Prince : Love Always Wins (The Richards Book 3)

by Bre Shadae

I had exercised those demons, but the memories were something no matter how hard you fought, you could never get used to. It took so much away from me.

For the first time since we’d been together, I found my own nerves slightly rattled. I didn’t want her to believe it was any bullshit going on.

If I could love the wrong one, it would be no limit to what I would do for the right one.

I looked at her crazy. “Why the hell would I make you wait in the car? That would be rude as fuck. I planned for you to come with me because I want you to know what I’m doing. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my business, and your presence would never be that anyway.”

Once the order came, we unpacked it together. I was surprised by how natural I was around him. I was doing everything I could to keep my guard up, but his presence made me comfortable. Once I started on dinner, he busied himself drafting ideas for the hotel. This man’s work ethic was unmatched, and I vowed to fill his belly with a warm meal. It was just something about a working man that made a woman want to feed him. Hours later, I put together chicken, parmesan, steamed vegetables, and salad. We were at the table making small talk. There was still something on my mind.

Wanted to make sure I wasn’t fed. He put a gun to my head and made me do a line before he would leave or do a deal with who I was doing work for. Had I been on my shit, I would’ve never ended up in a situation like that. I was depressed, but I wasn’t choosing death. That shit hit my body, and it was like, for the first time in months, I felt nothing. That shit was a different kind of freedom. My thoughts tortured me. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I lost, and one hit of that shit, and it all was wiped away. Numb. I took that shit as much as I could, and it wasn’t until I realized how much time I lost did I realize that it was destroying me.”

Though I had never seen this kind in particular, I knew exactly what they were. Restraints of many different sizes and shapes covered the wall. It had to at least be 100. Leather, linen, and even chain-like binds. He was crazy… and I liked it. I hadn’t even been to a sex store that had so many options. I mean, there were regular ones too, but most of them were specialized.

“You hardheaded.” Prince snuck up behind me, and I jumped out of my skin.

“Good. Now that you do, there is one more thing. This shit is for my woman and my woman only. If you come into this room, it’s only you and me. None of that half shit. You mine, and I will put a nigga down for what’s mine. I really wish you knew how crazy I could get. I get active behind someone I love, but you are here now. I don’t think you want to turn back, and I don’t either. Do you understand?”

“Giving your vulnerability to someone is one of the most powerful things you can do. It’s a posture of ultimate control, but only if you trust the person you give yourself to fully.”

His appreciation made me feel beautiful.

The more time we spent together the more I wished to break down every one of those misplaced emotions. I was wise enough to realize some things required shadow work, too, but damn if I didn’t want to be the one to help.

We can clean that together. I want my woman next to me when I wake up. I want to feel your body next to mine in the morning.”

I felt like a puppy because I wanted to be under her ass. Yeah, I had to work, but the few glimpses of her when I raised my head gave me the energy to go a little harder.

“Don’t get me wrong, I know we can fuck, and I know full well how I can make my pussy feel. I hope you know I was serious about everything I said. The moment wasn’t affecting me, and I knew exactly what I was saying,” I connected with her. She nodded her head. “Speak to me, Le.” I felt her body vibrate. “I get it.”

“Prince I don’t have a problem with you doing for me. In fact, I’m grateful, but know I have had men buy me expensive things before. I am trying not to bring that into what we have going on, but I am human. I won’t be controlled by a man just because he buys me things.”

“You worried about the wrong thing Le Monroe. The last thing I want to do is control you outside of that room. Delay your gratification, maybe, but never control. Your body is mine but your mind is yours.”

I walked back inside hoping I could focus on getting some work done. I had to resist myself because currently, the only thing I wanted to do was crawl back inside my woman

It was peaceful, really.

“No, you shut the fuck up and listen to me for once! You hurt me worse than any man has, but you know what? It’s cool because I finally discovered it was me that allowed this shit for so long. Don’t call me. My sister and I have been fine without your so-called protection for this long. If you here, go home before my man beats your ass!” I hung up the phone and tossed my head against the wall. Why the hell did he feel he could pop up? He drove home one real point, though. If he could find me, so could anyone else. My sister and I were separated for the first time, and that left us more vulnerable. Then I remembered our pact. No more running.

“Did that feel good?” “Shit!” Prince’s voice startled me, and I threw my hand across my chest. “I, uh, I’m sorry he called.” “Don’t be. You told him what you had to say, and you told his ass right. Next time he calls, it’s my turn to talk.”

He pulled me in for a kiss, and quickly, he was on t...

“I didn’t have time. I didn’t know I was walking in here with a celebrity.” “You funny, but don’t dodge me. You okay?”

I appreciated every bit of openness she displayed. It empowered me and made us closer. I swore I wasn’t going to do a damn thing to cross her or make her heart hurt.

“I said I’m fine. Prince, please don’t. I get it. You want me in the bed every morning.” I saw her float around and start to place dishes in the sink with a force uncalled for. I stayed silent and leaned back against the counter until she looked at me again.

Her soft eyes dampened. Her mean ass was such a softy, and I loved it. “Don’t lie to me, Le Monroe.”

“The sex was amazing. I enjoyed it maybe too much. I don’t know if that’s possible, but it was more. The words you were saying. That’s the part that made it so overwhelming. It was like I was drowning under your words. I feel like you were trying to manipulate me.” She turned, facing the opposite direction as she spoke. It was helping, so I didn’t move closer.

wasn’t trying to manipulate you. I am trying to learn you. Learn what makes you tick and make our sexual time together more satisfying for both of us. I won’t say I’m not trying to get inside your mind because I am. For me, sex is much more than just physical.” She turned

to me, and naturally, I migrated to her, careful not to make her feel boxed in. “I think we u...

don’t want to. I just have to find a way to deal with the emotion of it all. I feel like I’m obsessing.” She spoke quietly, and that pulled a smile from me. She was in my arms again.

“Believe me when I say I get it. You stir up big emotions inside of me, too. I meant everything I said. I appreciate it, and I am incredibly happy to have earned the vulnerability that you displayed to me last night. I don’t take that or you for granted. For that reason, I’ll cut down anything or anyone that stops us from progressing. I’m not willing to fall out of this position with you because of something trivial. Even if it is your own intrusive thoughts. Your trust means the world to me and I am going to continue to earn that every day. There was a reason I wanted to wait before we got here. I know what all of this can bring.”

“I’m proud of you for expressing yourself to me. That takes a lot of courage.”

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.

“You have a great thing going, Prince. You are extremely talented and hardworking. I know you were probably the type to get to do anything you wanted at the drop of a hat. Having money laying around like this, don’t do anything to jeopardize your future. It’s not what I need. I’ve had men cater to me, and it meant nothing. I like our connection and that’s what means the most.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She walked down the hall to grab the rest of her things. We were getting somewhere. When she passed me on her way out the door, I made sure to grab a handful of ass before she left out. This time, I kissed her forehead, knowing her lips were too dangerous to risk.

We had fallen into a routine that I was damn happy about.

The writing was on the wall and I saw the love in his eyes, too. I was going to have to brace him when the shit hit the fan. Hard as he was he wasn’t going to take it well. I hated that I could always see shit coming from a mile away but I did.

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

Priest sat across the table those days just like he did now with that same expression, trusting me to make the right decision. It felt good to see it. I was so glad I hadn’t lost that. All the shit I had been through and he not only trusted me. He still looked up to me. It was us versus everybody, even our closest if it came down to it. Ties never severed and bonds didn’t break. That realization alone put a smile on my face but wasn’t shit funny.

She stood on the tips of her toes, and when our lips joined, I felt an explosion. The passion that set between us was undeniable. As I leaned against the frame of the door, her body rested completely on mine, and her hands clutched my shirt. We floated somewhere between space and the real world for minutes until we disconnected. Our foreheads rested on top of each other while we caught our breath.

“Not just friendship. They signify strength. I don’t know if anybody told you how incredibly strong you have been. To go through the things you went through, something that never should have happened, and for you to still be brave enough to be here. To be open to what we are building even though the walls you built were high, it is worth every effort to climb them muthafuckas.”

I got closer to her as she stood on the other end of the island. I had a few more things to say, but I knew I had to keep her out of reach if I wanted to finish. “They also signify a way to say welcome. I want you to understand nothing but good things are to come not just for us together but for you as well. You are standing in your own light. You’ve picked up and started a movement with your business in weeks, and I am incredibly proud of what is to come for you. Last, they do mean friendship.”

A bunch of yellow roses were by my side of the bed in my line of sight. He gave them to me yesterday, but the thought that he had placed them there so I could see them when I woke up warmed me. He was so big on the little things. This man really went all out. After

“He thinks of everything.”

couldn’t remember being drawn to a man the way I was drawn to Prince.

If you had asked me, I wasn’t the least clingy, but it was something about him. No matter how much I got, I always wanted more. His presence around me brought me so much comfort.