Royce reaches over, sliding his hand into mine. “Baby, I promise everything will be fine.” He gives me a little squeeze.

“My family is close,” I tell him, trying to making sure he understands how important this is to me. I don’t want him to think I don’t want them to meet each other I just want this to be perfect.

We’re more than close. My family is everything to me. I actually think that’s part of the reason why I never went out and found—or wanted—a boyfriend. I had people close to me at home and didn’t think I needed it anywhere else. Plus, I always thought I’d never find someone as good as my dad. I wasn’t willing to settle. I saw how he treated my mom, and I thought that was rare. I didn’t think I would ever find a love like that. My mom’s strong-willed like I am, but he handles her, while letting her be who she is. I’m a leader like her, and most men are threatened by that. Royce seems to get off on it, though. It’s probably why I love him.

I freeze for a second, processing the thought that just popped into my head. I love him.

“Then I want to be close to them, too,” he says, breaking through my internal shock.

“I’m different with them,” I admit. “It’s not like the ‘work me’ most people see.”

“Baby,” he sighs. God, I love it when he calls me that. I used to think guys calling their women that was annoying. Maybe I was secretly missing something, because when Royce says it, I melt into a puddle. “I’ve spent a week worshiping your body and feeding you. I know there are two sides to you. I love them both.”

“You love them both,” I repeat, only really catching one word.

He grabs me, pulling me onto his lap and positioning me so I’m straddling him. He takes my mouth in a deep kiss that has me worked up in seconds.

“Loved you from the moment I saw you,” he tells me. He runs his hand up to my hair, pulling my ponytail. “I felt it that first time you took my hand.”

I’d felt it, too, but it scared me. “You make a different part of me come out. With you, I feel like I don’t have to have any walls. I can just be me,” I admit, because it’s true.

“I’m like a fucking king because you’re that way with me.” He rubs the back of my neck before pulling me to him and taking my mouth again. This time I deepen it, wanting to fall into him.

I pull him closer, but suddenly the car door is flying open.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God,” I hear Penelope say.

“Royce, this is my sister,” I mutter, pulling back from the kiss and blushing because I got caught making out.

“He’s hot,” Penelope says. I hear Ivan growl and look over to see him moving her behind his big body and away from us. “Not hotter than you.” She rolls her eyes. “Get out of the car,” she says, before yelling, “Mom, Pan is making out in the car!”