Chapter 5

(Clarice)

For a moment, I allowed Alano to have his way with me. He wrapped his arm around my waist as he pressed his muscular body against mine. It had been so easy for him to head inside my room while his mouth was still busy wolfing mine. He closed the door using only his foot and quickly had me lean against the door.

“You taste divine, Clarice,” he rasped as his hand began to untie my robe. His body went rigid when he saw me in my naked glory.

Alano’s eyes made me feel proud and beautiful. Because there was fascination in those blue eyes, there was admiration and… lust.

“You are by far, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my whole life, Clarice.”

I closed my eyes when I could no longer stand seeing the heat in his eyes. Those eyes were dangerous. If I wasn't careful, I could melt just by looking at them. This was the first time that I’d ever been this daring. In my head, I could still see Maggy and Yalena’s determined eyes. I clenched my hands and reminded myself for a hundredth time that this was needed for my mission. I needed this in order to lure my target more. I had to show him all of my assets and lay my cards on the table.

And when Benedict’s face was the next thing that flashed in my head, I felt the raging fire inside my heart. It gave me the courage I needed to brace myself and open my eyes.

To Alano’s surprise, I put my arms around his neck and kissed him as fiercely as he did. I felt him smile against my lips. As an expert, he could probably tell that I was new to this. He guided my lips and showed me how to kiss properly. Because I’d always been a fast learner, after a while, I managed to respond fervently in his kisses.

“You are so quick to learn. And you smell so damn good,” he whispered as his lips traced my neckline. He kneaded my breast while his other hand caressed my belly. I moaned softly when he pinched my nipple as he bit my earlobe. My body was now reacting on its own.

“Everything about you was just as exquisite as I imagined them to be, Clarice. I especially love these little crowns,” he said before tugging my nipples. “I love how pinkish they are and how sensitive they get over the tiniest touch.”

My nipples ached and hardened. His every touch was sending shivers down my spine. He nibbled and kissed every part of me that his hands touched. When he sucked my nipple, I nearly lost my mind. He smirked and looked up at me.

“Do you know how lewd you look at this moment, love? Seeing you like this makes me want to hide you from everyone else.”

I took a deep breath and bit my lip. This was driving me wet and wild. I’d expected that Alano would be good at this but I didn’t know that I would find myself enjoying this, too. I felt like I was seconds away from losing myself. I allowed his hands and mouth to wander further on my body but I stopped him before his hands could reach the dripping flesh between my legs.

Alano grumbled in frustration. “Clarice?”

“I stick by my own rule, McClennan.” I patted his hands before moving away from him. “I will only surrender myself to the man I plan to marry.”

“Marriage?” He froze for a minute. “But I thought you don’t believe in it? I heard you say that to the man you talked to over the phone last night.”

“I only said those words to push him away.”

Alano smiled. “What a tease. But I’m glad. You’re preserving yourself and I... love it and hate it at the same time because I know that what happened just now will give me another sleepless night.”

He swallowed the distance between us. To my surprise, he tied my robe as tightly as possible before taking me back in his arms.

I was covered by the robe now but I could still feel the traces of fire that his hands and mouth left in my body. It looked like I needed to shower again to remove this disgusting heat inside me. When I glanced at his slacks, he was still rock-hard as if he was only controlling himself. I’d always known that situations like this could not be avoided.

When I came back to this country, I thought it would be easy and maybe that would have been the case if only the target was another man.

How many times had I seen men lusting over me? I’d lost count. But aside from lust, there was more in Alano’s eyes. There was admiration, respect, and something else that I couldn’t put a name to.

Goddamnit.

Alano took a couple of deep breaths as if he was trying his best to restrain himself. He buried his face on my neck and bit me there.

“It’s still early. Get dressed. We’ll go to church. I saw an old one on the way here. If we leave in ten minutes, then we’ll be there before the second mass starts.”

“What?”

Did I hear him right?

“Come on.” He released me from his embrace and grinned. “There are hundreds of naughty things I’m thinking of doing to you right now that I think I’ll need to cleanse my filthy mind. Get in your room now, Clarice. Seeing you like this just makes me want to eat you up, to tear your robe, and devour what’s beneath it.” He evaded my eyes and distanced himself from me by sitting on the couch. “This is making me ache inside. So, quit standing there and fucking run to your room right now before I grab you back into my arms again. And once I do that, I swear you won’t be able to make me stop no matter what you say or do.”

Even if half of me was still flustered by my own assertiveness, a smile still curled on my lips as I walked towards my room.

How Alano behaved today meant that he was just like any ordinary man: a slave to his own desire. And I could use that desire to manipulate him little by little.

This was a war of dominance.

The first to dominate would be the winner.

“DO YOU often go to church?” I asked while Alano was driving back to the resort. After the mass, he took me to a seafood restaurant. I just realized tonight that he was an extreme food lover despite his build. He said he made up for it through working out every morning.

Seeing him eat with so much gusto was contagious. Because in the process, it made me eat more as well even if I normally skipped dinner.

“It may not be obvious, but yes, I make it a habit to visit the church once a week,” Alano answered with a smile. “Mama was the reason for that. She made me and my brothers believe in the unseen. The three of us may be different but we do have one thing in common. And it’s our faith.”

He glanced at me. That's why I was able to catch the genuine sincerity and adoration in his eyes while talking about his mother. It made my stomach churn.

“Our mom can be a little frustrating at times, but we adore her.” He took out a rosary from his pocket. “She gave this to us to serve as our protection against our enemies.”

“Do you think it’s effective? Does it really protect you?”

Alano chuckled before putting the rosary back in his pocket. “Well, I’m still alive. That’s the biggest proof, right?”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s not the rosary at all. Maybe you’re just really lucky.”

Dad was a firm believer of God as well. I was a witness of his unwavering faith. Just like Alano, dad also had a bible inside the compartment of his car and a rosary in his pocket, but those things did not save him from his enemies.

“You should savor that feeling, you know, since nobody could tell when that luck of yours will run out the same way that nobody could tell who or where enemies are. For all we know, they might be wearing a disguise. And we’ll only find out the truth about them once they attack. We should also never underestimate where they’re coming from. You see, hate is a superpower, Alano. It strengthens even the weakest people in the world.”

“You sound like you’re one of my enemies,” Alano replied in an amused tone.

I was so immersed by the sudden memories that crossed my mind that I wouldn’t have realized that we'd reached our destination until he parked the car. After a while, I shrugged. “I’m only saying that you shouldn’t let your guard down around people. You’re too kind. And I’m worried about you.”

I removed my seatbelt and was about to step out of the car when Alano spoke.

“You are right. I really ought to be cautious. So, as early as now, tell me honestly, Clarice.” He inched forward until our faces were just right next to each other. “Are you my friend… or my enemy?”

I was caught off guard. But I immediately bounced back by grabbing Alano’s nape. I kissed him straight on the lips. He did not waste any minute. He responded and deepened the kiss through thrusting his tongue inside my mouth. His hot tongue twirled against mine as his hand began stroking my leg. Since I was wearing a dress, his hand was able to freely touch my skin, making me wet with his slightest touch. I didn’t know my body was this sensitive until he held me.

Before Alano’s hand could wander, I ended the kiss and gently pushed him away. I smiled when I saw his eyes laden with desire. “I hope I answered your question.”

“Yes, you did. But I still have another one.”

“What is it?”

He took my hand and softly kissed it. “I’ve never been this serious about a woman before. In the past, I must admit, I was a bit of a player. But I only played with the ones who were willing to play with me. From the beginning, those women knew what we could only offer to each other. It was a win-win where both parties get what they want. But this is different since I could lose. I don’t want to play with you. I want to keep you. I really want us to try and work this out, Clarice. So, tell me. What are you looking for in a man? What do you want us to do? Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Alano scratched the back of his head as if he was suddenly embarrassed. His cheeks flushed as well. “I’ve never courted anybody before so please cut me some slack here.”

Seeing the honesty in Alano’s eyes made me think that he was finally my captive. This had been unexpectedly easy and I was worried there might be a catch in the end. But my desire to hurt him and make him taste hell was bigger than my worries.

“I told you I want your world, your attention. I want to be the only woman in your life, Alano.”

“Clarice, in case you are not aware, you already have those things. You’ve caught my attention the first time I saw you in Denver. That was two months ago. It was during your fashion show. I was one of the audiences back then. I just didn’t manage to talk to you because you were surrounded by a lot of people. But you have had me wrapped around your little fingers since then. And I never looked at anyone else after I met you.”

“And how am I supposed to believe that?”

“I don’t lie. But if you want more proof, maybe this will do for now.” Alano placed my hand on his chest. I felt his heart racing. “’Feel that? My heart is never like this to anyone else. It only reacts with you. I want you so much that it’s concerning. And this thing right here…” He placed my other hand on his crotch. He was… hard. “Only becomes like this with you now. It’s crazy but I couldn’t get it up anymore with other women.”

I was stunned. His words were sweet. But his lower half was the opposite. It was so aggressive that I could feel my face turning red all the way down to my neck. That confession was something considering his long and nasty record when it came to women. If only I met him during that show, then the plan would have progressed a long time ago. Nevertheless, this confession must be fate’s way of finally siding with me.

“Well, I want to get to know you better, too. I want to know your dreams, your desires, and even your fears. I also want to know if I could trust you. And it’ll only happen once you introduce me to your family, Alano. Let me in your world and I’ll let you in mine. As for the qualities that I’m looking for in a man…”

His jaw clenched when I playfully squeezed his erection. I felt its thickness and heat through the soft fabric of his pants. I may not have sexual experience with men, but I made sure I wouldn't go back to the country unarmed. I’d researched, read several books, and watched videos about the art of seduction weeks before I met Alano. “I want a domestic type of guy, someone who knows how to do the basic stuff like cooking and doing the dishes…”

A smirk passed over his lips. “In short, you want a servant?”

I rubbed Alano’s erection and snatched back my hand just when he was about to reach it. I pretended to be nonchalant even if I could still feel him in my hand. And it was making my head fuzzy. Suddenly, my body felt hot.

I cleared my throat before answering, “It depends on how you view it. Besides, that wasn’t too much to ask, right? It’s not like I asked for money or a property which won’t happen anyway since I can provide for myself. And you know that.”

“I do,” he replied, nodding his head.

“Cooking and doing the dishes aren’t so hard, are they? I’ve grown tired of eating fancy meals in restaurants. And I haven’t eaten a home-cooked meal for quite a while now. I want a man who can pamper me from time to time. I’ve met countless men because of my job, Alano. That’s why if you want to own me, then you have to be unique,” I added, deliberately provoking him. “I’m not asking for a perfect meal anyway. If I wanted that, then I would have just dated a Chef. I also want to go to the beach. I want a man who will stay there with me for a couple of days without the presence of an assistant or a helper. I want someone who could watch the sunrise and the sunset with me. He will sing for me, dance with me, and just... be there for me. So, can you be that man, Alano?”

It took him a while before he responded. “You want the romantic things.”

“That and more. I want your heart, body and soul, Alano. I want you completely and only then can you have me completely as well. Can you do that?”

I felt a little alarmed when he fell silent again. But I was relieved when he pressed his forehead against mine.

“I can’t cook. But I guess that’s the reason why cookbooks exist. I think I’ll need to rely on those for the time being.”

My eyes glimmered. “Does that mean-“

“I told you I want this to work. We’ll go to the beach soon.” Alano sighed. “I can neither sing nor dance. But I will try my damndest to do so. We will take this slowly. What do I get in return?” he asked while staring at my lips.

“A kiss. And if you get lucky, who knows? Maybe you could have more?”

“Can we leave tomorrow?”