Page 71 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Because I might need you to hold mine too.”

Maximus kissed her midsection and nestled in her warmth. Her scent, the soft massages to his scalp, and the rise and fall of her breathing did what it needed to do – put him to sleep.

Morning came, not violently like at his spot without proper window treatments but gently creeping over his bare back. At some point in the night, he rolled over, holding a pillow that smelled like Eden. He groaned, taking a moment to familiarize himself with his surroundings. He was in a somber haze last night and didn’t take in how clean everything was. No piles of clothes, no clutter on the dresser, no takeout containers in the corners. Warm neutral colors, hanging plants in crystal planters reflecting the dancing morning light around the room. On thedresser, an essential oils diffuser providing the room with an aroma of amber.

For Eden to be in the world of high-fashion glitz and glam, her place was so down-to-earth, filled with peaceful energy. He liked that. He needed this touch in his place.

Pushing himself from the canopy bed, he trekked into the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his hands, then roamed down the hall. His nose followed the wafting scent of butter, sugar, and vanilla into the kitchen.

The living area held the same theme as the bedroom, more plants, more natural light, and more peaceful. The furniture was arranged differently, but the vibe was the same.

“What you in here making?” his raspiness rumbled.

Eden was placing a pound cake into a cake dish. “Well, I can’t cook, so making you eggs was out of the question. There’s breakfast coming up from Sunrise, and this is Poppi’s famous pound cake. I woke up this morning feeling like I needed something familiar after yesterday. Just a little taste of home.”

“The last time I had Poppi’s pound cake, I was freshly kicked out and she found my ass in a ditch.”

Eden’s brow fused. “Why were you in a ditch?”

“I didn’t have nowhere to go and sleeping in the ditch seemed better than sleeping on a bench in Trae Way Park.”

“Damn,” Eden blew.

“Yeah, I think it was like three days. Poppi just so happened to be riding by, handling her business, when she spotted me, cleaned me up. Pound cake, water, and put on.”

“Sooo maybe I shouldn’t offer you a piece...”

“Hell nah,” Maximus rumbled, walking up behind her to box her in. “I need a piece of that cake.”

“We’re still talking about that, right?” Eden hummed, pointing to her labor of love.

Maximus’s smirk could be felt against her ear. He kissed her shoulder. “For now.”

“That sounds eerily dangerous.”

“Don’t have to be if you don’t run off. But now I know how to get up in this muthafucka, so won’t be too much more of that runnin’.”

“Mm,” Eden buzzed again, remembering how he felt coming alive underneath her. “Maybe just a little bit. Anyway...”

Maximus felt the spike of heat and reluctantly pulled away, but not before slightly rubbing her hips. He leaned on the opposite counter and watched as she hopped up on the counter, crossing her legs and taking him in. “The shots are back from the shoot. Keon started a group chat.”

“They look good?”

Eden nodded. “You do. Like that nigga.”

Maximus pressed his palms on the counter. “And what you look like?”

Eden shrugged. “The iPad is behind you, see for yourself.”

He twisted around, grabbed the iPad, and closed the space between them again. It was inevitable; at some point, they were going to be tied together. And he wasn’t going to come up off of her. “What’s the code?”

“050695.”

“What’s that, your birthday? Taurus?”

“Mmhmm, you?”

“July 7th.”

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