Chapter 3

(Austin)

“WHAT a tease,” I whispered out of frustration upon seeing the stranger who was now back in her beauty sleep. I took a deep breath and clenched my hands to stop myself from reaching out to her to touch her more. The kiss that just happened was probably the sweetest kiss I’ve ever had in my life. And I wanted to drown in it. I wanted to drown myself in her taste, in her flavor. And I don’t think I would have been able to stop myself if she didn’t fall asleep.

I pressed my forehead. It was like something inside me snapped the second I felt her soft lips brush against mine that I could hardly recognize myself anymore. The next thing I knew, I was holding and kissing her like there was no tomorrow. Here I thought I saved her from the possible bastards who would have taken advantage of her in this state. But I, myself, acted like a ferocious beast who could not keep his hands off his prey.

This was embarrassing.

I stared at the woman, especially at her lips. With her half-open mouth, it was like she was inviting a man to steal a kiss… and more from her. “What did you to me?”

The stranger had the softest lips I’ve ever tasted. The wine in her mouth just added more allure to her kisses. The women in the bar I went to were willing to offer me more than just kisses. They were mine for the taking, but I could not even get it up to any of them. It was different with this stranger. Her scent, her touch, her warmth, her softness, her whole being was permeating through me, through my senses.

When the woman moved and turned her back on me while on the bed, the hem of her dress was lifted once more, exposing her smooth thighs along with that gorgeous ass… covered in black lace underwear. This sight was enough to make any man a sinner. I took another sharp breath and raised the blanket to her shoulders and quickly went out of the room.

When I saw Esmeralda, one of the maids, I commanded her to replace the stranger’s dress to make her feel comfortable in her sleep since her dress had a strong smell of liquor on it. But I stopped when I realized that there were no women’s clothes in the mansion since my brothers and I never allowed any women to sleep here.

Our Mother did not even get to step in this place ever since we arrived in the Philippines years ago. She headed straight to the safe house to be with Dad.

“Just get any shirt from my room,” I said before heading towards the library. I ignored the curiosity in Esmeralda’s eyes. I needed a distraction. And I needed to cool down. Usually, any topographical books would have sufficed. The library was my source of solace. I feel comforted when I’m around tons of books. But I could not concentrate. I could not even understand what I was reading.

My head kept wandering back to the stranger in the guest room. After a while, I groaned and put down the book. When I could no longer stand it, I stepped out.

I’ve never been this distracted. I saw Esmeralda came out of the guest room. It meant she was finished doing what I asked her to do. I came back to the guest room. When I opened the door, a smile instantly curled on my lips when I saw the stranger wearing my blue shirt along with the sweat pants which Esmeralda had to fold probably a number of times just so they could fit into her. Both looked big in her. Nevertheless, she looked marvelous in my clothes.

Still amused, I went closer. The sight was too endearing that I couldn’t help but bring out the phone in my slacks to take a picture of her. I would make sure to get her name and contact number the moment she wakes up.

Despite the slap and the hassles you gave me tonight, woman, I still think that this is one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had. All thanks to your kiss.

“WHAT? When did she leave?” I asked while rubbing my forehead. For the first time, I wanted to yell at the maids. “Why didn’t you inform me? And why didn’t you stop her?”

It was past seven in the morning when I woke up. I slept at dawn. And it was all because of the stranger on the second floor. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I was hoping I could get to know her when I woke up. I wanted to talk to her once she was sober.

But I just lost my chance. The stranger disappeared just like that.

“She left at five in the morning, Sir,” Esmeralda replied with her head bowed down. “I was the only one who saw her because the other maids were busy preparing for breakfast. I tried to stop her but she was in a hurry to leave. I was hesitant to wake you because when I went to your room, I saw you sleeping peacefully. The guards allowed her to leave. I’m really sorry, Sir. We acted on our own.”

“Didn’t she say anything to you?”

“She just asked me to thank you on her behalf, Sir.”

“That’s it? Are you sure? Come on, think some more, Esmeralda. She must have said something else. Maybe you just forgot about it.”

“There really was nothing more, Sir.”

“Heck.” I pressed my forehead and turned my back on her out of irritation. I went back to the guest room, hoping that there might be something that the stranger left there. But aside from my clothes that were neatly folded on the center of the bed, there was nothing more.

I rushed back to my room. I took a quick bath and dressed up before I went to the garage. The guard, now alarmed, swiftly opened the gate. I drove as fast as I could back to the bar where I first saw her, hoping that she went back there to get her car. I knew she had one. I saw her key in her purse when I searched for her ID.

But she was nowhere to be seen.

What am I thinking? Of course, I wouldn’t catch her here anymore since she left early in the morning. Why did I leave her purse on the bedside table in the guest room? I should have kept it as a hostage to make sure that she would not escape the morning after.

On second thought, how was I supposed to know that she was going to disappear just like that? I slammed the stirring wheel out of frustration before driving to the office. It was almost ten when I got there. Today was my first time to arrive late. All because of a woman who did not even bother to leave a single trace about her.

Damn it.

I was about to sit on my chair when my brothers just barged in my office. Both of them were grinning like idiots. It only made my blood pressure rise.

I glared at them. “Whatever it is, just say it now and leave.”

Alano chuckled. “Did you see that, Ansel? I can’t believe that our youngest brother just glared at us. It’s rare to see the ever-composed Austin in a bad mood. He has the nerve to act up after arriving late,” he said in a teasing voice. “So what happened? Nana Cora was happy,” he added, referring to the head maid in our mansion. “She called me last night and told me that for the first time, you brought a woman home.”

Ansel butted in. “Frankly, I was beginning to worry about you, Austin. You don’t party. You don’t go to any bar. You don’t drink. You’ve been the epitome of a saint for the past years. Mama was so proud of you. I, on the other hand, was about to question your sexuality but Nana said that the woman you brought slept over. And I was told that there was another maid who saw that it was almost dawn when you went to your own room. Who’d have thought you have that side in you?

“We should celebrate. I would have seen your girl but I got pretty busy last night.” He smirked as he scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t want to waste Alano’s birthday gift for you. He paid for them already. That’s why I had them as an advance birthday gift to myself instead. Now, spill it. Who’s the lucky girl?”

I snapped. “I don’t know that woman, all right? I didn’t even get her name, damn it! She just disappeared.”

“And so the nerd slash saint of the family can curse,” Alano said, amused. “Does this mean you like her?”

I took a harsh breath. “I wouldn’t be this frustrated if I don’t. Being with her last night seemed a lot better than staying here. Watching her sleep was so much better than watching Nat-Geo. I like her… wild, drunk, tease, and all that.”