Sasuke sank deeper into the warm water and let out sigh as he felt muscles relax. The water was the perfect temperature. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back to rest it on the marble. It felt good to be back in his own quarters. He felt his exhaustion melt away as he took another deep breath. There was a faint sweet smell he picked up on and he vaguely wondered if Miko-san had prepared his bath that way.

it was odd that she would add fragrances to his bath. He wasn't really one to care about such things, and she knew that. Maybe she was trying something new. He didn't really mind it. He had had such a tiring day, he didn't really have the energy for any extra thinking.

He had woken up at dawn and completed his blood tests and physical examinations, all of which had to be completed before breakfast.

He had been told that Naruto would be busy today with Deidera. They had to meet the noble's consorts, part of tradition Naruto had to complete after the wedding, but because of the duel, this had to be postponed. He was so used to starting the day with his bride that he didn't quite have the appetite at breakfast.

After breakfast Sasuke had to join his brother at the court to meet the council members and nobles. It was customary for the victor to present himself before the court to show that he was alive and recovered in order to remain worthy of his new victory. The meeting had gone longer than he had expected, with the council members voicing their worry over the continued disturbance at the borders. Sasuke had found it very hard to focus as his mind kept drifting to a certain blonde who would be waiting for him at his quarters tonight.

After his check up last night, had asked for the medic nin to request Kakashi to come see him. He had wanted some advice for tonight. However, knowing how his sensei avoided the medic team like a plague, he had figured the medic nin had not been able to get the message to him when Kakashi failed to turn up.

After lunch he had decided to got to the training grounds to check on his teams. After the duel day, a few of his shinobis had been gravely injured. He had been wanting to know how they were doing so far. Finding that all his members had recovered and had already begun their training, Sasuke had decided to monitor them and check their progress. His teams had been a little worried that their Taichou would over exert himself, but was too scared to ask the prince to go and rest.

It was evening by the time Sasuke had dispersed his exhausted shinobis and had decided to head back to his quarters. He had been a little disappointed on finding that Naruto had not returned from his meet and greet yet. He decided this had worked in his favour, in a way, since he was completely drenched in sweat and desperately needed a bath. It wasn't until he sat in his bath that he realised that he had completely drained himself.

His eyes felt heavy and he felt groggy. Deciding it wasn't a good idea to fall asleep in the bath, he forced himself to lift his head. He got up and stepped out if the bath, pushing his wet hair back. He put on a robe, grabbed a towel and headed back to his room.

'O-Okaeri'

—-

'O-Okaeri' Naruto mentally winced at his stuttering greeting. He had been ready with the greeting as he sat waiting for the prince, but was completely thrown off by the sight in front of him. The prince was fresh out of the bath, the front of his robe gaping open to expose his chest. Naruto felt his face heat up and quickly looked at the hem of his own robes.

The prince walked up to him, gently pushed his chin and lifted his head to look up at him.

'Tadaima.'

'H-how did the check up go?' Naruto visibly winced at his stutter this time. Don't focus on his chest.

'We'll know tomorrow.' Sasuke removed his hand now that Naruto was looking at him and pushed his wet hair back. Naruto Visibly blushed. It was a simple gesture, but it made the prince look so much more attractive, if that was even possible. The prince paused and raised an eyebrow at his bride's furiously blushing face.

'B-Balm.' Naruto squeaked before the Prince could comment. Don't look at his face. 'Miko-san brought the ointment for the wounds.' He explained pointing at the trolley of medication next to their bed. 'I'll ask her call the medic-.'

The prince grabbed his hand and stopped him as he turned to leave. He turned back and looked at the prince in confusion.

'It's alright.' The prince said as he went to sit on the bed. 'I can skip it for today. It's been a long day.'

Naruto hesitated a bit before he cautiously spoke. 'Would you like me to do it?'

The prince looked up at Naruto and wordlessly nodded. Naruto wasn't sure if he had said something wrong and faltered before he went and sat next to the prince.

'I was told your wounds should not be kept dry.' Naruto felt the need to explain himself. 'Miko-san explained that healing of the wounds also take up a lot of chakra, and that we need to heal the wounds as fast as we can.'

He felt a shift in the mattress and felt the Prince sit flush against his side. His face was gently lifted again to look up at the prince who leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. 'Thank you, Naruto.' The prince said in a low and turned around to face his back towards him. He slipped off the robe, exposing his top half completely.

Naruto gulped. This was probably a bad idea.

He reached for the ointment and started to gently apply it on the wounds on the prince's broad back. He tried not to enjoy his fingers running along the contours of strong back. tried. A foreign emotion creeped into his chest as he took in the sight of the powerful build before him. He was reminded, yet again, that he was married to no ordinary man.

He whispered that he was done, and the prince turned to face him. Naruto gulped again. He repeated the same process on the prince's chest, trying his best to focus on the wounds and not on the well built chest in front of him. It was near to impossible task, sitting at such close proximity that he could feel the heat from the prince's body. Or was it his own cheeks that were heated? He honestly could tell anymore.

'It doesn't really hurt.' The prince said and Naruto felt his face relax as he looked up at the prince, which made him realize that he had been frowning. He nodded silently.

'We're done.' Naruto audibly sighed and placed the ointment back on the trolley.

'Thank you.' The prince pulled his robe back on, and Naruto couldn't decide if he was disappointed or relieved. He frowned when something cold landed on his thigh and noticed that it was a water droplet from the prince's hair. He instinctively reached for the towel on the prince and left on the bed and wiped the droplets that were running down the prince's neck.

'We need to dry your hair.' Naruto giggled, finding it amusing for some reason. 'Your highness has only just got out of bed rest.' He explained as he proceeded to dry his hair, and the prince silently allowed him. He giggled again at the prince's tousled hair when he removed the towel, and reached up to fix it. He slowly ran his fingers through the damp hair in and smiled at his masterpiece.

'There.' He nodded and looked at the prince face. He paused and his eyes widened in realization. He gasped and immediately pulled his hands away.

'oh!' Naruto gasped. ' I - I completely forgot.'

'What's wrong?' The prince frowned in worry, his hand instinctively reaching up to hold Naruto by his shoulder.

'Iruka sensei told me I should never touch your head.' Naruto half panicked. 'You're the prince.'

Sasuke almost, rolled his eyes. Almost. But he didn't. Because Uchihas never roll their eyes. Except for Kakashi. And Asuma. There's Genma too. He had seen Kurenai roll her eyes at Asuma all the time.

Alright, some Uchihas never roll their eyes.

Their sharingan do spin though.

But that didn't count.

'You of all people needn't worry about that, Naruto.' Sasuke soothed Naruto.

Naruto smiled and relaxed. Sasuke gently held his chin again 'I rather liked it', he smiled and leaned in to place a kiss on his bride's lips. He pulled back and looked at Naruto's face that sported a pretty rosy blush. Seeing no signs of protest he leaned in again and kissed him once more. Naruto surrendered to the kiss almost immediately.

Encouraged by this. He wrapped his arm around the tiny waist and pulled him closer and his bride timidly wrapped his arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss as he pushed Naruto onto the bed, his other hand placed on his small back so as to make the fall gentle. Naruto hold tightened and his fingers ran through the prince's hair, his head spinning as the prince angled his head to deepen the kiss further. This was new to Naruto. He felt his heart hammer against his chest as he kissed the prince back, timidly, experimentally. The prince was careful not to scare his bride as he cautiously tested his boundaries, running hand down his waist and resting it on his thigh. Naruto let him.

Breaking the kiss, the prince buried his nose into Naruto's neck and placed gentle kisses along the back of his ears and down to his nape. His hand now making its way to the hem of Naruto's robe.

Naruto tensed and the prince immediately stopped. He slowly pulled back and looked down at his flushed bride who was staring back at him with hazy eyes, panting slightly.

Sweet God, the sight before him. It sent a shiver down his spine and he balled his fist to control himself.

Naruto had tensed up, he wasn't ready.

He leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on his bride's forehead, and sat up, gently pulling Naruto up.

Naruto looked confused, but he sat up obediently.

'We should get some rest.' Sasuke said and got up to fan out the lights.

Naruto nodded and quietly crawled into the covers of their large bed, keeping to his side. The room went dark and he felt the dip of the bed as the prince joined him seconds later, keeping to his side as well.

His eyebrows knit into a frown in the darkness, not being able to understand why the prince had suddenly stopped. He was new to this, and no one had ever told him or showed him what to do. Had he done something wrong? Did he do it wrong?

As he started to panic over these thoughts, a strong arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him flush against a hard chest. The prince placed a kiss on his shoulder and neck and buried his nose in his hair.

'Please get some rest.' The deep voice mumbled in his ear, sending a tingling sensation down his back. He bit his lip and smiled. All his previous worries forgotten, he relaxed in his prince's embrace and drifted off.—