“A past that I lived through. A past that grew him as a man. You can’t possibly judge him for the actions of his parents.”

“I’m not judging him. I’m worried. I’ve seen his anger and violence on the field, so you cannot tell me some of Marco Paige doesn’t live on in his son. He wasn’t taught what love was, so how could he possibly love you the way you deserve?”

Growing more irritated, I say, “He knows what love is because I showed him unconditional love our entire childhood. Our relationship runs deep, deeper than you even know, and I would ask you to refrain from insulting him. He’s the man I love, Mom. The man I see myself spending the rest of my life with. He gets me, and he doesn’t try to change me and my annoying earth-friendly ways. He accepts me for who I am, every part of me, and I accept him.”

She’s silent again, the pulsing static grating on my nerves. “He’s going to hurt you. I love you, sweetie, but he’s going to hurt you and when he does, I won’t be here telling you I told you so. I’ll be here with open arms, ready to fix that beautiful heart of yours.”

I sigh and close my eyes, wishing desperately my mom would not only understand me, but pick up a hobby, something to get her off my back.

“Okay, Mom. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later in the week.”

“I love you, Kinsley.”

I roll my eyes, hating her cheery voice as she says those words so casually, as if she didn’t just pee all over my happiness. “Love you too, Mom.”

I hang up and toss my phone to the side only to grab the remote and turn on the TV to the Rebels game. Herman perks up for a second and then sighs and rests his head on my leg.

I stroke his ear and say, “He won’t hurt me. He won’t hurt us. He loves us too much.”

The camera pans to a shot of Maddox and Lincoln in the bullpen, laughing at something. His smile sends a shiver straight up my spine. It’s beautiful, organic, a smile that can bring any woman to her knees. I love seeing that smile, because it’s the same smile I grew up with, the same smile that greeted me in the halls of our school, the same smile that mischievously peeked through my window when he was looking for a training buddy, and the same smile I received whenever I tried to save another animal in town.

I fell in love with that smile and thankfully, that smile has fallen in love with me.

“Are you awake?” Maddox’s voice quietly whispers through the still night air.

I’ve been tucked away in bed since nine, turning the TV off when the Rebels had a good lead. Not getting much sleep when I had cramps, I wanted to catch up a little.

Blinking a few times, I roll over in bed to find Maddox’s figure draped in the moonlight, still wearing his clothes from the stadium, but freshly showered even though he didn’t play.

“I’m awake,” I mumble.

“Baby,” he says softly, coming over to the bed where he takes a seat, and rests his hand on my hip. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I wanted you to. I always want you to wake me when you get home.” I rub my eye and smile up at him sleepily.

He rubs his hand over my hip and up my back. “You look so fucking cuddleable right now. Give me a few seconds to strip down and brush my teeth. Keep the sheets warm, okay?”

“I can do that.”

He leans down and I catch a whiff of his soap, the smell fresh and enticing. He places a soft kiss on my forehead and whispers, “Be right back.”

Even though my eyes are sleepy, I keep them open so I can watch him strip down to his boxer briefs. Corded muscles wrap around his shoulder blades and travel down his back to his ass where they ripple as he shifts from side to side. His tattoos are wrapped around his entire torso, depicting him as a life-like canvas of images he’s drawn in the past. I know what some of them mean, but not all of them, something I’d like to find out one day.

The swagger in his step when he walks to the bathroom, makes my stomach bottom out just knowing he’s mine, all mine. He picks up his bamboo toothbrush, pops a toothpaste tablet in his mouth, and starts brushing. He stares into the mirror for a few seconds before turning toward the bedroom and leaning on the doorframe, his eyes trained on me.

He smiles and says through a foamy mouth, “You just staring at me over there.”

“Yup.”

He chuckles. “Like what you see?”

“I wouldn’t be in your bed if I didn’t.”

“Our bed, babe. Our bed.”

He spits in the sink, rinses, and then turns off the light only to walk over to the bed and slip under the covers. “Get over here, beautiful,” he says, tugging on my body and pulling me in close.

I sigh as my head rests on his chest and his arm wraps me in a tight embrace. My hand falls to his warm skin and I clutch him. I’m truly happy.

There was a time in my life where I lived by my mom’s opinion. I thought she knew the right answer to everything but as I grew up, I started to realize maybe she didn’t always have my best interest at heart, but hers instead. She doesn’t want me being in a relationship with Maddox, not because of the man he is, but because of the distance it puts between us.

“You’re quiet, clingy . . . should I be worried?”

Is it weird that he knows me so well that he can pinpoint from my silence that something might be wrong? Or is it so right?

“No,” I sigh and kiss his chest. “Just talked to my mom today. I, uh . . . I told her we were dating.”

His hand that is wrapped around me slowly draws circles over my lower back. “From the sound of your voice, I’m guessing that didn’t go well.”

“Not really,” I answer honestly. “She has her concerns.”

Even though he’s holding me tightly and cuddling closely, I feel how he tenses. I sense his fear.

He clears his throat. “Yeah? What kind of concerns?”

I don’t want to tell him because I don’t want to hurt him, but if I don’t, then that would mean I encourage holding back information between the two of us. That would totally negate my argument from the other night. If I want this to work with us, then I need to be candid—open and honest about everything.

“Concerns that you’re going to . . . break my heart.”

“What?” he asks, shifting so we’re both resting our heads on his pillow. His hand stays on my hip, while his concerned eyes search mine. “You don’t believe that, do you?”

I shake my head quickly. “No. I don’t. I told her you love me—”

“I do,” he says, almost desperately. “I love you so damn much, Kinsley.” He brings the hand from my hip to cup my face. “Fuck, I love you. I would never hurt you, never intentionally at least. I might fuck up here and there, but I would never break your heart.” His voice drops softer, pleading. “I need you, Kin. I can’t even fathom what it would be like if I lost you, if I lost us. It’s not an image I want to conjure in my mind. It hurts too much to even consider.” His eyes flutter shut and then open, connecting with mine. “Please tell me you feel the same way.”

“I do.” I scoot in closer, wishing I could take away the worry in his brow, the fear in his eyes.

“Do you?” he asks. His question isn’t a challenge but near a plea for the truth. How could he even doubt the love I have for him?

“Maddox—”

“Hold on.” He takes a deep breath and then says, “I’ve known you since we were five, Kinny. I’ve observed your relationship with your mom. I’ve envied it. You two are close and yes, she drives you crazy and she’s overprotective most of the time, but she loves you, truly loves you. She’s been your guiding light for so long.” He rubs his hand up my side and under my shirt as he gathers his words. “I know you’re your own woman, but I would hate for her to influence you in any way when it comes to us. I can’t possibly be an ideal choice for her when it comes to someone who dates her daughter, and I—”

I press my fingers to his lips to quiet him. “You have nothing to worry about, Maddox.” I smooth my hand over his cheek and he leans into my touch. “You act like you’re the one who needs me in this relationship, but what you need to realize is I need you just as much. My mom gave me her opinion, I heard her out, and then I brushed it off. There is nothing anyone can say that would tear me away from you.” I lean forward and press my forehead to his. “I know you, Maddox, to your very core. I’ve seen the ups and downs, I’ve lived them, and through them, I’ve been by your side, and you’ve been by mine. The bond we have is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and the lust that we share, it feels like it’s growing by the minute. We are meant to be together, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone try to convince me otherwise.”

He swallows hard and glides his hand all the way up to the back of my neck, holding me in place. His lips reach out and graze mine. It’s a whisper of a kiss, more of an appreciation than anything. A quiet thank-you.

“Promise?”