Prince : Love Always Wins (The Richards Book 3)

by Bre Shadae

While

Mrs. Ramos was a person who saw the silver lining in everything, I wasn’t on the same wavelength.

What most people didn’t know about Priest was that he had a hard time figuring out where he fit in life for the longest time. He never rested well with those in the streets and was too “hood” for the corporate world. He decided to blaze his own trail, and once he found his footing, he never lost it.

“What the hell you talking about?” The mention of her name did something to me. I couldn’t quite say what, but he had my attention. Control.

I made it two steps before Priest grabbed my arm to stop my motion. “Bruh, chill.” “Aww shit! This is about to be good! Welcome back cuz!” Chaz said.

Those few days, I got lost and blamed it on Prince; this was exactly where I was. I instantly started praying that my best friend would not receive the same devastating news that I received the day I came.

His handsome face blazed with confidence and a slight hint of humor.

“I’m sorry you even pegged me for that type. This right here is commitment dick, baby. I’m too old to play games. You make me feel like fucking up some shit behind you, and I haven’t even scratched the surface. I won’t pretend that’s something I can do with you. Now what happens between us is our business, but damn right, everybody gone know you’re the only person I would be sharing my affections with.”

“I respect that.” I gulped as I sizzled, certain words in his spiel jumping out to me. It’s what they all say. I didn’t allow my bruised ego to rise. Instead, I took a gulp and extended my hand in his direction.

“And that’s what he's supposed to do. He loves you, so just let him,” Nesha added.

“I do not doubt your capability, Le. The question is, if I’m here, why would you need to?” Damn.

“After rehab?” I extended the lifeline and she nodded. “What I build means everything to me. More than my own life, honestly, because I was always told it was something that I could never accomplish. I went to school for it and got my degree with no support. Anything I built, I promised myself I couldn’t get so low to fuck with them. Well, one thing I learned quickly about drugs is that it will make you break promises to yourself. I went from having fourteen homes to having eight. When I felt myself spiraling I deeded my last ones to a friend I could trust and made him promise not to let me sell them. Once I finished rehab I liquidated the three

“Taming you is the last thing on my mind. I like your wild ass the way you are. I want way more than what’s on the surface. There is so much more to you than you are showing me. That’s a prize I’m willing to work for. Earning you would be my absolute pleasure.”

“You think that’s what you want but I’m telling you it’s not what you think. I haven’t met a man that could handle my mouth full time, and plus, I got issues, baby. Real ones.”

“You see I’m standing here don’t you?” I stepped forward, and this time, she remained unmovable, tucking her chin up so I could get a better look at her. Permission be damned I reached out and brought her to me. Her soft ...

“Le, look I don’t have no games or no smoke and mirrors for you. I’m loving everything I see and I feel when I’m around you. I’m interested in you and everything that comes with that. Ultimately it’s your choice. But you can trust me when I say I see you for everything you are and that doesn’t scare me.”

“I’m at the point in my life where I have no trust for the words any man says.” She spoke her truth right before her eyes ran away from me. Now we are getting somewhere.

When Remy came into my life, it was God’s way of showing me that even if you weren’t blessed with what you thought you should have been, He always gave you what you needed in another form. He was such a father figure to me.

“No matter what has happened to you and what type of things you have been through, you are worthy of love. Both of you. I’m so sorry this has happened to you, Lesha.” She hugged me, and another wave of tears threatened to fall. My phone chimed, and it was snatched out of my hand.

“Let’s get something clear right now. I’m interested in you and all that comes with that. There is nothing you can say to me that I will judge you for, but please close those beautiful lips before you lie to me. That’s the only thing you can say to me that I can ever find ugly. You can tell me things like I’m not ready to discuss that. I’m not sure I can vocalize my feelings or plain the fuck out none of your business nigga. Whatever works for you.”

We stood under my porch light, which I flipped on because I knew I would be coming home late. Honestly, not coming home tonight at all wasn’t out of the question. The words he spoke sliced through me and made me want to disappear. His assertion made me feel so naked that I’d rather take off my clothes than to have his eyes keep penetrating me that way.

He worked next to me egoless. He surprised me. He knew exactly what he was doing in the kitchen. I mean, he was not me, but he knew a little something.

“Nah, you trying to play. But I’m not looking for temporary shelter. I’m looking for a place to call home. So when I’m in that pussy touching your lungs, I need to know that your heart is calling my name. I need my woman to trust me. To see me. I’ve been through a lot of shit but my woman has to know exactly who I am and all the ways I will come through for her. I’ve tried other ways before. This time I’m intentional.”

“You didn’t answer your phone, so I guess you want to see my face.” Prince turned and took one step into the open door.

He moved toward me, and I dropped my arms to my side, not knowing what to do with them. He hooked his right arm around my waist and pulled me into his chest. He pressed his lips against mine and all the sparks I felt last night that still hadn’t worn off this morning I felt again. Prince was such a good kisser. Very aggressive and dominant like I loved. His soft lips gently parted mine, but that’s where the ease ended. Once opened, his tongue pinned mine and sucked it into his mouth. His right hand pulled me even closer, and his left hand found my neck. He had me whimpering with need, and even if I cared, I wasn’t doing a damn thing to stop it because it felt so good. I wasn’t used to this level of passion from anyone yet I could still feel him holding back from me. It scared me to think of this man’s total capacity.

“I feel the same things you do. I’m not going to shy away from the attraction I feel for you, but we gotta build this correctly for the both of us. There is so much you don’t know about me, and I don’t know about you. Only time and presence will give us those answers. Just from tasting the sweetness of your lips, I can only imagine how that pussy gone taste.” I backed up against the window, and my ass ground into it while I shut my legs tightly. He had me ready to make a fool out of myself in this office. “Whatever you need, I’m patient enough to give you. I’m trying to save you, baby because once I’m inside of you, it’s us whether you agree to that or not. Please know I’m not fucking around when it comes to you. After what I have been through, I’m not settling for anything less.”

“Not yet, but soon I will, and when you finally stop being so damn stubborn and realize that your place is next to me, keep that shit in mind. Ain’t a damn soul that can take my eyes off something that I want.” He turned me around. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” My lips parted, and his lips were on mine again before my words could come out. He carried an uncanny spontaneity for what I’d assume someone like him would have. His affection was unstructured but always well-received. I couldn’t resist him, and by now, I was sure he knew that.

“Why do you want to give me the most precious part of you without anything attached to it? Do you know how beautiful your trust is? How lovely your heart is? In the hands of the right man—"

“I don’t know. You come off controlling. I mean, not in a bad way, but like you wouldn’t want that for the person you are with,” I answered honestly. Prince was different in many ways, but I’d been around enough men to know that Prince was the type to want to get you off the pole the first week after dating you. So many offered to pay my bills and told me I didn’t have to work anymore, but I didn’t quit until it was on my terms. I’d be damned if I would be in the same situation that led me to it in the first place.

“I’ll say this. I wouldn’t be comfortable if that was something you feel like you had to do while you were with me because that says more about me and how you feel about me.”

“Because if I’m your man, you need to know you can depend on me, and I won't throw that shit in your face. As your man, I will always provide and make sure you straight. I’m gone push you toward your goals and what it is that you truly want to do. I couldn’t get behind a person that didn’t have goals beyond that. I understand your hustle because everyone has a reason for what they do. Even if I don’t know yours.” He made sure to emphasize the last part. It was getting to...

“As far as other men seeing you, they could never see wha...

at ...

“You need to stop touching doors around me. Be mad all you want, but in my presence, there are things I am responsible for doing, no matter what your feelings may be. I wasn’t disrespectful to you in the least bit. You are the one acting crazy. Is it gone be like that every time my phone rings?” He spoke with an extreme calm and that shit triggered me even further. I was so used to the back and forth and it was clear to me that Prince was not the type to do it.

“I’m trying to figure out who the hell you're talking to. It can’t be me. You let that nigga fuck your head up. You can’t even see that you are worth every requirement you have, but to be honest, that shit ain’t my problem, Le. The problem is I fucking like that shit. It makes me want to tame your ass. It makes me want to close your mouth and gag yo ass until you learn who the fuck I am. The more you talk crazy the more you will have to beg for pleasure. But, see, that was the mistake I made last time, and I’m not doing it again. I don’t care how I feel about you. You won’t talk to me crazy. Ever. Respect is non-negotiable both ways.”

I pulled my lip between my teeth as tears sprang to my eyes. It was so many emotions. My pussy tingled while he tugged on my heartstrings. There was so much control in his voice. No elevation or name-calling. Then I started to put together the things he was saying and excitement flooded me.

“That would fuck anybody’s head up. I was with this man for damn near twelve years, and he just spit in my fucking face.”

I turned my face to the window as I felt the tears come. I had been thinking about all the failed pregnancies and how I would never be enough for anyone else, and he would still do me like that. I was lifted out of my seat and onto his lap. Prince could never look bad, but the way his face was contorted, I could see his displeasure.

“Then dry them the fuck up because yo’ life ain’t over. I’m not minimalizing what you went through but fuck that. That’s your past and I’m going to show you everything you need to see so you won’t have to take my word for it.”

“You don’t need to be capable, Le. All you have to do is make a choice.” He locked eyes with me. I nodded. Small conversations with Prince could leave me exhausted simply from the emotions he pulled from me so quickly. His hands dropped and I tried to take that opportunity to move. My hands once again pushed against his firm chest. My pelvis raised a few inches before his right hand found my neck and I slammed back against him. That shit felt so damn good my eyes rolled in the back of my head. When my eyes fluttered open his lips crashed against mine. Heat flooded my body like a sauna. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t move my arms to clutch onto him, I didn’t grind my hips. Not a damn thing. All I could do was feel and damn did I.

He was done talking, and the outburst was nothing he had planned to talk about. I didn’t want him to think he was alone in his vulnerability. Too often those feelings drummed up some of the worst decisions. I knew that all too well, so I just decided to be what he needed, even if it was just ten minutes until his classes started. I just decided to be there. Silently, communicative, or however he would have it.

“Things will come together for you, Lesha. You can’t compare your life to anyone else’s even if we are together all the time. I thought so much shit was going to never happen for me. Sometimes you think things are falling apart but that’s how all of this shit comes together,” Nesha said and I reached behind the island and gripped the wine bottle. I demonstratively brought it to my face to get a better look at it.

Hearing my girls gas me up just made me go harder. This was my safe place around nothing but love.

Like he didn’t try too hard and he still had that masculine thug undertone that I was a downright sucker for.

It showed me more about his character, and I was scared to know him and scared of what that meant when my feelings weren’t reciprocated. Halfway through the ride, my hand retreated but I still wouldn’t be deterred.

don’t blame you for being scared or having your guard up because that is what you are supposed to do. But you are right it’s time for us to stop denying what’s between us. If we are going to do that, we need to do it fully. I want all of you, Le. Not just this. You are coming with me tomorrow. Yo’ hardheaded ass don’t even need to pack nothing. I will take care of everything when we land.”

“Is she the one?” Ma said as she settled down next to me. I took a moment to really look at her. Three years since she and I consumed the same space and her love for me was still just as evident as it had always been. The house hadn’t changed much either as I looked around. It has the same earthy colors on the walls and Ma’s accents here and there. Most of all, family on her walls. For that reason, I deliberately kept my head forward as I walked down her halls.

“I can feel this one, is it. I know you will treat her just as good as you treated my baby. This time, the outcome will be different.”

“My ex. I was married to Remy and Mrs. Juanita's daughter,” I said honestly.

“She’s dead. She’s been dead for four years.”