Page 55 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)
Chapter Fifty-Five
Sophia
" B aby, I know you're probably exhausted, but can you please wake up so I can see those gorgeous eyes of yours and assure my racing mind that you're actually okay."
My eyes shoot open as I gasp in surprise at the voice that's woken me from my sleep and when I see Kaleb peering down at me a strangled sound escapes my mouth and tears instantly food my eyes.
"There she is," he says, smiling down at me as his hand brushes against my cheek. I wrap my arms around him, squeezing him against me as I sigh in relief that he's awake.
"Thank God, you're awake," I whisper, clinging onto him as tears leak from my eyes, seeping into the hospital gown that he's wearing.
"Did you really think I'd leave you, dolcezza ?"
I sob into his chest and he holds me tighter, stroking his hand through my tangled hair.
"I was so scared. Seeing you like that was terrifying and then when Jaylen fell… Honestly, Kaleb, I was so fucking worried for both of you." I pause, to wipe the tears from my face, pulling away from his chest to see his smiling face. "I didn't think either of you were going to wake up."
A crease forms between his brows, and he cups my face in his hands, pulling our heads close together until our foreheads touch.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you whilst you were going through all of this pain, baby. I promise you, I'm okay, and I can guarantee that Jaylen will be, too."
"You can't guarantee that," I whisper, sniffling as he presses a kiss to my forehead.
"Yes, I can. He'll be back to annoying us both in no time, trust me."
I melt into him, soaking up all his warmth and basking in the moment of peace after days of chaos.
His hands stroke the length of my back as he nuzzles his head against mine, breathing deeply and sighing.
"I can't wait to be out of this hospital and back in our bed at home."
"Kaleb, I don't think you're leaving any time soon. You've only just woken up and you're still injured. They probably need to run tests on you," I tell him.
"Baby, I've been awake for hours. Doctors have already been here to check on me and ask me a bunch of questions. They asked to do some tests, but I was too busy cuddling with you, so obviously I told them to fuck off. I also told them that I want to be released today."
I pull away from him, shaking my head.
"No. You were in a really bad accident, Kaleb. You were unconscious for days and were on the brink of death when you arrived here. You're not leaving today."
"Well, actually, I am. I threatened them until they agreed to release me, and I suppose it helped that Jericho assured them I'd allow regular visits at home."
"Where is Jericho?" I ask, glancing around the room.
"He left already. He told me about Jaylen, informed me of the divorce, and then said that he was leaving to go pack and that he was going to head over to Dominic's house before leaving the city."
"He's leaving already? Just like that?"
He nods, shrugging.
"He would've left days ago if the accident didn't happen. The only reason he stayed was to look after you, dolcezza , and to make sure that I woke up." I frown and he strokes my face, brushing my hair out of the way. "It's what he needs, Soph. He needs to find himself and leave this world behind for a while. He'll be back, though, sooner or later."
"I know, it's just, I don't know. I guess I kind of wish I got to say goodbye to him."
"Jericho doesn't really do goodbyes," he says.
Hours later, after I finally managed to convince Kaleb to allow the doctors to run some tests on him and do a proper check-up whilst I was visiting Jaylen's room, we're climbing out of Charlie's car outside of Jericho's house.
"So, what do we do now that Jericho's left? Do we continue to stay here?" I ask, offering my arm to help him up the steps.
"He said we can stay here. He even offered to sell it to me," he says, chuckling as he climbs the steps by himself. "I told him we'd look after the place until he's back and then we'll move out and get our own place."
I follow him up the steps and into the foyer, scoffing.
"Who said I'd want to live with you? Now that I'm no longer married to Jericho, I could move back to my parent's house."
He raises a brow at me and smirks.
"Baby, you know if you tried to leave, I'd lock you up inside this house like that old hag did with Rapunzel."
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what again?" he asks, walking towards the left staircase.
"Making things sound cute but creepy at the same time."
"You love it."
"Yeah, maybe I do," I mumble, following closely behind him as he slowly climbs the stairs, grunting and groaning with each step.
When we finally reach the top, I lift his arm, draping it over my shoulder, and then carefully guide him towards my room.
"Finally," he sighs, walking over to my bed and dropping down on it, his head sinking into the pillow. "Come join me, dolcezza ."
I giggle at him as I slide my clothes off and walk over to my wardrobe to get some pyjamas.
"You need to take your shoes off first, Kaleb, and I'm jumping in the shower as well. I need to wash all that hospital grime off of me."
He sits up, a cheeky smile spreading across his face as he kicks his shoes off.
"Let's go shower then."
"You can't get your bandages wet," I remind him.
"Fuck the bandages. I wanna see my girl wet and naked."
"I'm not having sex with you whilst you're injured," I tell him, walking towards the bathroom.
He pouts at me and lies back down on the bed, huffing like a petulant child.
"I guess I'll wait for you to get out of the shower then."
When I walk out of the bathroom, clad in a matching set of silky, purple pyjamas, I see Kaleb passed out on the bed, softly snoring.
I smile as I watch him for a few moments, my eyes scanning his chiselled face and bare chest peeking out from beneath the duvet.
My heart swells in my chest and I walk around the bed, carefully climbing beneath the covers and sliding over so that my legs are touching his.
As I lay my bed on my pillow, Kaleb reaches his arm out and pulls me into his chest, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"You took forever," he mutters, sliding his arm underneath my neck as his other arm wraps around my waist.
"I was only in there for ten minutes, Kaleb."
"It was too long. I don't like being away from you."
"Honestly, neither do I," I tell him, rubbing my hands along the corded muscles on his back and kissing the tattoos on his chest before resting my head on his arm.
"Now that you're no longer married to my brother, can we start planning our wedding?"
I scoff and shake my head.
"I'm not getting married again any time soon."
"That's okay, I can cope with that, but just know that when we do get married, I'll be taking your name."
I draw back, peering up at him in the darkness of my room.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I know Rossi is my mother's name, and my father took it because it was more powerful than his, but he ruined it for me. Think he tarnished it for both of us. I'd like us to be the King's instead. Kaleb and Sophia King. See, it sounds good, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it actually does," I whisper, smiling at his rambling words.
He squeezes me against him, nuzzling his head into my neck and lightly kissing my skin.
"I've remembered more of that night, you know?"
I hum in response, too distracted by his soft kisses to give him a verbal reply.
"I remember you telling me that I made you fall in love with me," he says, tangling his hand into my hair and massaging my scalp as he continues to assault my neck with kisses. "Did you mean it?"
"Of course I meant it," I tell him, softly. "I felt something between us the first night we spent together, and once I realised that I was married to your brother, I tried to bury all of my feelings, but thankfully, you were very persistent and after a while, I couldn't stop myself from feeling things for you."
"When did you realise you loved me?"
"Probably a while ago, the night of the accident cemented it for me. The thought of not having you in my life was terrifying and the fear, the concern, and every other emotion swarming my body that night made me realise that I was in love with you."
"I knew I'd get you to fall for me eventually, dolcezza ."