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What I failed to understand is that the right woman would take my burden and make it…lighter. She makes my life more beautiful and I’m not sure I could go back to the way it was before.

I will not lie to my brother. I gave up ground when I saved Honeyeh. I had a lot more room to spin or hit before I showed my cards to Dimitri, and I might have painted us into a corner.

But I don’t regret what I did yesterday. In fact, I think it might have been one of the most important moves of my life.

And now that I’ve got her here, it’s become clear that I’m not just letting her go.

I’ve moved her in. Moved her brother in, for fuck’s sake. Honeyeh is my future. And I’ll tell her all of this, after I deal with my brothers.

She’s next to me in the shower, showing me her back, her shoulders curled. I finish scrubbing and turn off my showerhead, stepping toward her as I grab her hip, my front coming up against her back. “Need any help?”

That relaxes her and her body melts into mine. “Have a moisturizer I could use?”

“Yes. In a few days we’ll have you all sorted.”

She looks back over her shoulder, her eyes filled with questions she doesn’t ask. I slide my hand over the curve of her hip, kissing her shoulder. I’m glad she doesn’t ask now. It’s a big help. Honeyeh has always been more than willing to follow my lead, which I appreciate.

I wrap my arm around her waist, squeezing her before I ease back. “You get ready. I’ll see if Darius has had anything to eat.”

“You don’t need to take care of my brother. You’ve got enough?—”

“I’ve got plenty of time and energy to check on your brother.” I skim my fingers down the curve of her spine, wanting to taste her.

“Thank you,” she looks at me over her shoulder, a small smile playing at her lips even if her eyes hold some hesitation.

I push her hair to the side, kissing the spot between her shoulder blades.

“I’ve got to finish if I’m going to be ready to greet them,” she murmurs.

I let out a long, rumbling protest. After what I just did to her in the closet, I know her body will need a rest. She’s new at this. But I can’t keep my hands off her. “They can wait.”

She shakes her head. “We don’t need to give them more reasons to dislike me.”

Shit. I can see how she’d be worried about that. “They’ll like you just fine, sweetheart. Don’t you worry about that.”

I feel the little twitch that moves through her. “What’s my role today?”

For a second my brow furrows.

“Am I your assistant? What will you tell them about Darius? Or should he stay in his room?”

My lips press together as I begin to understand her tension. “You are here as my guest.” I almost say more. Maybe I should. But she’s right, we don’t have a lot of time to really get into it.

She nods, appearing less pensive. I kiss her neck and then get out to find a moisturizer for her.

Once done, I shave, dress, and bring in her clothes, laying out an outfit for her. It’s a pale pink shirt dress in silk that belts at the waist. It’s classy, understated, flattering, and perfect for a Sunday.

I pair it with a pair of strappy sandals and then pull out a polo shirt and slacks for myself.

Heading out in the hall, I call to Darius. “You up?”

He pokes his head out of his room. “I’m up.”

“Eat anything?”

“No. Not yet.”

I wave him forward, and then start for the kitchen. I can see the yellowing of his skin, how thin he is, even for a teenage boy. “Let’s find something for you.”