The Kiss

[He's going to kiss me once again..!]

She didn't think that she'd be able to bear that weird feeling once more. It makes her chest tight and her breathing hard.

Without realizing it, she pushed… Well, tried to push his strong chest to keep a distance between them.

"Don't try to eat a bug if you are hungry," she mused.

Her voice wasn't loud but was soft but that was enough for him to pull back. And she felt the firmness of his chest. And there seemed to be some weird phenomena happening on his chest that made it feel like he was sculpted. She felt layers of firmness on him; somehow, it made her want to touch him more.

[Is he wearing a chest plate inside his shirt?]

She wondered.

"Ehem," he cleared his throat and she withdrew her hand from his chest immediately.

"…Your Majesty," she added knowing that she has crossed a line.

Where is the line, anyway? But she was sure that he cannot call her birthmark a bug and proceed to eat it.

Well, he tried to kiss it but… It makes her feel weird!

With his hands around her waist, he stood unmoving and slowly Felixa gathered her courage to look at him.

His Adam's apple that bobbed had an odd attraction to it and his jaws, even more so. His lips were pressed to a line. Slowly her eyes traveled to his eyes that were looking at her. Once again, she averted her eyes as she couldn't handle the intensity of his golden orbs.

"Do you hate it if I touch you?" he asked, his deep, pleading voice littered with impatience.

Her heart started to pound hearing his voice. She didn't like that feeling. This feeling is always followed by fear and guilt. She didn't like feeling afraid and vulnerable. It's not a good feeling.

But did she hate his touch? No! In fact, it is the opposite.

She wants to touch him more!

Maximus held his breath for a moment to compose himself. He felt bad for cornering her like this after he had a glimpse of all the scars she is carrying on her body. The actual impact those abuses have left on her is something he can't comprehend.

She couldn't even meet him in the eye!

Thinking of her state, he suppressed the impatience brewing in his heart. He was imagining the day he meets her again and makes her his. But things weren't as he expected them to be. And he felt guilty for waiting this long, allowing her to endure more pain.

But past is past.

She is his. They are already bound by the Aion Stone and nothing can separate them this lifetime. He can wait. He must wait.

"I am your husband but I can wait-"

"No," she interjected him rather rudely. She was not afraid of meeting his eyes now. She didn't want him to misunderstand.

Yes, she knew that he had the power to kill her if he wants to and she needs to be careful around him.

But that was not the reason she wanted to make it clear that she does not hate his touch. It was because of the different feelings that gave her pain and pleasure at the same time.

[Why do I feel this way towards him?]

With her lips parted as she froze mid-sentence, she looked at him. That image of him extending his hand to her came to her mind.

[Is it because he was the first one who offered me a helping hand after I woke up here? Or is this an effect of that spell that bound us? Whatever it is, I cannot allow myself to feel this way towards him. I have to remember this is Wispy's body!]

"I don't hate it," she said and watched his eyes and face brighten up. "It's just…" she couldn't speak more as she couldn't find ways to explain it.

It seems like she becomes a stuttering mess in front of him. But she was almost fine last night although she couldn't keep her eyes off him. But it all changed once he said that she is pretty this morning.

"Just?" he raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to her face.

"It's…" All the courage she gathered for a moment there disappeared and she bowed her head once more. She could feel the burning sensation on her cheeks and even her ears felt hot.

[I have to explain it properly for Wispy's sake. But why is it hard?]

He chuckled, again.

And that made her not want to look at him. But his rugged fingers held her chin with the gentleness of a feather and he lifted her face.

Her eyes met with his and her heart started to ram against her chest. Her lips went dry and she used her tongue to wet them.

She could see something change in his eyes; he leaned closer to her lips.

"Allow me," he said.

As the gush of warmth that escaped along with his magnetic voice fell on her face, she closed her eyes. Her face tilted up and her lips got parted with a little of her teeth visible. Her reddened lips wanted to get united with the lips that were emitting the warmth she craved.

Every fraction of time that passed as she waited for the warmth on her lips felt like an eternity. And then she felt it.

Like the gentle flutter of a hummingbird's wings brushing against a flower, his lower lip brushed on her upper lip. She felt a tingle arising from the spot his lips touched hers that spread all over her face.

As she was about to open her eyes thinking it is over, she felt his hand wrapping around her waist and pulled her closer. His lips touched her lips once more; this time his lips nibbled on her lower lip. And then on her upper lip.

Felixa felt a sharp sensation in her heart that traveled throughout her body. Her breathing got heavy and her chest felt like a horse was sitting on it.

She heard him sucking in a deep breath as he pulled her closer and the intensity of his kisses increased.

A low moan left her mouth as she clutched to the collar of his shirt when his tongue grazed over her lower lip.

*Cough*

She heard him clearing his throat and the next moment he took a step back while holding her shoulders to steady her.

Felixa opened her eyes with difficulty as she couldn't feel his lips anymore. He took a step forward and his thumb grazed her lips making her quiver.

"Let's have breakfast," he said and a little sigh of disappointment escaped her mouth.

But soon she was glad that she is getting food. Her eyes brightened and she fixed her frilled dress and her hair to leave for breakfast.

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty," a smile bloomed on her face.

A kiss might feel wonderful. Unlike when she kissed him to jog his memory, this kiss felt different. But she cannot deter from her original goal by indulging herself in momentary pleasures like this. She has to develop her body to a stronger one.

"Max," he said as his coarse , calloused hand grabbed hers sharing his warmth with her. "My name is Max. Not 'Your Majesty'." He said.

"Yes… Max," Felixa smiled.

She was delighted that he told her his name without a need for her inquiry.