Page 47 of At the Sheikh's Pleasure

“Ha!”Zaire laughed.“If we have nannies, then why doyoualso get up?”

She shrugged.“Because he is my son, and I can’t stop myself.”

“Then, my love,” he said, kissing her hand once more, “we are as bad as each other.”

“And as good,” she said, leaning into his shoulder.

“Yes, that is true.We are definitely good together.All of us.”

All of us.Zaire’s words lingered in her head.All of us.Herfamily.Yes, definitely good, Rosana thought gratefully.

“So, tell me what I’m thinking now?”she asked.He followed her gaze as she looked around the intimate scene to the others assembled there.

Leonora and Janey sat close together, talking in a low tone, while Amare had his feet up on a coffee table and eyes firmly closed.As he’d spent most of the day entertaining his demanding daughter, Rosana guessed he deserved his sleep.Darrius was flicking through his phone, frown lowered, no doubt working and thinking about Sifra’s growing economy.He worked hard alongside Zaire on matters of state, happy to have abdicated the crown in favor of his brother, Zaire, because it had given him a life with Leonora, which he’d always wanted.

Then there was Rosana’s brother, seated on the terrace wall, his gaze resting on the blue mountains which marked the boundary between Sifra and the Kingdom of Harran.A reconciliation with her brother had meant everything to her, but it had only been effected by the sudden death of her father in a riding accident.It seemed the lively Arab stallion hadn’t appreciated either her father’s royal status or his bullying nature and had tossed him off three months earlier, killing him instantly.

She was sad that the possibility of reconciliation, or, at least, of gaining any understanding of why he’d treated her like he had, had gone forever.But she couldn’t mourn his loss after how he’d made her suffer.She also couldn’t mourn his loss when it meant she now had a relationship with her brother, which had been severed when she’d been forced to leave home.

Last, Rosana let her gaze rest on Zaire.

“Can you guess my thoughts?”she asked.

He shrugged.“Truly?No.But Idoknow that we are both of the same mind when it comes to one important thing.”

She raised her eyebrow, wondering if he was going to give the correct answer.

“Family,” he said.“Greater riches than diamonds.”

She grinned and nodded slowly, looking around them all once more.

“Indeed.Family.They are more important than I ever knew, and now I have them I feel I could cope with anything which comes my way.”

“You’re connected to people who love and respect you,” he breathed.“And always will be.It’s that connection which makes you strong.”

Rosana swallowed and blinked back the tears which now sprung as easily as laughter, since she’d allowed emotion into her heart.

“Makes usbothstrong,” she said.She looked up at him, at his strong face, sexy eyes and warm smile.“I love you, Zaire.Let’s go to bed.”

His eyes flashed with understanding, and then he kissed her tenderly on the lips.

“It would be my pleasure.”