I Need To Remember

Chapter Six

It appeared Maxi had no real plan when she said they were going out, so she just snuck him the short distance to the library. While feeling sort of like a bull in a china shop there, he didn't truly mind it. Actually, it felt good to leave the room and clear his mind somewhere else. The smell of parchment and old books was surprisingly soothing.

Finished looking around, Riftan headed back to the table where Maxi sat reading and going over some work. From behind the shelf, he took a short moment to look at her, a sort of nervous feeling passing through him. How could she sit there and just be so beautiful? His heart was surely going to burst at any moment.

He closed his eyes for a second to gain some semblance of self-control before walking and standing behind her chair, leaning over her shoulder. He was intially curious about what she was doing, but there was an added bonus to his action when she went completely red. Riftan pretended not to notice the quick glances she gave at his face. When she did that, he thought it was quite possible that she liked him as much as he did her.

Or perhaps more, he thought smugly- either way, it was increasingly hard to stay cool. Still he kept a passive look on his face as he skimmed her writing, but he did not recognize anything on the paper.

"What are you working on?" Pulling back, Riftan bent his body and rested his head on top of hers, nestling his chin affectionately. With one arm he hugged her, and with the opposing hand he absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair on his finger. Maxi stared at the gesture as she spoke; it was like she was in a daze. Could he have caused it?

"It's j-just, I'm trying to learn a little magic. And these are...the accounts I was checking on. I want to make sure there are n-no mistakes." She broke her gaze away and pointed to a separate binder.

"Everything looks perfect to me. How bout a break?" She lit up for a second before realizing he had no idea what he was talking about, half-heartedly glaring at him. But by that time Riftan had delicately scooped her into his arms. He sat smack dab on the table, narrowly avoiding her things as he situated Maxi on his lap.

"Riftan!" She squirmed and looked around, but as there was no one to see them, her attitude became more relaxed. He stroked her back, and it was only a few short moments before she melted into him. Perhaps when he lost his memory, he had truly died and gone to heaven. That would explain the angel in his sight when he came to. But the daydream was promptly disrupted when his wife tried to escape his hold again.

"N-Now, I have to finish," Her face was actually calm, but the redness on it hindered any attempt to hide her flustered composure. He raised an eyebrow. "So if you'll just let me down..."

With a mischievous look on his face, Riftan harshly tilted their joined balance, forcing Maxi to wrap her arms around his neck or risk falling.

Their faces were abnormally close then, and Riftan, who had not really meant for this to happen, tensed up immediately. His eyes went wide as they scanned her face and he hyper-focused on how it felt to hold her. Everywhere their bodies touched, every movement she made was felt by him. Unlike with Maxi, everything was still extremely new. Even while he acted brazen- inside he was stumbling desperately around for her warmth and attention.

So being this close might actually kill him. He needed a distraction before he went ballistic.

Averting his eyes from her pink lips; lips that were meant to be kissed, he asked the question which had been surfacing in his mind, but never had the chance to come up.

"Hey, are you okay?" He whispered, and it almost seemed to echo even though the space was filled with so many volumes, that would be impossible.

She pulled back, looking extremely upset. That wasn't what he was going for.

"You're the one who- i-initiated this! How c-can you shame me?" She frowned as he blushed, trying hard to correct the misunderstanding while he kept a gentle hold on her waist.

"That's not what I meant! Right now you were...I mean you're always...what I'm trying to say is..." Maxi obviously thought he was asking why she was so close, or about her behavior, but he was speaking on something completely different. How many times was it already that he had cursed his conversational skills?

Unable to stop his senseless blubbering, Riftan's throat felt super dry, and his palms became clammy at record speed. He didn't want to admit just how turned on he was in an innocent situation. Feelings of humiliation sprouted up in his stiff body, but she awkwardly patted his arm.

"Er, what were you...saying then? Sorry." Maxi mumbled, pulling at her hair anxiously. Now she looked just as uncomfortable as he felt, and he was mad at himself for causing that.

Concentrating, he cleared his throat and spoke evenly.

"How have you been recently?" Thankfully he had more control over his words now. "You've been dealing with me as well as everything else. I was worried." He spoke timidly, resting his head against her shoulder.

Her melodic voice sounded muffled as she spoke now.

"I'm alright, I just...it p-probably sounds strange to say because- you don't know me anymore," Her voice cracked, and he completely froze. "But I missed you. You were gone for a long time, and now it's different."

Riftan looked back up to her tired face. There he made sure to kiss the indent in her brow, each saddened eye. The tension in her jaw and shoulders were given special attention, and then he held her close, so close, searching for the right thing to say.

"It doesn't sound strange at all, because I already need you when you're not with me," When she looked at him in shock, he let out a sheepish half-smile. "If I cared for you once, I've fast begun to again. You must be..."

As he spoke, Riftan outlined the trace of her soft, plump lips. They faintly moved with his touch, the way water wavered when you lightly put a finger on its surface.

"I don't know. If I were a poet, I couldn't begin to describe-"

It was then that she kissed him, almost lunging forward and moving both of her lips in tandem over his. Letting out a soft sound in surprise, he quickly reciprocated. Riftan thought he would be fumbling around like if a fool if they ever kissed, but it was like his body already knew what to do, and he pressed his lips to hers with just as much enthusiasm.

Maybe it was his past experience that caused him to move with such instinct, or just his unwavering need of her. But he didn't care to think long on it as he drew Maxi in as close as she could be. Her long, vine-like hair tickled his face; while her breasts pushed softly into his muscular chest as he clutched her waist tightly to him.

Now they really did lose their balance as Riftan fell back against the table. He didn't even think about the damage it could have caused, but Maxi quickly shielded the back of his head with a slight gasp.

"All g-good?" She asked with wide eyes. In response, he tugged her down to him in a much slower meeting of their lips. That she was concerned for him even now sent a huge rush of emotion through Riftan, and he had to fight not to lose control. Taking the time to feel every part of her sweet mouth, to focus on her feather-light caresses, the man almost wanted to sob for how wonderful she felt. He could hardly contain himself from the pleasure, elation, and happiness he was feeling. Was this honestly reality? It all seemed too good to be true.

God, he was beginning to think he'd do anything for her, only in exchange for a chaste kiss or the valuable sight of a smile upon that lovely face.