Page 43 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Forty-Two

Sophia

K aleb and I walk out of Jericho's office and back out to the foyer of the house. His hand is still on the small of my back, guiding me along as I stare at the floor, still processing all the information they've just dumped on me.

I feel terrible for them both, having to deal with a father like that for all of their lives, learning that he was behind the downfall of their mother, and then when proof of that is released, nothing is done about it. No justice for the woman that birthed them, raised them and loved them.

My heart hurts for Jericho, having not only his mother taken from him but also the love of his life.

When we reach the foyer, Kaleb's hand drops from my back and he presses a light kiss against my cheek before heading for the front door.

"Wait!" I shout, grabbing his arm. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find Leo so that he can help me come up with a plan," he says, frowning at me. "Are you okay?"

I hesitantly nod and let go of his hand.

"Yeah, of course. I'm fine. I guess I'll go ring Jaylen and see if he's still with Dominic."

He steps forward, cupping my face in his big palms and tilting my head to look at him.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his imploring green eyes staring down into mine.

"After listening to all of that, I just don't really want to be alone at the moment," I admit.

He pulls me into his chest, wrapping his muscular arms around me and resting his head atop mine.

"There's no need for you to be worried. I'll be back in no time, dolcezza . You're safe here, I can promise you that. Go call your family, make sure they can meet with Jericho and then take a relaxing bath and get into bed. As soon as I'm finished with Leo, I'll come join you, okay?"

I nod against him, squeezing his broad body with my arms, soaking up the comfort he's providing me before I reluctantly let go.

He smiles down at me and winks.

"I knew it wouldn't take long for you to start showing that you care for me as much as I do for you," he says, spinning around and walking out the door.

I shake my head at his cocky comment and walk up the stairs with a ghost of a smile on my face.

When I reach my room, I dial Jaylen's number and walk into my bathroom, waiting for the call to connect.

"I'm on my way back to you now, Soph. I'm sorry I've been gone so long, but I'm glad you've missed me," he says as soon as he answers, chuckling at himself.

"Jay, I'm already back at Jericho's."

"Why? Is everything okay?" he asks, all the humour now lost from his voice.

"Everything's fine," I say, not wanting to disclose the whole pregnancy scare. "Are you still with Dominic?"

"No. I dropped him home about five minutes ago."

"Well, I need you to call him back and tell him that he needs to go to Mum and Dad's as soon as possible. Jericho will be heading over there soon to have a meeting with them all."

I turn my phone onto loudspeaker as I start to run my bath and strip off my clothes.

"What? Why the fuck does Jericho want a meeting with them? How have I missed so much?"

"Jaylen, stop with all the questions. I promise to fill you in tomorrow, or better yet, go pick Dominic up and then go to the meeting with him because I know damn well you won't be able to wait for me to inform you about everything that's happened and I'm too exhausted to deal with your dramatics at the moment."

"That's a fair point. I totally would've come home and pestered you," he admits. "Are you good though, Soph? Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm good. I'm just tired, so I'm going to have a bath and then go to bed."

"Okay, well, I'm only a call away if you change your mind."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

I hang up the phone and place it beside the sink and then walk back over to the bath, shutting off the water before I climb in, hoping to wash off the effects of today.

I'm laying in bed, snuggled beneath the duvet with my nose in a book and my tired eyes drooping shut by the time Kaleb comes home and trudges into my room.

"I thought you'd be sleeping," he whispers, walking across the room towards me.

"I've been forcing myself awake, trying to finish this book, but I'm pretty sure I've read the same line a dozen times," I huff, putting my bookmark in place and setting the book on my nightstand.

He crouches beside me, his eyes studying my face as he reaches his hand forward and sweeps his thumb softly across my cheek.

"I much prefer doing this whilst you're awake," he muses.

"Huh?"

He smirks, leans forward to place a kiss against the tip of my nose, and then stands to his full height, slowly toeing off his shoes and unbuttoning his jeans.

"Usually, I'm in here watching you whilst you're asleep, but I think I prefer it whilst you're awake. I can see the way my touch affects you in those stunningly beautiful eyes of yours."

"How do you continuously make things sound creepy yet romantic at the same time?" I ask, frowning at him.

He shrugs as he drops his jeans, stepping out of them and lifting his top, revealing his coiled muscles.

"It's my special talent."

He whips his top over his head, throwing it onto the floor and my eyes eat up every inch of his exposed skin as he walks towards the bed.

"Like what you see, dolcezza ?"

I hum as I continue my perusal of him, admiring how his tattoos stand out against his caramel skin in the dim glow of my room from the lamp on my bedside cabinet.

"You've been showing that off a lot lately," I say, turning around so that I'm now facing him as he kneels on the edge of my bed, lifting the covers and climbing in.

He lays beside me, fluffing the pillow before resting his head on it and staring at me with his lustrous eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you always used to have it hidden under long-sleeved shirts. Even that night at the club, you had your shirt unbuttoned but you kept it on, covering the butterflies."

"That's because I keep it hidden from my father. Also, I didn't want you to see the tattoo and start asking questions about it. I didn't want you to know who I was and I didn't want you to know I knew who you were."

"That was such a confusing sentence," I say, grinning at him as I tentatively reach over and run my fingers along the inked butterflies. "Also, I'm still not happy about that, you know?"

He huffs and rolls his eyes, stretching his arm out across the pillows and nudging my head until I lift it so he can rest his arm beneath my neck.

His fingers intricately weave through my hair until he's gently massaging my scalp.

"I did what I had to do," he states, wrapping his other arm around my waist and pulling me closer to his chest as his legs tangle with mine beneath the covers. "I know that it probably wasn't right, and I understand that it was likely confusing for you, but I had to make sure you knew who I was before you married Jericho. I couldn't keep hiding because if I did, I was at greater risk of losing you, and I don't ever want to lose you, Sophia."

His words, paired with the slow circles he's rubbing along my side and my head have me melting against him.

"I'd also like to clarify that I don't regret it, and I'd do it again."

I laugh against his chest, shaking my head.

"Is it bad if I admit I'm glad it happened as well?" I ask.

He pulls away from me slightly so that he can push his arm between us and use his hand to tilt my head up, forcing me to look at him.

"You're glad it happened?"

I nod, gnawing on my bottom lip and guilt slithers its way through my body.

"It sounds bad when I say that doesn't-"

My words are cut off when he leans down and presses his lips against mine, using his hand to cup my jaw and hold me in place as his tongue sweeps across my parted lips.

I wrap my arm around the back of his neck, pulling him impossibly closer to me as I allow him access, deepening the kiss.

He growls into my mouth, nipping at my lip when I grind my body against him, desire shooting through me as his hardened length twitches from my movements.

He peppers kisses against my jaw and down the length of my neck as my fingers tug on his hair and quiet moans drift from my mouth between panting breaths.

He sucks my skin into his mouth, intent on marking me as his hands explore my body, skimming against my bare legs and sending heat bursting through my veins.

"I've missed the way you taste," he groans, lightly biting my neck and kissing it.

I roll onto my back, pulling him with me so that he's hovering above me as I allow my hands to glide along his back, tracing every muscle that's coiled tight.

He runs his nose against my neck, breathing me in as he settles his weight on top of me.

His hand leaves my waist, travelling down the length of my leg as he pulls it to the side, allowing him to rest between my legs, pressing his dick against me.

I gasp at the feeling and wrap my legs tightly around his hips, grinding my centre against his and moaning as the friction of his dick against my clit sends ecstasy soaring through my body.

"You keep making sounds like that, baby, I won't be able to control myself much longer," he groans, placing wet, sloppy kisses against my skin.

"I want you to lose control."

He smirks against my chest and then raises his head, peering up at me through hooded eyes.

Someone knocks at the door, causing us to both pause.

"Soph, you still awake?" Jaylen shouts, tapping on the door again.

Kaleb growls in frustration and lifts himself off the bed, charging towards the door wearing only a pair of tight grey boxers that show his very evident boner.

He grabs the handle and yanks the door open, glowering at a shell-shocked Jaylen.

"Is someone dying?"

Jaylen glances at me with wide eyes, then back to Kaleb, and hesitantly shakes his head.

"Well, then fuck off and come back tomorrow. We're busy," he snaps, slamming the bedroom door shut.

I giggle as I watch him stride back over to the bed, clenching his fists and shaking his head as he mutters something under his breath.

"This is not a laughing matter, Sophia."

He climbs back into bed, watching me through narrowed eyes as I continue to laugh at him.

"Okay, that's it. We're going to sleep," he states, harshly slapping his pillow before he lays down and tugs me against him, wrapping his bulging arms around my shaking body as I try to get my laughter under control.

"Oh, come on, Kaleb, don't be like that," I tease, delicately tracing my fingers along his abs. "I was looking forward to seeing you lose control."

He keeps his eyes closed as he holds me against him. I dip my hand further between us until my fingers brush the band of his boxers. I feel his stomach clench against my palm and smile as his eyes peek open.