Page 1 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)

The usual subtle kiss on the jaw greeted me before I had the chance to finish my morning cup of coffee. Years later, that same kiss is just as impactful today as it had been since day one.

“Good morning, baby,” Kreed greeted me as he stepped around the table and took a seat across from me. Kreed had his locs pulled up into a sloppy bun at the top of his head; he was bare-chested, only sporting a pair of black pajama pants.

Peering at him over the rim of the coffee mug, I smiled with my eyes.

These interactions with the man who owned my heart were my favorites.

You know, the ones where it was just the two of us getting to spend a few minutes of uninterrupted time together.

The moments where we got to be Masai and Kreed, opposed to mom and dad were ones I cherished.

Placing the mug down on the table, I circled the rim of it while beaming at my husband. “Good morning…” I smiled. “I hope you slept good last night.”

“The best,” Kreed avowed and proceeded to extend his arms above his head into a stretch. “What you got planned for the day?”

“Maddie Claire asked if she and I could spend some alone time today. I’m thinking she and I can go for manis and pedis while the rest of the kiddos stay here with you.” I winked.

“That would work…” He paused a beat before adding, “But I promised Jordan that I would come work out with him this morning.”

“Okay. I’ll take them to my mom’s.”

“Or see if she can come over here and watch them until I’m done. I’m sure I won’t be gone long. Besides, I promised Charleigh Anne that I would help set up her Twitch account.”

“God…” I groaned. “That girl and her social media platforms.”

“It’s harmless, Sai.” He tried to reassure me, but I wasn’t falling for it. There was something unsettling about my eight-year-old wanting to be a streamer. Given her father’s high profile, I didn’t want to risk it. My husband, on the other hand, didn’t see it as an issue in the foreseeable future.

“If you say so…”

Kreed knew how I felt about my kids being on social media, so to avoid the repetitive argument, he changed the subject. “Other than the nail spa, what else are you planning on doing with Maddie Claire?”

“We might stop by Lenox.”

“Meaning the two of you are about to hit me in the pockets.” He laughed. Reaching into the pocket of his pants, he pulled out his wallet. “Have at it.” He slid his AMEX over to me.

“Thank youuuu!” I sang playfully. “So… I was thinking…”

Shaking his head, Kreed asked, “How much is it going to cost me?”

“ Ummm… A couple of thousand.”

“Couple thousand,” he repeated. “Aight. Let me hear it.”

“Okay.” I perked up. “You, me, and the white sands of Bora Bora!”

“When?”

“Next month. I want to try and get one more vacation in before training camp starts. We can make it a couple’s trip if Jream’s ass can get off from the hospital.”

“Her and Jrue prolly won’t make it. I’ll hit Deuce up and see what he talking ’bout.”

I smirked. “Thank you, husband.”

“Cut the bullshit.” He jested. “Yo’ ass knew I wasn’t going to say no.”

“Maybe.” I winked. “I was, however, prepared to argument a good reason you should say ‘yes’ in case you didn’t.”

“How good?” he asked and ran his tongue across his top lip.

Untying my robe, I pulled it open and leaned back in my chair.

After I’d gotten out of the shower this morning, I moisturized my body with my Cocoa Cashmere Body Butter from Bee Rich Butters, then opted to go naked under my robe.

I planned on getting a quick session in with my husband before the kids woke up.

“This good… Or maybe…” I lifted my leg onto the table to give him a better view of my intended bargaining tool.

Kreed thumbed his bottom lip while his eyes lowered into slits. “You tryna get fucked up in here, ain’t you?”

I hunched my shoulders. “I mean… If you think you’ve got enough stamina, then sure.” I flirted.

Kreed didn’t say anything; instead, he stood from the table and swaggered over to me. Leaning down, he ran his finger straight down the middle of my chest, only stopping once he’d reached his favorite place.

My breathing labored when he used his fingers to part my folds and slipped a one inside my pussy. “Mmm,” I moaned.

“Yeah, you tryna get fucked.” His voice was husky, almost like a smoky rasp that kissed my skin before it even reached my ears.

Widening my legs, I gave him better access, fueling him to lean over and attack my neck.

“Kreed,” I whispered and gnawed on my bottom lip.

Sex with my husband had always been one of my favorite things to do, especially since the man was well-versed with my body and knew exactly how much to give to have me climbing the walls.

Sex was our way of keeping each other grounded after a long day of stress. It was also Kreed’s way of recovering after a devastating loss. The way he pushed his fingers in and out of my pussy had me on the verge of coming.

“Let it go, Sai,” he groaned against my mouth.

“Baby…” I breathed.

“I know.” Leaning in, Kreed flickered his tongue across my taut nipple. “You so fucking close. I can feel it,” he whispered against my bare chest, all while pushing his fingers in as deep as they could go.

I grabbed onto his wrist as heat rose from the bottom of my feet and settled across my face. “Bab?—”

“Mom!” one of the kids yelled out, causing me to drop my head and release a light chuckle.

“Welp…” Kreed sighed. “Times up.” Removing his fingers, I watched him bring them up to his mouth and lick my essence off in the most seductive manner. When he was done, he winked before saying, “Best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“You’re a mess.” I laughed and removed my foot from the table. Pushing my chair back, I stood and adjusted my robe. “I guess I better get breakfast started.”

“You do that. I’ll go get Kree’s badass up.”

“My baby is not bad… he’s just attached to his mother.”

“Attached my ass!” he called over his shoulder.

Once Kreed was out of the kitchen, I sauntered into the half bath and used my last few free minutes to clean up the mess he’d made between my legs before washing my hands.

As soon as I stepped back into the kitchen, Aurora was walking in.

My baby girl was always the first one awake, so I’m certain she was the one who had yelled my name minutes prior.

“Good morning, buttercup.” I smiled and kissed her on the temple. “Did you wash your face and brush your teeth?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Let me see.” Tilting her head back, I inspected her face. “You missed a spot!” I teased and tickled her belly. “What do you want for breakfast this morning ?”

“Can we do blueberry waffles?” she asked and looked up at me with hopeful eyes.

“Blueberry waffles it is,” I confirmed.

While I got breakfast started, Kreed wrangled the rest of the kids.

Before long, my entire family was sitting around the table, waiting for me to serve them.

These were the times that I lived for. I wasn’t just cooking breakfast; I was preserving something sacred.

A memory—a reminder that no matter how many curve balls I was thrown, this was everything.

After getting our nails and toes done, Maddie Claire and I decided to hit the mall to do a little shopping, courtesy of her father, of course.

“What about this one?” Maddie Claire asked and held up the white Lululemon tennis skirt that I was certain was too short.

“Ummm,” I hummed and tilted my head. “I would have to see it on. You know how your father is.”

“Knee length or it’s unacceptable,” she mocked, sounding just like Kreed.

“Oop! Not you being shady.” I giggled.

“Mom…” she groaned. “You know Dad is old-fashioned. Nothing they make is long enough. Besides, it’s a tennis skirt.” She pouted.

“Try it on, Maddie.”

“Okay.” She thought I missed it, but I saw her little ass roll her eyes.

Maddie Claire knew if Kreed caught her in something that he didn’t deem age-appropriate, he would have a damn fit.

I tried on several occasions to explain to that man how they don’t make clothes like they did back when we were growing up.

Times are a lot different from what they were back then.

However, I understood his plight, being that Maddie Claire was only eleven.

The issue wasn’t Kreed or Maddie; it was the fashion trends.

At least the tennis skirt I sent her to try on was designed with the shorts underneath.

As much as he fussed, I would let her get away with some stuff as long as it wasn’t too revealing.

I tried to preserve as much of her youth as possible, but my baby was getting older.

She had a skin care routine, for crying out loud.

Not only that, but she was getting into makeup and perfumes, asking to go to Sephora every other weekend.

The makeup thing was only allowed while she was at the house.

I didn’t have a problem with her experimenting, but never at any point in her little eleven-year-old life will I let her outside of the house with anything on her face but some moisturizer. I wasn’t that damn cool of a parent.

When Maddie Claire came strutting out of the dressing room, I had her spin around a few times before approving the skirt. Once she’d changed back into her clothes, I ushered her toward the front of the store so we could check out.

“Is that all you’re getting or…”

She pondered for a few seconds before saying, “I think I need another crossbody.”

“Grab one for your sisters too.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

While she went off to grab their purses, I strolled to the register. We had one last stop to make before it was time for us to head back to the house, and I had a feeling this was going to be the highlight of her day.

I was thumbing through a rack of workout pants, while waiting on Maddie Claire to return, when I got a feeling that someone was watching me. My eyes did a quick scan around the store before settling on a familiar face. As familiar as it was, I couldn’t quite place where I remembered it from.