Momentarily disoriented by the sensation of falling off a cliff, Maxi was brought back to reality by the sound of raindrops hitting the windows.
Riftan lay silently behind her, his arms wrapped around her.
He was still encased in her wet passage, sated after continued releases.
Maxi's eyelids fluttered as she stood dazed in his arms.
She wasn't sure how long they had slept.
Pressed against his back, Riftan's chest rose and fell gently with each slow breath.
“I want to make love to you until you melt and become one with me.”
Riftan wrapped his arms around her, then reached for her breasts and began massaging them.
The red peaks of his chest were sore from his persistent attention.
When she let out a soft moan, he tilted his head to tenderly suckle her lips.
Maxi looked at him with puffy eyes.
His hair looked as if someone had tried to pull it out.
His face, normally as cold as a sheet of metal, was red and shiny with sweat, while his stern eyes were now clouded with passion.
Scratch marks were scattered across his neck and arms.
Realizing that she was the one who had created these marks, Maxi cautiously touched the inflamed wounds.
Riftan smiled slightly.
“Not even the basilisk I fought gave me a scratch…”
“I-I’m sorry…”
His voice came out as a hoarse sound.
He lowered his head once again to press a kiss to her lips.
His dark pupils seemed to look straight into her mind, frightening her.
“You… are a dangerous creature.”
She wanted to ask what he meant, but she had lost her voice.
He kissed her once more, their tongues intertwining.
“I knew from the moment I saw you that you would leave me covered in scars.”
His last words were spoken so quietly that she could barely understand them.
Slowly, she sank into a deep sleep.
A tremendous rain fell as if to compensate for the previous day's drizzle.
Maxi suspected that a hole had formed in the sky.
Not even the knights dared to urge their commander to leave, and the trip was postponed once again.
Riftan, unable to inspect his lands, spent the day idling indoors for the first time since his return.
Maxi and Riftan listened to the sound of rain while they were naked in bed.
When desire hit them, they locked themselves in a fiery embrace, making love until they could no longer tell which body was which.
When they were finished, they bathed and ate the meal that the maids had brought to the room.
Riftan placed her on his lap and fed her pieces of sweet fruit, bread with cream, and delicate sweets.
Maxi wondered if such indulgence was appropriate, but too exhausted to feel shame, she leaned against his chest and accepted the food from his fingers.
Riftan smiled when he saw her.
“You are like a little bird.”
And as if he couldn't resist her charm, he pressed his lips against her cheeks after offering her a sip of wine.
She felt weak.
Like a mother bear protecting her cub, he didn't let go of her for a moment.
He washed and fed her, then kissed every corner of her body.
She had never known such passion and devotion.
An inexplicable shiver ran through his body.
Not even her own mother had welcomed her like that.
She felt like throwing her arms around him and rubbing her face into his chest, but she was too exhausted.
“I never imagined I would be jealous of a grape” muttered Riftan as he shoved one into his mouth.
She popped the sour fruit between her teeth and swallowed.
He licked the juice running down her chin.
The sweet feel of his hands on her cheeks and the dance of his fingers on her glossy lips intoxicated her as if she were submerged in a barrel of golden wine.
The sensual heat in the room mixed with the damp smell of rain in the air.
“Crush me and swallow me like that grape.”
He plunged his tongue deep into her mouth.
Their intertwined tongues passed between their lips, speaking more clearly than any language.
His throat tightened.
With a passionate shudder shaking her arms, she wrapped them around his neck.
He pushed her back.Little pieces of fruit fell onto the bed as their bodies knocked over the bowl of fruit.
Riftan's muscular chest, smooth as marble, pressed against her soft breast as he licked her juice-stained skin.
The sheets, sticky with nectar, enveloped her body.
“Oh…”
“Mmm…”
Joined in a wet kiss, they rolled onto the bed.
His mouth smelled like fruit.
As their flushed bodies rubbed eagerly against each other, they breathed in each other's sweet breath.
Warmth bubbled in his heart.
Riftan looked into her eyes and pleaded, “Say my name.”
“R-Riftan…”
“Again…”
“R-Riftan… Ah…”
“More… say my name again…”
She called his name over and over again until her voice was hoarse.
At that moment, she existed only to satisfy him.
She forgot all the sermons on temperance and the virtues of a modest woman.
Instead, she felt the joy of knowing for the first time in her life that someone needed her.
Overwhelmed, she thought she might lose her sanity.
"It's so good.
He took my life and resurrected me."
She looked at Riftan through a haze.
Nothing existed in the world other than his name.
Unfortunately, the rain began to ease in the evening and by dawn, it had stopped.
Maxi squinted at the bright morning sun.
She tried to stand up, but her limbs gave way as if her bones had evaporated.
As she moaned softly at the dull pain, a large hand began to run the length of her back.
“Go back to sleep.”
The bright glare of the morning sun cast sharp shadows across Riftan's chiseled face.
Maxi watched, mesmerized.
He had woken up before her and was already dressed and fully armed.
His heart sank.
“A-Are you leaving h-today?”
"We leave at noon.
First, we have to prepare weapons and rations for the journey."
He lifted her chin and tenderly kissed her swollen lips.
He donned a pair of silver steel gauntlets and forearm guards, then picked up his sword.
“I will see you before I leave, so go back to sleep.”
The door closed behind him.
Maxi faced the door and blinked, feeling a wave of emptiness pass through her.
She got up from the bed with shaky steps and instructed the maid to draw a bath for her.
I was completely awake.
“My lady, your bath is ready.”
Ludis and three maids entered the room with a bathtub full of hot water.
It was only with their help that Maxi managed to get into the water.
Ludis washed her hair and soaped her body with a soft sponge.
Although she was mortified, Maxi did not refuse the maids' help, knowing that she did not have the strength to bathe alone.
“Excuse me for a moment, my lady” said the maid who was drying her hair with a towel.
“I’ll get you a high-neck dress.”
A deep blush spread across Maxi's face.
Covered in red spots, his body appeared to have contracted smallpox.
“T-Thank you.”
When the maids left the room, Maxi stood in front of the mirror and carefully unwrapped her towel.
As expected, his neck was covered in red marks.
Her rosy cervix also had dark pink spots.
With shaking hands, she reached for her breasts.
They had felt completely different under Riftan's touch.
She looked at the woman with bright eyes and rosy features in the mirror.
Could it be the same person as the pale, melancholic girl with the slumped shoulders?
His hands trailed down to her curvaceous waist and pale abdomen before reaching the soft area between her thighs.
It was humid and hot.
She felt like she was touching a stranger's body.
“I brought you a dress, my lady.”
At the sound of the knock on the door, Maxi removed his hands from his body with a start.
Her face burning, she responded with stutters.
“G-Come in.”
The maid entered the room and dressed her with skillful hands.
Maxi found herself dressed in a beautiful green and gold billowing dress, a golden belt tied around her waist.
Before her hair had a chance to dry, she tied it with a ribbon and hurriedly left the room.
Rays of sunlight streamed in through the open windows and warmed his face.
Maxi jumped down the stairs, breathing in the air that still had the refreshing smell of rain.
Riftan had said he would see her before leaving, but she was worried he might forget his promise.
“Good morning, my lady.”Rodrigo bowed his head when he noticed Maxi.
The servants were sweeping the floor and airing the hall for the first time since the rains had stopped, and Rodrigo supervised them with watchful eyes.
"Breakfast is served, my lady.
Would you like to eat it in the dining room?"
"N-No, I c-can c-eat later.
I-I wanted to g-see R-Riftan...
I-I mean, L-Lord Calypse..."
“The lord is on the training grounds with the knights.”
She was about to leave the hall when she stopped halfway.
What would you do once you found him?
She would only get in the way.
Seeing her hesitate in front of the door, Rodrigo approached her.