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“Although what?” he questioned, following her out of the bathroom into the bedroom.

Eden pulled back the covers and yawned. “Although you let Peezy bait you tonight.”

Maximus removed the covers from his side and climbed his tired body underneath the covers. Eden followed, meeting him in the middle and throwing her leg over him.

“I didn’t let that nigga bait me. I used his ass as an example.

I don’t do that internet shit. Unless it’s finding you.

Saying I got papers on me is putting a target on my back from the set, and I’m not having it.

It’s a bullshit ass narrative flying around and when rumors grow legs, it costs niggas their lives.

I just started living, I’m not trying to get snuffed out.

Not trying to have no one pull me away from you yet.

” Maximus pulled her into him before asking, “What was the shit about the hallway? He say something crazy to you?

“It’s over,” Eden hummed, and caressed his chest. “Let it go.”

Maximus pulled away and peered down at her. “What he do to you, E?”

She bit her lip. “Nothing. Just grabbed me by my arm. I told him to get the fuck off of me and I came into the studio.”

“Eden,” Maximus groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What? What does it matter now, you beat his ass, it’s over.”

“I would’ve done more to that muhfucka had I known he put his hands on you,” Maximus roared, removing himself from the bed. “Why didn’t you say nothing?”

“There was nothing to say. You handled it. The man’s shoes are literally in the middle of the street, and his homies had to carry him home. And don’t yell at me.”

“Now I’m considering putting that bitch ass nigga on a stretcher.”

Eden rolled her eyes. “What’s that going to do but send you back to jail? I’m going to sleep in the guest room. In the morning, I’ll get a car and go back to my spot.”

“No, the fuck you aren’t,” he huffed, taking a beat to calm himself. “That ain’t necessary.”

“Neither is all of that huffing, puffing, and yelling at me. I didn’t tell you because I knew the outcome.

I don’t want that shit on my conscious if it goes left.

Like, if you take it too far and get convicted and go away from me for real.

It’s more than just what I feel in the moment, Max. There’s a bigger picture.”

He swiped a hand over his face, taking her words in. “I scare you?”

She shook her head. “Yeah, that thought of losing you when I just got you is scary. I watched Poppi do unimaginable shit to grown men. It just took me back to a place I thought I was over. But that’s not your fault. Those are my triggers to work through, I guess.”

“Get back in the bed,” he directed.

“You done yelling at me?” Eden retorted.

“I wasn’t yelling at you, baby. I just – I don’t like the idea of niggas touching you and I don’t know. I get you can handle your own, but I’m here.”

“I understand that Maximus,” Eden huffed, tired and wanting to be held so she could drift off to sleep. Reclaiming her space in the bed, she huffed again.

Maximus climbed back in, positioning her leg over his. “Tuck your foot back.”

“Say please,” she quipped, her little attitude threatening to turn his tired body on.

“Baby, please tuck your foot back where it was,” he grumbled.

Eden grunted as she did what was asked of her.

“My bad for yellin’,” he muttered.

“Don’t do it again. My momma did a whole lot of yelling and insulting me. I don’t like it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for her. She was a trash ass mother. Only Poppi knew the effects of what that did to us.”

“How’d you handle it then?”

“Poppi would always catch it and play music to calm my mind. She was into all the oldies. Miles Jones, Hayla Johnson, Mr. Hayes. After a Miles Jones record, being able to vent, get it off my mind, and some fresh air, I was as good as new. Now, a Trae Way MB record can do the trick, too.”

His chuckle was weighted. “You a fan now?”

“Mmhmm, probably the biggest. Listen, I know you’re going to have to do what you have to do, and I’m never going to stop you, I just ask that I don’t see it,” Eden shared.

“I can do that. But niggas might get it worse if I know you ain’t watching.”

“If you got to come off of your cool, I know they deserve it.” Eden kissed his chest. “Thank you. I haven’t been called a black bitch since my mother left us.”

“She called you that?”

“Religiously. I guess I looked too much like my daddy.” Eden shrugged. “When I say she was really a terrible mother, that’s putting it lightly. It’s a shock that Staysha and I are as intact as we are.”

“You had Poppi and each other.”

“Heavy on each other. For a long time, I swore it was going to be me and Staysha together forever as old maids. At least me.”

“You know them niggas was chasing behind you.”

“You, in fact, have been the only nigga to chase behind me. I had a boyfriend in college, but he was trash.”

“I got to thank that nigga for fumbling the bag.”

“I feel like you probably would have snatched me from him,” Eden laughed, then yawned.

Maximus pulled her into him more. “Without question. I would have looked that nigga in the eyes and pulled you. Then dared his ass to step.”

“To be so quiet to the world, you are really out of your mind,” Eden teased.

“Sometimes I am, sometimes I’m not. With you, I get peace. I don’t need to withdraw or be anything other than me. When I do pull back, you somehow know how to pull me center again. That shit has got to be divine.”

“I don’t know how I know, I just know.”

“And I like that shit,” he muttered. “How was your shoot?”

“It was really good, actually. Good vibes, good shots, good people. I’m excited for you to see the finished product.”

“You got something I can see now?”

“Uh uh, my leg is already over you, my foot is tucked under you, and I’m warm.”

Maximus rumbled with laughter and kissed her forehead. “I’ll wait.”

“Oh, the man has found his patience, ladies and gentlemen.”

“Not a lot, but enough to get by without you trying to run off. Go to sleep, baby.”

“Keep it up, I’m going to think you like me.”

“You better know that shit.”

Eden drifted off in his arms, and at some point through the night, they unraveled themselves from each other.

They were back-to-back, holding on to their respective pillows.

It wasn’t until she missed his warmth and his breathing in her ear that she rolled back over to find him.

The warmth of her touch coaxed him to roll over, still wrapped in sleep, Maximus pushed his hand between her thighs.

Her hands found his beard, and she sighed, finding the warmth she needed again.

What she wanted was to feel his skin on her.

Face to face, she softly kissed the bridge of his nose.

Eden nuzzled the tip of her nose against his, then kissed his lips – slowly, softly, and sensually.

The soft press of her lips on his face prompted his hand to rock against her bare mound.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” he muttered tiredly.

“So,” she hummed softly. “So are you. I just wanted warmth.”

Finding her honey pot, he gently massaged her bud. “You know what that kissin’ on me was going to do. Now look at us, up.”

Eden gasped softly into the pillow before resuming her soft series of kisses to his lips. “I just like your face.”

Maximus groaned. Her wetness and scent woke his body up.

Eden wasn’t in a rush to reach a climax; she only wanted to enjoy his touch, his kisses, and his warmth.

She kissed and nipped his lips while working her tiny hand into his boxers and running it over his growing hardness.

Up and down, she matched the pleasure he was offering her.

“Sit on your dick, honey,” he softly spoke shifting his weight and placing her atop him. “Ride it how you want.”

“Slow. Deep. I want you to feel how good you make me feel,” she uttered in a sharp gasp. Eden slowly eased her wetness around him, grinding and moaning.

He gripped her hips, slowly pumping upward inside of her wetness, and shuddered. “This shit.”

Eden pressed her hands against his chest, inhaling his intoxicating natural scent.

With every purposeful push and pull in and out of her depths, she felt herself slipping deeper and deeper into the depths of him.

She hadn’t known love from a man who was genuine, but she’d allow Maximus to give her the best lesson of her life.

Maximus sat up, pulled the t-shirt she wore off, and tossed up, capturing her lips and caressing her body as she slowly rode him. “I swear, baby, this here.”

“Is it good?” Eden asked, squeezing and releasing her walls around him.

Maximus shuttered. “Fuck yes.”

Her hands holding his face, she asked, “How good?”

He bit his lip and buzzed. “I’d take a nigga head off for this shit.”

Eden sank further down on his shaft and gripped his hair. “Uh uh. Don’t be a gangsta when you’re deep inside of me. Be real, baby.”

Maximus wrapped a hand around her throat, kissing and sucking it. “It ain’t just your pussy, honey baby. It’s you. All of you.”

She moaned.

“I can’t wrap my head around how you are the hardest being I know wrapped in the softest shell. Life presses you, and you stay grounded. I love that shit. You the calm to my storm. You feel a nigga before I can put the shit I'm feeling into words. You’re home, E.”

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, trailed down the side of her face, and she bit her trembling lip.

She prayed she would be able to keep the intrusive thoughts to herself.

Maximus did the same. His control was slipping away.

He kissed her cheek and flipped her over to her stomach.

Using his knee, he pushed her leg up and slowly inched back inside of her depths.

“M-max,” she moaned into the pillow, her hand reaching behind her.

He grabbed it, interlocked their fingers, and pressed it against her back.

“Say that again,” he growled.

“Maxxxiimmusss,” she cried out into the pillow beneath her.