Misunderstood (Toussaint Mafia #4)

Chapter 2

“ T his won’t take much time. We are here today concerning Kalvin Harris, currently under the custody of Maia Toussaint. Our purpose is to discuss the family’s objections regarding Maia Toussaint’s suitability as his guardian, as testified by witnesses today,” Judge Hightower stated with a frown.

Maia’s leg bounced anxiously as she sat next to her overpriced lawyer, Michael Griffin. Her fists clenched, fighting the urge to lash out at Kygo’s cousin, who sat across the room with a smug expression, trying to snatch custody of Kalvin. For a brief second, she thought Kygo might have changed, maybe let his guard down. But it didn’t take long to see he was still the same—still grimy, still scheming, leaving her no choice but to find a way to get rid of him.

He thought just because her family had taken a hit that shit was sweet. But Kygo had no idea—she still had power. And she didn’t even have to lift a finger to make shit happen. The realest one on her team was already lining things up for her.

“Chill out,” Promise muttered from behind her, sensing Maia’s frustration.

He was mind-blowing. A mafia boss sitting in the courtroom like everything was all good, cool as ever. That’s just how he moved—unbothered by anything. He’d been trying to teach her that level of calm, but she hadn’t mastered it yet. That’s why she was sitting there with her fists clenched, fighting the urge to get up and go off on Kygo’s cousin, Shayla.

The same Shayla she helped out when things were rough, giving her a place in her family’s apartment building to stay rent-free for months. The same Shayla she prayed for when she lost her baby. Maia had been there for her more times than she could count, but now Shayla was throwing her under the bus without a second thought.

The betrayal cut deep. What Maia thought was a true family bond was nothing but a front. Shayla had been faking it the whole time. And if Shayla didn’t care, Maia was more than ready to show her she didn’t either.

“I’ma have Masami slide this hoe,” Maia mumbled.

“Yes, your honor, we have several witnesses who can attest to the volatile nature of Ms. Toussaint, providing plenty of reasons why she would be unfit to adopt Kalvin Harris,” the plaintiff lawyer spoke with confidence.

Maia’s gaze shifted to the middle-aged Black man, impeccably dressed in a custom designer suit. A small smile crept onto her face. She knew Kygo couldn’t afford a lawyer like that. He never had real money. It was clear someone else was backing his attack on her, and she had a strong suspicion about who it was: the Chery family. Just like Kygo, they were throwing rocks and hiding their hands.

“Let’s move on,” Judge Hightower said, casting a disapproving glance at Maia.

She didn’t know why he was so angry with her. Every time their eyes met, his look was one of pure disdain, like she wronged him somehow. It felt personal, and that worried her. But she kept those feelings to herself, never bringing them up to Promise. He was already doing more than enough to help her through this, and she didn’t want to add to his load.

“Your honor,” the plaintiff’s lawyer continued, “I call Dr. Bernstein to the stand.”

Maia’s face went pale.

“Is this even allowed? He can’t talk about my medical history in a case like this—I didn’t kill anybody,”she whispered frantically to her lawyer, Griffin.

Dr. Bernstein entered the courtroom and made his way to the witness stand. As he was sworn in, Griffin leaned toward Maia.

“If he reveals anything confidential, I’ll make sure the judge holds him in contempt,” Griffin reassured her.

Maia leaned back, her foot tapping nervously, as her eyes finally landed on the doctor. The man who had caused so much trauma in her life was now sitting on the witness stand, trying to paint her as the villain. The shock and pain of it all hit her hard, and it took everything in her to keep her composure.

“State your name for the court,” the judge said sternly, leaning back in his seat with a scowl.

“Dennis Bernstein,” the doctor mumbled, clearly nervous. “I’ve been Maia Toussaint’s doctor since she was sixteen,” he added, his voice shaky.

Maia nervously scratched her ear, imagining all the awful things the doctor did to her.

“In a manner that adheres to the law, would you mind explaining to us how you came to know the defendant?” the plaintiff lawyer asked while standing.

Maia glared at the doctor, silently willing him to feel her anger. But Dr. Bernstein avoided her gaze, clearing his throat nervously. He looked thinner than she remembered, trembling just like she was—except his shaking came from fear.

“Her father brought her to me,” he began. “His concerns were about her well-being and safety. I can’t disclose too much due to legal obligations, Your Honor, but I can say that Maia Toussaint requires prescription medication to live a normal adult life.”

Maia leaned back, crossing her legs, her anger building as her eyes welled up with frustration.

“Hold it together, Maia,” Promise said from behind her.

Maia swallowed her pain as her lawyer, Griffin, stood up while the plaintiff lawyer took his seat.

“How did you meet Maia again?” Griffin asked, locking eyes with the doctor.

Dr. Bernstein shifted nervously, a lump forming in his throat as he swallowed hard. “Through Carlos Toussaint, her father. He was deeply troubled about her well-being.”

Griffin nodded, his gaze steady.

“With his level of concern, do you have any idea where he might be right now?” Griffin scanned the courtroom briefly before turning his attention back to the doctor. “Also worth noting, that same father is currently being pursued by the DEA—the same father who used my client’s business for his illegal dealings, along with other family members. So, let’s not act like this man has any moral compass or concern,” Griffin added, his voice growing more aggressive with each word.

Maia watched as Dr. Bernstein seemed to shrink in his seat, a far cry from the man who once filled her with fear.

“I—I mean, at the time, he seemed like a trustworthy individual,” Dr. Bernstein stammered. “He was a businessman, and he was above all a concerned father.”

Griffin took a step back, his hands slipping into his pockets as he put some distance between them.

“So, which is it? A worried father or the head of a dangerous syndicate? And who, exactly, encouraged you to prescribe drugs to a teenager without proper authorization?” he pressed.

“Objection!” the plaintiff lawyer snapped. “This has no relevance to the case! This isn’t about her father—it’s about the defendant’s instability. This line of questioning is misleading,” the lawyer argued.

Judge Hightower glanced at Dr. Bernstein, giving him a slight nod.

“Griffin, your line of questioning isn’t clear. If you’ve got nothing else, let him go,” the judge said sternly.

Maia held her breath, her eyes fixed on the intimidating judge before her. She watched as Dr. Bernstein exhaled, visibly relieved, while Griffin cleared his throat.

“No further questions, Your Honor,” Griffin said firmly, taking his seat.

Maia’s eyes followed Dr. Bernstein as he exited the courtroom, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. She braced herself as the next grueling hour was filled with witness after witness, each one recounting stories of altercations in the club or confrontations at her store, painting a chaotic picture of her life.

After what felt like an eternity, the judge retreated to his chambers. Twenty minutes later, he returned, clearing his throat as his eyes shifted between Maia and Shayla.

“The hearing for this case will be rescheduled for a future date. Temporary custody of Kalvin Harris will be given to Misses Shayla Harris until I set a deadline for concluding this case. Additionally, Maia Toussaint will have him from Thursday to Sunday. Court is adjourned.”

As the judge banged his gavel, Maia’s vision blurred, overwhelmed by the weight of the decision. Though she stayed seated, she couldn’t help but glance over at Shayla, who stood beside her lawyer. Shayla’s beaming smile quickly faded when her eyes locked on Maia. Before following the judge out, Shayla gave her a dismissive shrug, as if to say she’d won.

“Maia, please listen. This isn’t?—”

“Just stop. Give me a sec,” Maia cut her lawyer off, raising her hand.

“Griffin, we’ll talk later,” Promise assured their lawyer.

Griffin grabbed his briefcase and left the courtroom. Maia remained in her seat, her gaze fixed on the empty chair where the judge had sat, her mind racing with thoughts of Kalvin being near Kygo again. She wanted to cry, knowing Kygo would be vengeful. He wouldn’t let Kalvin’s choice go unpunished. He had that kind of jealous, spiteful heart that couldn’t stand to see others thrive.

“I know I’ve got my flaws, but I can be the person Kalvin needs. I can be a good role model for him,” Maia whispered, her voice breaking as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Promise stood, walked over to her, and pulled her up from the chair, lacing his fingers with hers.

“You already are good for him. Let’s go home.”

Hours later, Maia sank into the warm, bubbling jacuzzi at their secret hideout, the luxurious Bleu Dream Hotel. This was the same hotel where Promise had proposed to her, a place that held deep meaning for them. Being in the penthouse suite with him always made Maia feel like she was on top of the world.

But today, the weight of everything was too heavy. As she gazed at the bubbles swirling in the tub, her eyes wandered to the extravagant display of fruit, champagne, and flowers Promise arranged for her. His thoughtfulness warmed her heart, and she appreciated his presence as he took business calls and rolled a blunt by the vanity.

Still, she craved something more—something tangible. His presence was comforting, but she needed him closer. Love, laughter, and joy had always overflowed in their moments together. And right now, she longed for his touch to consume her completely.

“Nah, I’ll shoot over there tomorrow. Maia needed me for court today, and there was no way I was gonna cancel on her. You can fucking handle the club for a day on your own, nigga,” Promise frowned, lighting his blunt.

Maia got out of the jacuzzi, with bubbles sticking to her curvy body. She quietly approached Promise, who stood wearing nothing but his black boxers, and pressed her lips against his tattooed back that proudly displayed the name “Marceline” across it. As she wrapped her arm around his waist, her fingers trailed down, eagerly seeking his hardness, while her breasts pressed against his back.

“Maia?” Promise asked, feeling an immediate hardness at her touch. “Nigga, you said who pulled up on you? Hold on,” Placing his iPhone onto the counter, Promise’s gaze immediately shifted towards Maia. “What’s up baby? You okay, ma?”

Maia nodded, feeling exposed and emotionally raw.

“I am, but I need for you to make me feel better. Please Promise. I need you now,” she whispered urgently, her fingers tightly gripping his hand.

Maia directed Promise’s hand to the newly waxed spot between her legs, and he observed her cautiously as his fingers caressed her plump folds that were already wet in yearning for him.

“Maia, we done waited all this time. You sure? What if, after I get it, I curve you?” he joked with a sly smirk on his handsome face.

Maia couldn’t help but crack a smile and let out a laugh at the joke that was just what the moment needed.

She grinned, closing the space between them, her voice filled with longing. “I wish you would, boy, you stuck with me. Make love to me. Promise, please. I need for you to fuck me,” she begged, needing the feeling. “Just be good at it, okay?”

Promise chuckled and pulled her into his arms. He effortlessly lifted Maia off the ground, as if she were weightless, before reaching for his phone.

“What the fuck, why you still on the phone nigga? Boston must be asleep or something. I’ll hit you back,” Promise said before hanging up and grabbing Maia’s face. As he stepped between her legs, she looked up at him with a longing gaze. “I’ma take care of that judge, take care of that hoe ass doctor, have my homegirls slide on that hoe Shayla then I’ma have my dogs eat Kygo for dinner. Why you worrying like I can’t make your nightmares disappear, ma? You already know I got you.”

Maia nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.

“You promise?” she whispered, the vulnerability clear in her trembling voice.

Promise raised her finger and kissed her engagement ring.

“I promise,” he replied, and seconds later his lips were crashing against hers. Maia couldn’t help but hold on tight as the kiss left her speechless. Promise skillfully kissed her, his tongue exploring her mouth while his hands eagerly caressed her soft, round breasts. Squeezing them with the right amount of pressure before rubbing her nipples.

“Oh,” Maia moaned, overwhelmed by the pleasure, as if she was already being transported to Heaven.

Promise stopped sucking on her tongue to trail kisses down her body. When he sucked on her nipples, her leg shook, but when he sucked on her clit, it was like seeing stars and the moon. Promise was devouring her pussy while Maia held onto his head enjoying the ride.

“Oh, my fucking goodness,” she moaned, leaning back and resting her head against the mirror. Her body succumbed to Promise’s pleasurable demands, causing her chest to heave with each movement. “I’m about to cum,” Maia whimpered, her legs trapping him in place.

Promise sucked her through the pleasure before carrying her into the bedroom. He positioned Maia on her back, and she observed as he took off his underwear. With loving eyes, Maia watched as Promise climbed onto the bed.

“I love you so much,” she professed, her heart swelling with gratitude for having found a man who loved her so deeply.

“You know I love you, right?” Promise leaned down to kiss her lips while positioning himself at her opening. As he slowly slipped inside of her wet walls, he looked down at her. “You know that,” Promise replied, and damn she did, it was why she felt so safe with him. “You feel so good, Maia. Better than I imagined now I need for you to relax and let me inside.”

Maia ignored the pain, did what he said and let Promise tap into a new part of her. A part that not even Kygo had touched, and as his dick slipped further inside of her, she closed her eyes and hung on tight.

Unknown number: I woke up thinking of you Maia baby. Is everything going well? Is it possible for me to see you at some point today? Please say yes pretty girl. I love you more than words can express.

Maia tucked her phone and glanced at Kalvin. As she watched Kalvin eagerly devour his food at Burger Haven, she adjusted her Gucci cap to cover her head. Thanks to the man in her life, the Blue Hill borough somehow became Maia’s favorite place. Since Maia didn’t really enjoy burgers and greasy food, she decided not to join him in indulging in the food and instead went for lemon water. Running on only three hours of sleep, she questioned how she stayed awake, but knew the conversation couldn’t be postponed.

The social worker was scheduled to arrive later that day to pick up Kalvin, so time was running short.

“Are we always gonna have guards?” Kalvin asked, his gaze fixed on the black truck outside the window, knowing it carried eager Marceline shooters.

Maia sat back in the seat and looked at Kalvin.

“Not always, but it’s our life, and it’s for our own safety. Kalvin, do you know what we need to protect ourselves from?”

As Kalvin shrugged, he absentmindedly tossed shoe string fries into his mouth, their salty crunch filling the air. While chewing, his brows furrowed together, instantly reminding Maia of Kygo. From the way they looked to the way they walked. Kalvin was slowly morphing into a man but also one that would be like Kygo in some ways, and that was what frightened Maia the most.

“I guess the people that’s jealous of what we have. Promise said everybody doesn’t want to work hard for their stuff in life. He said sometimes they would rather take yours,” Kalvin replied.

Maia liked how Promise was actively involved in Kalvin’s life, unlike his older brother.

“He’s very right and because of that, people do malicious things. Things that can hurt so many people because they are trifling. You know I love you, right?”

Kalvin stuffed more fries in his mouth and nodded.

“Yeah, love you too,” he mumbled, mouth full of food, making Maia cringe.

“You know I can’t stand it when you talk with your mouth open,” she frowned, and they both laughed. “But seriously, something happened, Kalvin, and I need you to understand what’s going on.”

Kalvin sat back while staring at her.

“What’s the matter, Maia?”

Maia really wanted to put on her shades to hide her sadness, but she didn’t. Sitting upright, she cleared her throat and locked eyes with Kalvin.

“Kalvin, you and I have many similarities. Neither of us had the experience of having a mother figure, which is why I feel such a strong connection with you. I wanted to give you a sense of safety and comfort, something we never experienced ourselves. However, sometimes life takes an unexpected turn. The city has decided to temporarily remove you from my custody.”

“What? Why, Maia?” Kalvin asked, growing angry.

“It’s gotta be because of your brother. He wants you back and is doing everything in his power to make that happen. He’s gotten help from your cousin Shayla to do his dirty work and momentarily its working for him. From Sunday to Thursday, they want you to stay with your cousin Shayla. I can come pick you up after school on Thursday, but I need to return you by Sunday evening.” Maia noticed Kalvin’s angry expression and let out a sigh. “I don’t think this will be long. Promise, and I will do whatever it takes to get you back with us. We’re waiting for another court date so I can officially adopt you. Do you still want that?”

Slumping his shoulders, Kalvin glanced to his right, his disappointment evident. With a wave of her hand, Promise quickly emerged from the back of the SUV and made his way into Burger Haven. He wore his work attire, a sleek black custom suit with polished black loafers as his curly taper was longer and well-groomed. Promise sat next to an emotional Kalvin, taking up the seat as he looked at him. Promise brushed his left hand over his head before patting Kalvin’s arm as Kalvin’s eyes watered.

“It was a bad time for me and my brother when my dad got killed. It felt like there was nobody there to protect us anymore, and that feeling was incredibly scary. Are you feeling like that now, Kalvin?” Promise asked him.

Kalvin nodded, making Maia look away to hide her tears.

“I guess,” Kalvin mumbled under his breath, barely audible as a few tears slipped down his face.

Promise sat upright in his seat and pulled Kalvin into a hug, giving him the chance to let go of his emotions. Promise then placed his elbows on the table. He looked at Kalvin and nodded.

“Just so you know, you’re not alone. You got Maia, and you got me. If we have your back, our loyal supporters have your back too. You’ve got a crew of people supporting you. We got an entire army of people looking out for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure you make it back home with us, no matter what. This arrangement is only temporary, but you can count on us to be there every Thursday without fail, like clockwork, to pick you up. In life, challenges will inevitably arise, but how you choose to confront them is entirely in your hands. You can let your problems crush your spirit or you can conquer them with determination. This is another challenge you’ve got in life, but this time you’re not fighting it alone. Don’t worry, I’ll keep sending your allowance to your card every week. Don’t let anyone see that card, alright? Also, we got you a burner phone in case she tries to take your phone, and I want you to wear this,” Promise went into his pocket and pulled out a black box.

Kalvin looked at him while Promise opened the box and showed a cross necklace on a white gold chain. Promise put the chain on the table and looked at Kalvin.

“There’s a GPS in this chain. I want you to wear this chain at all times and it is waterproof. That’s real white gold and if for any reason you feel you are in harm, I want you to push this.”

Promise turned the cross piece upside down, exposing a tiny button that was hardly visible. It looked similar to the tiny buttons found on the back of devices, like clocks to set them.

“It emits a warning signal that immediately alerts both me and Maia. The tracker is always on, which gives us peace of mind, Kalvin. Can I count on you to keep your grades up while this is going on and stay level-headed? I know it’s a lot, but I promise things won’t be like this for long,” Promise told him.

Kalvin took the chain and checked it out. After a bit, he looked at Promise and Maia.

“Is Kygo gonna be there? I have a feeling he’ll be mad at me when he sees me cause I chose to stick with Maia. I don’t want to sell drugs for him again.”

“And you won’t. The moment he pops up, make sure you press that button without hesitation. Kygo’s got a lot of warrants and isn’t supposed to be anywhere near you. I’ll have the cops come with us to get you if he does that. Okay?” Maia tried to put Kalvin’s mind at ease.

Kalvin kept staring at the chain and nodding.

“Okay. I’m not worried as long as you all will be close by in case Kygo comes over,” he replied, his voice appearing calmer as he held the chain.

Promise smirked as he pulled out a menu.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Now let’s get another order out here because I’m hungry now,” he cracked, making Kalvin laugh.

But Maia couldn’t enjoy the banter because she was too worried about losing Kalvin.

Hours later, as Kalvin found himself in Shayla’s custody and Promise took care of business on the streets, Maia relaxed on the balcony of her penthouse, sipping wine. Unbeknownst to Promise, she was indulging in a larger amount of wine than usual, and even mixing it with old prescription pills she stumbled upon in an old purse. Maia wasn’t on her way to becoming an addict, but she craved some sort of escape from the constant drama in her life. And honestly, the combination of wine and pills had that effect. Shit, she understood how people got hooked on doing shit like that. After popping a pill and chugging some wine, she felt invincible. It felt so much better than being filled with despair and anger.

“Why can’t we run down on this bitch again?” Imani asked over the phone.

Maia snickered, glad that her sister-in-law was cool with her again. A talk never happened, more like chaos made the minor problems they had seem trivial, making each party forgive the other. Maia loved her sisters, but she also adored the one that Ossa brought into their life. Imani always knew how to get through to Maia, and she needed that perspective to help her through life’s changes.

“I called to keep myself from wanting to fight someone. You’re supposed to be the chill sister,” Maia grinned.

Body clean from her bath Promise had ran for her. She felt beautiful. The black lace gown, glowing face, and oiled body contributed to that.

“Who said that? Shit, I wanna beat her ass too. Our being here is already tough for the boys since he’s like a brother to Kashton. Now you all are sharing custody with this girl and all of this feel so wrong. I feel bad that Kalvin is so young and having to deal with all of this. Got me feeling like doing some hood rat shit with my hood rat sisters and pulling up on that girl,” Imani replied, making Maia nearly spit out her wine.

“Girl, you tickle me. You’re starting to pick up our bad habits, which is not good. But we gotta play it safe,” Maia replied, thinking her phone might be tapped.

She didn’t wanna take any chances with the DEA watching. She was too damn fly to be locked up.

“You’re right,” Imani sighed. “There’s frustration building up inside me that I can barely contain. I closed my store temporarily because of theft and inventory problems. I couldn’t drive there, and the stress made me shut down the business. I’m really upset about that. That store is like my baby,” Imani shared, with her brother’s voice in the background. “I didn’t blame you, Ossa, but you know why I can’t go there. Let’s not play that game and don’t eavesdrop on me. I was about to mention your black ass and I don’t need you hearing the things I say about you. Love you too,” Imani grumbled.

Maia smiled at how even their arguing sounded different.

“Anyway, before your nosey ass brother came in here. I was saying that things are different now, so we must adapt. It’s a challenging situation for everyone. I’m sorry that you and Kalvin are going through this. Change often involves letting go and receiving something better from God. Don’t forget that favorite sister-in-law. Now I have to go deal with your brother because he really pissed me off, but I love you and I’m here if you need to chat. Bye.”

Imani ended the call, and Maia immediately received a call from her mom. Maia declined the call and Jazmine quickly called her back.

“What does she want?” Maia frowned while answering the call. “Hello?” she snapped.

The phone remained silent until her mom finally spoke.

“Hi, Maia,” she nervously said, and Maia quickly finished her wine. “I spoke with Maxine and got all the details about Kalvin. Can I visit and discuss it?”

Maia shook her head at the thought of that.

“Jazmine, that’s not a good idea.”

“—Jazmine? Whoa, um, alright. We can talk about it on the phone. Maxine mentioned he’s the younger brother of your ex-boyfriend. You two are close, right?”

Maia frowned, upset by her mother’s voice. Everything about her mom not being dead irked her spirit. It left her confused and unhappy, which was not good.

“Why did you believe it was right for us to be with him? I really wanna know, mom .”

Jazmine cleared her throat.

“I tried to come back. There is a lot that occurred that you are unaware of. Plus, when everything went down, I wasn’t in good shape to bring you all back. I was shot and almost bled to death.”

“Just like Ossa did at Imani’s baby shower, huh? That was the day we discovered you weren’t his mom. Did you also witness that?”

“I didn’t,” Jazmine said softly, but Maia showed no sympathy.

“Yeah, right, like I’m supposed to believe that, coming from you. This is pointless due to the time that has passed. Now that you have your sister back, you can leave. We don’t need you here,” Maia replied, while Promise stepped onto the balcony.

He smoked a blunt while still in his suit. Maia could sense that he knew she was under the influence of something as he leaned down to kiss her lips softly.

“Play nice, Maia,” he murmured quietly before retreating into the penthouse.

“He seems like a decent guy. As long as he’s not like his dad,” Jazmine said, catching Maia’s attention.

Maia rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“I’m not ready yet. Sorry,” Maia hung up and joined Promise in the living room. “Hey you’re back early. I thought you needed to stay and handle something at the club with Peace.”

Looking up from his phone, Promise smiled at her. His low, red-tinted gaze made him the handsomest man Maia had ever seen. He licked his thick lips and gestured for her to come closer to him.

“I wanted to check up on you, baby. Come sit on me,” he smirked.

Maia placed her phone on the marble coffee table before sitting on his lap. She sank onto him slowly, and Promise’s hands went to her waist. He lovingly massaged her ass while looking at her.

“You good? Your eyes look glassy,” he stated, making Maia’s heart race.

“I was upset about Kalvin, but I’m fine now. Especially since you came home early. Wanna watch a movie or are you craving something to eat again?”

After a few minutes of staring at her, Promise shook his head. He kissed her deeply, with such passion that Maia moaned softly. His free hand roamed up her back and gripped the back of her neck as his tongue was nearly down her throat. Maia’s body moved fluidly, her hips grinding against him as she clung to him, unable to do anything else.

Promise kissed her neck, allowing her to catch her breath while pushing up her lace gown.

“Today was rough, but don’t let it derail you. It’s normal to feel emotions other than happiness. You don’t need pills to make it go away. That mindset is toxic, baby. My love for you doesn’t depend on your constant happiness. That’s bullshit and I don’t want you to put them type of expectations on yourself because we all have bad days,” Promise spoke, making Maia’s jaw drop.

He lifted her slightly, allowing him to expose himself, and as he positioned her on top of his erection, Maia locked eyes with him.

“I didn’t take anything in here by the cameras. How did you find out?”

Promise lifted Maia by her hips and started moving rhythmically with her on his lap. He kissed her again, his lips gently grazing her skin as they made their way to her neck.

“I notice everything that concerns you because I love you. And when I say that Maia, I mean just that. I love you when your smiling and while I hate to see you cry, I love you then as well. My love isn’t conditional, I’m here to stay and so are you. Toss the pills now, ma, before I do it.”

He demanded, and she hesitantly nodded before grabbing onto the top of his shoulders and taking a slow, pleasurable ride on him.