Chapter 46A

Warning: Language might be disturbing to some readers. Please beware.

~

The house was silent as his footsteps echoed in the living room. After the gathering, Gideon drove back to Mantalongon with a light heart. He had completely let go of his vices and while thinking of what he did to his wife and all of those quarrels, he felt guilty. The truth? He had no right to condemn Jewel when he himself was also addicted to x-rated materials.

"I don't know what happened, Sir. But Senyorita locked herself inside the room."

Gideon turned his gaze to Dalya who was walking beside him. The maid was in tears and could not look directly at his eyes. He cleared his throat. "In my room?"

The woman nodded. Gideon put the backpack on the sofa and he looked up at the top of stairs. "Get our lunch ready. I'm going to see her," he said.

"Ah, Sir..." Dalya bit her bottom lip. "She was in your room since last night. She didn't eat dinner and I don't know why Senyorita is m-moaning."

"Moaning?" His two eyebrows met. "You didn't use the key to open the room?"

Dalya shook her head. "She doesn't want to, Sir. Senyorita was furious when we opened the room last night."

"I see. I'll take care of her, Dalya."

"All right, Sir..." Dalya sighed.

Gideon took big stride towards the staircase and went upstairs. He took the key to his room out of his pocket. He stood in front of the door and knocked. "Jewel," he called. But no one answered.

Sighing, he inserted the key into the keyhole and turned the doorknob. He heard a click. "Jewel," he called as he entered the room.

He was shocked when he saw Jewel on the floor. Sitting, naked, and looking badly at him. Gideon sucked his breathe and immediately closed the door of the room to hide his wife's nakedness.

"Jewel," he breathe, clenching his jaw. "What do you think you're doing? Stand up and get dressed."

But she stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly smiled. "Gideon!" Jewel called, grinning widely.

His wife stood up and ran to hug him. He quickly placed his right hand at her back and rested his left hand on the door jamb.

"I'm glad you're back!" Jewel exclaimed as she hugged him tightly.

Gideon curled the corner of his lips up. "You haven't eaten your dinner and breakfast. What are you thinking? It's not okay to skip meals."

But Jewel didn't answer him and instead nudged her nose onto the crook of his neck. "Husband, I like your scent!" She giggled.

Gideon laughed. He pulled away from her hug and stared into his wife's eyes. His forehead furrowed. He could see clearly the lust displayed in Jewel's eyes. Sighing, he tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ears. "Go, take a bath and dress up, wife."

But Jewel just rolled her eyes and clung tightly to his neck. His wife tiptoed and kissed him on his lips.

He was caught off guard by Jewel's action.

She smiled. "I want to kiss you. I'll take a bath later, okay?"

And Gideon was still speechless when she put her lips onto his cold lips again. He was stunned. He could smell a faint scent of alcohol from her and he knew she's tipsy. Did she get drunk again?

He knew because Jewel's not like this. He had known his wife for too long and he knew that she's not a kiss maniac. He gently pushed Jewel away, but her arms clasped tightly around his torso. She brought her body closer to him and he could do nothing but to hold her waist.

"Jewel ---"

Suddenly, Jewel loosened the arms around him and pushed him away. Gideon's back pressed against the wall and his lips parted at the force of the woman's push. "Jewel what are you ---"

Jewel stalked closer to him and kissed him again like there's no tomorrow. Gideon grabbed her waist to steady her feet. "Jewel," he called again. His lips pursed into a thin line. "Wife, we're not doing this. Don't act as a whore, you're not one."

His words prompted Jewel to stop. But it didn't last long because she took a deep breath and stepped closer to him. He raised his hand to stop her naughty hand but she slapped his hand away and grabbed off his polo shirt.

Gideon heard the buttons fall on the floor. Jewel grinned when she saw his bare chest and abs. His expression darkened. "Wife, go back to your senses!"

A smile spread across Jewel's lips and she backed away, as Gideon slowly advanced. She shrugged her shoulders. "I want to have sex with you. Problem with that?"

Gideon's expression softened and he sighed. "It's not the right time, Jewel. You're still young. These words... you are only saying this because you're confused. Now be a good girl and let me hold you."

Jewel giggled and she threw her body on the bed. He stood at the foot of the bed and folded his arms.

His wife is naked under his gaze. Although he is not in the mood to do bed activities, but seeing the bare body of his wife made his mouth dry. He averted his gaze and cleared a throat. Then shook his head.

Stepping closer to the cabinet, he opened it and reached for the towel hanging on the side. He tried to turn around but was stopped when two soft arms wrapped around his torso.

"Let's do it. I'm ready, Gideon."

His body stiffened. He could smell the faint natural scent of a maiden in Jewel's body. And it's making him hard to breathe.

Gideon clenched his jaw, turned around, and held Jewel's shoulder tp face her up to him. His wife's eyes were red, and there were faint red marks all over her skin. He squinted his eyes while his gaze roamed around her body.

"What are these red marks, Jewel? They seem to be love bites. Are you hiding a lover from me?" he asked while looking straight in her eyes.

"Oh...." Jewel shook her head. "I don't know, either."

Gideon's face darkened. He believed Jewel would not cheat on him, but seeing those red marks, it felt like someone had slapped him in the cheek. He realized that Jewel might be thinking of getting a man to sleep with when he, her husband, couldn't do his job.

"What did you do last night?" he asked.

Jewel casted her gaze down onto his abdomen. "I..." Jewel bit her lips and touched his hard abdomen, feeling the fine muscles. "I just read something," she whispered.

Gideon just watched how she played with the fine hairs on his bare chest. He averted his gaze and reached for Jewel, patting her head as he was taller than her. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the bathroom.

"Gideon!" her protest.

He opened the cold shower and pulled Jewel to stand right under it.

"Ah!" she cried. "Gideon, you beast! It's cold!" Jewel gasped and glared at him.

He tugged the corner of his lips and pulled her close to his body and leaned for a hug. The water fell also into his body making him wet. "You're not thinking straight so I had to wake you up," he reasoned.

Jewel pushed him away, still glaring hatefully at him. "Heartless beast!"

"I'm sorry, wife." He sighed and kissed her cheek. "Finish your shower and dress up. We'll have our lunch."

He clearly felt Jewel stiffened. When he looked at her, he saw her cheeks burning red. And it made him smile a little. His wife's so cute.

"You're really annoying!" she yelled and turned her face away.

"Alright." He chuckled. "Pack your things later. I'll bring you to Mantalongon tomorrow."

Jewel just scoffed but she was watching Gideon in the corner of her eye when the man exited the bathroom.

MANTALONGON is one of the places often visited by adventurous tourists. The town will lead to Sergio Osmeña Peak --- the highest elevation of Cebu. Because it stood higher above sea water than its neighboring towns, the temperature is cold all year round. This made the town known as the summer capital of Cebu and Cebu's version of Baguio as what they says.

The pick-up car stopped at a sizeable house. Some were paved and some were not, but what caught her attention was the vast plot next to it.

Gideon stepped out of the car, she followed. Fresh air blew into her and she enjoyed the sweet scent of roses and mangoes carried by the wind. Then she checked her white dress and summer hat for any wrinkles.

Jewel glanced at Gideon who was looking up at the house. Her forehead creased. She did not know what Gideon's plan was. The man just took her to Mantalongon without saying any reason.

“I still have my class,” she said. The wind blew again and her hand caught the summer hat lying on her head, preventing it from flying away. "I can't stay here for too long."

"I know." He glanced at her. "We're here for deliverance."

She frowned. "Deliverance?"

A harsh wind blew again and lifted the hem of her white dress. She hastily lowered the hem, holding into it, but because she let go of the hat on her head, it was blown away by the wind.

Jewel cussed under her breathe. She watched the summer hat fly in the air and into the woods nearby. Her eyes squinted.