He chuckled softly.“We’ll have our own apartment in the palace.But my family’s close.They eat together constantly—especially when my Aunt Tasha finds out my uncle has a free night.”He raised an eyebrow.“And the moment they hear about you…”
“No,” she snapped, adjusting in the chair and making Jayla grunt in protest.“I’llneversee them again.”
He ducked his head to hide his grin, then stroked Jayla’s soft curls.“Sweetheart, they’re good people.”
She leaned toward him, her voice a harsh whisper.“I’m wearing your underwear.”
Saif tilted his head.“Would it help if I told you my sister Angela was conceived five years before my dad even knew she existed?”
Jemma’s jaw dropped.“You’re lying.”
“Not even a little.Angela lived in Chicago with my mom until she was five.Dad spotted my mom walking down the street outside his hotel and did a double take.That’s how he found out.”
Jemma narrowed her eyes.“That can’t be true.”
“Oh, it gets better.My mom was working for a couple of con artists trying to sell my dad a fake building.”He grinned.“She helped him avoid the scam, and that’s how he got to know Angela.”
Jemma blinked.“And you?How much younger are you?”
“Angela’s six years older,” he said with a shrug.“And my Aunt Marianna’s husband once tried to buy her from my uncle as a peace offering after an international insult.So.You know.Normal family stuff.”
She gave a startled laugh.“No way.”
“Yep.Tiro still gets teased for that.”
Her mouth fell open.“Tiro?As inSheik Tiro el Maistri?The ruler of Ginisia?”
“That’s the one.Great guy.Also a giant pain in the ass.”
Jayla gave a little squawk, displeased with the tight grip Jemma had on her.Jemma quickly adjusted, murmuring an apology.
“Yeah, that helps,” she muttered.“But I think I’ll just… slip out without ever seeing any of them again.”
Saif laughed softly, sliding his hands along the outside of her thighs.“I can’t let you do that, love,” he murmured.“I don’t think I could live without you.”
He kissed her bare knee, his voice low and steady.“Now that I know the truth, there’s no chance in hell you’re kicking me out of your life.”He gave her a smug, sexy grin.“Besides, you’re going to be too busy fixing that mess of a company to stay embarrassed.And if there’s one thing my parents respect, it’s a profitable business that treats its employees well.”
He had her—and they both knew it.Jemma sighed, resigned.“Fine.”
She shifted slightly, glancing down at Jayla, who was finishing her late-afternoon meal.“But youaregoing to tell your parents you were joking about the handcuffs!”
Saif chuckled, shaking his head.“I’ve never lied to my parents, love.”He leaned in and kissed her gently before heading into his closet.“Besides,” he added over his shoulder, “my sister’s probably already texted the story to the entire family.Every one of my cousins will want to know if I know how to use them properly.”
He shot her a grin as she gasped, horrified.
“And for the record,” he said, smug and unrepentant, “yes—I do.”
Jemma swallowed hard, her body tingling despite herself.
Jayla let out a loud squawk, fed up with being ignored.Jemma hoisted her daughter to her shoulder, gently patting her back as she paced the room.
The only clothes she had were the ones she’d planned to wear to work this morning… and that thought kicked off a whole avalanche of others.Had Saif contacted the office?Told anyone she wouldn’t be coming in?
Too many questions, all of them distractions from the bigger issue: Saif’s family was downstairs, waiting to meet her.
And—
“Jasper!”she gasped, suddenly panicked.“Oh god, how is he coping down there?”
