With a bright smile blooming like a bursting flower bud, Matthew spoke. He hadn’t said where the range of physical contact began or ended, but Riu had the feeling it might apply up to a dangerous level. Thinking that this time, if he got caught, he wouldn’t be able to get away, Riu hastily blurted out a refusal.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can help with that.”
“Don’t think of it as difficult. You just have to stay by my side as usual. I’ll do everything else.”
“…You will?”
“Yeah. Naturally, like when we shared a kiss.”
At the word kiss, Riu unconsciously bit his tongue. The sting that came at the same time made tears spring to his eyes. As his rims quickly reddened, Matthew’s brow narrowed slightly. He clicked his tongue softly so it wouldn’t be heard and whispered,
“Trying to make it provocative again, are you?”
At Matthew’s rough knit of his brows, Riu shook his head. He didn’t forget to cover his mouth with both hands. In the rapidly heating mood, Riu shook his head again and again. He kept signaling with his eyes that they must not cross this line, but it didn’t get through to Matthew.
Matthew grabbed the wrist with which Riu was still covering his mouth. Slowly bringing it to his own lips, he planted a long kiss on Riu’s fingers. With his gaze fixed on Riu, Matthew gently lifted the corners of his mouth.
The movement of lips was transmitted to his fingertips. Matthew’s lips, which kissed each and every finger joint, were hot as if they had been burned. As heat rushed in dizzyingly, Riu tensed his body, and Matthew gave a light pull and wrapped an arm around his waist. Setting his thigh upright between Riu’s legs and crossing them, Matthew whispered in a tender voice,
“I don’t like touching other people either. But I thought it might work if it’s you, Riu. Since you also don’t like touching other people, I believe you’ll understand my mood better than anyone.”
“…”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? And just a little while ago, I was someone who even got hurt because of you.”
Matthew lightly touched his lips to Riu’s and pulled back. Even at the sight of Riu’s eyes going wide like a startled rabbit, Matthew’s face was all smiles.
“Riu.”
With a low call, Matthew brought his lips to Riu’s ear. The damp air he felt with each word stoked the heat inside Riu’s body. In a mind that felt like it would melt, Matthew whispered at Riu’s ear once more.
“If I remember quickly, won’t things get easier for you? So you choose. Will you cooperate so I can find my memory quickly, or else…”
Or else I’ll do more like this.
With those words, Matthew lightly nibbled Riu’s ear. At the same time, a moan burst from Riu’s mouth. At the sweetness that flowed out like bursting fruit juice, Matthew gave a chilling smile. With a gaze full of possessiveness, he revealed a touch of madness and ran his tongue over the ear he had bitten.
“Riu.”
It was a whisper so small it tickled. At the same time, Riu stiffened and squared his shoulders. It was a reflexive action, but perhaps he didn’t like it; Matthew clicked his tongue lightly.
At the short but distinctly heard sound, cold sweat broke out on Riu. He tried to push Matthew away for some unknown chill, but the more he did, the more Matthew wrapped his arms around Riu’s waist. Drawing him in deep as if to align their navels, Matthew pressed him so he couldn’t budge.
At an angle meshed to an embarrassing degree, Riu sucked in a big breath. Watching Riu breathe awkwardly like someone who had forgotten how to breathe, Matthew drew one corner of his mouth up at a slant.
“Seems like your heart is moved too. What do you think?”
“…”
At Matthew’s words, Riu couldn’t say anything back. His body, which had already reacted as if shaken, wouldn’t even move. His heart raised a great surge as if a typhoon had swept through, and his body, like churning waves, fiercely radiated hot heat. Fearing that if he opened his mouth it would spill out as it was, Riu crushed and bit down hard on his lower lip.
“If you don’t answer, that means I can take it however I want, right?”
As he asked a question laden with intention, Matthew licked along the rim of Riu’s ear. Riu’s tender skin had already swollen up.
A soft yet chilly sensation spread through his whole body and Riu shivered all over. Eyes reddened underneath, he trembled and quivered. Seeing Riu like that, Matthew gave a mischievous smile.
“I’m glad you feel the same way I do.”
“Hh, ah, n-no.”
“Thanks, Riu. For cooperating in helping me find my memory.”
Matthew whispered low and slipped his hand inside Riu’s collar. A hand that usually felt warm felt chilling when it touched the surface of his skin.
In the end, the moan he had held back leaked out and carried hot heat. As moans burst out one after another, Matthew ran his hand long along the line of Riu’s spine.
“Ma—Matthew……!”
Unable to hold back, Riu seized Matthew’s lapel. Shuddering pitiably all over, Riu buried his face in Matthew’s chest. At the same time, with Matthew’s scent burrowing in, Riu felt as if his head were spinning.
“That person seemed like that too. Like you, his ears were sensitive, so he didn’t know what to do with his body.”
At the low voice ringing at his ear, Riu’s mind went blank. He was terribly frightened that perhaps he had caught on, but as Matthew’s handwork continued right after, Riu’s head tipped back.
“S-stop…!”
A voice unlike usual flowed out of his mouth. Somehow dampened, even to his own ears it sounded sticky. His legs, already wobbling like those of a newborn fawn, felt like they would collapse at any moment.
Thinking that if his strength gave out like this, a truly embarrassing situation would come, Riu gripped Matthew’s lapel tight. He could feel that hand he was clenching shaking so hard the veins stood out.
“How is it? It’s not as hard as you thought, right?”
“…”
“Your body is saying it doesn’t dislike me either. Let’s just accept it honestly, okay?”
Looking down at him with a tender gaze, Matthew touched his lips to the end of Riu’s neck. Once, twice. It seemed Matthew had always kissed him multiple times like this.
On the night they caused that trouble too, Matthew had called his name. Holding his waist, he had kissed below Riu’s nape. Once, twice, matching slowly, and then he called his name several times.
“Riu.”
When he tilted his head back, Matthew bit his ear. At Matthew’s gentle nipping, Riu too had shivered like now. Back then as well, he circled round and round along the rim of his ear and licked.
For someone who says he doesn’t remember, the method was so identical that, instead, a memory he’d forgotten surfaced.
“Remember how I held you, and how I am looking at you.”
As the suddenly vivid memory flowed in, Riu bit his lip. Lately, because he’d bitten it often, there were no days it was whole.
“J-just a little…….”
He had tried to say, Step back, but Matthew lightly tapped the top of his neck with a long finger. At the same time, the sound of leaves rustling came loudly.
“I want to do more, but…”
“…”
“I can’t, because you look like you’re going to cry.”
Matthew lifted Riu’s face, cupping it with both hands. Riu’s eyelashes were clumped together, already wet with tears. At the sight of Riu, who somehow looked forlorn, Matthew bumped his forehead to his. Then he stretched the corners of his mouth out and let out a small laugh.
“We’ll stop here for today. Next time, let’s slowly match up.”
“Next time…?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow I’ll come to your house. I want to go right now, but.”
At the words ‘right now’, Riu’s pupils shook roughly. With emotions blooming across their touching foreheads, Riu’s breath trembled faintly. In this state, for him to come all the way to the house might truly mean a dangerous situation could be at hand.
“Don’t go anywhere, and stay at home, okay?”
Matthew stressed it as if earnestly entreating him. He didn’t forget to meet his eyes and give a small smile, as if worried Riu might run away.
Because he hadn’t slept properly, his head ached. His eyes felt gritty, and small yawns leaked from his mouth.
“It’s already morning…”
He felt like he’d only closed his eyes for a moment, but outside was bright before he knew it. As he approached the window out of habit, Riu rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and stretched long. Judging from the damp smell of soil settling at the tip of his nose, it must have rained during the night. Riu pushed the half-open window up all the way and drew in a deep breath.
At the smell of greenery filling him to the bottom of his lungs, a deep smile formed at Riu’s lips before he knew it. The sunlight visible between the trees was dazzlingly bright, and the drops beaded on the grass glittered in the light. For Riu, it was a most peaceful morning.
“If only it weren’t for Matthew……”
With a small mutter, Riu propped his arms on the window sill. The problem he had pondered and pondered all night still circled in his head. Watching Matthew, who was gradually increasing the pace of finding his memory, Riu grew a little anxious.
Honestly, it was true that he wanted to run away somewhere. If the imperial family didn’t have the guest list for the masquerade, he might have done so.
“…At this rate, if Matthew finds out, it’ll be a big problem.”
T/N: I miss more of his introspection which happened in the first few chapters. Now it’s all “I’m afraid that Matthew will find out.” Riu, just… give in. lmao
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