Page 76 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
She looked around before those pretty browns settled on me. “How do you know I didn’t want a guest room?”
I walked up on her, watching the way her body reacted before I even touched her.
“If you did.” I brushed my knuckles along her jaw. “It wouldn’t matter.”
I slid a hand around her waist and tugged her against me. “I want you in my bed.” I let that sink in, then added, “My house. My rules.”
She didn’t argue. Instead, she stared up at me with that cute ass grin in place. I clipped her chin between my fingers and tilted her face, pushing my tongue between her lips. She leaned into me with her fingers fisting my hoodie.
When I eased back, I ran my thumb over her bottom lip, smirking. “Change so we can head out.”
“Where are we going?”
“Dinner.”
She headed toward her bags. My eyes trailed after her for a second before I let her change because she was likely going to curse me the fuck out when she found out dinner was at my parents’ house.
The secondwe stepped inside my childhood home, the scent of garlic, herbs, and something grilled filled the air. Steaks were my father’s favorite so I’m sure that’s what we were having. Mymother never did anything halfway, especially when it came to family meals.
I barely had time to shut the door before she appeared from the kitchen with a big ass grin stretched across her face.
“Emir,” she greeted me first, but her focus was already on Baylyn.
Her eyes lit up while she moved with her arms wide open with excitement radiating off her like I had just granted her one and only wish.
In a way I probably had since I was the first of her sons to bring a woman home. We fucked around a lot but never with commitment in mind and she hated that shit.
“Oh my goodness.” She beamed, reaching for Baylyn’s hands. “You must be Baylyn.”
Baylyn blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly and a polite smile eased onto her face. She was so fucking cute with that shit.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s really nice to meet you.”
My mother scoffed, waving a hand. “No ‘ma’am’ nonsense. Call me Elena.”
Baylyn laughed. “Of course, Elena.”
My mother grinned wider, her eyes already scanning Baylyn like she was trying to gauge how serious this thing with us was. I bet she literally thought she could. Her eyes slowly made it to me and she smiled big as fuck again before she grabbed my girl’s hands.
“You’re so beautiful. I’m sure Emir thought he could keep you hidden from me? Not happening.”
Baylyn’s cheeks flushed and she glanced at me over her shoulder, her eyes were laced with amusement.
I shook my head. “Didn’t keep her hidden, Ma. Just brought her home when it made sense.”
Elena turned back to Baylyn, squeezing her hands. “Well, it makes perfect sense to me. Come, come.” She tugged Baylyntoward the kitchen. “You can keep me company while I finish up dinner.”
Baylyn threw me a look over her shoulder that read help me, but I just chuckled, watching as my mother dragged her away. I made a left to go find my brothers.
“Dad’s still in his office?” I asked after I turned toward the living room where Yair and Kades were lounging.
“Yeah,” Kades muttered, stretching his arms behind his head. “On a call. You know how he is.”
I walked into the room and my eyes moved toward the kitchen once more before I refocused on my brothers. I got situated and kicked it with them talking shit about a game that was on but my mind was distracted with other things.
I was trying to pay attention to Yair and Kades but every time I caught a glimpse of Baylyn in the kitchen, something in me tightened.
She looked comfortable.
