“He loves his nieces—Saarah and little Eshal—and his one lone nephew, Gadiel. Although I hope Rory and I might provide another nephew for him to dote on soon.”
“Or niece,” Taina added.
“Indeed. Either are welcome. But Daidan’s always loved children. I’m surprised it’s taken him so long to have any.”
He glanced at Taina then, suddenly realizing what he’d just said. Taina tried to smile reassuringly but thought she’d probably failed judging by Sahmir’s look of discomfort.
“He’s just so black and white at home, in Finland.”
“He was always like that here. It’s only”—continued Sahmir—“really since the birth of Eshal that Daidan’s become less black and white about everything, less rigidly controlled. She’d charm anyone.”
She frowned. “The control masks a volatile temper. He hit someone once—it could have ended very badly.”
“Oh yes. Daidan’s always had a temper but he’s learned to control it as he’s got older. He certainly looks more chilled and happy than I’ve seen him in a long time.”
“What happened to make him so unhappy at home? To make him want to forge a life outside of Ma’in?”
“It was because of our parents—each had their favorite child. Unfortunately the rigid Daidan wasn’t pliant enough for our mother—unlike me. And he wasn’t the first born which made my grandparents raise Tariq with love and attention.”
“But how about the King, your father? Didn’t he have any room in his heart for Daidan?”
Sahmir frowned for a moment as he thought back. He shook his head. “No, I think my father only had time for Ensiyeh—our sister who died.” He bit his lip and turned and looked across at Rory who was soothing a small baby. “If we have a girl, we’ll name her after my sister.”
“It’s a beautiful name.”
He smiled and turned back to Taina. “No, Daidan was basically left to his own devices. When Daidan should have been out having fun and getting up to mischief, he was studying diligently to make a name for himself. Our father gave him a hard time. He also gave Tariq a hard time, but Tariq had our grandparents to protect him and lived most of the time out in the desert at Qusayr Zarqa—our desert castle—with them. But Daidan? He had to take care of himself and it toughened him up too quickly. It made him unforgiving.”
Taina nodded. She could see how Daidan had become the man she’d married. But his difficulty in forgiving didn’t bode well for her. Because if he ever discovered her secrets, she doubted he’d forgive anyone concerned.
Just at that moment Rory came over and sat down beside Sahmir, stretching out her back and pushing her very pregnant stomach forward. Sahmir rubbed it for her. “Is he kicking?”
Rory sighed. “God knows what she’s doing. Tap dancing I think.” She caught Taina’s eye. “Sahmir is convinced I’m carrying a boy and I just know it’s a girl.”
Taina felt a lump come to her throat as she tried to avoid looking at Rory’s pregnant stomach and she nodded, not confident her voice wouldn’t reveal the ache she was trying to hide.
“Ah, I’m kidding. I’m happy either way.”
“Of course you are,” said Rory as she kissed him. “Because you’re just a big softy. Even if you prefer others to think of you as some kind of alpha male.”
He gripped her hand and pulled her to him sharply and kissed her long and hard on the lips before releasing Rory flushed and breathless. “I’m alpha male where it counts, my darling, in our bedroom.”
Taina looked away—uncomfortable by their hot desire for each other—and caught Daidan’s eye who beckoned her over. She turned to Rory and Sahmir and excused herself, although she doubted they heard.
“Come, Taina, you’ll be interested to hear what’s happening to the lead singer of Saarah’s favorite pop group.”
Saarah didn’t need further encouragement.
Daidan drank his wine and continued to watch Taina. It was as if two years had rolled back, and he was watching the woman he’d fallen in love with. Gone was the distance between her and other people, gone were the defenses. Her smile was ready and physically she had no choice but to accept the advances of Tariq’s children, especially the youngest one, Eshal, who was exceptionally demonstrative in her affections.
Daidan laughed as Taina tried in vain to avoid eating a small chocolate that Eshal thought would be a great gift. Taina glanced at Daidan and grinned with a mouthful of chocolate. That grin curled into his stomach and nestled there.