Collar

The difference in physical ability between a male and a female was obvious. If the male trained hard, their difference would be even bigger. It wouldn't be weird to say their difference was like the distance between an abyss and a surface.

Mai could only lie lifelessly, buck naked on his chest. She panted, trying to catch her breath. Her face dyed red, showing the charm of a woman that knew the taste of the forbidden pleasure. Yet her state might not be much different from dying.

The feelings of climax between a male and a female are different.

If a male is hit with intense pleasure, then a momentary weakness. Then a female is like they are dying. It might sound exaggerated, yet a woman's body is like that. Their pinnacle of sexual fulfillment is greater than men's.

Shishio knew that, and it made him quite jealous since the climax once, twice, or more wasn't that much different for him.

Yet, for a woman, Mai, to be exact, it was much different. It was like she wanted to die, or she didn't mind dying in this situation.

"Weren't you so exaggerated?" Shishio asked speechlessly. He wondered whether Mai told him he might be a god of sex or something.

Mai rolled her eyes and said, "I am not exaggerating thing. I have often talked about this problem with my mother before."

"...You talked about what we were doing with your mother?" Shishio was speechless.

"Was it not okay?"

"If you want to talk about this matter to your mother, I don't see a reason for you to hide it, but have your relationship become closer?"

"I guess... what makes us different is that our relationship is purer now," Mai answered after a moment of thought.

"Pure?"

"Yeah." Mai nodded. "I was the most popular actress back then on her agency. In her eyes, I was her daughter but also a cash cow for her company. However, it is different now since I am not at her agency again, so we can talk about each other more intimately."

Shishio didn't deny Mai's words since he knew the temptation of money wasn't much different from the temptation of pleasure. The two of them would, without a doubt, bring men into hell if they weren't careful.

"Still, it is ironic that you two become closer when you have decided to part away."

Mai showed a bitter smile since she also felt it was quite ironic that her relationship with her mother became closer because they had parted ways.

"Well, the relationship between you two is good now, so there's no need to overthink."

The relationship between the two was good now, so there was no need to overthink.

Mai also agreed, but Shishio felt weird and asked, "Still, you two are so close that you talk about what we have often done together?" She stared at him and said, "It wasn't me who initiated this type of conversation, but my mother."

"Your mother did?" His expression became subtle. "Why?"

"I wonder, why?" Mai was also confused, then stared at Shishio, wondering whether this guy had seduced her mother, but there was no way, right?

Shishio wasn't sure, but he could tell Mai was thinking something rude.

Yet neither of them talked about this conversation again and only lay on the bed in silence, hearing each other's heartbeat. The sound of cricket could be heard from the outside as if telling them how quiet this world was. It made them feel as if only the two of them were in this world.

"You know what, I don't think it's bad if I die here somehow," Mai suddenly said.

"...You want to die?" Shishio asked speechlessly.

"No."

"Then, why do you say that?"

"In case I have a forbidden relationship with you, wouldn't it be natural to think so?"

"Our relationship isn't forbidden, right?" Shishio was speechless, wondering what was going on with this girl.

"You might never know in the future!" Mai pouted, lifting her exhausted body, glaring at him with her beautiful eyes.

"What's going on with you?" Shishio asked.

Mai rested on him, pressing her ear against his chest, hearing the sound of his heartbeat that moved rhythmically. Even if she wasn't a doctor, she could tell how healthy he was, especially when she thought how good he was.

Still...

"You know what, when I was alone without you, everything was so hard." Mai had never expected that the sleep that she usually took for granted would be so hard to do. She somehow regretted her decision to continue with her job since, if possible, she wanted to be with him all the time. Even if he couldn't give all of his time to her, at least it was several times better than sleeping alone in this hotel.

Yet when he was right beside her, she felt everything was complete. She had found the missing puzzle that she had missed.

With him beside her, she felt she didn't need anything.

It was only him and her.

Nothing else.

That was what she wanted to have, even if she died at that moment. She didn't mind. That should be the case, but she still wanted to be with him in the future, having his children, so she wouldn't do something stupid.

Yet Mai would be lying if she didn't feel scared that their relationship would vanish like a haze.

"Why do you think like that?" Shishio asked.

"The others might be simple, but I have been thinking for a while."

"What?"

"Your status is too special, Shishio," Mai said with a sigh.

"Me? Special? I don't think so." Shishio wasn't sure where Mai could come up with such a conclusion, but it was better to calm her down instead of agitating her.

"Really? I heard you're the descendant of a marquis," Mai said with a pout.

"...Did you hear it from Nana?" Shishio recalled that Nana had asked him such a question before. He wasn't a prince, but his family definitely came from an old family.

Mai was in silence, acquiescing to his words.

Shishio sighed and said, "If it's in the past, it might have a lot of meaning, but in what era are we in now?" If it was in the past, their status might make it hard for them to be together since even if Mai was so famous now, she was just an entertainer. If they were in the Meiji period, she could only become his mistress. "You should know my mother is also a commoner, right?"

"Yeah, your mother is a commoner, but her uncle is a famous painter in the world, right?" Mai pouted.

"....."

What could he say?

After all, this was the truth, considering how his mother's family had a lot of rights in Japan's art-related industry.

"Just what are you afraid of?" Shishio hadn't seen the core of the problem from the beginning to the end.

Mai hesitated for a while before she said, "I am afraid that you'll have a fiancee."

"Fiancee?" Shishio was speechless. "What time are we now? Do you think I'll have a fiancee?"

"Why not? You often see it in manga, tv series, movies, and many other things, right?" Mai argued.

Shishio sighed and said, "Even if you can't become my wife, you can also become my mistress, right?" However, he regretted his words since Mai became furious and bit his shoulder fiercely. He quickly apologized for his joke, but she pouted, then asked, "So am I the mistress now?"

Somehow her worry was quite normal. After all, if one thought rationally, it would be hard for him to marry all of them. It might need a decade or more if he wanted to marry them legally. He could only marry one person, and that person could only be chosen among everyone.

As for who that person was, somehow, they could already guess.

However, what if he had a fiancee?

Everything will change.

While Mai didn't think Shishio would forget about her, she knew there was such a possibility, especially when that fiancee would be someone with similar status, beautiful, and many others. By then, what would happen if he was smitten by her and decided to build a happy family with this someone before he forgot about all of them?

Was their love just part of his experience?

A beautiful memory that could be recalled when they were old?

Or has a beautiful thing always been like this? It was only momentary, never lasted forever, and only remained on the mind.

Mai didn't want that!

Mai wanted to be with him forever!

This was what made her scared when they had parted, and it was also the reason why she often called him at night, yet somehow the longer they talked, the more worried she was since she was afraid to trouble him.

She also didn't want to be seen as a needy woman after all.

Yet if she was asked whether she wanted to marry him or not, it didn't really matter to her. After all, she had never seen marriage as something sacred. Instead, she didn't see it in a good light, considering how her parents had divorced. She just wanted to be with him forever, but marriage was a different matter.

Shishio knew that Mai might seem strong and independent, but it was just an act. The stronger the exterior was, the more fragile the interior was. She was like that. It could be said even with all of her identity. She was the most insecure among all of them. After all, her experience of being forgotten was something that was impossible to forget.

Mai had always been worried that if Shishio forgot about her, then who would remember her?

After all, in this world, the only people who would remember her were only him.

So...

"I want you to give this." Mai suddenly moved her body to the side and took a box.

"What is this?" Shishio was surprised.

"It's a watch."

"Watch?" Shishio was surprised and wore it. "Thanks."

"No, it's okay. I want to give it to you," Mai said with a smile since she was happy that he loved it.

"Still, you give me a watch, so I'll remember you every day?" Shishio asked.

"That's right." Mai nodded.

"........"

Shishio stared at Mai for a moment and stared at her beautiful neck. "Say, why don't I give you something too?"

"What are you going to give me?" Mai smiled and asked eagerly.

"Is there something that you want?" Shishio asked.

Mai thought for a moment and asked, "How about you give me a collar." She put on a seductive expression and hugged him. "By then, everyone will know that I am yours."

"..." Shishio took a deep breath and said, "I'll make a collar for you later."

"I can't wait for it." Mai laughed and wanted to continue, but Shishio quickly asked, "Do you have time tomorrow?"

"That's what I want to say, I will take a break tomorrow, so I can join with everyone." After all, Mai would be lying if she wasn't jealous of everyone who could enjoy the holiday with him, so she also decided to take a holiday with them tomorrow. She also wanted to see his villa since, from the text, she had heard it was amazing.

"Then, let's have fun tomorrow."

"Okay."

"But let's continue our fun tonight."

"Okay."

The two left everything aside and continued what they were doing. Their bed swayed like a boat under the raging waves. The existence of each other was the only thing on their minds, forging a bond stronger than anything.

"I love you," Mai uttered as if pleading, asking him to mark her to become his.