Knot me on ice, Captain(BL)-Chapter 161: Best Medicine

Kayden

Leo didn’t look up from the tablet, but he flicked his wrist to check the time.

My eyes drifted to the wall clock in the room. It was well past midnight.

"No food yet, Mother," Leo stated. "Water is fine for hydration for now. He can have a light meal in the morning once the anti-nausea meds from the neuro-drip have fully settled."

Rhys was already moving before Leo even finished his sentence. He crossed the room to the dispenser, filled a glass, and brought it back.

Rhoda, who sat at the edge of the bed, took it from him and carefully helped me lift my head just enough to sip.

The water was at room temperature, and I drank it all.

"Thank you," I managed to rasp out, leaning my head back against the pillow as Rhoda set the glass down.

"Alright," Leo said, finally tucking the tablet under his arm. "Mum, Gabriella—you both need to go. You’ve been here for hours, and you’re starting to look as exhausted as the patient. I’m not sure Langose City Hospital would like me to have another patient under my care."

Gabriella nodded in agreement. She leaned over and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. "Rest, Kayden. We will be back in the morning. Take care of yourself."

Rhoda stood up, following suit, and kissed my forehead. "Have a good rest, son," she said as she turned to leave, but stopped beside Rhys and gave his shoulder a firm, playful slap that nearly made him jump.

"I’m putting all my hope in you, son-in-law," she said with a wink.

My heart nearly stopped. "Son-in-law?" I croaked, my eyes widening as I looked from Rhoda to Rhys.

Rhys didn’t say a word, but I watched as a deep crimson flushed his neck and rushed up to his ears. He looked everywhere but at me, suddenly very interested in the hospital floor.

As soon as the door hissed shut behind them, the silence lasted for two seconds before Miller exploded.

"Sound the wedding bells!" Miller shouted, doubling over with a loud bark of laughter that echoed off the walls. "Son-in-law! Rhys, you didn’t tell me you’d already been sized for a tuxedo!" he teased. "We have a wedding to plan."

Even Leo let out a rare, genuine chuckle, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

Rhys groaned as he raised his head. I expected him to deny it, but instead, an embarrassed grin spread across his face as he joined in the laughter, his eyes finally meeting mine with an apologetic shrug.

I watched them and smiled, but it didn’t last long as I remembered what had happened at the building. "What happened to him and the rest of his gang?"

Miller’s grin faded, replaced by a sharp, satisfied look. He leaned forward, his eyes bright with the thrill of a battle won.

"There’s nothing official yet," Miller replied. "The police are still processing everything, and the league is in emergency meetings. But the real news is going to break tomorrow morning and I know for sure that they are done for. Another video was released that showed the reason why you attacked Julius, and now the public is on your side. The world saw exactly what he did to you at Westbridge."

He pulled out his phone and swiped through a few screens before turning it toward me. "You’re trending everywhere. Millions of tags, man. #JusticeForKayden is the top topic in the country. People aren’t just supporting you—they’re demanding Julius’s head on a platter which I think he deserved."

I looked at the blurred stream of hashtags and viral posts, my head spinning.

The world that hated me a few days ago was now on my side. It felt surreal seeing all the support. It was like a dream I hadn’t woken up from yet.

"It’s over for him, Kayden," Rhys said, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous tone he only used for people who crossed him. "He’s finished. And tomorrow, the whole world is going to watch how he will be publicly disgraced."

"So..." I coughed.

Rhys was by my side again, sitting at the edge of the bed. "Easy. Do you need water?" he asked, but I shook my head.

My mind finally latched onto the one thing that mattered more than the pain. "So... this means we won? We’re actually heading to the Finals?"

"Yes!" Rhys breathed, a genuine, triumphant light breaking through the exhaustion in his eyes.

"Wow!" I shouted, the victory surging through me like a shot of adrenaline. But the excitement was short-lived. The sudden expansion of my lungs sent a white-hot spike of agony through my left side.

I winced, my body doubling over instinctively as a sharp gasp caught in my throat.

"Calm down!" Rhys hissed, his hands flying out to steady my shoulders before I could twist any further. "Kayden, stop moving! You have a fractured rib and a bruised spleen. You scream like that again and you’re going to end up back in the ER."

Leo stepped up, checking the monitor one last time with a flat, unimpressed look. "He’s right. If you want to be on the ice in ten days, you need to stop acting like an idiot. You need rest. All of us do." He looked at Rhys. "I’m heading to the private wing to monitor something else. Press the emergency button by the bed if anything happens."

"I’m not leaving," Rhys said firmly, his gaze never leaving mine. "I’ll stay for the night with him."

"Exactly," Leo yawned, stretching his arms. "Whatever suits you. Just don’t let him jump out of bed again and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I’m heading out too, man," Miller added, giving me a supportive thumbs-up from the doorway. "I’ll be back later in the day with some real food if Leo clears it. Rest up, champ."

Both of them headed out, and as soon as they were gone, I looked up at Rhys, who was seated beside me on the bed.

My heart gave a slow, heavy thud against my ribs. I slowly raised my hand, ignoring the dull ache in my shoulder, and wrapped my arm around the back of his neck.

"Kayden, be careful," Rhys warned, his voice a low rumble as he tried to pull back slightly to protect my chest. "You’re injured, you need to—"

"I’ll be fine," I cut him off, my voice dropping into a whisper.

A surge of heat ran through me, nothing to do with the fever or the meds. I looked into his eyes and winked, pulling him down until his face was inches from mine. "Besides... you’re right here by my side. What could happen?"

Before he could respond, I closed the gap and pressed my lips against his. It was a short kiss, and when I pulled back slightly, I winked at him again.

"I missed you so much," I whispered, my hand sliding into his dark curls. "And honestly? I’ve been hiding how horny I am for way too long ever since I woke up. Being half-dead really puts things into perspective."

Rhys froze for a second, his face flushing a deep shade of red, but he didn’t pull away. He let out a shaky breath, his forehead still resting against mine.

"You’re unbelievable," he muttered, though his hand settled protectively on my waist. "You almost die, and the first thing you..." He trailed off with a soft chuckle.

"Best medicine there is," I teased, leaning in to kiss him again, this time moving my lips slowly against his.

I tilted my head slightly; he followed without hesitation.

The kiss slowed instead of deepening. Our lips moved together, parting just enough for a brief brush of tongues.

I ran my hand through his curls, holding him close as I felt the hitch in his breath against my mouth.

A soft sound escaped me, almost a moan, and Rhys responded by sliding his palm carefully down my collarbone, pressing lightly like he was memorizing the beat beneath my skin.

We broke apart just enough to breathe, our foreheads touching, noses brushing, his thumb drawing slow circles along the side of my neck.

"Still the best?" he whispered, his lips so close the words felt like part of the kiss.

I huffed a small laugh against his mouth, the sound vibrating between us. "Still the best. I love kissing you, Rhys."

"Me too," he confessed, and we kissed again.

But he pulled away, and I sighed in disappointment.

"Kayden," he rasped, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "If I continue, I might not be able to control myself. And if you pop a stitch or rupture something because I couldn’t keep my hands off you, Leo will kill me. Rhoda too. "

I chuckled and kissed his cheek before relaxing my head against the pillow. "Sleep beside me then."

"Sure. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here."