"Every time I lie... he kisses me. Every time he lies... I disappear."
Claire only wanted to escape her toxic life for one week. But when she mistakenly stays at a luxury beach house meant for someone else, she meets Auron, a stranger who proposes a strange game:
For every lie… one kiss.
What starts as teasing turns dangerous — when their kisses reveal more than secrets, and her body begins craving him the way her soul begs to run.
But what if he isn't who he says he is?
And what if... she isn't either?
Chapter 1: "A Stranger with My Name on His Tongue"
CLAIRE
Nakasuot ako ng oversized shirt at walang bra. Dahil akala ko, ako lang mag-isa sa beach house.
Pero mali ako.
Pagbukas ko ng ref para kumuha ng tubig, naramdaman ko 'yung presensyang hindi ko inaasahan — mainit, matalim, at hindi galing sa araw.
Boses ng lalaki.
"That shirt doesn't hide much," he said, his voice lazy but deep. "But I like the confidence."
Nanlamig ang likod ko.
P*tangina. Sino 'to?
Paglingon ko, isang lalaki — may hawak na wine glass, basang buhok, walang suot kundi boxers — nakasandal sa pader at nakangiti parang sinasadya niyang i-test kung gaano kakapal ang hiya ko.
"A-Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" tanong ko, pilit kinokontrol ang boses kong halatang kinabahan.
"That's funny," he replied, lumapit. "I could ask you the same thing."
Halos tatlong dangkal na lang ang pagitan namin. Napansin ko 'yung nunal niya sa collarbone, 'yung way ng pagtingin niya — parang kaya niyang basahin kung kailan ako nagsisinungaling.
"House ko 'to," I lied.
Napailing siya, ngumiti.
"Lie number one," sabi niya. Tapos... hinawakan ang baba ko.
At hinalikan ako.
Hindi halik na bastos. Halik na mainit, marunong, may patikim ng lason at halimuyak ng delikado.
Tumigil siya. Hinaplos ang pisngi ko.
"Next time you lie," he whispered, "I'll make it longer."