LOTHARIO

THE ORIGINAL X-MISTRESS, EVE MONTELIBANO

FEATURED LOTHARIO MEMBERS

PROFILES OF THE BLISSFULLY MARRIED AND ELUSIVELY SINGLE

STORY TEASERS

NOVEL EXCERPTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOTHARIO NOVELS PUBLISHED

WRITTEN BY:

 EVE MONTELIBANO

*Jaq Montero

*Kit del Bianco

*Jonty Silverio

*Nico Sanvictores

**Lucky de Angelo

**Duero Leon DeLeste

*Russel Valdeverro

**Marco Buenavista

**Jett Remulla

**Blue del Rosario

**Dylan Ray Anderson

 

*Published by Love Match

**Published by PHR

 

MORE LOTHARIOS TO COME!!!

 

Jordan Lavega

Drew Arroyo

Marcus Alexis Benedicto

Geoffrey  "Geoff"  Laxamana

Ariston  "Aris"  Sandejas

Rad Yulo

Ram Yulo

Rydon  Aguirre

Dominic "Nikky" Lejano

Diego  Rafael  "Diegs"  Madrid

Rainier  "Raine"  Devereaux

All to be published by Love Match

Profiles of the Blissfully Married, Miserably Shackled and the Elusively Single

 GREEN: published by PHR VIOLET: published by Love Match RED: to be published by LM

LOTHARIO	MARRIED?	HEROINE/DREAMGIRL	RELATIONSHIP STATUS
LUIS INAKI "LUCKY" DE ANGELO; 30's; Hotel magnate; owner of Stealth Unlimited	MARRIED;  2 kids;  Kate is preggy   again	KATRINA  DELESTE, 27 businesswoman/heiress	still super-hot for each other ;kita naman sa dami ng anak haha!
DUERO LEON "DL DELESTE; 30's; former international car racing champion; CEO Deleste Empire	MARRIED;    1 kid; trying for another one	MONICA TENCO, 35 CEO,Tenco Consolidated Industries	basking in wedded bliss
RUSSEL VALDEVERRO;30's,      CEO, Valdaverro Group of Companies; MetroCom	MARRIED;    1 kid; Ally is 4 mos preggy	ALLYSSA DE SILVA; 27 President, MetroCom	going stronger
MARCO BUENAVISTA; 30's ;High-powered Defense Lawyer; bar top-notcher	MARRIED;   1 kid	KELLY PONCE; 27   TV    Producer	happily married
JETHRO "JETT" REMULLA; 30's; OWNER, Stealth Unlimited; Plantacion Remulla	MARRIED; 1 kid	JANNA SANTIBANES; 27 heiress; Owner Hacienda Santibanes	so in love
AZUL "BLUE" DEL ROSARIO; 30's ;CEO/FOUNDER, Blue Chips, Incorporated	MARRIED;   1 Kid	HELAENA MONSERATTI,  27 heiress, fashion designer	crazy about each other
DYLAN RAY ANDERSON; 30; CEO, Deal Incorporated	MARRIED   1 kid	ISSABELLA DE OLIVIERA, 24 Heiress, theatre actress	cannot be apart for two minutes!
NICOLO ANDREAS "NICO" SANVICTORES; 30's; CEO Sanvictores Group	MARRIED;   I Kid	LAILA SAN DIEGO; 26, Interior designer	love is lovelier the second time around
JONATHAN MIGUEL "Jonty" SILVERIO; 30; CEO, Silverio Holdings	MARRIED; Ness is 5 mos. preggy	VANESSA MENDEZ; 33   multi-awarded singer, actess and TV host	still on honeymoon
KRISTOFFER "KIT" DEL BIANCO; 30's; CEO del Bianco Group of Companies	MARRIED	BETTINA PALERMO; 28;    corporate executive consultant	ecstatic
MARCUS ALEXIS "X' BENEDICTO; 30's; CEO Inter-Asia Banking Empire, ALLENDE GROUP, Las Marias Group, Owner of LOTHARIO	What the f*** is that?	ALYANDRA MONLEON; 23; free-spirited bohemian artist, heiress	Playing a a dangerous game of truth or dare. She likes truths, he likes dares.
RAFAEL ELIZEO ROSAURO “Rafe” (30's) Rosauro Vynil Industry, Hierarchy Department Store, Rosauro Builders Corporation	I want a broodmare, not a wife	Missy delos Reyes (26), Widow, Heiress just faced bankruptcy	Revenge is a dangerous game.
JOAQUIM "JACK" MONTERO; CEO, 30's, Maverick Production, Dream Records	baby, ask me for anything, just NOT a ring	ANGELINA YULO, 26; heiress, entrepreneur	scandalous! wicked! hmmm tempting...
JORDAN LAVEGA; 30's; CEO, Vega Multi-media Network	Who needs that shit?	SHERRY YULO; 24; socialite heiress, Manila's IT girl	playing 'she loves him, he loves her not'

 

GEOFFREY "GEOFF"  LAXAMANA; 30-sumthin; heir to an international  fastfood chain	Geez, i like my freedom, thank you!	if she wants to share me with other women, then she's my dream girl.	i'm livin' the life, man.
RYAN ANTHONY "RYDON" AGUIRRE; 29 Real estate magnate; Developer of High-end subdivions and commercial spots	don't cramp my style, baby	My dream girl is Pamela and Paris rolled into one.	the wilder , the better
ARISTON "Aris" SANDEJAS; 30's; famous architect; Construction magnate	uhmm, I'm thinkin' about it...and getting nervous...	Too many women...man, is there really a right woman for every man?	Does marriage              mean i have to surrender my phonebook to my wife???
DOMINIC "Nikky" LEJANO; 29; Pro golfer -PGA Tour;   Real estate developer; specialized in Golf courses	geeez...you talkin' to me???	If she can hit a 'hole in one', I'd marry her anytime :)	Baby,  i love holes. A lot of 'em, over n over. A one-hole course ain't just my cup of tea right now.
RAD YULO; 28; Vice-president of Empress Hotel and Resort Chain	in twenty years maybe	uhm, does Marilyn Monroe count? I like her perky...err personality	in between beds
RAM YULO; 28; Vice president of Empress Hotel and resort Chain	next question	do you know a woman who has a talented mouth but couldn't talk? I'd like to meet her.	i need a drink
RAINIER "Raine" DEVEREAUX; 30; CEO and Heir, Asia-Pacific Mining Co.; Devereaux Oil	blank stare	huh?	If you've got an oil-dripping well, I've got a mega-powerful drill. That's all I can offer.

 

STORY TEASERS

Lucky de Angelo

EVE MONTELIBANO

...a man who has everything but one. The woman he loves above all else. Katrina DeLeste is the stuff of his dreams, the woman he secretly loves. But Kate is pledged to marry another man. Lucky is torn between his love for Kate and his inner, selfish desire to possess her as his own. Would he take matters into his own hands?

Duero Leon "DL" DeLeste

EVE MONTELIBANO

...is the dragracing, hellraising only brother of Kate and the heir to the DeLeste empire. He changes his girlfriends faster than he changes the tires of his sportscars. He lives a life in the fastest lane of the world, the FORMULA 21 league and slowing down is definitely not on his agenda. Till one woman tries to put the breaks on his bachelor days. Will Monica Tenco, the CEO of Tenco Consolidated Industries succeed in taming this lothario?

Russel Valdeverro

EVE MONTELIBANO

..thinks he holds the world in his hands. Why not? He is very rich, very successful and very influencial. He has a king's ransom in his bank accounts and an unlimited supply of fuck from all parts of the land. Yeap, he should be happy. But nope, Russel is secretly longing for something else he couldn't name. And suddenly, his eyes are zeroing in on Allyssa de Silva, his smart-ass personal assistant who blatantly said that he is not her type!  No way. Ally is too virginal and uptight for his sophisticated taste. He doesn't want her. Nope, not her. Will Russel be able to resist his errr testosterone  urges?

Marco Buenavista

EVE MONTELIBANO

...is a high powered defense attorney known for his notoriety in the courtroom. He has gained infamy by defending suspected crime lords in various controvertial cases and had won those cases. His motto is: Never Mix Business with Pleasure. Here comes Kelly Ponce, a walking angel with the body of a siren. She is pure pleasure in the flesh alright and he wants her with an intensity that he had never felt  for a woman before. The problem is, Kelly is also business. She is the daughter of the murder victim whose suspected killer is the man he will be defending in court. He is in deep shit. He wants to win the case, but he wants to win Kelly too. A man who wants to lick the icing and devour the whole cake too? We'll see....:)

Jethro "Jett" Remulla 

EVE MONTELIBANO

  ...spent his life running from his past. But the past is fast catching up on him in the form of Janna Santibanes. She represents everything he wants to forget and he just wants her out of his life the quickest way possible. But Janna won't just go. He is pissed, of course. Little Janna had grown into a lovely young woman and the more he looks at her, the more he thinks of his painful past and the people who betrayed him, not to mention a certain ache in  the vicinity of his silver-tab fly:) Suddenly, he wants revenge. And he will start with Janna. Oh yeah, he could think of a million ways to punish her sweet little body...

Azul "Blue" del Rosario

EVE MONTELIBANO

..is ambitious, driven and has a deadly vendetta for one man. He wants to build a business empire that would drive his opponent out of business. A proposition comes his way. A marriage of convenience to a woman of aristrocratic blood and well-connected family. He will marry Helaena Monseratti to gain entry into the world of the elite. It is an offer he doesn't want. But when he laid eyes on his potential bride, it seems that it is an offer he couldn't refuse. He wants a billion-dollar empire, and he wants Helaena, at all costs. But what would he do if Helaena slaps him with a big no?

Dylan Ray Anderson

EVE MONTELIBANO

This guy's a hard case. He treats his women like ladies...until they start ringing the wedding bells...and that's when he gets really nasty. Either they play by his rules or they take a hike. Until one woman tries to beat him at his own game. And Dylan is suddenly in deep shit. Here is one woman who is willing to play his game...by her own rules.

NOTE: ALL THE ABOVE NOVELS WERE PUBLISHED BY PHR

LOVE MATCH RELEASES

NICO SANVICTORES

EVE MONTELIBANO

The business world called him the Golden Boy, because like King Midas, everything he touched turned into fortune. He was the heir to a business empire and about to marry a beautiful and wonderful woman. Everything that a man could wish for, he had it all. Ngunit nang gabing una niyang makita si Laila ay nagbago ang inog ng kanyang mundo. He gave up everything that he held dear and everything that he worked so hard for in order to be with her. He loved her like no other.

But she betrayed him.

Makalipas ang halos apat na taon ay muling nag-kurus ang mga landas nila ni Laila. One look at her and all their memories together came crashing back, leaving him shaken with deep longing and burning hatred for the woman who callously shredded his heart to pieces. Alipin siya ng nagbabagang poot na iyon sa loob ng nagdaang mga taon. Ang buong kamalayan niya'y sumisigaw ng paghihiganti!

Finally, it was payback time.

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JONTY SILVERIO

EVE MONTELIBANO

He is a consummate practitioner of the game of love, but bored to death. She is living the glittery life of a famous celebrity, but actually itching for some real action. Nagtagpo ang mga mundo nila isang maalab na gabi. Jonty and Vanessa. Isang naglalaro sa pag-ibig at isang naghahanap ng pag-ibig. Theirs would be a fierce battle of will where winning could only mean...surrender.

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KIT DEL BIANCO

EVE MONTELIBANO

Kit del Bianco didn’t recognize the word ‘no’. He viewed the world like his slave, always at his beck and call. His vast wealth always afforded him everything he damn well fancied, not to mention his extraordinary good looks. People went out of their way to please him. Women catered to his every whim.
His life was about to change, however, when he saw the lovely Bettina Palermo, a woman unlike any other he had ever met. She was breathtakingly beautiful, but elusive like a unicorn. Here was a woman who did not come to him when he crooked his finger.  In fact, she turned him down flat on his face. For the first time in his life, Kit was being denied something that he wanted with  frightening intensity.

  A man used to getting what he wanted. A woman of independent means. They shared a past that would haunt them in the present. They would challenge each other in a duel of all-consuming passion that would either burn them both, or bind them together, for all time.

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MARCUS ALEXIS BENEDICTO

EVE MONTELIBANO

ALEXIS, better known to his friends as "X" does not believe in love. He lives a life of absolute decadence, party today and fuck the future. His favorite motto is "I'll sleep when I'm dead". He thinks he is hopeless so he does not believe in heaven either. Only fools in-love believe in heaven. Until one day, he meets an angel...a woman who challenges to change the life that he leads...and suddenly, he yearns to be a fool...and have a slice of heaven...if only for awhile...

EXCERPT

HE HATED the way she was blinking her tears away. Hindi bagay ang mga luha sa mapanlinlang na babaing ito! Pero naapektuhan si Nico sa nakikitang hapdi sa mga mata ni Laila. May kung ano’ng panlalambot siyang nararamdaman para dito. He fought the urge to take her in his arms and comfort her.  Stupid fool! Pinairal niya ang kanyang galit dito. Kahit awa ay ayaw niyang maramdaman para sa babaing ito.

“Please, spare me the stupid tears, Laila.  Nakinabang ka sa pera ko. Sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang nakabentahe. You were the most expensive geisha Lothario ever had. You must be really proud of yourself, huh?”

“It was your mother’s money, not yours.”

He smiled coldly. “Wrong, sweetheart. Ako ang gumagawa ng pera sa pamilya namin. Lahat ng tsekeng galing sa mga accounts ng SGC ay may lagda ko rin. Or you never bothered to check? Sobra ba ang excitement mong mai-withdraw ang pera at ni hindi mo na tiningnan kung kanino talaga nanggaling ‘yon?”

Namutla  si Laila. Hindi nakasagot.

“You mean, you didn’t know?”

Nagkibit-balikat ito at umiling. “It was pay to cash. Kung ikaw man ang nagbigay niyon sa akin kahit na hindi direkta ay nagpapasalamat ako, Nico. Nakatulong iyon nang malaki sa akin. Hindi ko na kinailangang bumalik sa Lothario o magtinda ng hamburger.”

        The casual way she said it grated at his nerves even more.  He moved towards her on the sofa.  Her scent wafted all over  him, making his head swim with memories of hot, steamy nights with her. They had been explosive in bed together.

         He stared at her. She stood her ground.

 Itinaas nito ang noo at nakipagtitigan sa kanya nang diretso. Nanggigigil siyang sunggaban ito at…ano? So many urges came to mind. He wanted to put his hands around her lovely neck and squeeze the avaricious life out of her. He wanted to kiss her hard and wipe that maddening arrogance off her pouty lips. He wanted to fuck her so hard till he got tired of her and never think of her anymore! He wanted to be free of her. For good! But he will never be a fool again for this woman. Right now, he was a businessman with a bad case of lust. And like any company he had coveted in the past, he would have her, use her. And then discard her.

“So… magkano ka na ngayon, Laila?”

 

 

SHE  PRAYED for the courage to endure his presence a bit longer. Just a bit longer. Iyon ang naidasal ni Laila. Kung dito matatapos ang lahat, so be it. Maybe, this was finally the closure that she had been waiting for. Ang muling makaharap si Nico, at malamang wala na ni anupamang maaaring mamagitan pa sa kanilang dalawa. Titiisin niya ang lahat ng pang-iinsulto nito, kung iyon na ang huli nilang pagkikita.

Noon ay sinunod niya lahat ng dikta ng kanyang puso, kinalimutan niya ang kanyang respeto sa sarili. Pero hindi na ngayon. Iba na siya. She had evolved into a new person. She had rebuilt her life from the ashes. And never again will she succumb to her feelings for this man.

“I don’t think you can afford me this time, Nico.”

         His eyes flared. “Ah, Laila. You’re a contradiction, you know that? Masyadong mataas ang pride mo para sa klase ng pagkatao mo. I actually thought you were priceless. Pero murang-mura ka pala. Five million. Tsk. Still, that was a lot better than our original two-million deal. I gotta give you credit for your bargaining power. Nauto mo si Mama na bayaran ka nang mas higit sa totoo mong halaga.”

        She didn’t even blink at the insult.  “Bakit? Nasaktan ko ba ang pride mo nang iwan kita, Nic? Hindi ka sanay na iniiwan dahil ikaw ang nang-iiwan? Masyado bang masakit sa ego mo ‘yon? What do you want from me? An apology?”

        His eyes were harsh and smoldering on her. “No. Sinabi mo sa sulat mo noon, it was good while it lasted. It wasn’t good enough, Laila. You took my five million bucks but I didn’t get my money’s worth. You owe me.”

        “Your arrogance is unbelievable, Nico.”

He smiled ferally. “Believe it, sweetheart.”

“Then I will pay in cash. Bigyan mo lang ako ng sapat na panahon. Ibabalik ko nang buong-buo ang limang milyon mo.”

        He moved closer to her on the sofa that she could feel the warmth emanating from his big body. “You don’t get it, do you, Laila? You think it’s the money? Latak lang ang limang milyon sa bulto ng perang nasa pangalan ko. I could have given you much, much more than that if you bothered to stick around a little longer. But you jumped the gun way too early, sweetheart. You could have been rolling in money.”

        Kung anong lalim ng sugat na iniwan ni Krista sa kanyang pagkatao noon as siya ring muling binubuksan ni Nico. At mas malalim ang sakit na dulot niyon. Because she gave her all to

this man. Minahal niya ito nang sobra.

“Kung ano man ang mga nangyari noon ay hindi na natin maibabalik pa, Nico. Pareho tayong nagkamali ng pagkakilala sa isa’t-isa. Para matapos na ang lahat nang ito, babayaran kita. You have my word.”

        His hand went up and his fingers traced her cleavage slowly, making circles on her delicate skin. Her body reacted instantly. Licks of fire seemed to spark from his fingertips and travelled like liquid heat all the way to her extremities.

“Pay me with your body.”

        She was breathless and he smiled down at her knowingly. “No… I’ll pay you in cash.”

        Naningkit ang mga mata nito. “Ah, still as shrewd as ever? Bakit, mas mahal na ba ang presyo mo ngayon, hmm? Have you acquired better skills as a geisha? Siguro ay beterana ka na ngayon sa negosyong ‘yan?  Mas lucrative ba ang market dito sa Singapore at nag-relocate ka? Alright, I’m a businessman. Let’s negotiate.”

His voice was so smooth and silky but they hurt her like razor blades. Pinilit pa rin niyang maging kalmante. “I was never a geisha and you know it.”

        “Oh yes, you were. Mas pasimple nga lang ang diskarte mo kaysa sa iba. You certainly put a nice touch to it, baby. Yes, you were a virgin but a very shrewd one. You put a very high price to that piece of membrane between your legs. Tinanggihan mo si Lucky. Of course, it was a calculated move. You knew that was guaranteed to make you more expensive. You knew you were playing a winning hand. Alam mo kung gaano nabaliw sa ‘yo ang mga lalaki sa Lothario. You just waited for the highest bidder. And it turned out, ako pala ‘yun. Thanks to my ever generous mother.”

        Nagkibit-balikat siya. “Thanks to her, indeed.”

        They stared into each other’s eyes with unconcealed, burning hatred. It was so hard to rebuild her life all over again after she walked away from him. Now, here he was again, annihilating her defenses, making her feel vulnerable again. Her mind recoiled in remembered pain as memories of her earlier days without him came back. She thought she’d never survive the loss of him, but she did. And she should never forget that.

Tinangka ni Laila na tumayo mula sa sofa ngunit pinigil siya ni Nico. He grabbed her waist and sat her across his lap. “Don’t play hard to get with me, Laila. I know you want it.”

        She panicked. “Bitiwan mo ako!” Itinukod niya ang mga kamay sa dibdib nito pero hindi ito matinag. Bagkus ay naramdaman niya ang mabilis na pintig ng puso nito. And down there against her thigh, she could feel him, hard and insistent, throbbing with life. Memories of the intense pleasure they had shared together flooded her consciousness. He used to make love to her so slowly till she was screaming for completion. Shefelt hot and feverish now. Worse, she could feel wetness flow between her legs. She was horrified!

        “You owe me two months, sweetheart. Pay me with your body. Then we’ll call it quits.”

“No! Let me go! How dare you! Let me go!” Nagpumiglas na siya. Her defenses were slowly crumbling against his powerful sensuality.

 Parang wala itong narinig. “Ah, same ol’ trick, Laila? Nagpapapresyo ka pa rin? That hot little pussy sure knew all the  best tricks before and I won’t be surprised if it made you rich already. Only this time, please spare me the act, will you? I’m a paying costumer. I’m giving you a premium deal. Kapag nag-enjoy ako, bibigyan kita ng bonus. Another  million. How’s that, sweety? That’s way, way too much for an encore but you can earn it. I’m sure you’d be able to earn it easily enough. You still remember how to please me, Laila? Don’t you, baby?”

        Parang umakyat ang dugo sa ulo ni Laila. Hindi niya napigilan ang kanyang rumaragasang galit sa mga pambabastos nito sa kanyang pagkatao. Sinampal niya ito nang ubod-lakas.

Violence exploded out of him. Dinaklot nito ang kanyang mga balikat. Bumaon ang mga daliri nito sa kanyang balat “Bitch! You man-eating, little bitch!”

A second later, his mouth descended on hers.

  

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excerpt

 

JONTY urged his horse to a faster trot. Nalibot na niya ang buong isla lulan ni Templar. Init na init siya at gusto niyang maligo. He smiled, thinking of his secret paradise. It was well-maintained by the island staff. It would be really great to soak in cool water under this heat.

     Narating niya ang mabatong bahagi ng isla. Lumigid sila ni Templar, tinahak ang shortcut patungo sa kanyang destinasyon. He could see the lagoon now, a beautiful haven that enticed him like a woman.

     And then he saw a woman.

     He blinked twice just to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. They weren’t. Totoo ang kanyang nakikita. A water nymph. Iyon ang unang pumasok sa utak niya. Ito marahil ang hitsura ng mga diwata o nimpa ng kagubatan. Ang babaing nakahiga sa gilid ng lagoon ay mistulang  isang imaheng hango sa kanyang mga pantasya noong teenager pa siya. Skin that glowed under the sun and a body that would turn any man’s libido into overdrive.

     His dick reacted in the manner that he so missed.

          “What the hell…!? Natigilan siya  at pinakiramdaman  ang sarili. It was there alright. An undeniably big and growing harder by the second hard-on!

         “Ah, baby…!” he exclaimed, amazed at his body’s reaction to a  woman he didn’t even know.

     Nagkaporma ang isang matamis na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the exquisite feeling, the surging urgency in his loins, the swelling and thickening of his manhood. Ah yes. It had been forever since he last felt this kind of arousal. Swift, sharp, powerful and urgent. Damn, but  it felt wonderful!

      Pagkuwa’y natawa siyang parang gago. Here he was, atop his horse playing voyeur and relishing the feeling of an erection, as if it was his first. Somehow it was true. It was his first good one in a long time, and how he indeed missed the feeling! He felt like a man with normal, active testosterone urges again. He wanted to shout to the heavens in relief and gratitude!

     He stared at her prone figure lying there and his erection grew till it was a throbbing ache, making his heart beat faster. Whoever that woman down there, he wanted her! He needed her!

     Iginiya niya si Templar pababa sa mabatong daan patungo sa kinaroroonan ng babae.

     Hindi ito kumilos man lang at doon niya natantong natutulog ito. He saw a bottle of tanning lotion beside her. Puno ng kyuryosidad na pinaglakbay niya ang mga mata sa kabuuan ng babaeng walang inhibisyong nagsa-sunbathing nang topless sa kanyang munting paraiso.

     She had invaded his secret haven but he didn’t mind. Not at all.

    She had pinkish skin, smooth and seemed so very soft. He ached to touch her. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly felt dry. Her breasts were full and round, tipped with delectable dark pink nipples. He involuntarily licked his lips. He imagined those rosy peaks in his mouth while he suckled her like a baby…

     Lalo siyang ginitian ng pawis. Pakiramdam niya ay naging malapot ang daloy ng kanyang dugo. He felt the aching desire to mate, to bury himself inside the woman’s body and attain sexual release. He looked at the juncture between her legs, covered only by a small red thong. It looked so lush, tempting, promising assuagement of his  urgent  need. She would wrap those long, shapely legs around his waist while he slid inside her slowly…

      His lustful thoughts had made him unbearably erect now and it was  torture of the most delicious kind. He had longed for this feeling to come back and here it was, like a raging fire rapidly consuming his senses.

          Dahan-dahan siyang bumaba kay Templar at lumapit sa babae. She was sleeping like a kitten.  Lumuhod siya sa paanan nito. He forced his eyes away from her delectable breasts and stared at her face. Her eyes were hidden by a pair of sunglasses. Her lips were slightly open and they were full and sensual. Lips made for kissing and pleasuring a man, he thought. Ah, these lips would soon pleasure him, he vowed. He stared at her reverently, afraid to touch her as if she might disappear if he did.

     Ah damn, but she was beautiful. Her body was curvaceous and voluptuous, mouth-watering down to her little toes tipped with red nail polish. He wanted to lick those toes and hear her sexy little moans as he worked his way up her legs and between them…Damn, he would explode anytime soon from fantasizing about that alone!

     She chose that moment to wake up.

 

DAHAN-DAHANG dumilat si Vanessa. There was a man leaning over her. A very handsome man. He was so big and masculine and he was looking at her so intensely. Oh, she must be dreaming of her very first lover. He would look just like this man…gorgeous…so gorgeous…

     “Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

     The sound of that deep, husky voice awakened her fully. Hindi siya nanaginip! May lalaki talagang nakatunghay sa kanya! Napabalikwas siya, tinanggal ang sunglasses sabay tili. Pero piyok lang ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig sa sobrang pagkabigla at pagkataranta.

           Ginapangan siya ng takot pero nang mapatitig siya sa mukha ng lalaki, sa halip na matakot o mandiri, may kung ano’ng init ang dulot ng mga titig nito sa kanyang katawan. It was the way he was looking at her. Blatantly lustful, but not repulsive. Naglalakbay ang mga mata nito sa kanyang kabuuan.

    Saka lamang niya naalala ang kahubdan. Tinakpan niya ang dibdib ng mga kamay. Nanaig na ang kanyang sensibilidad. “W-walang-hiya ka! Binobosohan mo ako! Bastos!”

     A wicked grin broke on his tanned face. “Guilty as charged.”

     “How dare you! You…Oh…!” Luminga-linga siya, hinanap ang kanyang bikini top pero hindi niya makita.

     “Looking for this?” tanong ng lalaki at itinaas ang kamay. Hawak nito ang kapiraso niyang saplot.

     “Akina ‘yan!” tili niyang pilit na inaagaw ang kanyang bikini top pero hindi siya masyadong makakilos dahil tinatakpan niya ang kanyang mga dibdib. Hihimatayin yata siya sa kahihiyan!

     He chuckled, refusing to give the tiny garment back to her.

     “You pervert! Isusumbong kita sa mga gwardiya  ng isla! Harrassment itong ginagawa mo! Binabalak mo akong gawan ng masama, ano?! Rapist ka, ano?! Akina na ‘yan!””

     There was an unholy glint in his eyes that made her insides slowly melt like cream. Lord, this man is dangerous.

     “Tsk, you’re blocking my view, sweetheart,” anitong nakatitig sa kanyang dibdib. “And what a great view, by the way. I’ve never seen such  perfect work of science.”

     Her eyebrows rose despite her mortification. “Ano’ng ibig mong sabihin?”

          “Your breasts. They are perfect. They must have cost you a lot, pero bilib ako sa doctor mo. They look really real.” Ngumisi ito nang magkahalong nakakaloko at nakakatunaw. “And magnificent.” Dagdag pa nito.

     Nainsulto siya. The man thought her boobs were implants! Aba, hindi yata iyon matatanggap ng vanity niya! Walang retokada sa kanyang katawan! Well, maliban na lang sa kanyang ilong! Hinampas niya ang balikat nito. “Excuse me, my boobs are real, you jerk!”

     He cocked an eyebrow, looking unconvinced. “Really? Patingin nga ulit?” he said teasingly.

     It took her several seconds to answer. The gall of this man! Hindi ba siya nito kilala? He was treating her like a common tramp! Isa siyang diva! Hinahangaan at  iginagalang sa buong Pilipinas at Asya!

     “Are we gonna play ‘I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours?” he drawled lazily, as if he had been in this situation a thousand times before.

     Lumukob ang kakaibang kapangahasan sa kanyang utak. She was suffused by a strange but exhiliarating heat all over. She met his smoldering eyes boldly, like a temptress. It came naturally to her. She had perfected that look on camera. “Why not?” she purred.

     She felt so brazen!

     His eyes burned with intense heat. “Ladies first.”

     Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang mga kamay at iniliyad ang dibdib. “They are real.” Parang hindi niya nakilala ang sariling tinig. It was sultry, bold and full of carnal invitation. “Touch them.” hamon niya dito.

     Bahagyang nandilat ang mga mata ng lalaki. He stared at her, transfixed. She slowly smiled at him. She was a woman on the verge of self-discovery. A carnal discovery. Ang lalaking nasa kanyang harapan ay gumigising sa lahat ng senswalidad sa kanyang kamalayan, tumutukso, nag-aanyaya ng isanlibo’t  isang kaligayahan. At mistula siyang isang gamu-gamo na lumalapit sa apoy.

          She wanted him with every fiber of her being. She wanted to get burned. Just once. Just this once.

---

excerpt

HE WANTED HER.

Kit stared almost unblinkingly at the object of his fascination. All his senses were centered on her.

It was her eyes. Tiger eyes, slightly slanting at the corners, bewitching and mesmerizing. Where did he see those eyes? It reminded him of a distant past, a vague memory. Bahagya niyang ipinilig ang ulo. He hadn’t seen this woman before. This was the first time that he ever saw her. She just intrigued the hell out of him and he wondered what was it about her that fascinated him so?

Maybe it was her hair, black as sin, cascading all the way down her back, silky and shiny, devoid of any curl. Every silky strand seemed to promise a man solace and exotic pleasures. Or maybe it was her body. Ah, that was something else. Normally he went for tall, busty but athletically sculpted female bodies. Something he could do a sexual marathon with. But this babe was a pocket Venus, small but perfectly formed. She’d probably come just above his shoulders, but she looked tall in her strappy high-heels. Her legs looked long and shapely, and he had a good view of them from where he was sitting while she chatted a few meters away with Alexis.

Alexis Benedicto, his bossom buddy laughed at something she said and he saw him caress the woman’s shoulder gently.

Kit gritted his teeth. He didn’t want anybody’s hand on her smooth, creamy skin, even if that man was practically his brother!

Then she laughed, the melodic voice wafted in his direction, making his insides knot in a really strange way. He swallowed the telltale lump that formed in his throat. His body had started reacting to her the moment he saw her and he couldn’t stop it.

Yeah, he was hard. Getting harder by the minute as he continued to catalogue the woman’s physical attributes. Her waist was small, he could probably span it with his hands, her hips curvy and her butt, ah, his fingers itched to run all over that delectable part of her anatomy. Shit. He wanted her. Very badly.

Alexis laughed. He recognized that laugh. He had known his friend for so long that all his ways and idiosyncrasies were easy to read. X wanted her, too.

Kit shifted in his seat, digesting that fact with unease. Not once did a woman come in between his long-standing friendship with Alexis and his other closest buddies. Women were dime aplenty. Certainly, they could all enjoy the fairer sex without bashing each other’s heads.

But this woman was different. Instinctively, Kit knew she was different. She affected him in a different level. Something that no woman had ever managed to do to his system. He was a man of the world. He indulged his libido whenever the need arose. He was not the type who would deprive himself of something that he desired. He could damn well afford practically anything he wanted.

And he wanted this woman. Soon. Very soon. It had to be very soon. Alexis wasn’t about to touch her intimately in any way. He won’t allow it. She was his. From the moment he saw her, he had claimed her as his.

He couldn’t wait for later.

INA saw him from the corner of her eye. He was heading in her direction. Her heart began to hammer in her chest like a drum. At last! He was finally making a move.

She had felt his gaze on her all night. But he hadn’t approached her. He just followed her around with his predatory eyes, dark, brooding, as if sizing her up for a meal. She didn’t give any indication that she was aware of his presence. She socialized casually, moving among the crowd composed of Manila’s elite society, smiling at everyone, making small talk.

But she had been covertly watching him too as he lounged there on the sofa indolently like royalty. Yes, he acted the part down pat. The pompous son of a bitch, surveying everyone like his lowly subjects. Money indeed corrupted absolutely, she thought with disgust. The man was a prime example of the degenerate species. He thought he was king of his little kingdom. Maybe he was.

But not for long. Before she finished with him, he would be king no more. He would be nothing. Nothing!

Kristoffer del Bianco owed her.

And he was going to pay very dearly. Soon.

"I’M REALLY impressed with what you’re doing for BW, Betsy. Allow me to thank you tomorrow, over dinner?"

She smiled as she heard the pet name Alexis gave her. He said that it was the name of one of his classic cars, a 1967 Thunderbird. Apparently, this man who had more money than he knew what to do with collected vintage sports cars as a hobby.

"Thank you, Alex. I’m just doing my job. You don’t need to thank me. Just a check will do," she said, giving him a dazzling smile. The last thing she wanted was to become one of Alexis Benedicto’s rumored amours. They came in hoards, socialites, actresses, models, single or otherwise. Alexis was notorious for having liaisons with married women. And it only seemed to make the man more desired by the female population.

And so was Kit del Bianco. The two were bossom buddies from birth and they moved in the same circles, lived practically the same lives and enjoyed the privileges that came with having illustrious blood and vast wealth.

Kit, like Alexis was born with a silver spoon. Lumaki ito sa layaw at sa pilosopiyang lahat ng bagay ay kayang tapalan ng pera ng makapangyarihang pamilya nito. Na kaya ng pera nito na maipulahin ang batas at buhay ng mga taong walang kakayahang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili.

Minsan na niyang mararanasan kung paano mapailalaim sa kapangyarihan ng lalaking ito.

He had wronged her in the past. Terribly wronged her.

And he asked his family to clean his shit for him. They paid her not to say a word about it to any soul.

Kahit pira-piraso na ang kanyang pagkatao ng mga sandaling iyon ay hindi siya nakapagsalita man lang ni gaputok. Her fear of him overpowered her hatred, this man who had destroyed her whole being beyond repair.

Kaya tinanggap niya ang pera nito. Kapalit ng kanyang pananahimik. Napakalaking halaga niyon para sa kanya na isang mahirap lamang noon. At napakaliit na halaga bilang kabayaran ng kanyang buong pagkatao.

Isinumpa niyang gagamitin niya ang halagang iyon upang balang-araw ay makaganti kay Kit del Bianco. At sisiguruhin niyang kapag maniningil na siya ay magkakalasog-lasog din ang dignidad ng lalaking ito. It was this vendetta that drove her to the pinnacle of success.

Ngayon ay nasa mundo na siya ng lalaking kanyang kinasusuklaman hanggang impiyerno. Ni hindi siya nakikilala nito. Talaga namang hindi na siya nito makikilala sa bago niyang anyo. She had prepared herself for the moment, when she would see him again face to face.

And that moment was now.

He was so near now. Just a few steps away...and he seemed larger than life...this monster from her past.

Gusto labanan ni Bettina ang damdamin ngunit hindi niya mapigil ang pagsasal ng tibok ng kanyang puso and pagsikip ng kanyang dibdib na parang kakapusin siya ng hininga. Nanlamig ang kanyang mga kamay ngunit naalinsangan siyang hindi niya mawari. Damn him! Hindi siya dapat na naapektuhan nang ganito ng presensiya ng lalaking ito! She should get used to his presence again. He was nothing to her. Just a thing that she would soon destroy.

Nakita ni Alexis ang papalapit na kaibigan. "Kit, pare!"

Masayang nagtapikan ng mga balikat ang dalawa.

"Getting bored?" tanong ni Alexis dito.

Bettina refused to look away when Kit’s smoldering eyes settled on her.

"Apparently, you’re not," anito.

"Who would be bored with such a lovely woman?" nakangising sabi ni Alexis. "Ina, my bossom buddy, Kit. Kit, the woman behind BW’s repackaging, Bettina Palermo." pagpapakilala nito sa kanilang dalawa.

Kit’s lips formed into a breathtaking smile. Muling minura ni Bettina ang lalaki sa kanyang isip. Time had been kind to this monster, she thought with resentment. He was older now but he looked more good-looking than the last time they had spoken to each other more than a decade ago. His former boyish good looks had been replaced by the chiseled, smolderingly sexy countenance of a man every woman would kill for. Well, that was according to the society magazines where he was a frequent topic for gossip. As far as she was concerened, she wouldn’t waste time killing for this asshole. She would like very much to kill him herself!

Pormal niyang iniabot ang kamay upang maki-hand shake dito. He took her hand, tilted it and bent his head slightly to kiss the back. The feel of his soft, firm lips against her skin seemed to travel like live wire throughout her body. Ngani na lamang na hilain niya ang kamay at sampalin ito. But that wouldn’t be good for her plan. She wanted him to come to her, not drive him away.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Palermo." His voice was low and intimate as if they were alone.

She smiled the smile that she had practiced a thousand times in the mirror. The smile she had mastered only for him. The smile that was guaranteed to reel Kit del Bianco towards her bait. "I hope so, Mr. Del Bianco," she said, her voice husky.

His eyes smoldered with heat. "Do you doubt my pleasure?" he said smoothly, like a predator assessing his prey.

"No. It’s my pleasure that I’m doubting."

"Ah, is that an invitation, Bettina?" he drawled lazily.

She threw back her head and laughed elegantly. Then she looked at him levelly. "Believe me, you won’t mistake my invitation for anything else. If it ever happens, that is. And no, it wasn’t an invitation, Mr. Del Bianco." Hinila niya ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak nito. Nilingon niya si Alexis na tahimik na nakamasid sa kanila."Didn’t you ask me to dance, Alex?"

Ngumisi si Alexis. "I did?"

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng lalaki. "Dance with me," aniya at hinila sa dance floor ang lalaki.

 

SHE DIDN’T even excuse herself. She dismissed him like he was an entity not worth her time. Bitch.

Kit’s eyes bored on the woman dancing the tango with Alexis. She moved sensuously, wrapping her supple body against his friend’s tall frame, molding her curves against Alexis’ masterful maneuvers. He gritted his teeth as redhot possessiveness assaulted him. Damn, she was so damn beautiful, so seductive and she was openly flirting with his best friend!

Short of making a scene that would make them the topic of gossipmongers in the morning, he casually walked towards them on the dancefloor and tapped Alexis’ shoulder. "May I, buddy?"

Ngumisi si Alexis. He reluctantly let go of her. "Sure."

Nakalayo na si Alexis pero hindi pa tumitinag si Ina, nakatingin lang sa kanya. Other women would have been all over him in seconds. Sanay siya sa ganoong klase ng atensiyon mula sa opposite sex. This vixen was haughtily staring him down like a queen. Nakakatawa dahil nakatingala ito sa kanya.

"That was rude, Mr. Del Bianco. You could have waited a few minutes more before butting in."

He took her hand, placed his hand on the curve of her spine. "He is my best friend. He won’t mind."

"But I do. I don’t wanna dance with you."

"And may I ask why?"

"I preffer Alexis as a dance partner."

His eyes ignited like fire. Sa lahat ng ayaw niya ay iyong inukumpara siya sa kahit na kaninong lalaki, lalo na kay Alexis. Strangely, but he wanted this woman to want him above any other man. Nope, he wanted her to want only him. He whirled her around the dancefloor. She followed his moves effortlessly. She was a superb dancer, lithe, graceful and very sexy. His body tensed and got excited even more as he thought of how she would move with him in bed…

He grasped her hips and brought her to rub against his body. She heard her small intake of breath. He smiled. She wasn’t as immune to him as she was pretending to be. Tumingala ito at tinitigan siya sa nagbabagang mga mata.

"Let me go," she hissed at him.

He smiled at her. "Hindi pa tapos ang tugtog."

"You’re harassing me, Mr. Del Bianco."

He didn’t deny it. "I want you."

She looked up at him challengingly. "Really?"

He stopped moving and just held her in place against his hard body. He stared at her beautiful eyes, flashing at him defiantly. He had never been more challeneged by a woman. "I can make you want me."

She laughed, her voice throaty, so sexy. "You seem to have an overblown ego, Mr. Del Bianco. I hate men whose egos are bigger than their talents."

He smiled, amused. "I assure you, you won’t feel shortchanged by my talent or my big…ego."

"Ah, so…How much do you want me… Kit?" she purred, her voice sweet and sultry. Inilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya. Nalanghap niya ang mabangong hininga nito.

He almost grabbed her and kissed her voraciously. The urge was instantaneous. He felt like a starving man, out of control. "I want you very, very much."

"Hmmm." She rubbed her full breasts against him. "That will cost you, dahling."

Fury assaulted him. This woman…this beautiful thing…was a whore?! Every nerve in his body reacted in denial.

He wanted to shake her violently, but he pulled her closer to him instead. "Tell me you’re not for sale," he whispered in her ear. Hell, did he sound pleading? Deep inside he was praying that she was worth more than a quick roll on the hay. Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya naidasal iyon. Ni hindi niya kilala ang babaing ito.

Umangat ang mga mata nito. She traced his lips with her fingers. "I’m not for sale. I don’t want your money."

"Then what do you want? Tell me."

"I want to be your wife."

Hindi siya nakaimik. What she said immobilized him. On another occasion, he would have laughed out loud. Women knew him to be an asshole when it came to talks of matrimony. So they never dared or bothered to bring up the topic in his presence. This babe needed to get to know him better.

"No? Then you can’t have me, Kit."

He had recovered from his momentary lapse of speech. "I always get what I want, Ina."

Bumitiw sa kanya ang babae.

He allowed her to go. For now.

She smiled at him sweetly. "So do I."

He watched her walk away, wondering why he felt so bereft. He had touched her only once and she had felt so familiar, like he had already touched her intimately before.

The emptiness he felt was unbidden.

But it was there, like a big gaping hole inside of him.