Page 36 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Sophia

S tretching my arms out as I wake from my slumber, I expect them to bump against Kaleb's body, but instead, they sink into the plush cotton covers of my bed.

My eyes ping open in an instant and I turn around, finding my bed empty.

Disappointment filters through my veins as I look around my room, wondering if I was hallucinating last night when I thought Kaleb snuck into my room, snooped around, and then climbed into bed with me and fell asleep as we cuddled each other.

The empty gift boxes that are laid out across my dressing table and the butterfly ornament now sitting on my shelf indicate that it wasn't a figment of my imagination and a smile tugs at my lips.

When I heard him sneak into my room last night, my first thought was to tell him to get out, but after my conversation with Jaylen last night, and after opening the presents that Kaleb left for me, I wanted to see what he was going to do in my room before I let on to the fact that I was awake.

I watched him through squinted eyes as he checked the jewellery box and went through the gift boxes. I smiled when I saw him take the ornament out of the box and place it carefully on my new shelves. I watched him as he took his phone out, the light illuminating his beautiful face, and I admired him for a few moments, completely lost in his presence.

As he walked back over to the gift boxes and picked up the little one, I slammed my eyes shut, somehow knowing that his attention would soon be turning to me. I could feel the warmth of his gaze before I felt his thumb gently stroke my cheek. I had to force myself to keep a straight face and continue to pretend to be asleep as his touch lit a blaze across my skin.

I didn't expect him to climb into my bed afterwards, and I didn't expect him to cuddle me, but when he did, any thought of kicking him out of my room diminished. His arm was wrapped around me, his face was nuzzled against my neck and I felt safe and comfortable being held by him.

When he whispered something in Italian in my ear, goosebumps erupted along my arms and my stomach swirled with desire. Moments later, he was softly snoring in my ear and when I attempted to turn around to watch him sleep, his arm tightened around me, holding me in place.

That was what finally had my smile breaking free because even in his sleep, he wanted to keep me close. I felt protected having him behind me, tucked around my body.

I'm not sure why I expected him to still be here when I awoke, considering he thought I was sleeping when he came into my room and got into my bed, but I guess I hoped he would be so that I could bask in his comfort for a little while longer.

Jaylen knocking on my door breaks me out of my thoughts and I get up, pad across the room, and open the door to be greeted by his smiling face.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. How did you sleep?"

I roll my eyes, walking away from the door and his annoying presence as I go to grab my robe from the bathroom door and wrap it around myself.

"I need coffee before I can cope with you today," I grumble, pushing past him and walking down the corridor.

He chuckles and follows behind me as we descend the stairs and walk towards the kitchen, where the smell of pancakes is drifting through the house.

"Morning, Sophia. Morning, Jaylen. Pancakes will be ready in a moment. Would you both like some coffee?" Myra asks with a wide smile on her face as she watches us both enter the kitchen.

"Yes, please," Jaylen says, taking his seat at the breakfast bar.

I shake my head at him and walk behind the kitchen counter beside Myra.

"Don't worry, Myra, I'll make the coffee. You focus on those delicious pancakes," I tell her.

I grab the milk from the fridge, setting it on the side, and as I walk over to the cupboard, reaching up to grab two cups, I feel tingles erupt over my skin, and a burning sensation washes over my back. My lips pull up into a smile as I realise Kaleb's here and he's watching me.

"Morning," he grunts from somewhere behind me.

I hear the legs of a chair scrape across the floor as Myra and Jaylen respond to him.

I pull the cups from the cupboard and place them down on the side before I spin around to face him.

"Morning, Kaleb," I say, letting my eyes run over him. I'm surprised when I see he's wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, showcasing the tattoo on his arm that he always keeps covered up. My eyes hone in on the inked butterflies, marvelling at the beauty of them and my cheeks warm as I remember the meaning behind the tattoo.

"Morning, dolcezza ."

My gaze meets his, and the smirk on his face, along with the use of my nickname, has the butterflies in my stomach swarming around, beating their wings and creating a storm of emotions to swell inside me.

"How's your arm?" I ask, glancing again at his tattoos before I turn around to busy myself with the task of making coffee whilst I await his answer.

"It's fine, just a little sore," he replies, this time closer to me.

I gasp as his chest brushes against my back when he leans forward and reaches for a cup, placing it in front of me, indicating that he too wants a coffee.

"Thank you for fixing it up for me the other night."

I gulp and nod in acknowledgement, not wanting to risk talking at the moment and risking giving away how much his touch and presence affect me.

"Pancakes are done!" Myra states, breaking the moment between us.

I fill his cup and then grab mine and Jaylens, scooting around him and walking over to the breakfast table, ready to devour my food and then rush back up to my room so that I can get away from his intense, spell-inducing aura once I'm finished.

As I start shovelling the fluffy pancakes into my mouth, he sits beside me, his thigh bumping against mine.

"So, what are your plans for today? More decorating?" he asks, catching me off guard.

"No, we're going out today," Jaylen answers, peering around me so that he can look at Kaleb. "Well, I am anyway. Going to meet up with Dominic. Sophia's going back home to see Jess and Aunt Louise."

Kaleb nods his head, taking a sip of his coffee.

This situation seems awkward and I'm unsure of why. There seems to be some sort of tension in the air between these two and I'm not sure I want to be a part of whatever's going on.

I spear one more mouthful of pancakes into my mouth, take a gulp of my coffee, and then excuse myself from the testosterone-filled room.