Page 29 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family

She studied me for a moment longer before shrugging.

“Then if you’re good, I’m good.”

I had no clue when I fell asleep, but I knew the exact moment he was near me.

Even before His lips brush my temple and the rough drag of his knuckles across my cheek, I felt him.

“Wake up, baby.”

My eyelids fluttered open to find Emir standing over me.

He looked so damn good, that lazy grin playing on his lips, his eyes intense as they took me in. I matched his smile, stretching before my eyes moved left, where Rachelle was curled up in the chair next to me, still knocked out.

I sat up, raking my fingers through my hair. “Sorry, we fell asleep. I hope that’s okay.”

Emir nodded, still watching me. “Yeah, it’s cool. Go ahead and wake her up, and I’ll get her a ride.”

I watched as he left the theater, moving with that effortless confidence that was just… him.

Sighing, I stretched again then nudged Rachelle’s arm.

“Rach.”

She groaned in response, sinking deeper into the chair.

“Hmmm…”

“Wake up.”

“No, I’m comfortable.”

I grinned. “I know, but Emir’s here and…”

Her eyes popped open, bouncing around as she sat up way too damn fast.

I almost laughed.

“Girl…”

“What?” she muttered, smoothing her braids.

“You look panicked.”

“I’m not. I just need to meet the man who has my friend losing her mind.”

“Come on, he’s getting you a ride.”

“Oh, I see what this is. Just tossing me out.”

“You can stay if you want. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “And hear my girl getting it in? No thank you. I like my porn impersonal.” She stretched, sitting up. “But then again, for what he paid for this house, it better be soundproof.”

I snorted. She motioned toward the empty wing cartons. “You want me to help clean this up?”

I shook my head. “No, I got it.”

We headed to the living room, where Emir was lounging lazily on the sofa, black jeans, black Henley with the sleeves pushed up, his signature chain circling his neck. It looked like he had a fresh cut too. Every damn time, this man just looked…

Sexy.

I bit my lip, taking my time looking at him as his eyes tracked me, moving leisurely over my body until Rachelle spoke.

“Well, hello to you too, baby daddy.”

Emir grinned and shifted his eyes to her. “What’s up? Rachelle, right?”

“Yep.”

“He’s not my baby daddy.”

Rachelle let her eyes bounce between us before smiling smugly.

“If he keeps looking at you like that, he will be.”

Emir grinned sexily. “Nah. Husband. Not baby daddy.”

My heart stumbled.

His voice was smooth and casual, like he hadn’t just dropped that he would be my potential husband and father of my children, when he clarified, adding, “If she has my child, she’s gonna have my last name.”

Rachelle blinked and smiled big as hell. “Well, shit. I guess I stand corrected. Okay, sir. Be a man about yours.”

I was amused but also thrown and craving attention to my pussy because his confession just had her very needy for him.

Emir just grinned and winked at me before pushing off the sofa. “Your ride’s here. Come on, we’ll walk you out.”

We all headed to the door. Emir stepped outside first, speaking to the driver, leaving Rachelle and me standing just inside.

She turned to me after cutting her eyes at him. “Girl, I get it now.”

I lifted a brow. “Get what?”

“That man is fine. Killer or not, I would be all in too.”

“It’s not just that.”

“That would be enough.” Her eyes discreetly shifted to Emir. “I see you, friend.”

He walked back over and stood beside me, placing a hand at the small of my back.

I turned to Rachelle and pulled her into a hug. “Call me when you get home.”

She laughed. “Nope, I’ll text. You might be busy.”

“Nice to meet you.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you mess with her, I will fuck you up. Trust and believe, you don’t want those problems.”

Emir chuckled and pulled me against his chest, resting his chin on top of my head.

“Nah. I don’t want those problems.”

“Good.” She turned back to me. “Be good.”

Emir’s grip on my waist tightened. “She can’t promise you that.”

My mouth dropped open, but Rachelle just laughed, as she walked toward the car.

Once she was gone, we headed back inside. Emir locked up, then I had all his attention. His eyes settled on me for a moment before he spoke.

“You told her, didn’t you?”

I froze for half a second. “Huh…?”

“You told her about me?”

I hesitated. “I… yeah. Is that okay?”

He studied me, then nodded. “That’s your girl. And I’d assume you wouldn’t have if you didn’t trust her.” He paused. “But what I do versus details of how I do it is very different. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t be specific. I won’t ever be.”

“Then we’re good.”

Before I could respond, he tugged me forward, gripping my waist and pressing me against him.

“Now, let’s be bad. I had a long day, and according to all your texts, you missed me.”

I smiled, looping my arms around his neck. “Maybe a little.”

He lifted me effortlessly with one arm under my thigh, the other pressed at my back.

I locked my legs around him.

“Just a little?”

I nodded and he smiled sexily. “Then I’m about to give you a lot so we can fix that.”

I laughed softly as he carried me toward his room, perfectly content with showing him just how much I had missed him.