Rich and successful record label CEO, Dru Willis, prides himself on being a leader. He sets out to accomplish something, and he does just that. Dru has lived his entire life getting what he wants when he wants, so when the one thing he can’t have turns out to be the only thing he ever wanted, he doesn’t know how to handle it. He finds himself cutting all ties with the only woman who ever had his heart, Marli Martin.
Their siblings force them into each other’s space, and there is nothing they can do to stop the strings that bind them from connecting. Dru soon realizes that Marli is the woman he wants, but is he willing to play her silly games? Playing with soul ties can be dangerous, but with every risk, there is a reward. Will Dru and Marli be able to ignite their bond, free of games, or will they discover that if you play around with soul ties, you might get burned?
This book is dedicated to my parents, Sophia and Burton.
Look, Mom and Dad, I wrote another book!
Continue to watch over me.
I miss you every day.
And to my kids, CJ and Nola.
May you one day understand why Mama had to work so hard.
Introduction
A note from A. Blossom
These characters and their drama first made their debut in Between a Soul Tie. It’s not required that you read that one first, but it will help you understand the chaos that is Marli and Dru.
Trigger warnings!
This book contains topics of sex, violence, guns, prison, and child endangerment. They are playing a whole lot of games in this book. If any of these trigger you, please proceed with caution.
Preface
You’re in Blossom’s playhouse. Let’s play.
Prologue
Marli
“Stop playing, Dru. We can’t do that here.” Marli giggled as she swatted Dru’s hand from between her thighs.
“Oh, now you got limits on where you take this dick?” Dru replied, leaning down to kiss her neck. A soft moan escaped Marli’s lips. She tried her best to move away from him, but the sensation his kisses was sending between her thighs had her leaning into him instead of getting away.
“My six weeks isn’t up. Now stop!” Her lips were moving, but her hips were rolling in his lap.
“What that got to do with those thick ass lips?” Dru now had one hand on her middle and the other gripping her throat. The sensation was almost enough to make her forget she’d just given birth three weeks ago.
“Dru…” Her plea came out as a soft moan. She couldn’t help it. Dru was her weak spot. It had been that way since the first day she’d met him. He was always breaking down the thick border walls around her heart and getting her to do things out of character. Whenever she was around him, he never failed to make her feel.
“Dru...” She whimpered again, fighting to build up the strength to push him away.
“Keep calling my name like that and we gon’ make another baby!” His voice vibrated around her eardrum and straight into her pussy. Grasping onto his words, Marli finally found the strength to push herself off his lap. The babies were exactly why they couldn’t do this.
“Dru, stop!” She swatted his hands away and scooted out of his lap, just as the nurses wheeled in the two incubators. Marli moved to her sons the same way she did whenever they were brought back into the room from one of the many tests or surgeries they had to have. Born at only twenty-six weeks, Marli’s twins had been through a lot, but they were alive and fighting.
“Everything went well. These little guys are champs,” the nurse stated as she moved to the computer.
“Verify the numbers on your wristband, please.” She spoke the routine protocol for returning newborn babies in the hospital. Marli recited the numbers robotically, placing her hand in the hole and securing her son’s small hand.
“That’s right, Deuce. You and your brother are fighters.” Marli looked up, admiring Dru as he stuck his hand in the incubator, grabbing onto Deuce. Her heart filled and broke every time he interacted with one of her sons. Dru had been present during her pregnancy, but being in the running to be her baby daddy had rubbed him the wrong way. She never expected him to be as supportive as he’d been the last three weeks. He’d been here at the hospital every day since the twins were born. It made what she had to tell him even more difficult.
“The doctor will be in with the results in about an hour or two. Can I get you anything?” The nurse placed her hands on her hips. Marli rolled her eyes as she ogled over Dru. The jealousy that consumed her only further confirmed why her feelings for Dru were dangerous.
“No, thank you, but—” The doors to the hospital room flew open, cutting Marli off. Everyone’s eyes immediately traveled to Max as he entered the room, sucking all the air out of it.
“Where my babies?” he questioned as he waltzed inside the room. His eyes moved between Dru and Marli. She hoped he wouldn’t be on any bullshit today. Every time Max stopped by, he was always on some bullshit. Marli wanted so badly to turn back the hands of time and never start fucking with Max, but it was too late for that. He was the richest nigga she’d fucked with at the time, and having a paid nigga trick on her was all she was concerned about. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t an actual good person. He was fine and rich, and that was good enough for her a year ago. Now she was stuck with the asshole. Marli exhaled a deep breath as Max approached her.
“Hey, baby mama.” He went for her lips, but she quickly pivoted her head.
“Hi, Max.” She rolled her eyes, placing her hand on his chest to stop him from getting any closer. She knew it was all a show for Dru. She hadn’t fucked with Max on that level since she found out she was pregnant. Her eyes went to Dru; he was watching them like a hawk.
“How my lil niggas doing?” he asked as he plopped down on the hospital recliner.
“Um—” the nurse said. Dru interrupted her.
“Aye, don’t address my sons like that, my guy.” Dru’s eyes were on Max as he still held on to Deuce’s hand. Max rose from the bed, and the look on his face let Marli know he was about to crush her entire world.
“Yo’ sons?” Max laughed. Marli’s heart beat fast.
“Max!” She attempted to plead with him to stop, but she knew he wouldn’t. Her pregnancy had become some sort of weird competition to him. Sometimes she wondered if he wanted to be the father of her kids or if he just didn’t want Dru to be.
“Oh, she ain’t told you yet? These my sons, nigga. I don’t even know why yo’ simp ass is here.” The air drained out of the room instantly, and Marli felt like she was underwater with no oxygen.
“The fuck he just say, Marli?” Dru was in her face within seconds, and she couldn’t speak. This wasn’t how she wanted him to find out. She was going to tell him today. She was, but when he showed up to the hospital with flowers for her, she couldn’t find the words. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Dru’s heart break. Hell, hers was breaking too. She wanted nothing more than for Dru to be the father of her sons, but God was playing a cruel joke on her, giving her an unneeded slice of humble pie.
