Chapter 9
In the three days that followed, Maxi pored over the books Ruth had given her, taking only occasional breaks to visit the stables and brush Rem’s mane. A week had passed since Riftan’s departure for the goblin raid, and she grew anxious for his return.
Winter had descended rapidly on the region, and the temperature dropped with little warning. To collect water from the well, the servants had to routinely break through a layer of ice.
The sudden drop in temperature only intensified Maxi’s worry for Riftan.
Her heart ached whenever she pictured him sleeping on the ground, surrounded by ice and snow, while she slept in a warm bed each night.
Even when she had her nose buried in a book, Maxi would glance out the window hoping to see Riftan returning to the castle.
But all she ever saw was the harsh wind blowing through the shivering garden below.
After two more days, the raid party finally returned. It was well past noon, and Maxi was busy practicing with the magic stone when a loud kopel blast sounded outside. With a jolt, she leaped up from her seat.
Maxi rushed to the window and saw the mounted knights making their way into the garden. Riftan looked dashing as he led the knights home, and Maxi ran downstairs, breathless with excitement as she burst out into the garden. When he saw her, Riftan jumped off his warhorse and opened his arms.
Maxi flew to him, crying out his name. Laughing, Riftan wrapped his powerful arms around her shoulders. The steel of his armor, chilled by the winter air, made her shiver, but Maxi pressed herself against him.
She burrowed her face in the dirty cloak draped over his shoulders before looking up at him with eager eyes. Even disheveled and haggard, Riftan was astonishingly handsome. She gently stroked his cold cheeks.
“I-I’m so g-glad you’re home. A-Are you—”
The rest of her words were lost as Riftan pressed his mouth to hers, his hand going to the back of her neck. When his tongue hungrily entered her mouth, she moaned softly and clutched his shoulders. Her body burned with a feverish desire.
As she nestled against him like a cat, she noticed Hebaron, Gabel, Ulyseon, Garrow, and the rest of the knights standing behind Riftan. Mortified, Maxi tried to pull away, but Riftan held her firmly in place and rubbed his stubbled chin against her cheek.
“Had I known such a passionate welcome awaited me,” he murmured, “I would have simply burned the forest down and returned sooner.”
He kissed her cheek and Maxi blushed, unable to believe that she had just behaved so shamelessly in front of half the castle. Riftan, however, continued kissing her cheek and neck.
“R-Riftan…P-People are s-staring.”
“And?”
“R-Riftan…”
With a deep sigh, Riftan scooped Maxi up and looked over his shoulder at the knights. “Those of you who participated in the raid are exempt from your duties for a week. You may return to your quarters. I’ll have the servants attend to you.”
“How kind of you,” said Hebaron, his lips curving into a sly smile. “We can take care of ourselves, Commander, so why don’t you go put out that pressing fire first?”
Maxi’s face burned so intensely she was certain steam must have escaped her ears. Ignoring Hebaron, Riftan walked into the castle, carrying Maxi. Though she begged him to put her down, he ignored her too. In the great hall, Riftan nodded at Rodrigo and the servants who had gathered to greet him.
“See that my horse is cared for,” he said to Rodrigo. “And prepare dinner and bathwater for my men.”
“As you wish, my lord. Shall we prepare a bath for you as well?”
Riftan frowned, taking in his filthy state. “Yes, at once.”
Rodrigo bowed and took a step back. The servants behind him bowed as well, their faces impassive. Maxi was grateful that they seemed unbothered by the sight of their lord carrying his wife like a child.
“I will have my meal later,” Riftan said. “Just bring me a change of clothes.”
With that, Riftan climbed up the stairs and carried Maxi to their bedchamber. Once the door was shut behind them, he released her and covered her in more kisses. Maxi clung to him, panting. After tasting her mouth again, Riftan threw off his gauntlets and began stroking the back of her neck.
She pushed her cheek into his hand and let him coil her disheveled hair around his fingers.
Riftan groaned. “You don’t know how I longed for this.”
His hands slid hungrily under her dress to caress her soft skin. Following his lead, Maxi slid her hands inside under his cloak and explored his armored chest. With ragged breaths, Riftan guided her hands up to his exposed neck.
“Y-Your body feels c-cold.”
“That can’t be possible,” he said hoarsely. “I feel as if I am burning.”
“D-Do you feel u-unwell? A-Are you hurt?”
“I’m in excruciating pain, and it’s because of you.”
Thinking that she aggravated an injury when she had thrown herself at him earlier, Maxi leaned away to examine his body.
Riftan let out a low moan and tore his cloak off. “I’ve never been this hard.” He cast off his breastplate and scooped her up with stiff, frantic movements.
He pushed her up against the wall and Maxi’s eyes went round when she felt his arousal pressed against her abdomen. She had assumed that the barrage of kisses earlier had only been a show of affection.
Riftan rubbed his feverish body against hers and thirstily devoured her lips. Clinging to his neck, Maxi moaned and relished the desperate, wild way he moved against her. Riftan pressed her between his body and the wall, allowing her to feel the entire length of him. His body burned.
“I can’t hold back any longer,” Riftan breathed heavily against her neck.
Dazed, Maxi looked at him; his moist lips glistened from the relentless kisses.
Riftan yanked off the belt at her waist and pulled her dress and chemise up in one swift motion. Grabbing her buttocks, he hoisted her up and Maxi wrapped her legs around his hips. He ripped open his trousers and thrust into her.
Maxi gasped, her legs squeezing around him. “R-Riftan…”
His hands pressed into her thighs and Maxi thrust her hips against him.
Riftan flinched as if he had been struck in the gut, then began to move inside her.
With each urgent thrust into her deepest parts, Maxi’s head rocked against the wall.
Every nerve in her body seemed to unravel, and a pressing need grew inside her.
She moaned as she clutched at his clothes.
“Just a little more, Maxi.” Riftan pressed wet lips to her temple. “Just a little more…”
She gazed at his flushed face, teary with her need. Panting, Riftan grabbed the back of her head and kissed her greedily. He filled her completely, and she cried out as she teetered at the edge of climax. Riftan pumped hard three times and shuddered, his hips rocking erratically against hers.
Pleasure burst through Maxi, curling her toes as she clung to him. Riftan cupped her buttocks, holding her against the wall until his quivering stopped.
“Damn it…” He gently slid his hand between her head and the wall. “Did I hurt you?”
Maxi looked back at him in a daze.
“I didn’t mean to be so rough,” he said, lowering her gently back to her feet. He studied her face with concern as Maxi struggled to maintain her balance.
Though she could barely stand, it was not because he had hurt her, so she shook her head. “I-I’m a-all right.”
“That’s what you always say.”
Seeing her sway, Riftan grabbed her waist to steady her.
Still drowsy from her climax, Maxi let him right her dress, watching as he lowered the hem and smoothed the skirt.
He was always so gentle with her, and it continued to confound Maxi.
His behavior was the opposite of what she had been taught to expect from a husband—as his wife, she was his property, and he was entitled to take her whenever and however he pleased.
But Riftan was not like that at all. A lump formed in her throat.
“I-I really am a-all right.”
“All right. Then let’s do it properly—”
A hesitant knock at the door interrupted him.
“W-We’ve brought water for your bath, my lord,” an embarrassed maidservant called from the hall.
Maxi’s ears burned. Had the servant heard everything? Unfazed as always, Riftan tied his trousers closed and walked to the door.
Maxi scrambled onto the bed and slid under the blankets, pulling them over her head to hide her mortification.
A moment later, maidservants entered carrying towels, a change of clothes, and hot water for the bath.
Maxi listened as they prepared the bath but did not dare peek out from the blankets until she heard them leave.
Riftan stood near the fireplace, and she watched as he stripped off his remaining armor and clothes.
“Come, Maxi,” he beckoned her as he settled into the tub.
She stared, captivated by the sight of water dripping from his dark hair, but did not move.
“I’m too tired to lift a finger,” Riftan said, resting an arm on the tub. He smiled at her, as if trying to coax a wary cat. “Come help me wash.”
“Y-You’re lying…”
“I had to sleep out in the snow for ten days. My whole body aches, and I can’t feel my toes. Come help.”
Though he was obviously exaggerating, Maxi could not help but feel concerned. She reluctantly climbed out of bed and approached him. Once she was within arm’s reach, Riftan grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm and pressing it against his cheek.
“Take off your clothes and join me.” When she hesitated, he added impatiently, “I need you. Hurry.”
It was difficult to refuse him.
Holding his gaze, Maxi slowly began to undress as Riftan’s dark, smoldering eyes bore into her.
After slipping out of her dress and chemise, she removed her stockings and draped them over a chair.
Once she was fully naked, Maxi stepped into the tub and Riftan pulled her toward him by her waist. He pressed his mouth to her swollen breast, prompting her to clutch at his wet, glistening hair.