“This is going to hurt a little.”
After what seemed like an eternity, Riftan's hand stopped.
Maxi sank onto the bed, his limbs hanging limply as he tried to catch his breath.
Her body was so tense that, without strength, she could no longer fight.
Riftan stripped completely naked and wrapped an arm around Maxi's waist, lifting her up.
Their warm bodies touched.
It was only then that Maxi noticed that they were both covered in sweat.
His back glowed reddish gold in the dim light, reminding her of the time she sneaked into a blacksmith shop and watched as they fashioned statues from molten gold.
Was this what it would feel like to have bubbling metal dumped on your body?
She felt her body dissolve as if she were submerged in a crucible of liquid gold.
“Take a deep breath.”
His voice was so hoarse that it was difficult to understand what he was whispering.
His lips brushed her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine.
Holding onto his sinuous arm, she allowed her legs to spread without thinking.
Riftan soon joined his hips with hers.
“Ah…!”
A dull pain radiated through her lower body before she could understand what had happened.
She struggled, terrified.
He pressed her body with his to keep her from letting go, then bit her lip.
Her breasts pressed against his robust chest, she felt him penetrate deeper.
Close to tears, she scratched her arms.
“T-It… hurts…”
“Too tight…”
Beads of sweat ran down his neck and fell onto his face.
As she squirmed in an attempt to get away, he trembled slightly and used both hands to hold her waist firmly.
A deep line appeared on his forehead.
“Just… be quiet…”
“H-It hurts… h-hurts…!”
“Don’t move, dammit“argh!”
She felt his body shake.
She held her breath as he crushed her in a hug.
As if he could no longer contain himself, he began to move rhythmically.
Each movement produced a sharp pain that drew a weak moan from her.
His body swayed like a boat in turbulent waters.
His mind sank into viscous depths, his knuckles turning white from gripping the sheets.
What was he doing with her?
“Damn…”
Finally, he let out a choked groan before collapsing on top of her.
His body radiated so much heat that if the air had been a little colder, it would have given off steam.
Panting, Maxi could see that his shoulders were also rising and falling rapidly.
She felt a strange emptiness.
Eyelids fluttering, she stared at the blank ceiling.
What had just happened to her?
“Why are you crying?”
It was only then that she realized she was crying.
He tried to cover his face, but a wet tongue began to crawl across his cheek.
He held her face so she couldn't pull away and hissed through his teeth.
“Don’t look away from me.”
His dark eyes sparkled with intense emotion.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
He continued to cover her temples and tear-streaked cheeks with kisses.
"You are now my wife.
There is no going back, like it or not."
A hand reached into her hair to pull her into a kiss.
There was little she could do other than allow it to happen.
Over and over again…
When she woke up, it was already past noon and Riftan had already left for the campaign.
She learned from her mistress that a clergyman had come to inspect the blood on the sheets and declare the marriage valid.
She also learned that marriage consummation was a rite of passage for newly married couples.
That was all that had happened between her and Riftan.
She had lost her virginity, and he had left for the Lexos Mountains in the duke's place.
It was hard to believe they were husband and wife“even at that moment, with him in front of her eyes.
Speechless, she stared silently at his stormy face.
Her ears echoed with her father's screams, threatening her with all manner of punishment if Riftan Calypse divorced.
However, their lips were sealed.
What could she say?
He was a stranger to her“a husband in name only.
“For God’s sake, stop shaking.”
Riftan shouted.
Maxi jumped back.
He squeezed her arm tightly and closed the distance between them again.
"Do you think I'm so horrible?
Did I come back as a monster?"
“I… I…”He ran a hand through the thick, disheveled hair that covered his eyes, looking at her.
His vision became blurred.
Far from completing her mission “ persuading him not to divorce her “ she had managed to offend him less than five minutes after their reunion.
His lips trembled.
I need to say something.
Anything.
Please…
“I, I… I was just n-nervous and… I d-didn’t know what to say…”
His cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Tears accumulated in her eyes.
But this was no time to burst into tears“that would only enrage him more.
She desperately searched for words.
“Y-You’re n-not a m-monster… I-I’m just n-nervous… and I c-can’t stop t-shaking…”
His tongue betraying her more than usual, she couldn't muster the courage to look into his eyes.
The mission was already impossible from the beginning.
How could she persuade him when she had this terrible impediment?
The fiery blush rose to the tips of his ears.
She lowered her head in shame, feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Maybe it would be better to stay quiet; a proper woman would not stutter and tremble like a fool.
“Damn…”
She winced at his whispered curses.
Her father was right“there wasn't a single man in the world who would want her as a wife.
Asking him to refuse a princess's hand in marriage would be ridiculous.
Overcome by a feeling of helplessness, she felt her eyes burning with tears.
At that moment, something cold touched her cheek, breaking her out of her thoughts.
A steel glove was holding his face.
“Open your mouth.”
Unable to understand his intentions, she stared blankly at the pair of black pupils that floated just inches from her own.
Riftan sighed as if his patience was being tested once again.
He lowered her chin and forced her jaw open.
A soft, wet tongue inserted itself into his mouth, causing him another shock.
She found herself holding his arm to steady herself.
Biting his lip, he grumbled irritably.
“I should have taken off my armor first…”
It happened so quickly that she didn't have a chance to prepare.
She lay there uncomfortably until he pushed her onto the couch behind her.
Pressing one knee to the side of her thigh, he removed her silver glove with one agile movement.
The long and thick fingers that emerged from the glove touched her cheeks tenderly.
Her hands gripped his tunic, as if they had a life of their own.
Again, the man pressed his lips to hers as he removed the other glove.
A warm hand threaded itself into her hair and firmly grabbed the back of her head.
His tongue intertwined with hers, running along her teeth.
She found it increasingly difficult to breathe.
She pushed at his chest, but he pressed harder on her lips.
“Just a little more…”
Your heart skipped a beat at his pleading voice.
Warm hands slid over her face and neck, caressing the curve of her back before finding her bust.
When he felt her squirm with embarrassment, he pulled her by the waist and laid her on the couch.
Then, without delay, he lifted her skirt.
“R-Riftan…!”
This time, she understood what he wanted right away.
Panicked, his eyes turned to the door.
How could he do this in the middle of the living room“and in broad daylight at that!
“where could someone enter at any time?
But Riftan seemed unfazed.
He bit the back of her neck, pressing his body against hers.
When she felt his hardness between her legs, she cried out in shock.
He began to slowly rub himself against her.
With each movement, the steel thigh covering his powerful legs brushed against her, the cold metal sending goosebumps across her skin.
Unable to bear it any longer, Maxi closed her eyes tightly.
Then, suddenly, Riftan stood up and covered her body with his cloak.
She noticed someone watching them.
A man dressed in the same armor as Riftan stood in the doorway with a shocked expression on his face.
“What are you looking at, you little mouse?!”