Prince: Love Always Wins

Lesha

It was so easy to fall into a rhythm. We had been away for a little over three weeks, and while Prince was hard at work daily, I established a way to make the treats so that I wouldn’t be up all night. I was surprised by how tiring it could be. I would always go to work with Prince in the mornings and leave after lunch break for the guys. With a crew of about twelve, I would sell through my morning and lunch inventory by nine a.m. The men started getting smart and paying for everything at once. I started selling out on the second day. Once they fell in love with the taste of my treats, it was like no matter how much I would bring, it wouldn’t be enough. I was honestly producing as much as I could.

Not only was I cooking for the crew, but I was also cooking for Prince to ensure he had a hot meal after work each day. I loved seeing his face while he sank his teeth into one of my dishes. I was midway through cooking when I reached out to my sister. I propped up the phone so I could finish my final tasks.

“Well, damn, girl. You just an old-fashioned housewife ain’t you?” she said when she answered.

“Stop playing,” I said, but for some reason, her words stung a little more than usual.

“So the dick must be good if you up there cooking and cleaning.”

“I’m cooking because I’m hungry, and I keep a clean house.”

“I know that’s right; Mama did not raise no nasty hoes.”

“Exactly!”

“Do you ever miss her?” she asked.

“I been thinking of her a lot lately.”

“Me too. It’s so much she taught us but then again so much we had to learn on our own.”

That made me stop rattling the pots and go to the screen. Looking at my phone, I could only see her ceiling. After a brief moment, she came to the screen, too.

“I miss you,” I pouted. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just not what I thought this was going to be. It is fashion, and we had a show last night.”

“Damn, sis’, I feel like an idiot. You told me the show was last night, and I didn’t even ask you how it was.” I was so caught up in Prince, but that was a big event for Nesha. I should’ve at least called.

“It’s cool.”

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

“Chaz,” she breathed out, and then she just lost it. She dissolved into a fit of tears. My sister was always tough and never let anything get under her skin. But I couldn’t deny that she loved Chaz. Whatever the reason behind that was. No one could understand my draw to Devin after all these years, but men just had a way of getting under your skin and tying to your soul. Wait a minute. That was literally the first time I had thought about him since Prince put him on his ass last week. The old me would’ve obsessed about that. The realization was shocking.

“You know what I’m saying?”

“Huh? Yeah.” I spoke into the phone, hoping I hadn’t missed the story, but no matter what part she had left, I knew precisely what Chaz had done.

“I’m just so fucking tired of trying over and over again with this nigga and looking like a fool. Like, damn, how many fucking pregnancy scares can one person take. At this point, this nigga is being reckless with his sperm and my life.”

“What does he have to say about this?”

She wiped the tears away from her eyes before she responded. “I didn’t even ask him. The chick approached me last night, and I know he wouldn’t do shit but lie anyway. He always does. I know exactly what I’m gone do. This shit is over after this.”

“I hope it is. You deserve so much better.”

“ We deserve so much better. That’s why I say take it all. Fuck these niggas. Prince wants to give you stacks, a car, a gah damn house, take it all. Just don’t be stupid like me and make sure the shit is in your name because these niggas love to throw in your face what they did for you. Fuck that! All the pain and suffering we go through behind loving these niggas we deserve something to fucking show for it!”

I stayed quiet, trying to let her words run off my shoulder. She was hurting, and if you asked me if I felt the same way a few weeks ago, I would have been right on target with her, but not today—not after this time away with Prince.

“Where are you?”

“In one of these back fucking dressing rooms. Nobody can hear me, and thank God because I am too damn embarrassed for anyone to hear about the shit I have been going through. I can’t sit up here and play the victim but damn. All that begging he did, telling me this time would be different. Telling me how much he loved and cherished me to hop states, and it is not even a month, and he on the same shit?”

“Are you okay, Nesha? Seriously. Are you alright?”

“I just need a hug from my sister.” Tears started to pour out of her eyes again, and I started to cry as well. Feeling her hurt was like a squeezing inside of my chest. Our bond was unshakable, even with space and time.

“I promise we will get together soon. I don’t know how, but we will. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too. What about you? How are you doing?” She tried to clean up her face again. I paused, knowing that I wanted to share all the sweet things Prince had done for me but that it wasn’t the right time.

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t give me that. I've been seeing your IG stuff. Must be going good now that you have started your new business.”

“Things are going well,” I stated neutrally. I heard the door close and I tried to clean up my face as well. No way Prince wouldn’t ask questions.

“What’s wrong baby? You good?” Prince made deliberate steps toward me as soon as he walked into the kitchen. He pulled a smile from me, and without a second thought, everything vanished. Thinking of Devin made me see quickly that there was no comparison between the two. It was out of my element to live with a man. Something I’d never done, actually, but I came to crave Prince’s presence even when he wasn’t around for a few hours. He flooded me with comfort with just a small touch on the small of my back and an intense gaze.

“Oh, sis’. Prince just came in.”

“It’s cool bahbee. I’ll call you back.”

“No! I can step in the back for a second.”

“No. It’s fine. I have to catch up on designs. Love you.” She quickly rushed off the phone, and when I met Prince’s eyes, they were just as intense and still awaiting an answer.

“I’m fine. I just miss my sister.”

“You sure that’s it?”

I nodded and moved away to finish my prep.

“I know it’s hard on y’all. Is this the first time y’all have been apart?”

“Yes. We are always stuck at the hip. I mean, in the city, we had separate places, but I honestly can’t remember a time we went a day without seeing each other. Let alone weeks.”

“How is she doing with the distance?” He circled me. I felt like he was trying to get a trace of me, so I turned to the opposite side to pick up the flour.

“I guess as good as she can. She is doing a lot with her fashion line so she doesn’t have much time to think about it. We are just being brats. We will be alright. Are you hungry?” I turned to him and placed a smile on my face.

“I am.” He pulled me close and pressed his lips to mine. Fire crept up my spine as I clutched onto his chest. He broke our kiss, and I dizzily stepped back onto the island to find balance. I raised my eyes to meet his face, and that familiar expression rested there.

Cocky ass.

“You know you don’t have to do this. As much as I appreciate it, I don’t expect you to cook every day. You are working and busting your ass, too.”

“I don’t mind.” I picked up a washcloth from the table and started wiping things down. His hands rested on top of mine to stop me.

“I’m sure you don’t, but I do mind if you get burned out by the unreasonable expectations you set on yourself. I’m a fully capable man. I can cook for you sometimes, and I clean up just fine, too.”

“I love being in the kitchen. It’s my favorite place. I appreciate you saying that, and I’ll keep you in mind. I was running a bit behind on dinner anyway. Aren’t you home earlier than usual?”

“I planned on that. We finished two houses ahead of schedule, so I called it early because I wanted to take my pretty ass woman out and show her off. We been working like crazy. Both of us. So no work this weekend. We need to make some time for us.”

“Ooh sounds nice.” He pulled me into him again, and I swayed from side to side. “Where we going?”

“You let me worry about dinner, but you need to pack a bag because after that, we are taking a flight.”

“A flight?” I raised my eyebrow.

“I’m not going to have my woman moping around here. You need to see your people so we can fly to see her tonight. After dinner, we will probably end up landing in the middle of the night. We can get checked into a hotel. You can have the day to spend with your sister. Those nights are still mine, though. I miss you, Le.”

“I would argue with you, but that sounds so good! I know it’s only been three weeks, but we have both been busting our asses. Maybe a little break won’t hurt,” I admitted knowing my sister needed to see a familiar face.

“I love it when yo’ ass listen.”

“Mmm hmm, well, don’t get used to it,” I teased, not leaving his arms. He slapped my ass, and my eyes closed on impact.

“We still have time for me to take you to that room before this reservation. Go pack.”

I pranced away happily and stopped before I left the room completely, as a thought played in my mind. I turned around, and he had taken over the towel and was cleaning the countertops.

“Prince, I have a question.” He lifted his head.

“What’s up, Le Monroe?” I blushed and rolled my eyes.

“I overheard you talking to Remy about you guys being tight on a budget for this project, and I know you are in the middle of trying to secure things with the hotels.” His smile widened and stopped me momentarily. I couldn’t let that deadly smile stop me from completing my thoughts. “I just want to make sure that this isn’t going to hurt you in any way. You are right. I have been working, and things are going well. I can help out with things. Like how much is the flight?”

“I don’t have a lot of legal money to play with Le. That’s what I was speaking of. I love that you are so considerate of me. Of us. But I wouldn’t suggest anything that would put us in any type of position. What you do with your money to help will never be something I require to happen in this relationship. I’m not built that way. I got us for whatever. Let me handle the problems, Le.”

“That’s your second time telling me that.”

“That must mean that I mean that.”

“So, if you are handling the problems, what is left for me to do?”

“I’m sure you will figure that out. Go pack before yo’ pretty ass get fucked, please.”

That was enough to make me run to the next room. With each step I started to believe exactly what he said. He was indeed handling our problems. It was like that man didn’t want to see a frown on my face, and if he was going to take care of the problems, it was my job to take care of him.

***

“Landing on a roof will never not be crazy,” I shouted over the helicopter propellers as I jumped into Prince’s arms on the rooftop of Beverly Wilshire, Ritz Carlton Hotel.

“Well, I may have called in a last-minute favor from my hotel client.”

“Client? You sealed the deal?” I lowered my voice as the helicopter moved away from us. We had dinner and talked about so much but he didn’t mention that.

“I can count it all but done. He’d be a fool not to pick me. Just waiting on the red tape for the mansion and I’ll submit my specs and finalize.”

“I see. Not that your head needs to be any bigger but you are great at what you do. Anything you put your hands on becomes a work of art.”

“I can’t wait to put my hands on you.”

“You’ve been touching me all night,” I whispered. He pulled me by the hand and didn’t respond. He led us down some steps from an open door and brought a key card from his wallet. I didn’t want to even question how he had it. Before my mind ran marathons in the middle of the night, it came to me. When we met the hotel owner that day after I met Remy’s wife, he handed Prince a package. That must have been it.

“You tired?”

“I mean, it is late, but I’m okay.” It was just past midnight here, but with the time zone difference, my body knew it was close to four a.m. Still, the whole ride over, I thought about how I wanted to join the mile-high club, but with my scared ass being afraid to fly, I was holding on to that seatbelt for dear life.

“I know there will be quite a bit of lag. We can get cleaned up and chill on the balcony for a little while. If you want to go to sleep, that’s cool. I’m a little wired.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked, concerned.

“I’m fine baby.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

The room was regal. I kept walking toward the back to find the shower but I felt like I walked the entire length of a house before I found one. I heard the faint sound of a shower on the other side of the room, which let me know there was a shower on the other side as well. Damn, we could have done that together. No, he was probably right to do it that way because neither one of us was going to get any sleep that way.

I laid my bag on the bathroom sink and grabbed my toiletries. It was Saturday now, and I loved the fact that we were getting away—especially so sporadically, but just thinking about Monday made me groan. I was a regular working woman now. I showered, thinking the whole time about the plans we had when it came to leaving. Once I was done, I wrapped myself in a towel and found Prince on the balcony. I didn’t know what made this man love heights so much.

“Hey, I was thinking. What time are we leaving out Sunday?”

“We just got here, and you already want to leave?” He turned toward me, and it was like when I saw that movement, I realized he was shirtless. Damn.

“No, just thinking about Monday. So much to do to get ready for the crew.”

“They will be alright.”

“Now you know Remy looks forward to my breakfast sandwiches.” I smiled just thinking about it. I see how Remy had climbed into his heart.

“Come here. Why are you standing in the doorway?”

I put one toe down onto the balcony. The coolness hit my feet. I dragged my other foot to meet and vowed not to look down as my eyes stayed on him. “I’m scared of heights. I never knew that until you took me to all these high places.”

“Well, let me give you a good memory of a high place. You don’t need this.” He tugged at my towel, and it hit the ground.

“What if someone sees us?” I asked breathlessly.

“You think they could ever see what I do?” He pulled me in front of him and made me face out. The exact thing I was avoiding. I was timid, but the beauty of the lights was unquestionably breathtaking.

“I always thought it was so beautiful looking at the world from an elevated point of view. Something about seeing all the hustle and bustle but not being in it.” He spoke as his hand found its way to where my tummy met my panty line. His large hand crept up slowly until it covered my right breast. My nipples perked, and he toyed with it between his fingers.

“Mmm. Did you, did you ever want to live here? In LA.”

“Nah, never. I enjoy looking at shit like this but not being in it.”

He kissed my collarbone, and my ass shot back, having a mind of its own. He groaned into my ear as his dick hardened against my back.

“Every presidential has to have a balcony. It needs to be bigger, though. Better.”

“Huh?” I asked, confused. He was kissing my body and touching me. It was making me short-circuit.

“You say I make works of art then Le Monroe that would make you my muse. I can’t imagine being in any hotel and not being able to fuck my beautiful woman under the stars as the people drive by underneath us. That’s a work of art that can’t be duplicated. You are so fucking beautiful to me.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered as the wetness dripped from me. His fingers found my pussy and pushed in. I loved his foreplay, but I wanted to be fucked. Knowing Prince asking for that would only make the wait longer.

“I need a way to tie those hands behind your back. A way to brace that beautiful body so it stays in place so I can do all the things I want to it.”

“Shit.”

The cool breeze greeted my bare flesh like an old friend. The temperature and my heat were a perfect mix. His hands widened my legs, and I leaned forward to brace myself against the railing, my legs already wobbling. I wasn’t one that was in love with receiving oral. It just wasn’t my thing. I was a giver, but Prince never entered me without tasting me first. At least he hadn’t thus far.

“Mmm. Shit wait!” Right before my eyes closed, I looked a few paces down, and there was a set of eyes on us. Clearly, they were enjoying seeing the show because their eyes were locked on me. I said to wait, but I didn’t move a damn muscle to tell him to stop. The way my stomach was clinching I was on my way.

“You think they can see what I do? You know what to say to make me stop. If you not saying that let me clean my fucking plate.” He growled and pulled my hips further into him. My nipples hardened, and I erupted on his beard. I sung his praises into the night sky. Everyone in earshot knew his name.

“Don’t move,” he called and I whipped around doing the exact opposite of his command.

“If your hardheaded ass don’t listen the longer you wait.” He walked to the bed, dug in the bag he brought for the trip, and pulled out my favorite leather pleasure. My body pulsed. He walked back to me, and my eyes were glued to the device until he called them back up to him.

“Le.”

“Yes,” I hummed.

“Hands.”

I offered both wrists to him so he could have me however he wanted not giving a damn whether or not we got a wink of sleep.