The Professor

Chapter Twenty-Nine | Soulmates

I throw my arms around his neck and sob into his hospital gown, overcome with emotion. His huge hands encase my entire back as he squeezes me to him, desperately trying to soothe my cries.

"You were dead," I tell him. "I watched you die."

He pulls back to remove pieces of hair from my wet cheeks. "But I came back. I'll always come back to you."

I gently caress his jawline, making sure this isn't some dream.

"I've never been so scared in my entire life, James," I admit, gliding my fingers along his roughened stubble.

"I know, baby. Me too."

He tries to shift his position but winces upon doing so.

"Ahh, fuck!"

"You were stabbed," I inform.

"Yeah. Clarissa, right?" He shakes his head. "What a turn of events."

"I'd argue it's more than just a turn of events," I say. "It was fucking traumatic!"

He smiles. "Well, what was I supposed to do? It was either you or me and I'd die a thousand times for you."

I press my lips to his in a gentle exchange I hope doesn't cause him too much physical pain. It's full of passion and heat, and I love that we're desperate in a way that undeniably expresses our love for one another.

"NICOLE!"

"Umm—babe—maybe don't shout my sister's name when we're kissing?"

I throw him my filthiest look.

"She needs to know you're awake. I promised I'd call if anything happened."

"Where is she? Where's Freddie?"

"They're getting you some clothes."

He looks down at his hospital gown, suspicious.

"It was an excuse to get Nicole some place comfortable to eat."

Realisation dawns on him and he nods, agreeing with our tactics.

"I'll call her."

As I locate her contact details, James pulls me into his chest and proceeds to litter my forehead with kisses. He's physically incapable of letting me go and I certainly don't put up a fight. After everything that's happened, I never want to let him out of my sight ever again.

"Sloan?" Nicole sounds panicked. "What's happened? Is he okay?"

I can hear Freddie fussing in the background and his concern brings a smile to my face.

"I have someone here who wants to say hi."

James clears his throat before speaking. "Hey, trouble."

Nicole gasps, followed by a string of what I assume is a string of incoherent curse words.

"What, what, what?" asks Freddie, muffled in the background.

I've no doubt Nic's reaction is hard to read. Words are no longer an option, and, in the end, she resorts to shoving him the phone.

"Sloan? Is he okay? Fuck! Tell me he's okay."

"Didn't know you cared so much," teases James, laughing at his older brother's expense.

There's a moment of silence as Freddie no doubt processes who just spoke.

"Mate, is that you?"

He laughs. "Yeah!"

"Oh my God! NIC! HE'S AWAKE!"

"I know, you fucking idiot!"

We're subject to severe muffling as Freddie switches the settings to speaker.