Chapter 42 Tobias
Tobias
“You’re doing it, Tobias! You’re really doing it!” Elijah laughs. I kick as hard as I can, as my arms swing out beside me.
A wide grin spreads on my face. I really am doing it. My head stays above the water as I tread, feeling the excitement and pride fill inside of me.
Elijah shouts, clapping his hands excitedly in front of his face. “You got it, Tobias. Keep kicking! Keep kicking.”
I do as he says, paddling my feet hard until our hands connect. I feel his warm touch, as he threads his fingers through mine. “Hold onto me,” Elijah giggles.
“I am, I am.” I laugh, squeezing his fingers through mine.
I look over to see Elijah’s dad beaming, swimming over to us. A wide smile on his face as he throws me a thumbs up. “I knew you could do it, kid.”
I smile, wrapping my arm around his shoulder as he and Elijah both hold onto me. I throw my fist in the air whooping and hollering as we all splash in the warm summer sun.
Nothing but love fills my heart as I look at their happy faces beaming back at me.
The best summer with the best people.
***
The bright light makes me wince as my eyelids slowly flutter open. Once I adjust, I realize it’s the sun beaming through the soft linen drapes on the other side of the room.
I hear a faint beeping somewhere close.
My heart starts beating faster now as the last memories of where I just was flood in.
I survived the fall?
Where’s Derrick?
Where’s Elijah?
The beeping noise starts to get louder as it rings in my ears. I attempt to sit up but a piercing pain shoots through my chest, making me wince.
What?
Not only that, but I quickly realize my other arm is weighed down. My whole chest is heavy, stopping me from sitting up all the way.
Am I strapped in? Shit. Derrick still has me. He’s got me. He’s—
My hands lift to try and fight, but my fingers snag on a head of dark brown tousled hair.
I smell that familiar scent of warmth and cinnamon cookies during the holidays. My muscles immediately relax as I melt into him.
Elijah.
Love swims through me, warming my chest and relieving me of all the worry I had only seconds ago. I immediately bury my hand in his hair, snuggling him close.
He’s here.
I’m safe now.
He answers me with faint, little putters from his sleepy lips, and I can’t help but smile.
“You’re safe, sweetheart.” A smooth, kind voice says softly.
I turn my head to see an older woman with deep dimples and warm eyes, fiddling with some monitor leads to the right of me.
My hand lifts up to my face, and I realize an oxygen tube is under my nose.
“You’re in the hospital. You’ve been asleep for a while.
” She says, lightly squeezing my shoulder.
I try to scrounge up a smile, as the news settles in. My hand repeatedly strokes Elijah’s hair to try and calm myself down.
I see her eyes drift to my hand as she smiles gently.
“I’ve tried to get him to his own room a million times, but he refuses to leave your side.” She sighs deeply, resting her hands on her hips. “It’s the only thing that’s calmed him down so,” She gives me a wink when she sees me staring. “I told him it’s okay as long as he promises to get some rest.”
I nod slowly, struggling to keep my tears at bay.
“He’s been so worried about you. I tried to tell him you’ll be okay—” Her eyes flick up to mine and she stops herself the moment she sees my emotions coming through. “Oh dear. Are you in pain? I can—” She picks up another cord but I shake my head.
“No, no. I just…it’s a lot.” I swallow thickly.
She clasps her hands and tilts her head. “I can imagine.” Looking between me and Elijah sweetly, she nods her head. “How about I give you some time to wake up?” She smiles, walking to the door. “I’ll be back to check on you…in an hour...or two.” She winks, before quietly exiting the room.
My head falls back on the pillow as a heavy breath leaves my chest. I pinch the bridge of my nose as the weight of what happened crashes into me at once.
I comb my fingers through Elijah’s hair. The soft, familiar texture is soothing to me as I mentally sort through the recent events.
How did I get here?
I feel Elijah start to stir on my chest, and I quickly wipe the tears that have fallen on my cheeks.
He mumbles incoherently as he stirs awake, and I can’t help but brush his hair out of his eyes as he comes to.
His hooded, sleepy eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, it looks like he can’t believe what he’s seeing. Until it finally clicks and his mouth drops open.
“Angel!” He gasps, arms reaching out for me.
Despite the pain, I reach for him, pulling him onto my hospital bed.
He collapses on top of me, arms wrapping around my shoulders.
Elijah’s no small guy and I may be the weakest I’ve ever been, but I could care less.
I need to be close to him. I press him closer, trying to fuse us together.
All the love I feel for him, and the fear of almost losing him, outweighs any pain I could ever endure.
Without another word, he presses his lips to mine.
I swear it feels like he’s kissing life back into me.
My hands roam up his back, and it’s only when I feel his skin more easily than I should that I realize—he’s wearing…
a hospital gown? Filing that away as a question for later, I take the opportunity to lift his gown and mine, craving that sweet skin-to-skin contact.
A searing pain shoots through my ribs as I do it, making me hiss, but the moment Elijah tries to pull away, I hold him still. “Don’t you dare move.” I hum, kissing along his jaw and down his neck. My throat is dry and scratchy but I don’t care. I don’t want anything but him like this.
He sniffles, as he tilts his head, allowing me to plant kisses along the column of his throat. “I was so scared I lost you.” I feel his whole body tremble against mine. Knowing he’s crying makes my own tears fall again.
“I’m so sorry.” I squeeze his hips, pulling him close. He intertwines his legs with mine, our dicks sliding effortlessly along each other. I grab ahold of his jaw and rest my forehead against his. “I’m never leaving you.” I shake my head. “I will always, always come back to you.”
He grinds himself against me which makes my breath hitch. His lips part against mine as he rubs himself against me, sending tingles through my body.
He grabs the hair at the back of my neck, pulling me close with a tight grip. “Don’t ever ask me to leave you again.” He pants against my lips as his hips twinge towards me. His soft skin rubs against mine making my eyes flutter shut.
“Stay with me, E. Please. I need you to stay,” My voice wavers as he grinds against me.
Our heavy breathing turns to moans as our mouths crash against each other.
We claw and grip to get closer as he slides his body against mine, careful not to hurt me but forceful enough to make me feel everything.
Our dicks grow slick as our precum mixes.
I wish I could make this moment last longer, but it’s all so much and I’ve needed him so badly.
It’s not long before we’re both tumbling off the edge. My body stutters as my vision blurs. I feel the wetness explode all over my stomach. Elijah follows me quickly as his dick twitches and releases against my skin, making it easier to slip back and forth.
He doesn’t stop kissing me. His lips continue decorating my skin, and I feel every single one burning into my skin.
I hold him closely, in no rush to move. Just soaking up all the love he desperately wants to give me. I’ll take it all.
We lay there for a moment, catching our breaths as we just hold each other.
My hands leisurely pass up and down his back as he snuggles into my chest.
“Why are you in a hospital gown?” I sniff, rubbing my nose.
Elijah laughs softly, looking down and wiping up our mess with the inside of his gown. “I kind of…went into shock when I saw you fall.”
My stomach drops. “Jesus…Elijah, I’m so fucking sorry.” I shake my head. I remember now. The look he gave me from across the ice. How hopeless he would’ve felt seeing me slip through. I can’t even begin to imagine what I would’ve felt if the roles were reversed.
“Dude, you fell through the ice.” His eyes widen, making me burst out a light-hearted chuckle.
Another sting to my ribs makes me wince, stopping my outburst. “Ow, don’t make me laugh. It hurts. Why does it hurt?” I ask, rubbing my soreness.
Elijah runs his fingers softly over the sore area. “Bastard cracked a rib during your fight. They said it should heal fine on its own but you’re going to need some rest.” His eyebrows pinch together as his hand continues to rub.
Tilting my head, I lift his chin towards me. “What is it?”
Elijah’s mouth drops open and shut. I see a bunch of thoughts roaming through his head and I’m dying to hear them. But, I wait patiently. Clearly, I’ve got all day.
“T, that was really fucking scary. What if I wasn’t there to find you?”
Warmth spreads through my chest. “But you were.” I smile, drifting my hand down his face. “I knew you’d find me.”
Elijah snags my hand, squeezing it harshly. “Seriously, though. He had a gun. He could’ve really…” His eyes pinch shut as his breathing deepens. “He tried to take you away from me…” I can feel his body tense.
I sit up as best I can and wrap an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close. “Hey, hey. Everything’s okay. We’re okay.” I pull his hand to my chest. “You feel that?”
He lowers his forehead against mine and slowly nods.
“My heart is beating.” I take a big deep breath, moving his hand flat against my pec. “My lungs are taking in air.” I softly drift his hand up to my throat, to my lips. “I’m alive, E. I’m not going anywhere.” I kiss his fingers gently.
His breathing starts to level out as a small smile crosses his lips. “God. I don’t even think you wanna know what I felt when I thought you were gone.”