Author's Note: Here's the long overdue sequel.
0o0o0o
No!
Shocked denial cinched her stomach into a tight knot. It was an effort to properly draw in a breath.
No. no. no. This was not happening.
The first thing Ching had noticed almost had her screaming in panic. She was sprawled across a man without a stitch of clothing between them. When she carefully extricated herself from him, the second thing she noticed really had her questioning her sanity. Because there was no way she was really staring down at a blindfolded Tobe handcuffed to a bedpost.
She didn't know if it was a bad thing or a good thing that she couldn't remember that particular part of their lovemaking.
Maybe this was some messed up dream. Maybe she was still drunk. Heck, maybe she was dead. But no, it couldn't be. Her splitting headache made sure she was aware of that.
Her hellish hangover was also proof of a dark, voraciously carnal night that would never happen again. It was over. Done. Finished. It was almost noon and the sun illuminated the room like her hangover did to the glaringly obvious mistake she did that night.
I'm never drinking again, she thought to herself.
Her head pounded when the glare of the sunlight burned straight through her retinas. The night may be over but her nightmare wasn't done. She closed her eyes and willed the pounding in her head to stop but memories from last night assaulted her.
God, help her. Tobe was driving her wild. As soon as they entered his room, he had her back against the door. She had lost all control of her body as she drowned from the sensations he was arousing within her. Every cell in her body screamed for his touch. And he didn't just kiss, he devoured as he ran lips across her sensitive skin.
She responded to him in a way she didn't know she could. Her fingers clutched helplessly to his shoulders. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, cradling his raging heat.
"You want this as much as I do," the rough edge on his voice sent shivers down her spine.
"Yes… god yes." She closed her eyes and lost herself to the ecstasy he offered.
Feeling vulnerable and betrayed by the heat suffusing her body, she wrapped herself with the covers as she looked around her unfamiliar territory. A chair had fallen over and several sheets of paper littered on the floor around a coffee table where they must've fallen from. A horrified blush tinted her cheeks when her gaze fell on the pieces of their clothing scattered around the room. The place was a mess. As if… as if a tornado hit it. Ching willed her racing heart to calm down.
Who was that girl last night? That wasn't Ching. That wasn't what a perfectly respectable and practical girl like her would do.
She always strived to be the cheerful, helpful, good girl everyone wanted. Unfortunately, there were times when she wished she didn't have to. It was both an achievement and a burden she had placed on herself. And last night, she must've cracked. All the frustrations she stored for several years suddenly bursting in one night.
And what a night that was! It wasn't anywhere near what she had imagined her first time to be. But still it was dark, wild and incredible. Just like Tobe. She was also confused why and how she ended up with him of all people.
It doesn't matter, she thought. This was just for one night anyway. It would be way too crazy for it to be more.
Her eyes darted around the room as she looked for her things. Her bra was on the door knob with her blouse and purse dropped carelessly below it. Her denim skirt was on the couch. Her stilettos were on the floor at the foot of her bed.
She was careful not to wake Tobe as she slowly disentangled herself from the bed. She had to thank all her martial arts training when she managed to quickly grab her clothes and hastily tug them on without making a single noise. Then she realized something. Where the heck was her underwear?
She whirled her head around as she searched wildly for her missing underwear. She ducked under the bed and— what the heck! Is that a whip? She stared blankly at the flexible rod with a strip of leather attached to it. Unthinkingly, she reached for it and the fog had cleared from her memory. Oh god, no…
"Ching… Let me see you," Tobe was face down on the bed groaning in frustration at the handkerchief tied over his eyes.
She didn't reply as she nibbled on his shoulder then trailed the end of the rod down his spine. He shivered.
Tobe then gasped when she struck him with the whip just above the curve of his buttocks then wickedly trailed her tongue across the reddening strip of skin.
"If you'll be good, maybe I'll let you," she replied mischievously, her voice low and sensuous.
Her skin had prickled with the rush of ice and fire through her veins. She would've been better off not remembering that part.
She was about to begin searching for her missing underwear when Tobe groaned, signaling that he was about to wake up.
Oh, no! She instinctively scrambled for the door before pausing. She couldn't leave. She was still painfully aware that she wasn't wearing her underwear. She tugged self-consciously at her skirt even though it was just a little above her knees. It felt strange and decadent.
No time! She felt uncomfortable but she was not going to stay long enough to see Tobe wake up. She was not going to have painfully awkward morning after conversation with him. Still she hesitated.
She looked at Tobe's sleeping form. He looked vulnerable handcuffed to his bed. She felt a momentary flash of guilt that she was leaving him in that state before she remembered that the Tobe she knew was far from helpless.
She forced herself to look away before closing the door behind her.
0o0o0o
Hours later, Ching had just finished her class in the Turtle Training Hall. She was leaning on a column staring unseeingly at the group of students packing their things. Little did she know that she was about to have that painfully awkward conversation she wanted to avoid.
"Hello, Ching," a masculine voice sounded beside her.
Ching squealed in surprise. She whirled around and saw Garu's bewildered expression. "It's just you," she said breathlessly, feeling relieved.
"You seem edgy. Something wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing!" her voice was high-pitched. Garu arched a brow so Ching tried to sound more natural. "I'm just tired from last night." Her cheeks blushed painfully at the memories flashing across her mind. Not what I was going for.
Garu stared at the floor as if it was the most fascinating thing for him. "Yeah. Last night. Your birthday. I hope you had fun." He suddenly looked tense. "With us, I mean! Because- because you weren't with anyone else… But if by chance you were, then I would still hope that you… wouldn't have an unpleasant experience." Ching saw him grimace at the words before he shut his eyes tightly.
Oh god no! He knew! How? Ching wanted the floor to open up beneath her feet and swallow her whole. "Y-yes. I had fun. Going into a bar, drinking and everything else. They were firsts for me," she said in an attempt to stay on neutral topics.
However, Garu just can't leave things well enough alone.
Garu took a deep breath then said, "When- when you had your first shot, you didn't choke, right?" Translation: Did you use protection?
"Uh huh," she answered stiffly. Translation: We did that part right.
"I'd feel bad if you hated your first cocktail drink. You weren't just… pressured into doing something you didn't like?" Garu said, cracking his knuckles. Just say the word and I'll smash his teeth and break his bones.
"It wasn't unpleasant." It was amazing!
"I guess that's fine then." Fuck, no!
This had got to be the most awkward conversation she has ever had. It was like having the 'Talk' all over again. Only worse. Because it was with Garu, her designated brother. And they were pretending they weren't talking about Ching having sex with his arch rival.
"I'm sorry," She finally said.
Garu sighed then put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "As long as you're okay. That rotten...villain hates me not you, remember?" He excused himself and walked away.
When he was out of sight, Ching sank to the floor and buried her face in her hands.
Just then, a someone's shadow was cast over her. She looked up and saw Abyo staring down at her. His mouth was opening and closing as if he didn't know what to say.
After a nightmarish conversation with Garu, Ching was at the limit with her patience. "Spit it out, Abyo."
Abyo sat next to her on the floor. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about daring you to make out with some stranger. Pucca and I were too drunk to think clearly but we still shouldn't have pushed you like that."
Ching shook her head. "If I remember correctly, I wasn't exactly unwilling to go through with that bet." Her mind suddenly flashed a vivid memory of her straddling on Tobe's lap as they made out in a dark corner at the bar. Yep, she wasn't unwilling. She groaned, "I never should have gone to a bar."
"Aww... don't say that. We still had fun that night, remember? And you'll get better at handling alcohol, trust me." He smiled encouragingly. Just when Ching felt a bit better, he added, "It looked like you enjoyed that Screaming Orgasm. You should have a Blowjob next time we go to a bar."
Ching's jaw dropped incredulously. And almost at the same time, Abyo's eyes widened in panic. "I meant the cocktail drinks! I obviously wasn't talking about sex. I wasn't even thinking about Tobe. I mean, why would I have you and Tobe and sex in the same line of thought? That would be totally random... Ahaha...haha!" He rambled on, laughing awkwardly.
Ching swiped a hand over her face irritatedly. "Could this day get any crazier?"
0o0o0o
"Hey, Ching!" Ching's head popped up from the rose bush she was cultivating. Kneeling on the ground, a trowel in hand, she watched Pucca jumping over her picket fence before running towards her.
"The gate is open." She indicated the gaping wooden door.
"Too slow." Pucca stopped in front of Ching before dropping on the ground next to her. She crossed her legs and cocked her head. "What're you doing?"
Ching continued her digging. "I'm working on my backyard. I've been neglecting my garden lately. I've got new students at the Turtle Training Hall so I was busy training them. Garu helped me this afternoon." Ching's grip on the handle tightened when she recalled their awkward dialogue.
"Oh. Never mind that. I came to ask you something," Pucca's said slyly, "I've been hearing a lot of strange rumors around Sooga."
She stopped her digging. "Really?" She felt cold dread churn in her stomach. "I'm not interested."
"Aww… but you should be." Pucca shrugged, deceptively nonchalant. "Because they're the kinds where our sweet, innocent Ching make out then take off with a handsome stranger. So who was it?" Pucca asked eagerly.
"You don't want to know," Ching answered grimly, proceeding to aggressively loosen the dirt around the bush. It looked like she was stabbing the ground again and again.
How could they not recognize Tobe? Then again, he rarely goes around town without his uniform and mask. Or maybe no one could believe their eyes? Her and Tobe? It does seem absurd if you think about it.
"So it is true!" Pucca squealed excitedly. "That was an epic moment for you! You have to tell me what happened. I'm begging you!" she pleaded.
"I can't." Her throat closed up and she couldn't get enough air.
"Ching, your best friend is dying here." Pucca told her exaggeratedly. She placed her hands flat on the ground and leaned closer to her face but Ching wouldn't look at her. "At least give me a hint," she begged earnestly.
Ching bit her bottom lip. She couldn't lie to save herself. "He's got this X-shaped scar on his face." She stiffened as she waited for the storm to strike.
There was a tense pause then, "Where on his face?"
Ching stopped working to gape at her friend, not sure if the other was pulling her leg. Pucca had her head cocked to the side, looking confused and thoughtful. "It's an X between his eyes." Duh.
Pucca hooted in laughter, wrapping her arms around her midsection. "For some reason, I keep seeing this absurd image of you and Tobe making out! Talk about cra—azy."
Ching resisted the urge to slap a palm on her forehead. She wanted to laugh hysterically. She knew Pucca wasn't really dense. It was just impossible for her to even consider that the handsome stranger she was wondering about could really be Tobe.
She stiffly stretched her lips in a semblance of a smile. "Me and Tobe. Pfft! Yeah! It's crazy! Totally preposterous and reckless." She laughed weakly. "But, um, not entirely impossible, right?"
"Wahaha! Oh! Oh! My sides are hurting!" Pucca was gasping in laughter. "Oh, god. That would be like seeing a wolf hump a sheep."
A furious blush stole her skin. "Not really…"
"A kitten clawing at a tiger!" She fell to the ground rolling and clutching her sides. "Or, or a rabbit bouncing on a coyote!"
"Erm…" If only Pucca knew how it really was between them that time.
Ching waited uncomfortably for Pucca to run out of crude metaphors. It took a while though. "Hah! I haven't laughed like that in a long time." She laid on the ground out of breath.
"Pucca, remember when you dared me to shock everyone? Well…" Ching hesitated.
She sat up rapidly at Ching's serious tone. Pucca didn't say anything for a long time, only stared at Ching with her mouth gaping. Her eyes grew wider and wider.
After a minute had passed, Ching removed her soiled gloves then grabbed Pucca's shoulders to shake her out of her trance. "Seriously! You're overreacting."
Pucca snapped out of her trance and said in a small voice, "I can't believe it!" Ching stopped her shaking. "Are you sure it's Tobe?"
"Obviously," Her lips twisted to a derisory smile.
"I just told you it would be fun to shock everyone a little! Just a little, Ching!" Pucca clutched at her chest. "Heart attacks are not fun."
Ching released a deep breath then said derisively, "You think I didn't realize that when I woke up this morning in his hotel room?"
"You don't remember what happened?"
She grumbled, "Not at first. But it came to me like a blow to the head later." Oh, god. The blindfold, the handcuffs, the whip… It was like someone emptied a gun magazine through her head.
A heavy silence fell over them growing more and more uncomfortable by the second. Ching wasn't sure if she wanted to know what was going on in her best friend's mind.
"So, was he good?" BANG!
"Pucca!" If she wasn't already sitting on the ground she might have collapsed at Pucca's outrageous question which shot at her like another bullet to the head. Ching rubbed at her temples at the oncoming headache.
"What? I'm curious." Pucca looked at her innocently but there was a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "Were you top or bottom?"
Ching felt like she was going to implode any minute now. "I can't answer that!" Her cheeks felt like they burning.
"Come on! Was the sex that bad?" Pucca crossed her arms over her chest. "I am going to keep blurting embarrassing questions after another until you give me something."
Pucca was persistent when she set her mind on something. She wasn't going to leave until she was satisfied.
She sighed as she laid her back on the ground. She stretched on the soft grass beneath her. "Not bad, exactly. Wicked, more like it. It was… incredibly, wonderfully wicked." Heat prickled on her skin at the memories running through her.
Pucca's eyes glazed over. "Now, I can imagine it." She cupped her reddening cheeks and giggled playfully.
"You're not upset?" Ching sounded worried.
Her best friend shook her head, settling on the ground again in a more relaxed manner. "Mind blown? Yep. Upset? Nope. Though I butt in every now and then, whatever issues Garu and Tobe have, it's between the two of them. Besides, maybe I'm wrong; maybe you can handle being involved with him."
Ching laughed uneasily. "I wouldn't go that far. It was one time thing. It's not like it's going to happen again."
"Oh." Pucca sounded disappointed. "Shame, you might have been good for him."
After Pucca left with the answers she wanted, Ching felt her strength leave her. She dragged her feet tiredly until she reached her back door, which led to her kitchen. She made herself a cup of tea. After a day like this, all she wanted at that moment was to relax. Probably drink her tea and listen to some soothing music.
She sat on her sofa. She gently placed her teacup on the coffee table and was reaching for her ipod when something stopped her.
"Wonderfully wicked, huh? I couldn't have thought of a better description." The familiar husky baritone sent the blood draining from her face.
Tobe!
She jerked her head towards the source of her torment and saw him pushing himself from the wall. Her eyes were disbelieving as he ambled towards her. Tobe continued to sit beside her and rest his arm casually around the back of the sofa behind Ching.
When he sent her a heated gaze that slid over her body like licking flames, she had come to the realization that fate was determined to kill her off today with multiple cardiac arrests.
Her mouth opened and closed but no words came out. He smirked at her and her eyes locked on the curve of his lips. "How… how did you even get out of bed?" she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
He shrugged, looking unconcerned. "Don't look so worried. I won't hold it against you. Although it did take me a while to break down that bedpost. Blindfolded too, mind you. After that, I had to look for the keys to the handcuffs."
Ching winced in sympathy.
"Tobe…" she said his name in warning but the breathless quality in her voice negated the effect she wanted. "What are you doing here? What do you want with me?"
He barked in laughter. "Talk about a loaded question. But this is about you wanting something from me." Then he reached for something in his pocket.
Her underwear. Ching's cheeks flamed for the hundredth time that day when. "That's mine. Give it back."
Tobe casually crossed his legs on the table then, with the fabric still in his hands, he linked his fingers on the back of his head. "No, I was thinking of keeping it. Just so I wouldn't think I dreamed everything up. That the girl I grew up believing only liked pretty flowers and rainbows really did have me bound and shagged." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She didn't miss the daring glint aimed at her. "Yeah, I think I'll keep it as a souvenir," he teased.
She looked horrified at his admission. "Don't you dare!"
He was enjoying this far too much. His body was shaking in suppressed laughter. "Oh, I will. So I'll always remember how you made me—"
In blind panic, Ching tackled him on the couch, trying to reach the fabric in his outstretched hand. When Tobe hid it behind him, Ching didn't hesitate to reach for it.
"I didn't think that would work" Tobe laughed throatily, satisfaction evident in his tone.
It was only then that Ching realized what she was doing. She was sitting on his lap, her knees cradling his waist. One of her hands was clutching his shoulder, the other, around his torso. A memory flashed before her eyes and she realized Tobe manipulated her into positioning herself on top of him as she had done at the bar.
"You're intolerable." Ching made a move to distance herself from him but his arms encircled her. "Let me go." Ching pushed against his chest but his steely arms refused to budge.
The teasing grin on his face faded and his eyes turned serious. "I want you, Ching," he answered huskily. Every nerve ending on her body tingled at the heat in his eyes. "This isn't over."
She was finding it harder and harder to breathe especially when her hands could feel the warmth and strength emanating from his chest. For the life of her, she couldn't remember why this was a bad idea. She was fighting a losing battle with her most primitive of physical reactions.
"You can't blame alcohol this time, Ching." The hand on her derrière tightened possessively. "This time, you won't have any excuse but your own desire for me."
Mesmerized by all the sensations he was arousing, she watched in slow motion as his head came down to capture her lips in a heated kiss. He bit, licked and sucked on her bottom lip until it was deliciously swollen. Ching helplessly opened her mouth to welcome his slick tongue inside her wet cavern.
In a ragged whisper, Tobe said, "Just close your eyes and give me your surrender." His gaze was hooded and it gave him that dangerously seductive look. A thrill raced down her spine.
So she did, eagerly and completely.
0o0o0o