Screaming Desires Series 1: Secretly marked

El Nido, Palawan 2019

I watch the sunset as it slowly kisses the calm sea. It was a peaceful afternoon when my older sister Deborah called me, "Sushmita what are you doing here? It's your birthday. We should be celebrating the whole day. Why are you all alone?" I stared blankly at her as she walked closer to me.

"I don't mind being alone. Look at the view, it's so beautiful, right?" she sat down beside me. She looked at the view and smiled and said, "Well, you're right, it's quite relaxing, let's take a picture," she said as she opened the lid of her DSLR Camera. We struck a pose and smiled as soon as we saw the countdown on the timer and looked at the pictures. We began laughing at ourselves as we saw the pictures on the camera.

"Come on now," she said and grabbed my hand to pull me back into the Villa where my family held a birthday party for me. It's my eighteenth birthday and I decided to celebrate it on the beautiful beach of El Nido, Palawan.

"But I don't wanna go back there," I said and to her shock–she let go of my hand and said, "Why? Aren't you happy with your birthday party?" I just nodded at her and said, "I am happy, I just don't feel like partying tonight," she immediately turned her back on me to grab two drinks and give the other drink to me. "Alright, just one drink and I'll set you free," she promised so I took the drink and drank it without hesitation but I almost puked as it had a bitter taste.

"What kind of drink is this? yuck!" I complained and she just laughed at me and replied, "It's a martini, little sis. Welcome to the club! You're now a lady, you should act like one and enjoy it,"

I shook my head and immediately walked around to find a way out of the Villa. I roamed around and I saw my cousins and friends enjoying the night and greeted me with a happy birthday. I'm just smiling at them while finding an exit because the Villa is spacious. I started to get dizzy from the dancing party lights and loud music coming from the big stereo so I ran off the fire exit and luckily, it was open and I was on the sea shores again. It's starting to get colder as the wind brushes my long curly bronze hair.

I'm just wearing a black two piece and a red sarong so I shivered as the cold wind passed through me. 'I should go back to my hotel room and sleep,' I said to myself.

I can smell cigarettes as I head back to the hotel, I wonder where that came from. It's getting stronger as I walk. It's dark but thanks to the light bulbs on the sidewalks, I still can see the coconut trees.

"Hey babe, going home already?" said the man holding a canned beer as he and his friends walked closer to me. They cornered me so that I couldn't escape.

"What the fuck do you want?" I said to him as I stared at them dead in the eye.

"Yeah, what the fuck do you want, dude?" said the other guy to his friend while laughing.

"Oh, I like the girl, feisty!" said the other men. They were four so I'm really scared but I just continued walking.

"Nice face and nice curves," said the fourth man in their group and immediately grabbed my hand. I got alarmed and said, "Don't touch me!" I tried to pull my hand from him but he's just so strong.

"Just get it done, man!" said the first man who approached me.

"I said don't fucking touch me!" I shouted and was immediately shocked when someone said, "Hey!" and punched the man towards me, the guy immediately let go of my hand.

The three of them got pissed and immediately punched the guy who was protecting me now. We we're outnumbered so I decided to take his hand and run away.

"Come on!" I said to him as I grabbed him with my two hands because he's too big and buff and obviously gorgeous and sexy.

As soon as we're far away from them, I let go of his hand.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" he said and I looked at him. He was really good looking.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want you to get in trouble because of me and thank you for saving my life," I sincerely said to him.

"I'm sorry, but I will not accept that, if you want to thank me then, take a walk with me," He chuckled as he said that.

"What?" I slowly smiled at him, he smiled at me too. His eyes are glowing as we walked through the shore.

"That's a very unique request," I added.

"You shouldn't wander here all alone at night wearing only that. You're a tourist here?" He asked.

"Yeah, I am. You see, I turned eighteen just now," I said to him and he slowly smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"So you're not a minor anymore, come on. I'll show you something," he said as he grabbed my hand.

I don't know why I'm with him and I don't have the strength to refuse his offer.

"Here we are," he said as he showed me the big beautiful tree house. It's full of fairy lights.

"Come on," He said as he instructed me to climb the stairs and when we reached inside, I couldn't control how amazed I was. The place is so cozy and there's a big LED TV inside along with a sofa bed. There is a small center table and there's too many pillows so that you can sit or lay down comfortably.

"It's beautiful here," I said to him and he just chuckled.

"Yeah, this is my place. You don't really know who I am, do you?" he said and I just exhaled and shook my head.

"It was nice meeting you, I'm Rod by the way," he said and raised his right hand to shake hands. I immediately grabbed it and said, "Erin." and he slowly smiled at me and replied, "nice name."

"Are you staying here more often?" How can you afford to have one of these here? It looks so expensive," I asked as I opened the small window to have some air.

"I own this place, Erin," he said as I turned around to see his face and he was one inch away from me and I couldn't resist him.

"I don't believe you," I smiled as I said that to him. He was so gorgeous and I can't help but stare at his broad shoulders and nice body.

"Do you want to touch it?" he said because I was staring at him so close and I don't even know why.

"Uhm, no. I'm sorry I- I better go," I said as I reached the door to open but his hands were fast and slowly closed the door again and he even locked it.

"Temptation is really obvious when you try to avoid it. You're blushing Ms. Erin and it's so mesmerising," he said sarcastically as he cornered me on the door and grabbed my pulse.

"Come on, touch it," he ordered me as he slowly scanned my fingers to his broad chest.

"Can you feel it? My heart is beating faster and I can't help it, Erin. Do you trust me?" he sincerely said. I don't know but there's something in him that makes me crave for more and I hate myself now.

"What if I say, I trust you. What would you do?" I answered him and he slowly touched my right cheek.

"Then it's enough to commit a sin," he then said and pushed me against the wall to kiss me torridly. That was my first kiss ever and I felt dizzy, it's suffocating for lacking of air but I like the way he pressed his lips on mine, he even put his tongue inside of my mouth and I can't help it, the temptation is really overwhelming and made me crave for more so I put my hand on his shoulders but he suddenly stopped and pulled his lips away from me.

"I'm sorry," he desperately said as we both caught our breaths "Hey, don't stop," I said as he turned his back from me. "I'm not really like this, I'm sorry. It's just you're so beautiful Erin. I can't control myself. I won't be able to stop," he added

"Then don't stop," I said to him as I reached his hand to pull him closer to me again.

"Are you sure you wanted this?" he asked me but I just replied to him and said, "Just kiss me,"

He immediately obeyed my order and kissed me gently. As I was drowning in so much pleasure- I slowly took off my sarong and let it fall on the ground. He was very aggressive and grabbed my legs and wrapped them around his waist. He pushed me again for the second time against the wall and examined every inch of my body.

"Be mine, Erin," he said as he slowly took off my swimsuit.

"Ahh, I want you inside me, Rod," I replied and kissed him now as if I was like a pro but I just had my very first kiss tonight and obviously, my very first sex.

He obeyed my orders again and suddenly we were both naked and lying on the sofa bed. It was getting warmer and warmer. He slowly put his manhood on my erotic bassin and It hurts like hell but I like the way he put it in.

"Damn. You're so tight baby," he said, he was covered in sweat now because he had to be careful not to hurt me more but it's burning inside me.

"Ouch, it hurts Rod," I said as If I was gonna cry because I feel like something is tearing inside of me.

"You're still a virgin, that's why. Don't worry, I'll be more gentle," He said as he held my hand and gave it a kiss but I didn't expect that he would put my fingers on his mouth. I can feel the warmth of his breath and the pleasure rise higher than expected. He slowly began to move inside me and I moaned.

"Yes, moan for me baby," he said as he caressed my nipples and played with it and suddenly, his lips were on it, sucking it wildly.

"Faster, please," I ordered and he obeyed it again. It's getting faster and faster and I feel that I am close.

"Rod, I'm near," I said but he didn't pay any attention, he just bangs faster and faster and replied, "Me too, oh damn, you're making me crazy Erin,"

He was getting faster and faster now and as soon as we reached the climax, he immediately let me go.

"Where is your hotel room? I'll take you back safely,"

He felt guilty as he saw the stains of blood on the white sheets of the sofa bed.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"No. I never felt this way before Erin. What did you do to me?" he said "It's on me now, you are mine from now on, Erin," He added.

"Then make me yours, over and over again," I said and he just chuckled and said, "That's my girl,"

"Great. Just. Great Sushmita, you just turned eighteen and you lost your virginity to a beautiful stranger." I said to myself as I stared at Rod.

May 2022

"Maybe there's another way, Dad," Brent said to the board meeting. He was so tense because of the company's decreasing sales. He was my eldest brother and the current CEO of the Garcellano Group of Companies.

"What way Brent? Show us, tell us what to do," Daddy said.

I wasn't paying attention to the meeting but this meeting is all because of me having an arranged marriage to someone whom I don't even know personally.

"Come on. Sushmita is too young to get married, Dad," Deborah said, taking Brent's side.

"Sushmita darling, what do you think about marriage?" Daddy asked while reaching my hand. He softly pressed it.

"I don't actually know, Dad," I said to him as I shook my head.

"See. She doesn't want it Dad, no one wants it," Brent agreed to me.

"Oh, I want that. Just look at the bigger picture. We were in the middle of a higher debt and our sales are decreasing. If Sushmita accepts the offer, then all of our problems will be solved. The Xiu family will give us three hundred million in exchange for Sushmita and she will have a better life while we can restore the company again. Win-win situation right?" Royce said, the third eldest son. My easy-go-lucky brother.

Brent and Deborah gave him a very strange look.

"A better life you say, thanks bro," Brent said as he glanced annoyingly at Royce.

"That's my boy," Daddy said, pointing to Royce.

"Sis, I care so much about you, if your future will be secured like this then, you can have the chance to get everything you want. The Xiu's are fucking loaded," Royce said to me. He's not even close to encouraging me.

I shook my head because this conversation leads to nothing. Only confusion and quarrels.

"Dad, this is Rodney Xiu, the guy doesn't even show his face to everyone. How is Sushmita supposed to marry someone who hides his face?" Deborah said.

"But he's finding a bride and ready to settle down," Daddy said carelessly.

"I get it, he is popular for being unique, but Dad, you know how rude and arrogant he is. He could hurt Sushmita physically. You don't want your girl to be a battered wi–" I cut Brent's words by saying, "This is enough, I'll marry Rodney Xiu to restore the company,"

"Sushmita honey, no! you ca–" I also cut Deborah's words by saying, "My decision is final. Dad, I have something urgent to do so if you will excuse me," I stand up preparing myself to leave the board room.

"Go ahead, darling, the meeting is adjourned," Dad said.

Royce claps his hands while I'm leaving the board room. My brother is so happy. Good for him. He doesn't care about me. Just like Dad.

"That's my youngest sister, strong and feisty. It's settled, Dad," Royce said as he tapped daddy's shoulders.

As soon as I left the board room and reached the stairs to go down to the lobby, I took a glance of the Xiu's while walking together through the entrance. Rodney is not around. I wonder where he is, it seems like his world is way too far from his family.

Harold Xiu is the CEO of the Xiu Group of Companies, he is the eldest while Abbigael Xiu is the youngest and has a successful fashion designing career in Italy and Mr. Hernan Xiu, their father who has always been successful in their family business. He owns five luxury hotels, an airline and a department store here in the Philippines. That's why my father is so obsessed about accepting Mr. Rodney Xiu's offer of marriage to me but I don't know the main reason why Rodney needed a bride. Is it really because he wants to settle down or there is something else. I don't know what to think because he hides his business very well. He's a private person. There is little news about him but it doesn't help me to know who he really was.

The struggle about being a Filipino businessman is that we don't have higher connections. That is why we need to sell ourselves to get the sympathy of those upper classes and invest in our company.

I walked down to the parking lot to get my black BMW car when suddenly my phone rang. I got a text message from an unknown number and when I read it, it says,

Unknown Number: Hi

I replied with

Me: Who the fuck are you?

because I am so pissed off. This should be some jerk or a prank text who doesn't have anything to do with life. I immediately opened it when my phone rang again,

Unknown number: I'm your future husband.

I was shocked when I read it, I almost dropped my phone.

Is this really Rodney? How does he know my number? If this is really Rodney then I'm screwed up big time, I almost jumped into my car when my phone rang again.

Unknown Number: Your language doesn't fit for a Garcellano heir. I'm quite impressed.

Damn it, damn it! Daddy will get mad at me for being rude so I replied,

Me: I don't believe you, if you are really Mr. Xiu then prove it. Show me.

I hit send and it replied faster than expected saying,

Unknown Number: Be careful of what you wished for honey, you might regret it.

I didn't reply back and start the engine but there's some men in black suits blocking my way so I opened the door of my car to get out and faced them.

"What the fuck?!" I shouted as I saw them staring at me. There were five of them wearing tuxedos.

"Boss wants to see you now, Ms. Garcellano," said the man in front of me.

He suddenly grabbed my hand and put a white handkerchief on my face and suddenly, everything went black.

I woke up in a dark room. It's very luxurious, the walls are painted gold and silver but it's so dark, the only light that I have is the window beside me.

I can say that it's already noon and the sun is setting down as I jumped out of the bed to look at the window. I noticed that there are other windows but it's covered with thick black and dark blue curtains so I tried to pull the strings to open it but I was stopped by the manly voice that I heard saying, "I won't do that if I were you,"

I gave up pulling the curtains and found where the voice came from, and I saw a man sitting on a chair. He wore a dark blue tuxedo and was sitting prominently on the chair. I couldn't see his face because it was covered by the darkness of the room.

"Mr. Xiu?" I said.

"You are just in time, Ms. Garcellano," He said.

Rodney stood up as I walked closer to him. He reached my right hand and grabbed it. His hands are so warm. I like it.

"Come," he said as I took a walk with him. I couldn't see anything because the place was covered in darkness.

"Where are you taking me? Does my dad know about this?" I asked him. All I can see now is his sexy back and brushed up black hair as he holds my hand while we are making our way through a corridor. I can tell that he is quite a catch but why is he hiding his face?

"Yes they already knew it. I ask your father for permission if I can take you out for dinner," He simply said.

"Wait, correction Mr. Xiu, you didn't ask me out, you kidnapped me," I complained.

"You wouldn't go with me anyway. That's why I forced you," He said while shaking his head.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"I just know," He said as he opened the door and I got blinded by the light that came from that room.

I just noticed that he was wearing a mask to cover his face.

When we entered the room the servants began to align themselves in their designated areas to accommodate us. It was a VIP suite. I can tell because of the ambiance of it.

The servants headed us to the dinner table and served some dishes.

There are so many kinds of food and it's mouthwatering. As soon as the servants were done preparing our food, Rodney ordered them to leave.

"Eat," He said.

"Sure. Thank you," I grabbed the spoon and fork and started to eat because I got hungry but I noticed that he's just staring at me so I grabbed the napkin and pressed my lips there.

"How about you? aren't you gonna eat? Take off that mask. There's no one here. Just us. The food is great," I said carelessly.

"I'm afraid you'll lose your appetite when you see me, so I insist. I'm glad you like the food," He said.

"Mr. Xiu, you can't hi–" He cut off my words and said, "Just Rodney,"

"Alright, Rodney, you can't hide your face from me forever. I'm gonna be your wife," I bravely said to him.

"Tell me the truth," He said.

"What truth?" I asked as I continued to eat my food.

"Why?" He asked.

"Why?" I repeated what he just said.

"Why did you sign up for this agreement?" He asked.

"Because I'm a good daughter, I guess," I effortlessly said.

"Then, tell me the truth," He said again. He won't let this slip.

"You want the truth? Fine. Our company is not doing great, the sales are decreasing and we did all the best that we can do but it's useless and we were in a big debt. That's why," I explained briefly to him but geez! my Dad would really kill me if he knew this.

"So, it's just the help that you are after?" He asked.

"Of Course not Rodney, I'm not that kind of person. My life is on the line too. My family didn't force me to do this. It is my own will," I told him.

"But you will do this because you will get something in return," He mockingly said to me.

"Does the word 'Love' exist in your world?," I asked him. "I love my family Rodney, that's why I'm doing this," I added.

"How extraordinary, you will sacrifice yourself for your family," He said as he stood up and put a small white satin box on the side of my table.

"What is it?," I asked and he said, "Open it," I obeyed him and I opened the white satin box and my jaw dropped as I saw the beautiful diamond engagement ring. This is so expensive. I never saw any of this before. It's like a personalized ring and made of diamonds.

"It's beautiful," I said and I gaze at his big brown eyes. He noticed that, so he lowered his head.

"Wear it," He said.

"You're not a gentleman, I'm not surprised," I said as I picked the ring out of the box.

"Because that's an order," He said, his words are full of anger now as he speaks.

I obeyed him and put the ring on my finger as I stared at him dead in the eye.

"I wished to leave, now," I said.

"You heard her, make sure she'll get home safely," He said to his bodyguards in black tuxedos. Those were the guys who kidnapped me earlier. I didn't notice that they were there, watching us all this time.

He turns around to face me but all I can see is his gorgeous big brown eyes. He doesn't look so hideous to me so, what's with the mask?

"Congratulations, future Mrs. Rodney Xiu, and my condolences to your family," He said coldly.

I stood up and the guys in tuxedos escorted me to leave the place. My eyes glued at the limousine in front of me.

"Go ahead," said the voice at my back. It was Rodney so I turned around to see him.

"Why won't you take me home yourself?" I asked him.

"I have things to do, maybe some other time," He said while grabbing his phone in his pocket.

"Alright," I just said to him because I feel so tired.

"I'll call you, when you get home," He said

"How did you get my number?" I asked.

"Connections, honey," He simply said and I just shook my head and hopped into the limo.

I stared at the diamond engagement ring I had on my finger while we were on our way home.

I take it off to examine the very rare diamond but something catches my eyes. There's a bible verse engraved on it: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I grabbed my phone and searched the bible verse on the internet. It's the definition of love in the bible.

Rodney, you gotta be kidding me.