Claudia pivoted on her heels with horror-stricken eyes.

“What’s is it?” Jaden said, invading her space.

“I’ve got to go.”

Claudia moved to side step him, and Jaden laid both hands on her shoulders. “Chérie,” he said, concerned golden brown eyes meeting hers. “Talk to me.”

Claudia let out a frustrating breath.

“My mother and Martha Jean are fighting at the house. I’ve got to get over there, or they’re going to kill each other.”

“Fighting at the house?” Samiyah shrieked, listening in beside them.

“Yes, come on, Samiyah.”

“Oh, I’m coming, too,” Desiree said.

“Baby, are you coming?” Claudia asked.

“Of course,” Jaden replied. “Let’s go.”

Together, they stood and headed for the exit.

“Do you guys need us to come?” Eden asked.

“No, you’re good,” Claudia shouted. She was in a daze, wondering what they would find when she and Jaden made it home.

Samiyah and Jonas jumped inside the backseat of Jaden’s Lamborghini as Jaden climbed into the driver’s seat with Claudia in the passenger. They shot across town in a blaze of smoke with Desiree and Julian hot on their trail.

Jonas looked down to his wife’s trembling leg. Samiyah tapped her foot nervously as she stared out the window. He placed a warm palm on the top of her thigh and caressed her there. Samiyah turned to look at him.

“You’re nervous,” he said.

“And you’re not?”

“There’s this saying about stressing over things you can’t control.”

Samiyah nodded. Jonas was right, but it didn’t stop her gut from twisting at the thought of her mother and Adeline throwing blows. Just the notion of what that could possibly look like terrified her.

Jonas’ hand traveled up her arm then across her shoulders, and he pulled Samiyah into his embrace. “Everything will be all right,” he said. His smooth voice trekked across Samiyah’s skin, and she shuddered.

Leaning into him, she responded, “I hope you’re right.”

Jonas kissed her temple, and Samiyah closed her eyes, resting against his wide chest. Jonas’ gaze went to the rearview mirror catching Jaden glancing back at him. The two brothers shared an understanding moment. They both knew that if need be, they’d have to ban their mothers-in-law from family functions. It would be a tight conversation, but the fact remained that if Adeline and Martha Jean broke out into a fight every time they were together, it would ruin things before it got started.

Jaden’s gaze left the mirror and went back to the highway. He switched gears then reached for Claudia’s trembling hand that sat in her lap.

“Calm down, chérie,” he said.

Claudia let out a deep breath and allowed her husband’s fingers to link with hers for a warm squeeze. “Somehow, I know it was my mother that started the whole thing.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” Samiyah said from the backseat.

“We’ll be there in two minutes,” Jaden said.

“That’s long enough for them to burn the house down.”

Claudia and Samiyah had said it at the same time, causing Samiyah to lift from Jonas and meet Claudia’s whimsical smirk as she turned back to look at her best friend. The ladies chuckled and returned their focus back to their husbands.

Jonas reached out to run a gentle caress under Samiyah’s chin. “I love you,” he said, taking his hands down to rub her protruding belly. “Daddy loves you, too.” Just then, movement inside pushed against Jonas’ hand. Samiyah gasped and covered her mouth.

“I’ll never get used to her doing that,” she said.

“Or him,” Jonas reminded. They had decided to have a gender reveal party instead of knowing the sex upfront. He leaned down, speaking directly to her stomach. “Daddy can’t wait to meet you, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.” He kissed Samiyah’s belly and pressed his face against its warmth.

Samiyah exhaled a deep breath, feeling more complete with her family every day. Samiyah smiled sweetly and pulled Jonas’ lips to hers for a delicious kiss. “We love you, too, baby.” They kissed again, and warm heat saturated their mouths as they indulged in a lingering, slow burning dance of their tongues.

“We’re here,” Jaden said, interrupting the enchanting melody of Samiyah and Jonas’ moment.

The four of them glanced out of the window as Jaden pulled into the circular driveway behind Clifford’s truck.

“Looks like your father’s here,” Jaden said.

Claudia clutched Jaden’s hand tighter. If her father was there, there was no telling how this situation was unfolding.

“Oh God,” Claudia droned.

They all climbed out of the car just as Julian and Desiree pulled in behind them. Desiree exited quickly, and she and Claudia locked eyes.

“Dad’s here,” Desiree said.

“I know, come on.” Claudia grabbed her hand, and they ran into the house behind their men.

As they made it down the hall, they heard Martha Jean screaming at the top of her lungs.

“You’re bat-shit crazy!” Martha Jean ducked just as a banana went flying over her head.

London ducked alongside Martha Jean to keep the flying fruit from clocking her across the face. The entering entourage halted, astonished, at the sight of Adeline fighting off Clifford, to lurch for another piece of fruit to throw. When she grabbed an orange, Jaden interceded.

“Enough!” he roared.

All in attendance turned their attention to him. Bringing his voice down an octave, Jaden planted his hands on his carved hips. “Are you telling me there’s no proper way you two could handle your disagreement?”

“She started it,” Martha Jean said. “The old hag is psychotic.”

“How about we start with discontinuing the name calling?” Jaden’s deep voice thundered.

Martha Jean clapped her lips shut with a frown.

Jonas interceded, “Are you two going to fight like this every time you see each other? Because it’s important not only to your girls but also your growing family that you don’t.”

“Mom,” Claudia approached Adeline trailed by Desiree, “why are you throwing fruit at Martha Jean?”

“I told her to get out. It’s like she came over here to bug me, and she always has something rotten to say out of those—”

“No name calling!” Jaden thundered. He meant business, and in all his thirty-four years, Jaden had never seen two senior women carry on like Adeline and Martha Jean. Adeline closed her mouth tight at Jaden’s outburst.

“I came over here looking for you,” Martha Jean said, speaking to Samiyah. Martha Jean stood as did London. “She got her panties in a bunch just because I walked through the door!”

“Tell the truth, you ol…” At the stern look on Jaden’s face, Adeline mumbled her words.

Samiyah grabbed her mother’s hands and led her out of the room.

“You’re kicking me out?” Martha Jean shouted.

“No, I need to talk to you in private, or would you rather I say what I need to in front of everyone?”

Martha Jean huffed. “Fine.”

They left the room, and everyone turned to Adeline.

“What?” She shrugged.

“Mom,” Claudia began, “you’ve got to stop doing this.”

“Why is everything always my fault? I was sitting here minding my own business, waiting for the manicurist when your father showed up. Then here she comes right behind Clifford talking down to me. Now I’m sorry, son-in-law, I love you, and I don’t mean to disrespect your house, but I’m not letting anybody talk to me any kind of way. If it makes you feel that bad, I’ll just get my things and leave.” Adeline made a move for her cane.

“Mom, you don’t have to go anywhere,” Claudia said. “You’re being melodramatic.”

“No, I’m not. Maybe I should go stay with Desiree and my other son-in-law. I’d hate to wear out my welcome. Besides, as Martha Jean’s ugly ass put it, this isn’t my house. I’m just a visitor.”

Adeline didn’t miss the furrow of Jaden’s brows with her name calling.

“Listen,” Desiree intervened, “I don’t understand why you two can’t get along. We have a very important event coming up, and I don’t need you raising hell over something so trivial.”

“And don’t even make it seem as if you’re not wanted here because Jaden and I have done nothing but everything to make you feel comfortable,” Claudia added.

Jaden approached. “This is as much your home as it is ours. But you need to understand that even with that being the case, your actions don’t only affect you. When you’re throwing objects, you could hurt yourself or someone who’s trying to protect you.” Jaden motioned to Clifford. “In any case, doing so is juvenile and won’t be tolerated whether you’re here or at your other son-in-law’s home.”

“Agreed,” Julian added. “Tell us how we can help bring you and Martha Jean together because whether you or she likes it or not, you’re both a part of this family and will see each other on a regular basis.”

The doorbell chimed, giving London a reason to exit the room without being awkward. She was gone all of thirty seconds before she returned.

“It’s Daniella,” she said.

Adeline crossed her eyes. She’d been waiting on her manicurist Daniella for what felt like forever.

“Should we cancel her visit?” Jaden asked.

“No!” Adeline said. “I heard all of your concerns, and I just want to say I understand.” Adeline quieted but with all of their probing stares, she continued, “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to the Lord about it. Won’t happen again.”

No one believed her, but for now they accepted her apology. Jaden turned to London. “Invite Daniella into the study to give us time to clean up please.”

“Yes, sir.” London left the room, and Jaden and Claudia picked up fruit that was spread around the space while Clifford helped Adeline to the station she would sit at to get her mani, pedi.

Jonas left the room to check on Samiyah and Martha Jean. They were inside the dining room talking in harsh whispers. The closer Jonas came to them, the clearer their voices became.

“Look,” Samiyah was saying, “whether you like her or not, she’s a part of our extended family. You have to respect her, it’s not an option! Now if you guys are going at each other’s throats because of your crush on my father-in-law, then you should be ashamed of yourself. For God’s sake, Mama.”

Martha Jean huffed. “You know good and well that I could give a flying flip about her crush on Christopher. What is he going to do with her? He’d be a fool to overlook me for Ad-e-line.”

Samiyah sighed and dropped her head in her hands. Adeline held up her hands. “All right, I’m not trying to be a difficult person.”

Both Jonas and Samiyah frowned over at Martha Jean.

“I’m not,” she said, “I promise from here on out to be on my best behavior, but what am I supposed to do when she starts attacking me?”

“She won’t attack you,” Jonas said.

“She just did!”

“Anymore,” he added. “Both of you need to understand that it is unbecoming of you to act like we would expect teenagers to. She won’t attack you again, and if she does, we’ll deal with it when that time comes.”

Martha Jeaned huffed again. “Fine.”

“Are you good?”

Martha Jean smirked. “I’m good, son-in-law.”

Jonas laid a gentle hand on Samiyah’s back. “How are you?” With his other hand, he rubbed her belly.

Samiyah smiled up at him. “I’m okay.” She turned to Martha Jean but spoke to Jonas. “Baby, my mom and I are going to get lunch, do you mind?”

Jonas kissed the side of her head. “Of course not.”

Samiyah wrapped her arms around him and held on like she didn’t want to leave. Jonas nuzzled his nose between her shoulder and kissed alongside her face. “I’ll get Bradley over here,” Jonas said, speaking in reference to their driver.

The heat from his lips made her quiver. “Okay,” she said. They kissed then pulled apart as Jonas left the room to make his call.

 

Back in the living room, Jaden was welcoming Daniella in with a warm smile and a firm handshake.

“How are you today, Ms. Daniella?”

“I would be better if I wasn’t stuck in a traffic jam on my way over,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I would like to apologize to Ms. Stevens for my tardiness.”

“She’s waiting on you in her usual spot.” Jaden stepped to the side to allow Daniella to pass.

“Thank you, Mr. Rose,” she said as she found her way to the spa area.

Jaden left the room for the second floor, taking the Mediterranean staircase two steps at a time. Inside their bedroom, Jaden loosened his tie and strolled into the closet. It was the end of the day, and he was more than ready to relax and take a load off. Standing inside his closet, Jaden removed his suit jacket and put it to the side when soft arms circled his waist. He smiled and turned slowly to face Claudia.

“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” she said.

“You didn’t,” he responded. “I smelled your saccharine fragrance before you hit the doorway.”

Claudia smiled. It was amazing how this man made her feel more cherished as the days went on. Claudia’s hands roamed up his shirt, and one by one, she unbuttoned it.

“I want to apologize for my mom.” She sighed. “It seems, regardless of what I do or say to her, she will be Adeline.”

Claudia dropped her face, and Jaden pulled it up with the tip of her chin.

“Do you honestly think I expect you to apologize every time our mother misbehaves herself?” He squinted at her and turned his head slightly. “Of course not. Our family will be who they are no matter what. I just hope she understands that it’s not something we plan to tolerate. She’ll get it together sooner or later. And I’m sorry, too.”

“For what, babe?”

“For raising my voice at her.”

Claudia pulled his shirt from his pants and removed it from his arms. “Now, that right there is nothing for you to apologize about. With Adeline, that’s the only way to get her attention.” She unbuckled his belt. “Besides… it turned me on.” A cat like purr fled from her mouth, and Jaden pulled her into his arms, reaching down to grab her derriere as he slanted his mouth over hers. A streaming heat coursed through them, blazing right down to where they would soon connect. With his hands running up her jeans, Jaden quickly relieved her of the denim. Claudia yelped as he snatched her out of the pants, and her heartrate increased. Claudia would never get used to his hot, possessive lovemaking, and she never wanted to. Jaden didn’t bother to unbutton her shirt one button at a time. But he gave Claudia a fair warning before he destroyed the beautiful blouse completely.

“Arms,” his deep voice grooved against her mouth.

Claudia lifted her arms as Jaden sucked her tongue. A ripple of fire blazed down her body, over her breasts, to her vagina as he smoothly relieved her of the blouse. She reached out to him, and her hands trailed up his chiseled chest, coasting around his neck. She didn’t know when he had removed his pants, and before she had time to wonder, Claudia was in his arms. Jaden’s brawny warm hands palmed her ass with a hard smack.

“Ah!” Claudia yelped. The stinging slap caused her toes to curl, and with her hands she held on to his shoulders tightly.

When Jaden entered her, it was the profound thrust coupled with the thickened length of his dick that made her pull her mouth from his and toss her head back in a joyful scream. Her body arched into him and urgently, as if they hadn’t had untamable wild sex last night, Jaden drove in and out of her with passionate strokes.

    “Sssss… baby…” Claudia crooned as their bodies collided together.

Jaden kissed down her fully extended throat, sucking in her chocolate flesh with a fierceness that made her nipples reinforce.

“Aaah my God, I love you, I love you,” Claudia sang.

Jaden’s lips trailed back to her face, and he pulled her lips into his warm wet mouth. His plunges sank deeper inside her core and against her lips his thick voice growled, “I love you more.”

Claudia’s clandestine response was a high-pitched shout. With a handful of her bottom, Jaden took staggered steps until they fell against the wall. In long perpetual strokes, he filled her, pinging at her G-spot with every prod.

“Ah! Jaden…” she whined.

Jaden worked his hips back and forth, dipping so thoroughly that he touched every wall inside her. Claudia’s head fell back against the barrier, and Jaden pummeled her sex with a fierce intensity that had them rocking into the wall with fast vibrant thumps.

“Jaden!” she shouted at the same time Jaden sucked in a nipple. Again, Claudia’s toes curled, and a mating cry clawed from her throat as she squirted all over his shaft.

“Shit!” He cursed as hot semen rushed inside of her. Capturing her mouth, Jaden sucked in her tongue while they were coated in an electric warmth that tingled every nerve ending inside of them.

After several seconds, Jaden pulled away from her glorious mouth, breathing heavily. “Tonight, I want you in the swing-set again.”

Claudia’s eyes widened at the dangerous thought of the new toy they’d purchased, and the anticipation mixed with the comforting cocoon she was currently in made her muscles clench.

“Or…” Jaden went on, “we could skip the remission and get straight to it.”

Claudia’s heart raced, and a naughty smile spread across her face.

“We’d have to put everyone out first,” she half spoke, half panted.

“Or not,” he said as his growing muscle flexed and extended inside of her. Claudia gasped just as Jaden instilled another rocketing plunge into her, picking right up where they left off.