"BED OF PASSION AND DESIRE 1"

It was the first time since Marius and I had separated that we found ourselves sharing a passionate drink together. No wonder he wanted us to be in his room—he had already prepared two glasses and a special wine on a small candlelit table. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of candles casting dancing shadows on the walls, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere. The fragrance of roses and vanilla filled the air, adding to the romantic setting.

Since leaving that house over a year ago, it was my first time stepping back into Marius's room. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the new, comforting aroma of the candles, making my heart flutter. That explained why I felt a bit uneasy.

"I wanted to have a sweet dance with you, that's why I brought you here," Marius said as he turned on the small stereo in his room. Moments later, a beautiful, melodious love song filled the air, the gentle notes wrapping around us like a warm embrace.

"Come here," he said, extending his hand towards me. I took it, feeling the warmth of his touch send shivers down my spine.

"The first and last time we did this was in my condo, right?" Marius remarked, picking up a glass from the small table and taking a sip of the wine. His eyes sparkled with nostalgia and affection as he gazed at me.

I simply smiled and quietly observed his face, the way his lips curved into a gentle smile, the way his eyes twinkled with unspoken emotions.

"Hey, I know I'm handsome, but don't stare at me like I'm the most handsome man in the world," he joked, winking at me. His playful demeanor always had a way of making me feel at ease.

I rolled my eyes and then rested my cheek on his broad chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. When the song ended, we sat down, chatting while enjoying the delicious wine Marius had prepared for us. I was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol when I asked him a question.

"What happened between you and Lena? How did it all go wrong?" I asked, my voice soft and curious.

Marius's eyes, now slightly droopy, stared at me intently, as if measuring whether my question was genuinely out of curiosity or simply carried by the wind to him. The flickering candlelight reflected in his dark eyes, giving them an almost ethereal glow.

"Do you really want to talk about that?" he asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.

I nodded repeatedly. "I think I'm ready to hear the truth," I said, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Marius took a deep breath before pouring more wine into his glass. He had already had quite a bit. As for me, not being much of a drinker, I was more affected than he was, which made me more talkative. After a few moments, Marius began to tell me everything.

"I was really angry with you, Sam. I thought that even if I made a mistake, it didn't justify you taking our child away from me. And I didn't even get to see her being born," Marius began, his voice thick with emotion.

I could feel the deep hurt in Marius's voice. And I, being the cause of all that pain and the real protagonist and antagonist in his story, felt a profound sense of guilt. My heart ached for him, for the pain I had caused.

"I loved you so much that even if you were with other men, I could accept it. But I couldn't accept that you just left me like that, Sam. I missed you terribly and was angry with you, but at the same time, I still loved you. And the funny thing is, I realized I loved you even more because of how much I missed you."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible, my eyes brimming with tears.

"That's what I was afraid of. I didn't want to talk about this because I knew you'd feel that way," he said, laughing as he pinched my cheek, his touch gentle and reassuring.

I chuckled softly. "It's okay. It's better this way. So I can remember that I wasn't the only victim. Because you're right, we both got hurt," I explained, my heart feeling lighter with each word.

"Lena followed me to Manila. She didn't stop. She was always in my office. And because I was so angry with her, I thought I'd give her what she wanted. I knew it was just sex she was after. So, we had sex. In her apartment. After that, she still didn't stop. But I banned her from the building. I didn't answer any of her calls until she finally gave up. She disappeared."

I understood Marius's explanation. He had a point. He gave Lena what she wanted—sex. And after that, after giving her what he thought she was after, he didn't entertain her anymore. So, she stayed away.

"How long have you been friends with her?" I asked, taking another sip from my glass, the wine now warming my entire body.

"Since elementary school," Marius replied. "But it ended just like that. She ruined our friendship as if it didn't matter to her," he said with regret and pain in his voice, his eyes reflecting the sorrow of lost friendship.

"Were you ever in love with her?" I asked again, watching Marius as he poured more wine into my glass. The way he moved, so graceful yet strong, captivated me.

He shook his head repeatedly. "Believe it or not, never," he said.

I believed him, not for any other reason but because I saw it in his eyes, those deep, honest eyes that held so much truth.

"And Lana?" We had reached the part that made us both uncomfortable.

It was true. I wasn't comfortable talking about it. But I had no choice. I had to face it. Because if we truly wanted to give our love and family a chance, we needed to answer all the questions.

"I really did love her," Marius admitted, staring straight into my eyes, his gaze unwavering and sincere.

"Really?" I asked. "But how did I come into the picture, Marius?" I questioned, my curiosity piqued.

He took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he picked up the goblet and drank from it again, refilling it afterward.

We both fell silent. The only sounds were the melodious love song playing and the continuous chirping of crickets outside, a symphony of nature that somehow added to the intimacy of the moment.

"I really wanted to use you back then. The truth is, when I first saw you at the mall with your niece, I was immediately attracted to you. And from that moment on, you never left my mind. I have to admit, many nights, you were the subject of my dreams," Marius confessed, his voice filled with longing.

My eyebrows shot up at what I heard. Then, I laughed and asked, "What did you dream about me?"

At that point, Marius turned his gaze back to me, his eyes filled with a familiar, smoldering fire that immediately affected me. I suddenly felt a strong desire, and I knew he felt the same way about me.

"My dreams about you were very sensual, Sam," he confessed.

He never broke eye contact. Marius's gaze was so intense it felt like it could melt my heart. And in the end, I was the one who looked away.

"I'm not like that. Not ever. I have to admit to you, as your future husband, that I've been with many women. That's the truth, Sam. And it wasn't hard for me to get them. I got all of them. But you, you didn't even want to have dinner with me. If I hadn't forced you," he said, winking at me, making me blush.

"But Lana—."

"Yeah, I get it," he interrupted. "Like I said, I loved Lana, yes. But it wasn't the same as what I felt for you, Sam."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"My feelings for Lana included a sense of friendship. Not much different from what I felt for Lena. The difference between them was that Lena fell for me. Lana didn't. So, I noticed Lana more. Besides, when they weren't around your sister, Lana triggered my protective instincts. But never, not even once, did I feel the kind of jealousy I felt when I saw you with Calum."

At the mention of Calum's name, I couldn't help but laugh, the sound ringing through the intimate space like a bell.

"Why are you laughing?" Marius asked, puzzled.

"Calum is gay, don't you know that!" I blurted out, laughing again, my sides aching from the laughter.

"What?" Marius's forehead creased in confusion.

I laughed again, then picked up my glass and drank. "It was his idea to make you jealous. And it worked, didn't it?" I said, a mischievous grin on my lips.

Marius nodded. "That's why you defended him so much, huh," he said, holding my hand and pulling me onto his lap, his touch sending electric shocks through my body.

"No," I said, playfully pinching the tip of Marius's nose. "The truth is, I liked seeing you jealous. Because when you were, I felt that you loved me," I said, kissing him on the lips afterward, my heart pounding with love and desire.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but at that moment, I felt bold. I even adjusted my position so that I was facing him while we shared heated kisses. We were both feeling the effects of the wine, the room spinning slightly around us. Especially Marius. But as

I said before, I'm not much of a drinker. Nights like this are rare, so I get drunk quickly.

"Tell me, Marius, why did you go through with your plan, knowing it was wrong?" I asked him when I finally pulled away from his lips, my breath coming in short gasps.

*****

Marius felt like he was losing his mind at that moment. Sam was straddling him, her intimate area pressing against his aroused manhood, with only her thin panties between them. She was wearing a dress, a yellow spaghetti strap that clung to her curvaceous body, accentuating every curve and contour, adding to his growing desire.

"Tell me, why?" Sam repeated, teasing him with small, soft kisses on his lips, her breath warm and intoxicating.

"Sam," he whispered, his voice husky with desire. "Would you believe me if I said I was just fulfilling my sensual dreams about you?" he replied, his eyes locking onto hers, filled with a deep, burning passion.

Sam stared at him after that. Her blue eyes sparkled, turning a darker shade, indicating she was as eager as he was for the passionate encounter about to unfold between their heated bodies. The tension between them was palpable, a magnetic force pulling them closer and closer, until all that existed was their desire and the love they had for each other.