Page 2 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)

“Mom, do you like this one for Aurora?” Maddie Claire announced, snatching my attention away from the mystery woman.

“It’s cute. She’s not going to wear it, but I refuse to hear her mouth about not getting anything.” I giggled, hearing her voice in my head now.

“I think I’m going to get this one and get Charleigh Anne and Sophie a different color.”

“That works. I’ll be right here waiting.”

Turning back to where the woman was, I caught her watching Maddie Claire before her eyes met mine one last time. After giving me a faint smile, she turned and walked off.

That was weird as fuck, I thought to myself; probably another fan who recognized my face.

I’d encountered a lot of weird shit being the wife of the Demon’s esteemed running back.

There were women all over, waiting for a chance to take my spot.

I was no stranger to the bullshit and the groupies.

The last time a woman approached me, I just knew she was going to tell me that she had been sleeping with my husband.

Instead, she tried to tell me how much of a fan she was.

Okay—everybody was a fan; that was nothing new.

And because the interaction didn’t sit right with me, Kreed was in the doghouse until I was able to confirm she really was just a random .

I wasn’t na?ve enough to think my husband had never been tempted.

I mean, the man’s face was plastered everywhere.

My husband was Demon royalty, so the majority of the weird shit that happened really came with the territory.

I didn’t let it bother me, though, because after being together for over fourteen years, Kreed and I were still head over heels in love.

Nothing or no one could infiltrate our marriage, and that was something that I was willing to bet my life on.

“Okay… I’m ready.” Maddie Claire rushed out after having grabbed a few extra things.

I laughed. “Good, because I’m ready to go. What are we eating?” I asked and took everything out of her hand. Placing them down on the counter, I pulled out my card and waited for the cashier to total us out.

“Maybe Toast.” She shrugged.

“Or…” I sang. “How about we go to Tin Lizzy’s?”

She gasped. “Without Charleigh Anne?”

“Well, honey, you said you wanted it to be just the two of us. I thought that meant dining at your favorite restaurant.” I teased.

A wide smile broke out across her face. “I can keep a secret!”

“And so can I.” Holding my hand out, I locked pinkies with her.

Once the cashier finished bagging up our things, the two of us were out of the store and on our way to have lunch.

Kreed and I had five kids, and most of the time, we did everything as a family.

Whenever one of them requested one-on-one time, I tried my hardest to honor their requests.

I didn’t come from a big family—it was only my mom and me—so when one of my girls wanted me to themselves, I made it happen.

The smile on my baby’s face let me know that she was enjoying her time with me, and that made me happy.

After having lunch, Maddie Claire and I went to Cinnaholic for dessert, and after being out for a few hours, it was time for us to end the day and head home. Whipping my truck into the driveway, I slipped my phone out of the cup holder and dialed Kreed.

“What’s up, Sai?” he asked once the call connected.

“Hey. I’m outside.”

“On the way,” Kreed confirmed before ending the call.

Before I could throw my truck in park, he was exiting the front door and jogging down the steps to greet us. I shut the truck off, unhooked my seat belt, and tossed my phone in my purse.

Opening the driver-side door, Kreed leaned in and pecked me on the lips. “Missed you.”

Lowering my eyes, I stared at him lustfully.

His locs were pulled back in a low ponytail, and the white wife beater he wore looked like it was painted on.

The gold necklace with my name on it rested a little below his collarbone.

After a few seconds of staring, I finally pushed out. “I missed you too.”

One quick glance in the back seat had him chuckling. “Somebody had a good time.”

“She did.” I giggled. Maddie Claire had fallen asleep on the ride back to the house and was currently leaning against the window with her mouth gaped open. “That cinnamon roll did the trick.”

“I see.” He jested. Kreed rounded the truck and pulled the door open before leaning in and grabbing Maddie Claire up. Once he had her in his arms, he carried her up the driveway. While he did that, I slid out of the truck and started collecting the shopping bags.

“Give me those,” Kreed ordered and took the bags out of my hands after coming back outside.

“I could’ve brought it in.”

“I’m right here, Sai.”

“Okay. Where are the kids?” I asked when we entered the house, and a bunch of noise didn’t greet me.

“The girls are in the theater room watching movies. I just got Kree down for a nap.”

Glancing down at my watch, I groaned. “Bae…” It was almost five in the evening, and if Kreed had just put the baby down, his ass was going to be up for the rest of the night.

“He was cranky, Sai. Ya moms said his lil’ ass hadn’t had a nap all afternoon.”

“I wish you would’ve just kept him up. I’m not gonna get any sleep tonight.” I pouted.

“I got him if he wakes up.”

“I’m going to remember that.”

“I know yo’ ass will.” He chuckled. “Yo’ moms cooked, so everyone has had dinner. She put you and Maddie Claire a plate up and told me to have you give her a call later.”

“I already know what she wants, and I’m not going.”

My father had decided that he was coming into town and claimed he wanted to see me. After years of him running in and out of my life, I cut him off three years ago. I was okay with not seeing him. My mom, on the other hand, kept trying to force us together, and I wasn’t feeling it.

“Aye…” Kreed held his hands up, palm side out in surrender. “I tried to tell her you wasn’t budging.”

“She should already know that shit.” I frowned and kicked my shoes off. Plopping down on the bench in front of my bed, I lay back and covered my eyes with my arm. “I don’t want to play nice with him.”

“And you don’t have to,” my husband confirmed. “That nigga do this shit every few years, and if you not fucking with it, then that’s what it is, Sai. If you do decide to go see him, my kids won’t be involved.”

“I know…” I sighed. Kreed never stood in the way of my and my father’s relationship, but the kids were where he drew the line.

The fact that my father only came around when it was convenient for him was enough for Kreed to lay the law down.

Kids had a tendency to get attached, and with the shit I dealt with when I was growing up, we were determined not to subject our kids to that same treatment.

“You can spend all the time you want to with him, but my kids will not be around, and I don’t care how much yo’ moms fuss about it.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“I sure the fuck did.”

“Well then… there’s nothing else to be said.” I shrugged.

Whatever my husband said is what it was. I had no pushback because I knew how someone making promises and not following through felt. He could breeze into town and spend as much time as he wanted with my mom, but I had no plans on partaking.