^^Sexy Alastair^^

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven."

Chapter 6
River's POV

"River?" I heard a voice call softly. It was a soft bell-like sound amongst the dark abyss that swallowed me.

"River?" the voice repeated.

I fluttered my eyes open, greeted by the scorching, bright sun. My eyes instinctively closed to block the burning light threatening to scorch me at sight.

Ugh, too bright. Go away.

I snuggled deeper into the soft fur around me.

Wait, fur? Where am I?

I jumped up, whimpering as the light hit me hard, burning me on cue.

Grrr, evil sun. I'll get you back one day! Just you watch!

"Did you just growl at me..?" Alastair raised a perfect brow at me. His hazel eyes blazed with child-like humor.

"N-no, I w-was g-growling a-at the s-sun..."

Wow, That sounded a lot less idiotic in my head.

"The sun?" He choked through a laugh.

I felt as my cheeks heated up in embarrassment.

"Y-yeah..."

"Well, the doctor's here. If it's okay with you, I'd like if he examined you before you go back to sleep."

Doctor?

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been to the doctor. Knowing my father, if I'd ever gotten sick he probably would have rather left me for dead rather than get me the treatment I needed.

"Love?" Alastair looked at me expectantly.

"Umm, sure," I whispered. I was a little nervous for this so called 'examination'. My knowledge of doctors was a bit scarce and mainly based on books that I had read when my father wasn't looking. Mainly to say, the doctors were usually more 'mad' than good and had a tendency to give shots of strange liquids and create strange mutant-like people.

To sum it up, my view on doctors were a bit skewed.

"Hello, River, my name is Dr. Besmere," A tall, light-haired man appeared from behind Alastair, he was an intellectual-looking man with small, rounded spectacles, covering a pair icy blue eyes, "His Majesty, brought to my attention that you're having stomach and throat pains?"

I nodded.

"Would you be willing to show me where the pains are and when they started?" He asked pulled out a piece of parchment and a dark, feathered writing utensil.

I nodded as I began to lift my shirt with shaking hands. I was never one for public nudity.

I low growl resounded through the room as Alastair placed a gentle hand on mine and faced the light-haired doctor.

"He will not be showing skin."

"I understand why you may be...possessive of your mate, but this is a matter of health. I'm not one looking for a strip tease." Alastair's eyes bored into the Doctor's before finally lifting his hand from mine. I pouted as his heat left mine. I quite enjoyed his hand on mine it was...soothing.

"Very well, however, you may not touch any part of him without my permission." He looked down at me with a warm smile as he swept his hand, almost feather-like against my cheek. My head automatically moved towards his warm hand, seeking the calming warmth it gave me.

"Very well, lift your shirt for me, River."

I did as he said as my mate rubbed soothing circles on my exposed arm.

"Now I need to feel around your stomach," he peered up at my mate for permission. Alastair nodded his head, though he didn't look very joyful in doing so.

"I need you to tell me when it hurts, okay?

I nodded.

The doctor placed his cold hand on my exposed stomach causing me to shiver.

"Does it hurt?" My mate asked, clearly feeling my shivering.

"No, just cold."

Alastair looked up at the doctor with cold eyes.

The doctor sighed, "Your Majesty, I'm a trained doctor, not a masseuse. I'm not here to give my patients a trip to the tropics, just a treatment. If you're lucky I'll even save your life with no extra cost. So sit down, and calm yourself." My eyes widened, he talked to Alastair as if he were a small, cheeky child.

"You're lucky you're my brother's mate, or I would have your head in my hands by now, Michael," Alastair growled.

"Haha, better not. Your brother is quite the possessive bastard." He winked.

Alastair turned an off colored red and I began to fear he may self-implode, "Not that head, you pervert!"

Michael laughed so hard, he doubled over almost face planting into the marble floor beneath him.

"Wow, always the serious one." He said wiping his eyes of cheerful tears.

Alastair was as red as a tomato at this point, and not just of anger.

"Okay, let's get back to your poor, helpless mate, laying on your bed like a virgin sacrifice." He said placing his hands back onto my sensitive skin. I felt myself begin to quiver once again.

I didn't like being touched by others. The only one I had ever allowed to do so was Alice. Her touch was so soft, so careful.

I wondered what had happened to her. Was she freed with the rest? Where did she end up going?

A sharp, pulsing pain pulled me out of my thoughts, "Aaahh!" I screamed as hot, salty tears fell freely from my eyes from the sudden shock.

But as soon as the pain came it was gone almost like a moment lived ghost, haunting from one second and disappearing the next as the overwhelming pressure was removed from my stomach.

"Just as I thought."

"What?" Alastair looked up at Michael with worried eyes, after wiping my tears away with the pads of his thumbs.

"He's having stress-related stomach pains. As a result of the previous living conditions, his anxiety created an increased amount of adrenaline and stomach acid. Which resulted in indigestion, creating his stomach pains. It's a good thing you found him when he did because from his symptoms he was relatively close to getting an ulcer." My eyes widened at the word 'ulcer'.

I didn't know a lot about medicine or medical terms, but I had remembered my neighbor, Mr. Jones. He had gotten it last year and didn't make it through the winter.

"What do you suggest as treatment?" Alastair asked with a stone-like face.

"Well, since I expected this to be as such, from what you had told me. I brought some medicine that may help with his stomach pains." Michael said, pulling out a small, glass-encased veil. I swallowed nervously as a blue-like liquid sloshed intimidatingly inside.

He popped the top open with ease as he handed it to me. I opened it slowly as if it were a monster that could bite me at any moment. The metallic smell that emanated from the small, circular opening had almost whipped me off the bed as I pulled it from my face.

It had smelled of metal and sweat. I could almost have sworn something died in there.

I shook my head as I held it at arms reach.

"River, you have to drink that if you want your stomach pains to go away, but I'm not going to force you. It's your choice." The doctor raised a brow as he looked from me to the veil and back like a disapproving parent.

I weighed the pros and cons in my head before deciding I'd rather drink monkey sweat before going through the previous excruciating pain again.

I closed my eyes and downed it before I could change my mind and shivered as the cold, thick substance made its way down my throat.

Ugh, yeah doesn't taste as bad as it smell. The smell was a breeze of fresh air compared to what it tasted like. I shuddered at the taste. The thick, cold liquid felt as if it were burning its way down my throat and leaving a bitter ash and metallic taste behind on its journey to my stomach.

I whimpered at the taste and handed the vial into Alastair's waiting hand.

"Shhh, it's all done, love." Alastair cooed in my ear.

I shivered as his warm breath tingled my ear in a way that suddenly made me feel a bit tight.

"You smell so sweet, love, like my own personal heaven." Alastair cooed as he nuzzled against my neck.

I broke out into a fit of giggles, as his short stubble assaulted my neck.

"S-stop t-tickles!" I managed through giggles.

He joined in my laughter and continued his assault.

His laughter was so beautiful. It rang clear in the air, leaving warmth and joy in its path.

I wished I could sit and listen to his laughter all day.

"I wish I could hear your laughter all day. It's so beautiful and gentle. I hope for it to never end." He said softly, brushing his hand against my cheek; the feather-like motion leaving sparks and warmth in its gentle path.

My eyes widened at his confession.

"What's the matter, love?" His smile suddenly turned into a frown.

Did I do that? Turn such a beautiful thing into something so sad? I ruin everything, don't I?

"Why do you look so solemn, love?"

I looked down, "I made your smile go away."

He lifted my face with a single finger, "no need to be upset, love, I was just worrying over you. Something that will never cease to occur." He looked into my eyes with such emotion shining in his, emotions I've never seen one look at me with, "Smile for me, love?"

I gave the best fake smile I could, causing him laugh.

"You really need to work on that smile of yours, love, the people will never fall for such a false twitch. They'll single you out in moments."

The people?

He tapped my knee gently as he smiled down at me, "how about we get some warm food into you? You hungry love?"

As if on cue, my stomach decided to make its appearance known by making a sound between a dying cat and a hollowing whale.

My face went beet red in embarrassment as I covered my face with my hands, hoping to suffocate the embarrassment out of me.

"Now, now, love, no need to be embarrassed. It happens to the best of us. Now how about we don't hurt the love of my life, hm?" He said. His voice was soft as silk as prying my hands from my face.

If possible my face was now a darker shade of red than previously. He called me the love of his life...

Catching me off guard with his statement, he managed to pry my hands off my face, revealing my, very red, face.

"There you are." He cooed.

Oh my G-d, any more and I'm going to turn into a tomato.

"Come now, love." He said reaching his hand out to me.

I grabbed it just as he swept me off my feet and into his arms.

I squeaked as I was pulled hard against his hard muscle.

"So cute." He cooed into my ear.

I nuzzled my face into his neck to hide my red face from his view.

G-d, this man is going to be the death of me. I thought as he carried me off.

Oh, but what a grand death that would be.