Marz

Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Heir

Aries was the last to leave, and when she asked to talk to Marz, I knew why.

I’d invited everyone over to thank them for helping me and Marz with my situation.

It didn’t matter how much his family and friends said it wasn’t necessary, just saying the words thank you didn’t feel good enough.

I’d cooked a feast, and we spent the last three or four hours eating, having fun, and truly enjoying each other’s company.

When Aries asked to talk to Marz, I excused myself, but she grabbed my hand and stopped me.

“Thank you for inviting me,” she said with a warm smile. “I know you didn’t have to, and I appreciate the invitation.”

“I wouldn’t have a get together for Marz’s family and not invite his mother,” I told her.

I understood why she probably felt like I didn’t have to invite her.

She hadn’t been involved in what had been going on lately, but I didn’t care about that.

I was in love with her son and had gotten a close friend in her daughter.

I was grateful for her additions to my life.

“Still… thank you. One of these days we’ll have to do brunch or something. I need to get to know the woman my son has been claiming as his wife for the past decade almost.”

Chuckling, I nodded as I lowered myself to give her a hug. “Yes, ma’am. I’m free now that I’ve quit my job, and school won’t start until August, so just let me know when.”

Even with me insisting I didn’t need the help, Neo, Merci, and Ariel had helped me get everything cleaned up before they left, so I didn’t have anything to do for the evening but shower and relax.

I filled a pot with water that I’d use to make a cup of coffee after my shower.

Unlike most people, it didn’t energize me; it relaxed me.

I couldn’t wait to snuggle up next to my baby with my mug of coffee and thick slice of chocolate cake.

By the time I had the shower water just like I liked it, Marz was making his way into the bathroom.

He walked over to me, and I pulled his locs up into a bun and took off his jewelry while he took off his clothes.

I hadn’t planned to ask what his mother wanted to talk to him about.

I figured he’d tell me if he wanted me to know.

His coffee brown eyes looked down at me curiously as he smiled.

“You love acting like you don’t want to ask questions when I know your ass is nosy as hell,” Marz said, and I laughed because that was the truth.

“I was hoping you’d want to tell me on your own so I wouldn’t have to ask.”

He chuckled and licked his lips as we walked over to the shower. “She wanted to talk to me about Kiana. I hadn’t told her about the baby, but Kiana did.”

“Oh. Why did she tell her? I’m sure she had a good reason for it,” I justified, not wanting to be too skeptical of one of his best friends.

“Apparently Daniel overheard Kiana talking to her sister about the baby potentially not being his and he called off the wedding. She’s trying to get him back but doesn’t think she’ll be able to, so she wanted to talk to my mama about how she was able to convince Pops to take care of her and Ariel even though she isn’t his biological daughter.

Her bright idea was to use those same tactics to get me to take care of her baby if it’s Daniel’s since he left her.

That isn’t the verbiage she used, but yeah. ”

I didn’t mean to let my laughter slip out but I couldn’t help it.

The more I heard about Kiana, the more I questioned how in the hell Marz had been able to deal with her for as long as he had.

Did her weird behavior start when she found out she was pregnant?

Or had he ignored it because of their history?

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked through the last of my laughter. “How did she even fix her mouth to ask your mother how to manipulate this situation to work in her favor?”

Marz shrugged as he washed his body. “I’on know, bae.

The way Ma said it, Kiana thought there was some scheme or magical words she used to receive my pops loyalty, but that wasn’t the case.

Ma didn’t even ask him to take care of Ariel; he offered.

He chose to be a father figure to her until Ma married Hamilton, and even after.

“There was nothing Ma could have said to make him agree or change his mind. That’s just the kind of man he is.

I guess Kiana thought if she knew what Ma had said to my daddy that she could say it to me as well and it would work.

As surprised as I am that she went to Ma, I’m glad she did.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what she was up to.

She hasn’t even told me about her and Daniel yet.

We haven’t spoken since the test was done.

I probably won’t hear from her until we get the results. ”

“I’m sorry, babe. I know this isn’t how you saw this situation playing out.”

Marz sucked his teeth and lowered himself to my lips for a kiss.

“All will be well. If nothing else, Kiana is showing me parts of her character and personality that I was too blind to see were there. It was easy for me to ignore her selfish and manipulative behavior when it wasn’t directed toward me.

Now that that’s no longer the case, if the baby isn’t mine, I’m done with her scandalous ass. ”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything at all.

We finished our shower and got dressed in our sleepwear, then I went downstairs and made my coffee and him a glass of whiskey.

Marz cut our cake, then we went upstairs to his bedroom and got comfortable in bed.

As he flipped through different streaming platforms, I couldn’t help but blurt, “I love it here. I don’t want to go home. ”

Marz looked over at me as he chuckled. “Good, because this is your home.”

My smile remained as I nestled against him and took a bite of my cake.

Finally, life was back good.

Actually, life was perfect.

One Month Later

For our date night, Marz and I went to a salsa dancing class, then dinner with my parents.

I didn’t know they would be here, and I was genuinely happy to see them.

I’d been in a bubble getting closer to my man.

For the past month, I’d maybe seen my parents twice, and that wasn’t like me at all.

Marz and I had also taken a weeklong trip, which I’d loved every second of.

Marz and Daddy had gone to the bar while I told Ma about our salsa dancing class.

We were waiting for dessert, because having a sweet tooth ran in our family, and we couldn’t have dinner without a little sweet treat at the end.

When our men came back with a bottle of champagne, Ma asked, “What’s the occasion? ”

“I’ll let Marz answer that,” Daddy said with a wide grin, popping the champagne.

Marz didn’t respond immediately as he sat next to me. His expression was serious, but there was a glint in his eyes as he took my hand into his and kissed it. Once Daddy had poured all of us a glass of champagne, Marz lifted his flute and led our toast.

“Your mother told me to bring you back the same way I took you the last time you left their home,” he started, “and I was honest when I told her I didn’t want to bring you back.

We may be doing things out of order, but I just finished talking to your father, and I let him know I’m going to give you the perfect proposal when the time is right.

Until then, I’d love it if you moved in with me permanently.

I love you, and I want to spend every second of my day and every day of my life with you.

With their permission, and with your desire, will you stay with me, bae? ”

Though Marz really didn’t have to ask my parents’ permission, I appreciated him being a man of honor and doing it anyway. Cupping his cheek, I gave him what I was sure would be a parent approved kiss before almost singing, “Yes. When can we go get the rest of my things?”

“Well damn, Princess. You don’t have to be in that big of a rush to leave,” Daddy said, making us all laugh.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll get a few things at a time and leave some small stuff behind.”

“Mhm,” he grumbled before taking another sip of his champagne.

Relaxing in my seat, I watched in pride as three of my favorite people on Earth talked amongst themselves. I was officially convinced that life couldn’t get any better than this.

Marz placed kisses all along my neck from behind.

My bottom lip was pulled between my teeth as a low moan escaped me.

Every time he rocked against me to the beat, my pussy leaked.

I didn’t think there was a feeling or action that could compare to how good having Marz inside of me felt, but every time I was in his arms for a dance, that was a close number two.

Turning in his embrace, I smiled as his arms lowered from my waist to my ass.

Our lips connected, and the sound of his moan went straight to my heart.

Running my hand up his neck, I tugged his locs gently, giggling when he nibbled on my bottom lip and smacked my ass.

“I’m tryna be romantic but you ’bout to make me fuck you,” he warned, as if that was a declaration that would make me stop.

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me,” I confessed, looking up and into his warm, beautiful eyes.

A week had passed since he asked me to move in with him permanently, and the adjustment had been easy.

I expected to just bring my things in and make them mesh with his, but that wasn’t the case.

Marz had given me complete control over redecorating his entire home so that it felt like mine as well, and though I appreciated the gesture, it wasn’t necessary.

All I needed was a room of my own to study and relax in and to update the kitchen and primary bedroom, and I’d be good with that.

Tonight, our families came over and met for the first time.

I thought it was cute that Onesty and Kayla had gotten with Marz’s sisters to turn the evening into a mini housewarming party to celebrate me moving in.

And I loved that our families got along well.

It was important to me that the man I married got along with my parents, and if our families got along, that would be a bonus.

Though my parents tolerated Jay, they absolutely loved Marz and his people.

“Where do you see us in five years?” I asked as the song shifted into something a little faster, causing us to release each other.

As I lifted the roses Marz had gotten me to my nose, he said, “Married. Traveling every other month. At least one baby. Animals. Farmland. You working as a librarian and me still running the academy.” His fingers locked with mine over my head, and he twirled me around before pulling me back into his arms. “We’ll have a booth at the farmer’s market selling milk and fruit and vegetables we grew in our garden.

” His fingers slid down my cheek and I shivered.

“You’ll probably be pregnant with our second baby by then now that I think about it, because life will be so perfect that I won’t be able to keep my hands off you or my dick outta you. ”

My head flung back as I laughed. “How many babies do you want, mister? Three?”

“Five.”

“Five!” I squealed, and he laughed.

“Yeah, five. Or at least four. I want a big family like mine.”

“Understandable. Being an only child had its perks, but I always said I wanted to have at least two kids so they could grow up together and be each other’s first best friend. I can agree to four.”

“We staying in Memphis forever?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so. We can always have a house here because we’ll both want to come and see family often, but I want to eventually move to the DMV area or Chicago.

Maybe once the kids graduate high school?

I want them to grow up with family close by.

Ooh! And I want a summer beach house on the west coast by the time our first baby turns five. ”

“Done. What else?”

For a while, I just stared at him. Not only did I have the confidence that Marz really wanted to know what I wanted out of life, but I had the surety to believe he’d make it happen.

Knowing that had me pulling his lips down to mine for a kiss.

After setting the roses down on the couch, I allowed Marz to pick me up before reconnecting my lips with his.

Because in this moment, all I wanted was him.