INSEPARABLE I

XXXVII

It was little before midnight and Noor stood at the window in her chambers. The palace was quiet, only a few guards paced back and forth on the dimly lit stone pathway around the garden just outside her window. Prem still hadn't arrived. She knew he was purposely delaying his visit as long as he could to punish her for her unexpected move in front of his family and friends just hours ago.

"Chief, it's late." Rajjo remarked on her way out of Noor's chambers after her final round for the night. "Perhaps, Chief Dhaliwal is caught up in something?" That was her politest way of suggesting to Noor that Prem was too angry to come and that she should go to sleep. Rajjo, like the rest of the palace, had been swarmed by gossip centered around Noor's actions in the Kurrali wing from earlier that evening.

"Don't worry." Noor waved at her, drawing the curtains. "He will come."

"As you say, Chief." Rajjo's words were polite but her eyes displayed displeasure over Noor spending her precious rest time in anxious waiting. Nonetheless, she bowed courteously and headed out.

Being pregnant wasn't easy, Noor tired more easily and needed more rest than regular so she wondered how much longer Prem would make her wait. To her relief, she heard a scratching sound against the wooden closet door just then. He had come.

She let out an audible exhale as Prem quietly stepped out into her chambers. God, was he stunning! Even in his visibly fatigued condition, his presence took her breath away. Her lips settled into a radiant smile as he made his way over to her.

Coming to stop just a step away from her, Prem, with no particular expression on his face, stared down at the woman of his dreams. Since they last met, much had taken place. She had asked him to never see her again and he had obeyed out of sheer rage but over the weeks she herself changed her mind. Then she had infiltrated his wing of the palace, set his plans and the furniture on which they laid on fire, and proceeded to both kiss and bite him, before threatening him to show up tonight. In addition, she had finally spoken to him.

There was so much he needed to speak to her about. Her pregnancy, her mental health after her guard's death, the war, and their strategy on the battlefield but he was tired. He hadn't slept properly in days preparing for the mission she so easily cancelled. He was mentally and physically worn out from all the excessive planning, strategizing, and the hours of additional combat training in the recent days. He wanted to talk to her but he was simply exhausted and she was right there with a spellbinding smile on her face. Seeing her within an arm's length in secure chambers on a night when he doesn't have to worry about a journey across the border to his own home arose a different desire in him. One that overruled all others so he shed his restricted expression and took her into his arms. All he needed in that moment was to hold her. He just needed to breathe her in, to caress her skin, and to feel her in his arms.

Thrilled by the instantaneous development between them, Noor reciprocated his hug, circling her arms around his back. Her stomach pressed gently against him as his hold around her strengthened. Completely silent, both stood absolutely still in the eager embrace, melting into each other's arms for a couple moments.

Then, slowly nuzzling his neck and jawline, still in the hug, "hey." Noor spoke softly.

Keeping the hug intact, Prem withdrew just enough to get a look at her face. His ears had been so starved to be addressed by her, he thought his heart would jump out of his chest. "Hi." He whispered.

"Are you mad at me?" Noor asked cutting to the chase.

Prem simply eyed her for a moment, "for what you did today, no...but for what you said a few weeks ago, yes." He nodded, the pain evident in his eyes.

It saddened Noor see how much she had hurt him so she came forward bringing their noses to touch, her hands also made their way up his neck and to the back of his head. "I'm so sorry." She cried. "I'm so so sorry, baby."