Page 161 of Are You Going to Love Me

“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 andeverything 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.

fifty-three

. . .

He satin the middle of his studio. It was in its final stages, dimly lit and partially functional. Eden could take away almost all of his cares, but she couldn’t heal the one wound inflicted by someone else.

On a loop, he listened to his own voice speak things he couldn’t lock inside. “You keep fuckin’ tauntin’ me. Hissin’ from your grave. You a snake disguised as a brother. You a snake that plotted against our mother. Same demons, and you let them win. A family cursed from the start.”

He slid his hand over his face, attempting to rid it of the hot tears that flowed. The constant aching in his shoulder, in his heart, in his chest, a reminder. Augustus broke his heart. Maximus’ head dropped, and it shook from side to side. He couldn’t speak the words, not on the rest of the track or to himself.

As if Eden had a bell on her, the subtle scent of her body was detected the second she slipped through the door. He looked at her, eyes so sad they beckoned her to him. Eden kneeled in front of him, reaching out to hold his face.

“Say it,” she urged. She felt the burn in her throat, the pain in her chest, the sting of tears in her eyes. And that heaviness. Chest crushing. “It’s just us. No one can hear you, and no one will say a word. You’re safe here. I promise.”

“He,” Maximus croaked. “He fuckin’ broke my heart, E. Long before the meet up. From kids. To have a brother. He was supposed to look out for me. Protect me. Not be the motherfucker to put a knife in my back or a fuckin’ bullet.”

---