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fifty-two

. . .

“It feels so good to be back home,” Daysha crooned as the trio sat on the back of the pickup truck.

Eden and Staysha proudly sported apparel from Maximus’ clothing line that hadn’t launched yet.

Eden was in a custom-stitched Trae Way baseball jersey, black shorts, and heels, proudly sporting her curvy body and happily concealing the pudginess of her midsection.

They were parked outside of Big Rod’s between sets.

Olivia and her team of people were busy at work, setting up cameras and drones for the next shot.

Maximus’ and Lucci’s crew were gathered in the middle of the street, smoking and laughing amongst themselves.

Security was heavy, ensuring that nothing would pop off.

Neither Maximus nor Lucci felt like getting active because some young nigga in the set was looking to make a name for himself.

Between Brody and Charlie, the entire Trae Way was put on notice.

Either you were coming out to support and show the world that Trae Way could unite, or you were moving out of the way.

“I could’ve sworn you were from Cashmere Lakes,” Staysha replied.

“I am, but I made it over to Big Rod’s with my cousins from time to time when I was coming up.

The fact that I didn’t give my daddy a heart attack early on should be studied,” Daysha shared with a slight smile on her face.

“Speaking of which, we’re having a family dinner at their house tomorrow night before we head back to LO.

I told Jules to tell MB, but you know how they get when they’re together. ”

“Look at them,” Eden nodded her head over to the huddle of men.

Men that society deemed menaces. Gang members.

Tattooed, stories of their time in the streets etched over their melanated skin.

Men that loved their families with their entire being.

Men that were raised by a code but somehow found themselves in position to show the world what it was to defy all the odds.

That placed pride in Eden’s being. Yes, she’d pulled herself out of the trenches too, but that man she had renewed her hope in her purpose daily.

Maximus was her proof that her living isn’t in vain.

Every second she witnessed him defying the odds, she found herself pushing harder and not settling for the scrapes someone gave her.

No, she wasn’t that woman she was before their worlds collided.

Eden continued, “I’m happy he found someone in this industry with their head on right.”

Daysha laughed. “Girl, you talking about my husband having his head on straight? His head is straight because I’m his neck. Lucci will clear this whole block out if he’s having an off day. It’s got to be the Leo in him.”

Eden chuckled. “That Cancer man gets real quiet, and before you know it, everything has disappeared. But seriously, they’re probably only stable because of us. Ain’t that some type of power.”

“It’s either a superpower or it could be used for some evil shit,” Staysha shared.

Daysha pointed her manicured finger in her direction. “Having that type of control over someone’s being is the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried. You feel everything.”

“I thought I was tripping,” Eden hummed. “I felt everything even before he was mine for real. Now that he is, I feel whatever it is before he says it.”

“It’s the most beautiful, most scariest thing I ever carried before. To be someone’s medicine and to take care of yourself and your family, too. That type of soul tie you can’t run away from. Those men will hunt us to the ends of the earth.”

Eden smirked. “That I’m okay with. If he ain’t stalking me, I don’t think he likes me. Only him, though.”

“Heard that,” Staysha chuckled, peeping Sydette before Eden could. “I’ll be right back.”

Eden looked over at Staysha and then in the direction that held her attention. “No, sit here. I’ll be right back.”

Before Staysha could stop Eden, she had already landed on her feet and was in full stride toward Sydette.

Sydette had her eyes locked and loaded on Maximus.

As she tried to penetrate their huddle, Eden grabbed her by the back of the collar and yanked her back.

That motion alerted Brody, who ran over but was halted when Eden held her hand up and said.

“I got this.”

Brody held his hands up and conceded, but he didn’t move. “Aight, E.”

“I thought I told you to keep your ass away from my man? I'm pretty sure that’s the conversation we had.”

“Bitch,” Sydette hissed, trying to get out of Eden’s hold.

“Eden,” Maximus’ voice held a warning tone.

Staysha and Daysha rushed over.

“I can’t fight, but I can shoot from the sidelines,” Daysha called out.

Julius grumbled toward his wife, “Bring your ass over here.”

“Get off me,” Sydette huffed.

Eden let her go but mushed her in the face. “I told your ass to stay away from him. The fuck you here for?”

“They hired me to be the main lady,” Sydette said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as if that were going to make Eden do anything other than slap the shit out of her, erasing that smug smile off of her face.

That’s exactly what Eden did – slapped her so hard her head spun around, and she lost her footing.

Sydette reached out to claw at Eden’s face, only lending herself to Eden’s fist. Eden got off a series of hits before Maximus and Brody rushed over to separate the two.

Maximus wrapped her up in his arms and walked her backward.

His amusement with Eden standing on business couldn’t be outweighed by the fact that she was putting herself and their seed in danger.

“No, let me pop her head off,” Eden huffed, trying to get out of his hold.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Maximus asked with a grit, glaring down at her. He’d come out of his sling today for the shoot, not to wrap his lady up.

“I told her ass to stay away,” Eden huffed.

“You forget you’re pregnant and can’t be popping off on these bitches? Don’t nobody give a fuck about that girl. What is Brody here for if you’re going to do his job for him?”

Eden rolled her eyes. Her little attitude was fueled by hormones and the lack of regulation. “He can’t smack her. I can.”

“E,” he grunted her name and gripped her chin. “Cool your ass out. Right now.”

With furrowed brows, she looked up into his handsome face and huffed. An eye roll and her arms folded over her chest. “Fine.”

“How can 3Ways, EWG, and Azul Hearts be in one spot, cool as a fan, and you popping off?” he posed.

“Because I told that hoe to stay away from you,” she mumbled.

Maximus chuckled. “I got something for you, the minute this is over. Let Brody handle it. Staysha will talk to the agency, and you’re going to sit your pretty ass in my car and get ready for this final shot.”

“And then what?”

“I’m taking you home to fuck that attitude out of you. Act like you Poppi’s girl and not one of these bitches.”

“Poppi would be breaking every bone in her hand for being disrespectful,” Eden grumbled. That comment earned her a look. “Fine.”

“You know these cops looking for any reason to shut this shit down. Don’t give them a reason to cart my ass to jail.”

“Fine,” Eden whined. “It’s this baby, it’s bringing out suppressed anger and shit.”

“Well, we gon’ have to figure some shit out because you can’t be running around hauling off and slapping people. You too good for that. Heard me?”

“I hear you.”

“You sure?” he posed.

Eden nodded. “I hear you, baby. I swear.”

“Good. Got Daysha’s pregnant ass running to fight and Staysha right behind you. Go sit your ass down, would you?”

“I’m in trouble?”

“You are and you know it. Bring your ass on. Too damn fine to be fighting,” he grumbled, roughly kissing her face and then leading her to where Olivia was prepping for the final shot of the day.

Brody and Staysha had successfully gotten Sydette to leave the set, and Daysha was seated in the other car. She caught Eden’s eyes and snickered.

“That was a good slap,” she whispered in Eden’s direction. “And the punches to add to it. Whew. Chef’s kiss.”

Eden smirked and whispered back. “I’ll do it again.”

“My girl.” Daysha punctuated her comment with a wink.

Eden snickered to herself and relaxed in the seat. Back focused on the task at hand – supporting her man. Almost an hour later, with necessary tweaks to the video, Olivia called it a wrap, and each party parted ways.

At home, Eden removed herself from her heels and stepped into the shower. Right behind her was Maximus with a devilish smirk on his face.

“I find it amazing that you movin’ around like you almost didn’t incite a riot today,” Maximus grumbled, connecting their bodies to share the stream of hot rushing water from her side.

“I didn’t almost incite a riot,” she refuted gingerly, letting her shower cap-covered head rest against his chest. “I slapped a bitch. Considering you’ve slapped your share of people, I felt like it was justified.”

Maximus rumbled in laughter. “I’m not going to lie – outside of the fact that your ass is pregnant – that was sexy as hell.”

“Oh, but a few hours ago I was put in time out,” Eden grumbled, turning around to rub her hands over his stitches. “Does it hurt?”

“That Azul Kush, I don’t feel shit. Whatever strand this is, I need to get it in the shop,” Maximus matched her grumbling and craned his neck to meet her lips. “You know you gon’ have to let me back in that skin.”

Eden giggled at his hands palming her ass. “You’ve been trying to get in my skin since you took that bullet.”

“You wasn’t givin’ me nothing.”

“A bullet ripped through your axillary artery. I thought if I touched you wrong, bounced too hard, or anything, I was going to hurt you. I already feel bad as it is.”

Between kisses, he rumbled. “Why you feel bad? This ain’t your fault. Kiss me back, dammit.”

“I can’t shower?”

“Uh uh I got that,” he groaned, nipping her lip, barely putting space between them. Grabbing her loofah and special body wash, he balanced his attention between the water cascading over her and the right amount of silky body wash on her loofah. “You’re going to look good as fuck pregnant.”

“You think so?”

“Know so.” His words were tender. As he washed her body, he spoke life into her. As strong as Eden was to carry him and everything else on her shoulders with such grace, she needed to know that she was protected. “Let me ask you something.”

“Anything.” Eden picked up his loofah and reciprocated his actions.

“You know, you got this thing about you. You strong as fuck and it’s so fuckin’ graceful. Like, you being beautiful is one thing. Your spirit being as amazing as it is and to wrap that shit all in grace? And walk around here humble as shit. I swear I’m going to keep you.”

Eden let a soft smile pierce her cheeks. “How I get the coldest in the game to be soft for me? I’ll let you keep me. Don’t get comfortable.”

“Mm mm. Never that. I’m going to be comfortable inside that skin, though. Let me back in.”

Comfortable, he was sitting on the ottoman with Eden’s soft, oiled body wrapped around him. With caution, she rocked her wetness up and down his length, softly rubbing his shoulders while he suckled her breasts.

“Mmm, I fuckin’ missed you,” he whined as Eden purposely rode him. “That shit can heal me.”

“It’s your garden, baby. Whatever you need, I got it.”

Maximus held her tighter and looked up into her eyes. Eden didn’t need to utter the words because everything about the way she looked at him, gripped him, and inhaled his scent said it. “Forever, E. I’m going to love you forever.”

They shared this moment, no rush to the end, merely reconnecting. Slow grinds, sensual kisses, and tender body rubs were what they both needed to reset their nervous systems. In bed, Eden softly massaged his shoulder. “You’re going to have to keep massaging this when you’re away from me.”

He groaned. “I considered letting you come out for a couple of stops.”

“You sure? I remember you telling me you were going to fuck my attitude away. All them women throwing pussy at you is going to have my attitude on a million.”

Maximus chuckled against her bare skin. “Yours is enough.”

“It better be enough.”

“I won’t have that Trae Way come out of you again. I ain’t putting you, my baby, or myself in that situation. Shit is disrespectful.”

“You know just what to say, don’t you?” Eden groaned as her yoni began to strum a tune he knew.

Maximus repositioned himself to slide his fingers over her folds. “Mmhmm. Come here, legs up.”

Eden couldn’t lift her legs up high enough before Maximus’ face was planted in her center.

“Mm, Max Baby,” she hummed, holding her breasts.

Maximus grumbled. “Sanctuary.”

He kissed, sucked, and tasted her with vigor. Enjoying each other’s bodies and the pleasure they could induce went on well into the morning. Until his warmth was replaced by a coolness that pulled her from her sleep.