“Stop reading my mind.”
His low chuckle rumbled through his chest.“I’m not reading your mind, Jemma,” he said, voice rich with affection.“You balled up your fist.You’re a little obvious.”
She scowled, pulling back to glare at him—but her eyes softened as she met his.He was studying her, not like a man trying to seduce, but one trying to understand.
“You don’t realize how much you give away when you’re vulnerable,” he murmured, his fingers tracing a lazy path down her spine.
“I’mnotvulnerable,” she shot back, frowning.
He only smiled.“You’re soft and sweet right now,” he murmured, his hand sliding lower to cradle the curve of her hip.“And I like it.I likeyou.All of it.The fire, the fight, the way you melt when I touch you, and how you hate that you do.”
She made an inelegant snort and shifted, propping her chin on his chest, trying to deflect the emotion tightening her throat.“You think you know me so well?”
“Well enough,” he replied, his lips twitching into a knowing smile.
“Okay, then,” she challenged, narrowing her eyes and smoothing her expression into something neutral.“What am I thinking now?”
He didn’t hesitate.His index finger traced a slow, gentle line along her cheekbone.
“You’re terrified I’m going to discover you’re still in love with me.”
Jemma froze, the air locking in her lungs.As soon as he said the words, her vision blurred.Tears burned behind her eyes, uninvited but unstoppable.
“And you’re terrified that I’ll leave you,” he added softly, shifting so he loomed over her again.His eyes searched hers, but there was no mockery there—only quiet certainty.
“Like so many other people have left you.”
He leaned in and kissed her, a tender brush of lips that undid her more than passion ever could.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, though her jaw tightened and her fists clenched in the sheets beneath them.Her voice trembled despite her efforts.
“You’re more than fine, Jemma,” he said, pulling her hands out from their hiding place, gently lacing his fingers through hers.“But your father left you.”
Her body went still, her chin lifting just a fraction.“He left,” she repeated flatly.“How do you know about my dad?”
“You mentioned him once,” Saif said, his voice quiet.“It was a long time ago.We were at that dive bar after a late meeting.I said my father was coming into town, and you told me you were taking your mom away for a spa weekend.”
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze when she tried to pull away.“You didn’t want to meet my dad.And I get it.”
“My mother had just started feeling sick,” Jemma said, her tone defensive but fragile.The memory sliced through her like glass.“It had nothing to do with your father.”
“And then your mother left you.”
Her head whipped around.“My motherpassed away,” she snapped, but her voice cracked, betraying the ache she still carried.Her chin trembled, and she bit down on her lower lip to stop it.“She didn’t leave us,” she insisted.
“She gave up,” he said gently.“She stopped fighting.Jasper told me.”
Jemma recoiled like he’d struck her.Her hands shoved at his chest, and he let her go without resistance.She stood, wrapping his shirt around herself, buttoning it with shaking fingers as her vulnerability screamed through every movement.
“How did he find out?”she whispered.But the question broke halfway out of her mouth, a sob curled into the sound.Her shoulders hunched inward, trying to fold the pain back into herself.
“I don’t know,” Saif said, rising and following her.He didn’t press, just pulled her into his arms again, his embrace solid and grounding.“And then I left you.”
“I pushed you away,” she murmured, hiding her face against his chest, the texture of his skin warm and familiar under her cheek.She should pull back, should end this before it got any harder.But instead, her arms moved of their own accord, wrapping around his waist, holding on like she was drowning.
“I let you push me,” he countered, his voice gravel-thick with guilt.“I should have fought harder.I should have stayed.I should have made you tell me what was going on.”He lowered his head, speaking directly into her ear.“I shouldn’t have left you.”
Her body began to tremble, and he felt the first, sharp hitch of breath before the sob broke free.
