Prince: Love Always Wins

​Lesha

Lesha

“Oh my God!” I gushed as soon as I walked into the room and saw Satisa holding my new God baby. She said she couldn’t choose, so she made both my sister and me Godmothers for all her kids. She knew if anything happened we would have them hands down. “He is so beautiful, Tisa.” I squealed pulling the chocolate brown baby from her arms. It was like I couldn’t see anything or anybody else. Prince, Chaz, and Nesha all came in with me. I was sure Priest was somewhere in the corner of the hospital room, but my only focus was the beautiful new bundle of joy.

I smelled his full head of hair and tears ran down my face. So many feelings intermingling together. My chest started to pound. I was so happy for my girl and her husband but feelings of deep need stabbed me in the chest. I looked up, and while others held a smile and huddled around me, Prince was the only person who seemed to see through me. That usual lifted right brow told me he was calculating. I had no idea how he did that. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Priest.

“Stop hogging my God baby,” Nesha said as she pulled him from my arms. Prince stepped forward and I purposely stepped toward Satisa in the hospital bed.

“How you doing, boo? How was the delivery?” I asked. You couldn’t tell that it took much out of her because she seemed fully rested.

“It was actually my easiest delivery. Once lil’ Priest found out he was ready he wasn’t too bad on me. I will actually be going home this afternoon.”

“I’m proud of you, Sis’! Carrying our legacy. Another hardheaded Richards man. Just to give you a heads-up, he's gone give you hell.” Prince stepped dangerously close to me. Maybe he was okay with me not announcing it, but he was leaving no questions for anyone to ask. He placed his hand on the small of my back and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“You okay, baby?”

“Ooh, what’s going on here?” Satisa whispered while everyone else was enamored with the baby. Prince didn’t answer. He just smiled.

“That’s the last thing you need to be worried about. You need to be focused on healing.” I answered, and I felt him shift. I don’t know why I was making it so complicated. He was my man. I had a problem with any woman who got close to him, but for some reason, I couldn’t utter the words. I couldn’t declare it. You are afraid he won’t choose you once he knows.

“Aye let the ladies have it for a minute so they can do their screaming shit. Fuck with me for a minute.” Priest came up. He shocked me when he pulled me into his arms for a hug.

“What up, sis’. I hope my brother ain’t getting on your nerves too damn bad.” He laughed.

“I think he is doing okay for now.” I forced a smile, hoping it was sincere. My mind was just spinning.

“Just okay?” Prince pulled me back so I could face him. All eyes were on us now.

“Better than okay.” My throat was so dry it would crack. His eyes blazed with anger, and I couldn’t understand why. He dropped a kiss on my forehead and pulled me into him.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

With that, he was out of the door. Nesha was placing PJ in the bedside bassinet. As soon as she stood, all eyes were on me again. I knew I had to spill the tea. Satisa had a big, goofy grin on her face, and Nesha was holding her peace for now.

“You have too much energy to have just had a baby.” I tried to get a laugh, but neither one of them was going.

“Well?” Satisa asked.

“I would like to know too because from what you were saying to me, it was supposed to be fun. It looks like a lot more than that.” Nesha chimed in. She was trying to keep her voice neutral and expression even. It was taking everything she had. That’s when it dropped on me that what she was going through wasn’t about me.

“Shouldn’t we be talking about the baby right now?”

“Ooh not she stalling. It’s not a big deal if you like him, Lesha. Like I told you, Prince is a good guy. I mean he is handsome. He has a good head on his shoulders and he is secure. What’s the problem?” Satisa adjusted her bed to sit up further as she spoke.

“It’s not that.”

“Well, it’s something.” Satisa pushed and looked over at Nesha for help, but she said nothing.

“I do like him. I like Prince a lot. The way he makes me feel.”

“Ooh, I get it. He can fuck.” Nesha said.

“That’s not what she is saying. I mean, he can, right? I hope he can with the way you were sizzling over here.” Satisa jabbed.

“I’m just seeing where things are going. Nothing more. So, who has the babies? Priest’s mom?” I changed the subject.

“Yeah, and it’s killing her not to be here. I have Facetimed her a million times already. She will meet us at the house and help me out.”

“See, you married into a good family. Priest’s mom is so cool and funny.” I walked to the bassinet to get another look at PJ.

“She is. I’m ready to go home and kiss my other babies. I was able to deliver without any tears so I should be back on my feet in no time.”

“Don’t do too much, though. You have all the support you need, so allowing them to cater to you for a few weeks is your right.” Nesha added, and I agreed. “But what we need to do is have a little girls' night. I am only here for today and tomorrow,” Nesha finished.

“I can’t do it tonight. Prince and I have a date.”

“A date? Really? That nigga can’t come off you one night so you can spend time with your people?”

“Nesha.” Satisa breathed.

“Hold on. I have a call anyway.” Nesha stood and walked out. I didn’t chase her either. Satisa’s eyes widened.

“What has been going on lately? I thought y’all tell each other everything.”

“Usually we do. Shit with Chaz is so fucked up. He got some woman pregnant and she popped up in California.”

“What? No damn way!” Satisa sat up.

“I know. When we went out she told me yesterday. She tried to brush it off. She says she's going to let him go, and I believe her this time, but I know it’s killing her. She loves that nigga, and that doesn’t just go away. Trust me, I know.”

“So is that why you are stutter-stepping with Prince? You still have feelings for Devin?”

“I damn near had to ask you who that is. That is how much I have pushed him out of my mind. There was a time when I loved him, and he could do no wrong. I fell out of love with Devin while we were in a relationship. I was holding on to familiarity.”

“Then what is it? Nothing you have said so far makes sense, and I know you. If you didn’t like this nigga you would talk to him bad every chance you got. With him, you seem almost shy. It’s cute!” she gushed.

“Naw, bahbee! I’m never shy. You just don’t understand.” I shook my head.

“Then make me. We are friends for a reason, right? But somehow, I always feel like I’m out of the loop with you two. Y’all know everything about me. If you don’t trust me, then why are we friends?” Her eyes were as serious as I’d ever seen them. Now she told me I was being shy, but that was her nickname for a reason. She was always soft-spoken before Priest. Now, sis’ had found her backbone, and it looked good on her. Plus she was right. The truth had to start somewhere. I was so afraid to lose everything. I looked over my shoulder to check that no one was coming, and when she saw my action, she moved closer to me in the bed.

“You know we left home but it was for a reason. I was in an abusive relationship back then. I was young and stupid. Our mother was killed and we were left to our own devices. I found out Devin was cheating on me so we took a break. That’s how I met Maceo. He was a drug dealer, and I thought I hit the jackpot. He was taking care of me and my sister unknowingly, so when he started to hit me, I dealt with it.” Satisa’s eyes pooled with tears at my story, and I looked over my shoulder again. I didn’t even know how Nesha would feel about me telling this because we vowed not to tell a soul, but this shit was wearing on me. If I wanted to go anywhere with Prince, he would have to know too, so I guess I was calling this practice. “It got so bad one day. He was hitting on me, and Nesha tried to interfere. I remember being hit with something so hard over my damn head that I was so dizzy. Slipping in and out, I saw him pin Nesha to the ground and push her skirt up.”

“Oh my God. Did he?” Satisa gasped with her eyes closed and her hand on her chest.

“No! I stopped him before he could but we took all the money and ran. We had no place to go and we needed a start, and I have been on the run since. His father has been after us and we moved from state to state every time he popped up until we finally settled in Michigan. You see my hesitation now? Prince is rebuilding his life. He has been through so many hurdles, and I would be wrong to add that to him. He won’t stop until he finds us. I can’t allow Prince to get hurt. And there is so much more. What if?” I stopped short of finishing the story, telling myself it would be insensitive to talk about miscarriages at a time like this. I was scared about him learning my truth and feeling differently about me. The murder was a tough hill to climb, but not being able to bear this man's children, something every man wanted, was impossible. I couldn’t even speak it.

“How did you stop him?” Satisa said quietly and my lips just would not loosen. She laid her hand on top of mine.

“Prince is capable of making his own decisions. Lesha, I am so sorry. Come here, baby.” I don’t know how she had the strength after pushing out a human, but my best friend grabbed me so tight. She rocked back and forth with me in her arms.

“The way he treats me. I have never felt that before. The way he talks to me. I don’t even want to get used to it.”

“No, look at me. You deserve good things, Lesha. You are worthy of happiness. You have a Richards man, girl. They are a different tier than these other niggas you meet. Trust me, no matter what you did, especially in self-defense, its not a deal breaker.” She connected eyes to me, and automatically, I solved a mystery that was floating around about the death of her cousin. I wouldn’t press because it wasn’t her story to tell. I nodded, but I didn’t want to move. Her embrace felt too good. Being hugged genuinely by a friend, a sister, was what I needed.

“So what about you and Nesha? Y’all need to talk.”

“We will.”

“Are you okay?” As soon as the firm hands wrapped around my waist, I knew it was Prince. He sat me upright and made me look into his eyes. There was no way I could dry the tears in time. When the silence surrounded us too long, Satisa tried to help.

“We are just being girls in here.” She sniffed, and I caught that look Priest shot her. How the hell did they do that? It was like they knew when their woman wasn’t being honest.

“I should be getting discharged soon, but if you can, please stop by before y’all leave.” Satisa pushed the conversation forward.

“I’m sure we can try. Right, Prince?” I laid my hand on his chest, and he looked at it and then back at me.

“Yeah, we will. Let’s go.” He pulled me by the hand. It was like I could see the steam coming from him. He was gentle with me, but there was a distance in his hold.

“Where is Nesha and Chaz?” I asked as we walked down the hall.

“They started that arguing shit, and Priest told them to leave. He wasn’t having that shit around his kid.”

“I get it. I wanted to talk to her for a second before we left.”

He allowed my statement to hang in the air until we got to the car.

“So that’s what the problem is? Do you want to spend time with your sister? If you want to, all you have to do is say so. I don’t rule you, Le. I want your time, but I can understand if you want to spend time with her, especially since y’all are not seeing eye to eye right now.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. Just like he could see through me, I could see through him. He knew it was something else, and even if I couldn’t tell the truth, I wasn’t going to lie to him.

“No. I want to see her so we can talk, but I am good with going with our plans. These last few weeks have been a blur, and spending some time together, which we planned this weekend to be anyway, is exactly what I want.”

I slid my hand onto his thigh, and I felt him ease an ounce. Shit, Prince was tough to crack.

“You hungry?”

“Not really,” I answered.

“We have plans for a little later, but I’ll pick something up so you can go back by the house and relax. Or you can take a nap if you want. I know that was two quick flights.”

“Oh, that must be code for you being tired, old man.” My joke fell flat when he forced a smile but didn’t respond. He passed me his phone, and I searched through it for which music to play. Nothing fit the mood, so I just put his Apple Music on shuffle.

The ride was mostly silent, other than the music. Once we stopped by Tony’s, he stepped inside and ordered us a meal. I wanted to shift the energy. I was so used to Prince being so loving and sweet toward me. He wasn’t mean in the least but I know it was me that was throwing the mood off. I stepped outside the car to stretch to my full height. I used the side mirror to make sure my face card was intact the way it should be. I only did a light beat on the flight over and it was still looking flawless.

Once he came out of the building with a bag in hand I greeted him with a wide smile.

“What are you doing?” he asked, but I could tell he appreciated seeing me as he slowly perused my body as if it were his first time seeing it.

“Shit!” I squealed as the glass shattered behind me. Bullets were flying and I couldn’t tell which way they were coming from. This was the number one reason I hated being outside in Flint. Shit could pop off anywhere. I didn’t have time to react before I was scooped up and tossed into his car. Prince reversed at lightning speed and backed out to the street. I looked out the back window and I could see a car behind us. My heart stopped. I felt like I was in a movie. I couldn’t make out who it was, but when I saw someone lean out the window, I knew this was, in fact, real life. They were trying to kill me and if they could find me they could find Nesha. Then my eyes connected to the driver of the car chasing us. It couldn’t have been.

“Get down.” Prince growled and smashed the button on his glove box and two guns appeared. He hit his brakes and we spun around so fast I thought the contents of my stomach would surely be on the car floor where I was currently huddled. I heard the wind from the opened window and I closed my eyes. My chest tightened. This couldn’t be happening.

“Don’t move Le. I fucking mean it.” The sleepy eyes that I was so used to turned dark as coal as he pierced me. I nodded my head. I sure as hell wasn’t going to move a muscle. The way he handled the car with one hand was something from NASCAR. The continuous braking and turning sent me reeling. Prince forced the passenger seat down until it was flat against the back seat and stretched his arm backward. Seconds later gunshots again. But these were coming from Prince as he discharged his gun out of the back window.

Bullets came back in our direction.

“Fuck!” Prince cursed.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I panicked.

“Le don’t fucking move!” He growled again. He dropped the clip out of his gun and reloaded it in a matter of seconds. He fired a few more times and I heard tires squeal followed by a crash. Then nothing. The window was rolled back up.

“Call Priest,” he commanded his Bluetooth. “Headset,” he commanded again. He was talking so fast it seemed to me he was speaking a different language. It seemed like he wasn’t even saying real words. Some type of coded talk he rattled off. My head was too foggy to differentiate even if I wanted to. All this shit for one bad decision. This was about me and the thing I was most afraid of was happening. I brought my shit to Prince and he didn’t deserve that. I didn’t deserve him. I never should have opened my mouth to Satisa because as soon as I did something like this happened.

“Come on,” Prince spoke, voice still laced with venom. I hadn’t even realized we had stopped. I stepped out of the car with his help.

“Oh my God!” I gasped when I saw the bullets that riddled the side of the car. I should have been dead. This wasn’t going to stop. Not until they were satisfied that my sister and I were dead.

“Le, we need to move, now.” Prince pulled me from my fog and ushered me into the house.

Prince paced back and forth for a few moments, not saying a word. The tension was stifling, and I was determined not to say a damn thing to clear anything up. Maybe he would think that it was about him. I saw that face but I remembered that day like it was yesterday. It haunted my dreams every night. Yes, we moved fast after that, gathered what we could but why would we stay? How the hell could he be alive, and above anything else, he fucking found me. I thought it was just Hamp now I had to contend with a person I thought was a memory. A person who treated me like he owned me and was coming to collect his property. My throat threatened to close as my heart beat inside my chest.

“Talk!” Prince finally barked standing a foot in front of me. It was so much space in the enormous living room and he decided that he didn’t want any.

“What do you want me to say?” I hid my face and looked down at my shoes. The strappy sandal was hanging on for dear life. The way we had to run half of the beautiful sandal was broken.

“Well, they weren’t fucking shooting at me, Le. You need to tell me the truth.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, just like you. When shots started firing, I just took off. I need to call my sister.” I started frantically searching through my purse, which was strewn on the couch. He stopped me with an outstretched hand and pulled me back upright to face him.

“Why are you hiding from me? Haven’t I proven you can trust me? Haven’t I earned that, Le?” I searched his face, and I could clearly see the hurt. I couldn’t believe he was going here now.

“What are you talking about, Prince? You are really doing this right now while our lives were just in fucking danger? I’m fucking rattled! I almost died! I don’t have time for this!” I tore away from him and made it to the couch scouring through my purse. I was over looking and out of patience. I turned it over so all the contents spilled on the sofa, snatched up my phone, and walked to the kitchen.

I couldn’t even think about Prince and how the look on his face hit me right in the chest. He was squeezing my heart without saying a word. I knew then my fight to keep him out was failing miserably. I shook my head and swiped the tear from my cheek before it made it past my nose. With shaky hands, I scrolled through my messages and hit the call button to dial Nesha. I dialed her three times with no answer.

“Fuck she not answering!” I slammed my phone down on the counter. Prince came into the room, and he stripped off his shirt that was stained with blood and now presented me with a bare chest that looked exactly like the place I needed to bury my head for a good cry.

“You got hit?” My eyes widened, and I looked for traces of blood.

“I’m fine.” I looked away as soon as he looked at me.

“Answer the fucking phone!” I screamed after Nesha didn’t answer again.

“She is fine. I touched Chaz a few seconds ago. She is taking a shower,” he explained, holding that same slightly pained expression. I quickly turned my back before he affected me again.

“Well, I need to talk to her.” I breathed out and dialed her a few more times. I was going crazy, and I felt like I was about to hyperventilate. Prince was right over my shoulder and, wanting to talk to my sister, was all bearing down at once. “Shit!” I cursed when she still didn’t pick up. I rubbed my temples, trying to calm down.

“Damn, I thought we were better than this, Le. I thought we were getting somewhere.” His arms found my shoulders, and when I leaned back into him, he stepped away. I turned to him. “Damn, I guess not,” he finished.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying damn, just be honest for once. Why the hell were those niggas shooting at you? They weren’t shooting at me!” His voice elevated, and the hurt was replaced with anger. I popped my head back in offense. Let's get away from the feelings and dive right into the anger. That I could do.

“Who the hell are you yelling at, Prince? How the hell don’t I know this has something to do with you, Patch ? Ain’t that your name?”

“Don’t bring that shit up because we both know that don’t have shit to do with this. I want something with you, Le. I want you to trust me. I needed that shit, and I’m trying to prove to you who I am. To prove to you that the shit that you are going through, I’m man enough to handle that for you but at every turn, you push me away. You won’t get out of your own way.”

“What are you talking about, Prince, and why the hell are you trying to talk to me about a relationship I don’t even want? Trust what? I don’t trust a damn soul walking this earth, and I’ve told you that!” I snapped and regretted the words as soon as they came from my lips. He nodded his head and took a few steps back.

“Prince.” I sighed. As I stepped closer, he stepped back, and his small action shattered me. Everything inside of me wanted to tell him but I couldn’t get over the thing that was holding me back. The fear that when the truth was known all of this would be a distant memory anyway. I just wanted to hold on. One more second. One more hour. One more day.

“What does Hamp want with you?” That stopped all my motion. Instantly I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

“What? How do you know Hamp?”

“I know he wants to kill you. I know he was the one sending those men to shoot at you.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve known for a while.”

“I…uh.” I reached for the words and came up empty. Every insecurity rose to the brim. No way he would still feel the same about me if he truly knew what happened that day. He knew something but he couldn’t have known it all. The only people who knew that were my sister and that monster that was in that room that I thought was dead.

“You know what, Le? Fuck it. You are safe here, but don’t even think about moving and going anywhere tonight.” Prince locked his eyes on me, and I nodded, understanding. He walked the other way without saying another word. Before he disappeared into the hallway, I called his name. He stopped and turned my way, but he didn’t move a muscle to shorten our distance. My mouth was so dry I could barely swallow, but I managed to do so as my feet moved toward him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—"

“The only thing I am concerned about is the truth. You got that for me? You ready to tell me what this shit really about?” He hiked his eyebrow, and I saw so much distance in his eyes as he looked at me. It was like a switch had flipped just that fast. Once again, I was rendered speechless, not knowing what to say next, but the truth wasn’t an option. Everything inside of me screamed to tell him but one thing he said rang so true. I couldn’t get out of my own way. I didn’t know how.

“That’s what I thought.” He brought his hand my way and skated past my neck to tilt my chin up to him as I looked away.

“I can only choose someone who chooses me, Le.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and disappeared down the hall. The last thing I heard was the door slam before I turned around to sink into the couch. The tears threatened to fall. I wish I could’ve trusted Prince. Shit, I wished I could’ve trusted anyone. It was crazy enough to me that my best friend Satisa knocked down our walls and came into my sister's and I’s circle of trust. She just got the story today after almost two years. It had only been weeks with Prince. From experience, all men changed. It always started out well.

My phone rang, and I hopped up and ran to the kitchen when I heard my sister's ringtone.

“Girl!” I breathed out.

“Why the hell was you blowing me up, girl? You got me thinking something crazy!” she whispered into the phone.

“I’m okay. Are you okay?” I threw my back against the fridge, followed by my head, trying to grasp everything that just happened not even an hour ago. I really just saw him.

“Yeah, girl why wouldn’t I be? Chaz ass just getting on my nerves and staying under my ass because he is trying to make up the bullshit. I can’t lie he doing a good job.”

Tell her.

“Hey, what day are you supposed to be leaving for the fashion line?”

“Aww boo is that what’s wrong? I been feeling like things been off with us lately.”

“No Nesha.”

“I told you I would stay. It’s not even that important, especially after how everything is going.” She whispered the last part, and I could tell she was walking away or going further into a more private area.

“How can you say that? This is all you ever wanted to do with your life. I’m going to miss you so damn much but you are going for this opportunity. You will only miss it over my dead body.” I shivered at that thought and how much I meant it.

“Why are you talking like that? Is everything okay? Where are you at?”

“I’m fine. I just mean it, Nesha. You have given up enough shit behind my mistake. At this point, you need to go for your dreams. At least one of us needs to.”

“Hell no. Why are you sounding like this? I’m about to come to you.”

“Nesha! Nesha!”

“What?” she snapped. I had to call her name a few times because I already knew she was tracking my location and most likely putting on her clothes and shoes.

“I’m fine. I promise. I’m just here with Prince.”

“With Prince?” Whatever moving she was doing in the background stopped, and I breathed deeply, knowing that she wasn’t coming. There was no way I could look Nesha in the face right now and not spill everything that went down.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry about how I been acting. I don’t want you to think I’m not happy for you.” She softened.

“I know you are. I know the way you are acting is your own disappointment and not about me. We are twins. I know your heart.”

“And I know yours. Tell me what’s going on then.”

“I just keep shutting him out. He’s a good dude. I can tell that, but I can’t trust a damn soul. I feel like I’m fucking broken.” That admission had tears pouring from my face.

“You are not broken; we have been through a lot of shit.”

“But look at you. As much as you talk shit about Chaz, you are at least open to love. You are at least still trying. I can’t let anyone in other than to fuck and use my body. That shit is fucked up. My head is fucked, Nesha!”

“Look don’t compare yourself to anyone else. I am your sister, but the shit you went through, I only saw. It didn’t happen to me. Maybe it won’t be Prince but it will be someone. Just like for me it may not be Chaz. It hurts a lot for me to say that. But it will be someone.”

“I don’t know.”

We both went silent.

“Do you love him, Lesha?”

I clutched the phone a little tighter. “I don’t know. I mean how could I? It’s only been a few weeks we have been consistently spending time together,” I answered honestly and another bout of silence crept in. I went to the counter to grab the paper towel and wiped my face. My makeup had to look a damn mess. All I could think was then what? I would get rid of this situation because I was the one that led us down this path. I would kill Hamp and his son if need be because, after all this time, I was tired of having him on my back. He wasn’t letting up, but after that, then what? I could walk away from Prince after telling him thank you for his help but then what? Everyone else would go on, and I would still just be me all alone, stuck in my own head. Unhappy in my own skin.

“You know why we love our best friend, Satisa? Why we mesh with her so well?” My sister finally chimed in.

“What? Why?”

“Because she gives us hope. She is a real woman that has been through shit just like us even if we haven’t shared it all with her. It happened for her. It will happen for us. You can trust yourself, Lesha. Trust yourself to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve you or anything that hurts you. Just don’t walk past the good shit because I saw the way you looked at him. You don’t want the next bitch to come by and scoop him up.”

I brought my phone away from my face and looked at it. “Now who the hell am I on the phone with?”

We both burst out laughing.

“At some point, we have to grow up too. It was fun to be crazy and wild while we were young, but we are changing, and that’s okay.”

“You are right, sis’. I have a decision to make. I don’t want to alarm you or anything but we do need to talk in the morning. First thing in the morning.”

“Aww shit, I’m about to come now.”

“No, I promise it’s okay. I’m okay. You are staying with Chaz tonight, right?”

“Yeah, why?” she asked skeptically.

“Because I need to know exactly where you at in the morning so I can come by before we have to catch our flight. If we even catch one. It’s important.”

“Now you are making me side-eye yo ass girl, but okay. You betta be coming to me as soon as you open your eyes. Now go talk to that man.”

“I love you, Sis’.”

“Love you, too, babe.”

We hung up and I dragged my body down the hall. The closer I got to Prince’s room I could hear the shower running. The door was wide open like an invitation. I lingered by it, and my nails tapped on the frame, thinking of what to do next. Then his words hit me. He deserved to be someone’s choice, and if I wasn’t ready to make my own, I needed not to step one toe inside until I made up my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I crossed the threshold. As soon as I did, I felt like a bucket of cold water was drenched over my head. I thought twice about walking inside the master suite's bathroom, but I knew that wouldn’t be the safest. When I heard the shower turn off, I sat up fully erect on the edge of his bed and waited for him to come in the room.

When he stepped into the room, thankfully, his lower half was wrapped in a towel. His chest was still semi-wet, and he looked delicious as ever. He paused for a moment, then continued to go about his business of getting dressed like I wasn’t there. I saw quickly that he wasn’t a shouter or argumentative when he was upset, but the coldness that came from him was more frigid than Michigan weather in the dead of winter.

“I just need time, Prince,” I finally mustered up the energy to say.

“Time for what?”

“I want to tell you everything. I will tell you everything but give me time.”

“I really don’t have time to waste. I don’t know what else I can show you—"

“You told me that trust is something that takes time.” I walked up to him and gripped his hands. He tried to remain firm, but I felt him soften a little. “I just need time to get my words together. Tomorrow. Once we are away from all of this. Whatever you have planned can we please still go? I promise. Give me a day to get my words straight.” My emotion rose, and before a tear slipped down my cheek, I felt his thumb swipe it away. His touch was electric, and it took everything I had not to throw my head into his chest.

“I’m not trying to manipulate you with tears, Prince, I promise. I have just never felt like this before. Who I was and who I am trying to be is wrestling, and I am just trying not to do what I always do. I run Prince, and I don’t want to do that. I’m not doing that. Please give me one more day. Please just treat me like you always do. Just for the night, can we forget that it happened?” He didn’t answer, so I got on my knees before him. It caused the exact stir that I hoped it would as his towel tinted.

I reached for it, and he grabbed my hands.

“As much as I would appreciate those pretty lips on my dick, We need to have that conversation first. It won’t be right to me until you do.” The strain in his voice made my pussy clench and leak. I wanted to feel his comfort. His kisses. Hell he could even tease me until I had knots in the bottom of my tummy. I needed his touch, but I had to understand where he was coming from. I nodded, slightly embarrassed, and rose to my feet.

“Where will I sleep tonight?” I asked.

“Anywhere that you are comfortable.”

“I am comfortable next to you.” I got closer to him, and this time, he didn’t shy away. Instead, he pressed a kiss to my lips. He pulled me into him and I melted into his arms.

“I’m not running from this, Le. I will fix this for you. No matter what you do or don’t decide to say to me. You don’t have to live like this anymore.”

At this point, I wasn’t worried about how I had to live. My biggest concern was the person I was beginning to feel like I couldn’t live without. If this was the last time I was like this in his arms, I wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to photograph the feeling in my heart and mind because for a woman like me, who knew when it would come around again?

“You need to relax. Have a seat.” Amicably, I sat on the edge of the bed. He wasn’t going to get an argument out of me tonight. He walked into the master bathroom, and I sank into the comfort of the bed. It all hit me. My body and mind were so tired that I was sitting up but already on my way to sleep. I heard the water turn on. The thought of standing in the shower made me even more tired.

“I ran you a warm bath, Le. Do you need help getting there?” His strong body eclipsed the door frame. Apparently, he had already decided what he was going to do anyway because he didn’t waste a moment coming to the bedside and leaning down. His briefs were the only article of clothing he wore, and the heavy mass that sat inside of them clung to his thigh, still looking big enough to satisfy, completely flaccid.

He must have known all my energy was zapped. Even my initial reaction to tense up whenever someone grabbed me was gone. His arms braced under my thighs and arms as he lifted.

He carried me over the threshold, and even in my exhaustion, I marveled at how much I loved this bathroom. The fact that he made it with his bare hands specifically gave me another wave of emotion. He was so talented and had a bright future. He undressed me. He slowly eased me down into the perfectly warm water, and I groaned.

“Damn that feels so good,” I admitted leaning my head back. My eyes fluttered.

“Don’t you take your ass to sleep in this water, Le.” His voice was slightly sharp, but when I looked into his face, I saw the concern.

“I’m fine. I won’t. Thank you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, baby. I wish I would let you drown in this water. Let me take care of you.”

“Prince, I wish I could-”

“Let it be tomorrow.”

He lathered up a towel and began to wash my body gently. His hands moved with precision, and it was more like a massage than a bath, but I was here to accept it all. He worked down from my arms to my collarbone to my breasts. Keeping his eyes on mine.

“You are more than your body, Le Monroe. You are beautiful in so many ways.” The way he could turn that on and off said so much about his character and his patience. By the time he made it down to my legs the little bit of energy I had was blinking like a gas light. I rested my head on the back wall of the tub for a final time knowing I was going to give in to the sleep that was calling me. I drifted away feeling perfectly comfortable that he wouldn’t let a thing happen to me.