, hindi pinapagamit ni Ivan pangalawang pangalan niya kaya nagtataka ako.

"I like to hear it from you."

I felt the heat rushing to my cheeks. Don't think too much, Scarlett. Pangalan lang 'yan. Tumango na lang ako at hindi nakipagtalo. 

"Okay." 

Once I gave him the go signal, he immediately wrapped his arms around my waist as he pulled me closer to his body. I sensed him smell my scent and I felt him instantly relax in my arms. Iniligay niya ang kanyang yosi sa ash tray sa gilid.

I don't know what's in his cigarette but the scent doesn't linger too much. Nawawala rin 'to agad. Sa sobrang lapit niya sa akin ay 'yong pabango niya ang naaamoy ko. I swear, he smells so good. 

"Tell me if it hurts."

Napapikit ako nang maramdaman ko ang pangil niya sa aking leeg. He licked the spot under my ears and planted a soft kiss on the spot where he's going to bite me. It's like he's preparing me for the pain.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa bewang ko at marahan niya itong minasahe. I instantly shivered and lean more in his touch. That felt weirdly amazing. 

Hindi pa ako nakakakurap nang maramdaman ko ang pagbaon ng pangil sa aking leeg. I immediately heard him sigh in satisfaction. It feels like he finally quench his thirst after a week of being dehydrated. Masakit ito ngunit hindi kasing sakit ng una. 

I whimpered softly.

Kumapit siya sa akin at mas lalo niyang isiniksik ang kanyang ulo.  Naaamoy ko na ulit ang amoy ng kalawang. Hindi nagtagal ay napapansin kong nagiging agresibo siya. Idiniin niya ang aking katawan sa kanya na para bang nakukulangan pa siya.