CHAPTER 47
BENJAMIN poured his tenth glass of wine and drank all its content at once. His vision was now beginning to spin, but his mind was still clear, and his feelings still felt painful to bear. He knew what he thought for Caroline; he’s not a teenager anymore to be confused with his emotions.
“Why does she have to make me feel like this?” he asked, gaze focused on the empty champagne glass. “And, why am I letting myself be like this?”
What made him confused was about Caroline’s thoughts and feelings. One moment she’s transparent, then just a few minutes later, she’s unpredictable again. It was as if she was drifting away from him.
‘You don’t really know her…’ Those words from her cousin, Mario, echoed in his mind.
“What does he mean that I don’t know her?” he said and stared at the different sizes of champagne glasses displayed in the wooden shelves of the minibar inside the wine cellar.
‘She’s a serial heartbreaker…’ Benjamin’s hand gripped tighter on the glass when that thought came to his mind.
He clenched his jaw. “Was she—”
“Benjaminfy?”
“Who’s that?” Benjamin’s brows furrowed upon hearing an unfamiliar voice of a woman. He put down his glass and poured wine again.
It took seconds before the woman replied. “I-It’s me…” she said, followed by a slow creaking sound of the opening door. “Beverly…”
“I’ll go out in a minute,” he said, ignoring her name. “Are they done cooking?”
“Yeah…” The woman replied in a louder voice. “Are you okay, Benjamin—”
He turned around and met the woman’s gaze. He was surprised when he noticed that she was just a few meters away from him. “Is there something that you need?”
The woman opened her mouth but didn’t speak. Her hands fidgeted on the hemline of her tight skirt. “Uhm…”
Benjamin knotted his forehead. “Did Nanay Dolor ask you to get a bottle of white wine for the seafood?”
“Ah, no… It’s not that, Benjaminfy…” She stepped closer until she was just a few meters away from him. Her breasts bounced on every step that she took. “I’m here to tell you something…”
Benjamin was starting to be uncomfortable with the woman. He stood and was about to step back when she spoke again.
“Benjaminfy, I like you!” she said, took the remaining steps between them. “Don’t you remember me? We met four years ago—”
“Excuse me.”
Benjamin looked at the door in shock and felt relieved to see Caroline standing in the doorway. “Caroline—”
“You may leave us now, Bev.” Caroline stepped inside the cellar and walked towards them. “I thought you’ll just call him?”
The woman named Beverly suddenly stepped away from Benjamin. She turned to Caroline with flaring nostrils.
“What?” Caroline asked, arching a brow. “Nanay Dolor is looking for you.”
“I don’t know her,” Benjamin told Caroline loud enough for the woman to hear. “She just went inside and—”
“You don’t have to explain, Benjamin,” she said, not looking at him. “Maybe, she’s one of those girls that you showed chivalry with every time you and your family spend your vacations here.”
The woman’s wide eyes showed that she couldn’t believe that Benjamin didn’t recognize her. Her face was red, and her lips were quivering in embarrassment. Before Benjamin could speak an apology, the woman stormed out of the wine cellar.
Caroline let out a sigh. “`My gosh, what if I arrived late? She must’ve raped you—”
Benjamin hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “I thought you wouldn’t come here for me, Caroline…” he said and captured her lips.
*
BENJAMIN’S lips tasted like a fine wine—literally. Caroline pulled back, but Benjamin held her closer. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and tasted her even more. His kisses went wilder and wetter in every move of their lips.
Caroline pulled free from Benjamin’s lips. “Benjamin… S-somebody might see us here,” she said hoarsely and looked around the wine cellar filled with different kinds of fine wines. “They’re all looking for you.”
Benjamin stopped on planting kisses to her neck. “Except you?”
Caroline shut her eyes as the warmth of his breath kissed her skin. “Benjamin—”
“Am I right?” Benjamin’s hand on her waist slid inside her top and went up to her breast. “You no longer needed me…”
“I don’t understand you—” Caroline gasped loudly when he snapped the strap of her bra, pulling it free from the hook. “Benjamin, you’re drunk—”
“I’m not…” he murmured while looking straight into her eyes. “But, I might get drunk later.”
As soon as he said that, her shirt and brassiere pulled up to her chin, revealing her breasts. Benjamin pushed her towards the table of the minibar and cornered her. His eyes focused on her bared breasts, staring at them as if they were the most beautiful things he had seen.
“Lovely…” he whispered and touched them, kneaded them, and weighed its softness in his palm.
Caroline moaned when his thumb caressed her nipple. “Benjamin—”
“Shh…” Benjamin pulled the stool behind him and sat. He cornered her between his thighs. “Take it off—”
“No—” But Benjamin pulled her shirt up to her head. “Thanks for asking.”
He smiled when she rolled her eyes. “Hold on the table and lean back.”
Caroline’s brows furrowed. She wanted to refuse, but her body was telling her otherwise. She held on to the edge of the table and leaned back a little, making her breasts pushed towards his mouth.
“Very good,” he said as he wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer.
“Benjamin, let’s do it quick. The kids are looking for you—” Caroline bit her lips when Benjamin sucked her breast. She grabbed on his hair when his tongue circled her nipple. “Oh, God, Benjamin…”
Caroline threw her head up and bit her lip to prevent her moans from escaping. But, the pleasure that Benjamin’s mouth is giving her was too good to handle silently.
“Caroline…” Benjamin looked up at her. His tongue teased his tips. “Am I not enough for you?”
Caroline met his gaze with a creased forehead. She didn’t expect that question from him. “What do you mean?”
“I know that you know what I mean, Caroline…” he replied gravely. “That guy is better than me, right? That’s why you’re still with him.”
“What? I don’t understand what you’re talking about—”
“You can’t love me, right? Because I’m not like him. I don’t have my chopper; I’m not as wealthy as him. I’m not even a bachelor.” He stood and took a step away from her. He picked up her clothes and gave them to her. “I can’t give you everything…”
Caroline was speechless, not because of what he said, but because of what she was starting to think and feel. Caroline felt as if two beings were fighting inside her head. Shouting and arguing at each other.
“I’m sorry…” Caroline whispered and put on her clothes quickly. “I’m sorry, Benjamin…” She walked towards the door, but Benjamin caught her arm.
“You’re going to leave me now?” he asked, gripping her arm tightly. “That’s it, Caroline?”
She pulled her hand back. “You don’t understand, Benjamin—”
He clenched his jaw. “Why don’t you just tell me that I am right?!”
Caroline felt as if a nerve snapped inside her head. “I said let me go!” she shouted back and snatched her arm free from him.
Benjamin fell silent. His expression showed shock to her reaction. But, before he could speak, Caroline ran out of the cellar, leaving Benjamin confused and alone.
***
