Page 198 of BounBound By Scars

I jumped back, caught red-handed.

Zarek stepped out, a small, satisfied smile playing on his face.

I narrowed my eyes and blurted out. “You’re married.”

From inside the room, Kabir howled with laughter.

Then suddenly stopped muttering a curse. His ribs.

God! What a moron.

Zarek blinked at me, startled. “Iknow. And about to be afather.”

He stepped forward, closing the distance until I had to take a step back. His smile softened.

“Thank you,” he said. “For giving me the time to talk to him.”

I nodded stiffly, still frowning.

“Heeeeer,” Kabir’s voice rang out like a dramatic song cue. “I’m hunnnnngryyyyyy!”

Zarek’s expression flattened instantly. “He’s hungry.”

“Iknow. And about to getlucky. So get gone!”

Zarek barked out a laugh and shook his head, already turning down the hall.

“God help you both,” he muttered.

I rolled my eyes, balanced the tray in one hand, and stepped into the room.

Kabir was grinning like a damn fool. Head slightly tilted, eyes on me like I hung the stars.

“Good talk?” I asked, setting the tray on the bedside table.

Kabir sobered, nodding once. “Yeah. Yeah, it was… overdue.”

Then he perked up, that smirk returning. “He’s all grown up now. Makes eye contact and everything.”

I bit back a laugh and sat down next to him.

The second I did, he pulled me into his side like a magnet—ribs be damned.

“Hey,” I protested, pressing lightly against his chest. “Your ribs.”

“If you say that one more time,maa qasam—” he narrowed his eyes dramatically. “I’ll lose it. I’mfine.”

I grunted in disagreement. “Mmmhmm.”

He squinted at me. “Is that why you haven’t let me jump your bones?”

A full-blown laugh escaped me. “Yep,” I said, popping the p just to annoy him.

He groaned. “Baby, I’m fine. But I’m fucking hungry… for you.”

“You’re also freshly back from the dead. So.” I shrugged. “Deal with it.”

He gave me a deadpan look. “You want me to beg, don’t you?”