Hellbound Heart

Elle absentmindedly lifted her hand to her temple where she had felt him kissing her. Her heart was still fluttering hard as she watched him disappear into their dressing room. A light dusting of pink tinged her high cheekbones as she stared at the dressing room door in a daze, the person in question no longer visible.

She could not believe it. She felt like her entire being was being thrown into a frenzy with just that soft and warm touch of his lips on her face. Was he... was he even aware of what he just did? She could not help but question because he just turned around too soon and left right after he landed that kiss. She had not even managed to catch the expression on his face.

When Sebastian returned, now dressed in a plain white shirt, Elle was unable to stop herself from staring at him.

For some reason, he really looked a little different right now. He was disheveled and ragged, like he had not rested for a few days. His usual ever so impeccable and perfect look from his hair to his regal clothes had changed. Right now, he looked a little more human and Elle found the look and feel of him to be ever so heart-fluttering.

Once the doctor and the nurse finally left, the maid entered next, bringing in Elle's food.

Elle was about to protest because she knew she was feeling much better already. It was just her voice that was the problem right now. No matter how much honeyed water she downed, there was no speeding up the healing of her abused throat. It will just require time and tender loving care for it to heal.

Sebastian's finger landed on her lips to hush her. "You heard the doctor, Izabelle. She said you must not talk or even whisper to be able to heal as soon as possible." He reminded her gently, and Elle could only press her lips tightly closed and stare at him, relenting in the face of his gentleness and rugged handsomeness. "Good girl..." he uttered, pleased with her obedience and the tip of his lips curved up in a roguish smile.

He quickly dismissed the maid from the room after she finished setting up Elle's meal.

Elle quietly watched him as he took the bowl of warm soup in his hands. She stretched her hand out to receive the bowl, but Sebastian did not hand it over to her, causing Elle to blink at him.

,m Her eyes widened slightly when he picked up the spoon and started to scoop a spoonful of soup and blew on it to cool it down. He looked serious as he did that. His disheveled dark hair falling forward and touching his thick lashes.

When he lifted his gaze and their eyes met, Elle could not help but blush a little.

She opened her lips to tell him that it was fine. That she could eat by herself. She only had a swollen throat. She was not handicapped. But he had hushed her again the moment she parted her lips.

"Let me do this, Iza. I need to do things to distract myself from..." he made a sudden pause before he continued, "It's alright, let me feed you. Husbands and wives normally do things like this, do they not?"

Elle could only blink at him again while he casually brought the spoon nearer her lips after blowing on it once more.

"Now open your lips. No need to be shy," he coaxed. And when Elle could not react fast enough due to his surprising actions, he slowly retracted his hand and stared down at the soup. She was still so taken aback at his extreme gentleness in going out of his way to care for her that she was slow in responding to him.

But it did not escape her the way his brows creased ever so slightly as his lips pressed a little tightly together. But when he lifted his gaze to look at her again, he nodded slowly. "Alright..." he relented and moved his hand to give her the bowl.

But Elle did not lift her hand to accept it. She could not explain what she was feeling at the moment, especially about him. Why... why did he look... was he guilty? And that was why he was acting so strangely right now?

That was the only explanation she could think of to explain his actions. And that realization had her heart aching a little for him. She was not sure why, but perhaps she had realized his guilt of what had happened to her must be the reason why he looked so disheveled right now. He must have found out the truth already and that was why... he was behaving this way.

She opened her lips and waited for him to feed her. Her cheeks were flushed red as she did that. She never imagined she would ever experience something like having someone personally feed her. And to think that Sebastian... her all brooding and grumpy husband was the one who was going to do it.

He looked slightly surprised at her actions but he immediately moved, blew on the spoon and then fed her the slightly cooled soup.

Elle shut her eyes closed for a moment as she took in the warm, refreshing soup. Her heart warmed as well and when she opened her eyes and looked at him, her heart skipped a beat. Lord... this was... this was not something she had ever expected.

She had thought that once she woke up, everything would be over. But what was this? She could not help when her eyes grew hot as she stared at him.

His expression changed at whatever he saw on her face. And the first thing he did was to scoop another spoonful of soup and tasted it, as though he was trying to find out what it was in the soup that had caused her to look like she was about to cry.

The confusion on his face as he seriously tried to figure out what was wrong with the soup caused Elle to laugh soundlessly.

Sebastian looked at her like he was lost, but then he immediately recovered and pressed his thumb over her lips. "I'd really love to watch you laugh. But laughing is also forbidden, baby girl. I guess I need to keep my finger over these soft pretty lips of yours like this to make sure you don't break the rules again."