Guilty Pleasures

51

"She kept seeking him out; for a moment longer: something to keep her heart from collapsing in on itself: because she needed him to keep her afloat."

Raghav walked through the doors to his mansion noting the worry in his mother's stance as she looked around; restlessly moving back and forth in her fixed position whilst his sister seemed to pace back and forth; looking down at her phone every now and then; and Raghav had assumed that Farhad had told the two of what had transpired placing the dark kingdom in defence.

He looked down to his wife's form in his arms; his eyes tenderly scraping over her form as she seemed to tighten her grip against him; burying herself further into his warmth just as his mother caught sight of them at the doorstep.

His mother was ready to bombard him with questions but with a sharp look and a slight shake to his head he moved past them; heading up the stairs as gently as he could hoping not to aggravate any of the aches she was experiencing.

He had heard the small hiss that escaped her: his lips pressing to her forehead slightly.

"It's okay we're almost there." He reassured quietly, moving up the remainder of the steps before turning to take her to her room.

She lifted her head from the crook of his neck signalling that she didn't want to be there.

Not alone and so with a half reassuring smile he turned to walk to his room instead.

He entered in a similar fashion as he had the previous night; but the difference lay in her consciousness he placed her down on the bed, moving back to grab his phone from his pocket; his hand still resting on arm to reassure her off his presence.

"What are you doing?" She seemed to question; her voice hoarse.

"You're injured Pallavi you need medical assistance."

"No." She grunted out; grabbing for his phone ripping it from his grip.

"Pallavi." He warned; a sigh escaping him.

"I'm fine."

"No you're not." He whispered back.

And he was quick to stand; turning away from her and momentarily ignored the bleat that left her lips at his retreating figure; but he calmed her with allowing her eyes to follow him around the room as he rummaged through his cabinets pulling out a first aid box and taking a seat besides her.

He grabbed her bloodied knuckles gently his eyes fixated on her assessing her injuries and as he applied pressure she winced.

His eyes flashed to hers and she could see it in his eyes; the resolve to take her to a hospital strengthening.

She shook her head in adamance and he moved back to the job at hand. He was gentle in applying the balm and antiseptic cream to her half swollen knuckles before wrapping a bandage against the nasty cut across them to ensure it didn't become infected. He moved to rub the balm against the darkening marks that the rope had left against her creamy skin; and their eyes had locked as he did.

He could read it in her eyes; the clear pain that she was trying to encase in them; and as he moved closer to her easing her back into the comforts of his sheets; he found himself scan her over for any more injuries.

"It doesn't hurt anywhere else." She voiced.

"Not even where he pushed his knee into you?" He asked and he saw her wince under his words.

"Let me see Pallavi." He spoke authoritatively but anyone who knew Raghav Rao would have caught the slight plead to his tone; because even if it maybe selfish the Dark King needed to reassure himself that his Queen: that his white Queen; his wife: was okay.