Page 23 of Mia

I shrugged. “Because it could get me hurt.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Mia. That’s what you don’t understand. I love the fuck outta you. I care about you more than I care about my damn self. Ain’t nothing in this world that I wouldn’t give or do for you, and that was before the ring… the one you won’t wear on the right finger, by the way.”

He lifted my right hand and removed it before slipping it on the ring finger on my left hand.

“You don’t wear yours, either.”

He held up his left hand. “Not in the field, but I have that shit on me.”

I looked closely at his ring finger to see our wedding date perfectly tatted. My bottom lip involuntarily poked out as I peered up at him.

“You did that for me?” I asked, tearing up.

“You’re mine. Been mine. Always gon’ be mine.”

I couldn’t stop myself from crying at this point. This damn baby was doing a number on my hormones. I wasn’t this soft ass bitch, and it was driving me crazy.

“Fuck!” I groaned, wiping my eyes. “I don’t like feeling like this.”

“What? Vulnerable?”

“Yes! This feels too much like being weak.”

“You are the strongest muthafucka I know. Ain’t shit weak about you. It’s okay to be soft, Mia. The only time you show real emotion is when we are fighting or I’m fucking you. That ain’t all I’m trying to do cause that shit is exhausting. I ain’t your nigga and you ain’t my bitch. I’m your husband and you are my wife, and it’s about damn time we started acting in that capacity.”

I sighed. “You’re right.”

He cupped his ear. “What was that?”

“I said you’re right, damn.”

He grinned as he cupped my face. “You gon’ see shit my way one of these days, love.”

Leaning in, he kissed me softly and with so much passion. I moaned against his lips as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. We were getting hot and heavy when someone cleared their throat behind us. I turned to see my mama standing in the entryway of the kitchen with her arms folded, shaking her head.

“Y’all get on my damn nerves. You have the audacity to be this cute and act the way you do.”

Titan chuckled. “Good morning, Ma. I think it’s about time I start calling you that.”

She stopped and glared at him. “Boy, don’t play with me.”

She walked over to where we stood and stared at both of us. The next thing I felt was her arms pulling us both into a hug.

“I love you both,” she whispered. She kissed both of our cheeks then rubbed my stomach. “I can’t believe you made me a grandma. They can call me Nana or Glammy, but none of the grandma shit.”

I rolled my eyes. “Have you told Senior?”

“No. You’re gonna tell him. Both of you. I’ll be there for emotional support and to keep him from shooting your husband. Damn, that doesn’t even sound right.”

“We doing group hugs?”

We looked back to see Booker coming at us with a grin and open arms. Titan pulled out his gun and pointed it at him.

“Don’t bring your ass over here with that shit, nigga.”

“Damn! I can’t show my family no love? That’s crazy!” He wrapped his arms around my mama and kissed her cheek. “You love me, don’t you Ms. Maddie?”

“Boy, if you don’t get your hands off me. You ain’t slick. I already told you, I’m old enough to be your damn mama.”