238 Sweet Torture

All through the ordeal, he had his eyes on her face, watching as she took in his body as though it was the first time she was doing this and seeing him.

Speaking of first time, his thoughts travelled back to the first time she had helped him remove his shirt to clean his body and help lower his body temperature.

Back then Astrid had done it really slowly, much more slower than this…it was a sweet torture for him back then. This time around even though she was faster, it still felt as slow as the last time.

By the time his shirt was off, leaving his upper body bare before her, Jareth finally let his eyes drop close for good this time. He didn't want her to see the pain well up in his eyes while she healed him.

Astrid could sense his pain and the tension building in his chest as she felt them tighten while waiting for her sweet torture.

She moved to stand at his left side and gently leaned down so she could see his injuries. The clean cloth was secured wrapped around his stomach covering up where he was cut at.

A little bit above the bandage, she could see dark red marks all around his left rib area and one side was particularly purple, that was where his ribs broke.

Her heart tightened at the sight in front of her and her long forgotten anger came welling back up as a sharp pain passed her chest. Instinctively, she pressed her left hand to her chest and used her right hand to trail gentle strokes on the injured area.

She felt him shudder under her touch and her head whipped back up to look at his face. His face was wrinkled a bit as he winced from the pain he felt.

She felt bad seeing him like this, knowing full well she could have prevented it and stopped him from getting injured so badly had she had better control on her powers and been able to use them without passing out and causing problem for Jareth and Snow.

Jareth anticipated the next wave of pain that was going to come but after a minute of waiting, he didn't get any. Confused, he opened his eyes to look at what was wrong when he saw her eyes staring at him but at the same time she wasn't.

Astrid was in a daze, not moving.

'She is in pain. Her thoughts are clouded with anger and pain. It must be because of what happened. I shouldn't let her do this, it would hurt her more than it would hurt me when I scream in pain and I cannot promise I won't.'

Both had their thoughts in a hassle as to what to do and Jareth decided on what his was going to be. He would rather bear the pain than let her go through this emotional pain.

He moved his hand down to cup her face, breaking her from her reverie. "You do not have to do it. It would heal eventually."

Astrid blinked, her brows crease and she spoke. "I have to. After all it was because of me you are badly hurt."

"Silly, it is. Let me. I apologize for my spacing out. Ready?" She positioned herself, so she was now standing straight and traced her hand gently on his side close to the injury then looked back at him, awaiting his answer before she did what she was about to do.

Jareth nodded, giving her his go ahead and that was it.

Astrid gently caressed the smooth skin under her fingers and brushed over the bandage to his broken rib. She brought the other hand and placed it above the bandage, then let her gaze wander back to his.

One more look at him and her eyes dropped close. In a matter of seconds, he felt a tingling sensation followed by immense pain and looked down at where her hands touched his body.

He could see her hands glow with a blue and golden hue and before he knew what was happening, he felt his torn skin began to close back up at an alarming rate.

Ina short time, he could not feel the pain he felt from the wound again and returned his gaze back to her. Astrid still had her eyes shut and continued with her healing.

She was reaching out more, using her powers. This was the first time she was going to heal a broken bone and it took her longer than she thought it would.

Her forehead glistened with sweat from the effort and pull she was using with her powers. 

In her mind she could feel the broken bones and subconsciously touched them and pulled them tighter gently.

Although that was what she did in her mind, but in reality, it was painful. Jareth could as though his insides were stretched and his bones broken all again as her grip tightened a bit to keep him in place since his body trembled from the pain.

A couple of minutes later, she was done and felt the bone snap back and completely joined. Ever so slowly, her eyelashes opened and she stared down at him. She could see his own forehead glistening with more sweat than she felt hers did.

But in actual truth, hers glistened more. Jareth opened his eyes and looked up at her. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes and knew she was tired.

"Thank you," he voiced his appreciation with ragged breath as his chest fell and rose faster than normal.

"Don't thank me yet. I am not done. Your whole body is in pain. I still need to finish up first."

Not waiting for his reply, she changed her position and moved back to stand in front of him with both of her legs in between his but quickly changed that, as she won't feel comfortable in that position.