Page 32 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Thirty-One

Sophia

" M orning, dolcezza ," Kaleb murmurs, nuzzling his head against my neck as his arms tighten around my waist, pulling our bodies flush against each other and rousing me from my sleep. I relax into him as his mouth lightly skims my neck and he places soft kisses against my skin.

His fingers interlock with mine and he runs our joined hands along the length of my thigh, pushing his hips forward and pressing his hardened dick against my back.

My eyes fly open and I gasp in shock as panic shoots through my body at the reminder of what happened last night and the fact that Kaleb is now in my bed.

"Holy shit," I shout, slapping his arm off of me and jumping out of bed, turning on wobbly legs to stare at the half-naked man in my bed. "Fuck. This is bad!"

I pace back and forth beside my bed as everything from last night rushes into my brain, bombarding me with an immense feeling of guilt and shame.

"I was lost in the moment," I mutter, trying and failing to convince myself that what I did wasn't wrong. I stop pacing and look at Kaleb as he watches me from my bed, resting his head on his hands and smiling at me as my mind spirals. "You were saying so many things and it made me realise that you really are crazy like everyone says, but it also showed me that you're really cute and thoughtful. I realised that you cared about me and it was all so overwhelming, but it made me feel something for you, something more than just desire. Then the way you were looking at me and touching me, it was just all too much. I got swept up in it all and lost my composure. I wasn't thinking."

I shake my head and drag my hands through my hair as I stress over the situation, conflicted about what to think and how to feel.

Kaleb's soft chuckle breaks through the madness inside my head and I turn to glare at him, frustrated that he finds this funny whilst I'm standing here losing my mind.

"You're real cute when you're stressed out and rambling," he says, winking at me as he lifts himself into a seated position, showing off his rippling abs and the beautiful dark ink that litters his tanned skin.

I rip my eyes away from him, determined to keep myself focused on the issue and not get distracted by him again like I did last night.

"Kaleb, this is serious!" I squeak, fiddling with the sparkling silver ring that's wrapped around my finger. "I'm married to your brother. You seem to keep forgetting about that."

"I've already told you that a stupid piece of paper with your signatures on it means nothing to me, Sophia. I've allowed things to stand in the way of us for years, but I'm fed up and won't allow it anymore. We're meant to be together and I'm going to make sure that we are. Besides, you and Jericho have had a conversation about the arrangement between you both. It's obvious there's nothing between you, and we all know there never will be, so stop panicking about it all. You've done nothing wrong."

I scoff and shake my head in disbelief at how calm he is.

"This is wrong," I state. "Last night shouldn't have happened, just like the night at the club."

"That's where you're wrong, dolcezza . Both nights should've happened and I'm really fucking glad they did. Both nights prove that we're good together and have a connection to each other. How can you not realise that already?" he grunts, getting out of the bed and guiding me over to it instead, pushing me down so I'm sitting on the edge instead of burning a hole through the carpet with my pacing.

"I do realise it," I snap, pushing his hands off me. "Of course, I can tell that there's something between us. I'm not stupid and I'm not blind, Kaleb. I just think that out of respect for Jericho, my husband , we should put whatever this is between us on hold and not explore it, especially not under his roof."

He crouches in front of me, staring up at me with those big, green, alluring eyes.

"So, let me get this straight, you just want me to forget about everything between us until you and my brother somehow, potentially part ways?" he asks, raising his brows in a questioning manner.

I stare at him for a moment, my eyes darting across his face and cataloguing every detail before I nod my head, lying to him.

His eyes narrow and his head tilts slightly to the side as he examines my face.

"Very well then," he huffs, standing up to his full height. "If you want me to pretend to forget about this, I will, but only on one condition."

"What's that?" I ask, peering up at him as my stomach swirls with discomfort at the thought of him actually forgetting everything that's happened between us.

He steps between my legs and holds out his hand, waiting for me to take it. When I do, he gently pulls me up so that I'm standing in front of him and our chests bump against each other.

"My one condition is that you have to remember who you belong to," he whispers, dipping his head down to my neck and skating his lips against my skin, sending a shiver through my body. He smiles against me and then pulls back, raising his head so that our noses brush against each other and our eyes clash. "If I ask you who you belong to, you'll answer correctly. Do you understand?"

The commanding tone and the close proximity have my heart beating erratically in my chest, and although I know I shouldn't agree with his request, I find myself nodding.

"Good girl. Now, let's try it out, shall we? Who do you belong to, Sophia?"

I stare at him, breathing heavily as butterflies swarm inside my stomach and waves of heat wash over my body. He cocks a brow and sweeps a strand of hair behind my ear, smoothing his thumb along my jaw as he awaits my reply.

"You," I murmur, distracted by the electrifying touch of his skin against mine.

He tuts and shakes his head.

"Try again, dolcezza ," he urges, bumping the tip of his nose against mine.

"I belong to you, Kaleb."

His thumb swipes along my bottom lip and a wide smile splits across his face as his molton eyes bore into mine and he hums in satisfaction.

"That's what I like to hear," he mutters. "I'm sure you'll find more creative ways of saying it each time though."

He must see the slight blush on my cheeks because he smirks and then lightly presses his lips against mine before turning away from me and sauntering out of my room, whistling a cheerful tune as he goes.

Meanwhile, I stay glued to the same spot, staring at his departing figure and wondering what the hell I've just gotten myself into.