Prologue.4
Four days later…
I toyed with the record player on the console table near the door. It was nine-fifty-two and in exactly eight minutes, the sweetest thing to grace planet Earth would be walking through my door. I’d expected the four days to take their precious time, but they’d come around far too soon.
On one hand, I was anxious for the night to begin. On the other, I wasn’t prepared for the hangover I knew the night would result in. It had been four whole days and the haze was just beginning to clear. No liquor had ever lingered in my system like she had.
Willie Hutch’s voice finally came through the speakers beneath the record player. Unfortunately, the pitch was enough to make me consider shutting the entire operation down. However, I twisted the nob near the edge to lower it.
“Perfect.”
I turned the volume down, sure not to drown out our conversation or get any words lost in translation. Once I was satisfied with the outpouring of lyrics, I made my way toward the counter where my cup was sitting. I contemplated the first sip, knowing a whole bottle of Hennessy was on its way to my suite and before the night ended, I would have consumed it entirely.
Fuck it .
I needed something to take the edge off. It had been a hell of a day and seven minutes of waiting was too fucking long to sit with my thoughts. I sipped the brown liquid and waited for the slight burn.
“Argh.”
As the glass hit the surface, there was a gentle knock on the door. I checked the face of my Rolex, quickly determining my guest was a bit earlier than expected.
Could she sense my misery? I questioned with a chuckle.
Between business and family, I wasn’t sure which had contributed more. Nevertheless, I loved the life I lived and the people who surrounded me. I wouldn’t trade either for a sunny day on the beach with no worries or responsibilities. This was the life I’d chosen and I did a damn good job maintaining it.
Because I already knew who was behind the door, I didn’t bother asking. Instead, I unfastened the first button on my shirt and released the tension stemming from my day’s work.
My feet were ahead of me, forming a mind of their own. My hands joined the cause, twisting the knob to reveal the luxury art behind the door’s frame.
Red sheeted her body. The silk fabric clung to her curves. The red lipstick matched perfectly. Black shoes I’d provided were hidden underneath the expansive piece that cut across her breast with precision and pushed them toward her chin.
The vision that must’ve replayed in my head a hundred times or more was nothing in comparison to what I was seeing. I took a second to absorb her presence. And, when I was ready, I stepped aside to allow her entry.
I twisted the lock of the door behind her. Still completely in awe of every fucking aspect of the woman before me, I rounded her.
Once.
Twice.
And, the charmed one .
Silently, she waited with her breath lodged in her throat. Without instruction, she wouldn’t move. Without instruction, she wouldn’t speak. Her thoughts no longer belonged to her.
They were mine to have. So were her movements. Her words. Her voice. Her body.
Finally, I stood in front of her with my hands entangled in front of me. It was the only way to keep me from putting them on her so soon. She was far too stunning to strip her just yet.
“Good evening.”
I invited her to speak.
“Hello.”
She paused as I took her all in.
“How’d you know the number of my suite?”
“Don’t ask any questions, my dear.”
Silence trailed.
“Over the last four days, I’ve found myself returning to thoughts of a woman who’s name I don’t even know.”
“We have rules… rules we must follow for any of this to be as exhilarating as it is. When it gets personal, the thrill will dissipate.”
“It doesn’t have to,” I expressed, “But, you’re right. Rules are rules.”
“Rules are rules.”
I rounded her, unable to comprehend the method to God’s madness. Whatever fucking point he was trying to prove making her, he’d proven.
“So, what should I call you?” I asked the rhetorical question, not waiting for or looking for a response.
“Whatever you want. What would you like? What do I remind you of?”
With a quick tilt of the head, I kissed the skin of my teeth. Dipped in red, there was one thing in particular she reminded me of.
“Rose.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Rose?”
“Delicate, beautiful, soft, influenced by her environment, silky, has gorgeous folds, withers gracefully –as she cums– and retains moisture… plenty of it,” I rattled off, still circling the garden beauty.
“Then Rose it is.”
The sultriness of her voice was inebriating. Dark eyes chased my frame with each full revolve until I came to a complete stop in front of her.
“On the bed, Rose.”
I loosened a second button and the two on both wrists. One foot in front of the other, she strutted toward the bed. When her shins touched the sheets, she halted, waiting for the sound of my voice.
“Disrobe.”
The dress I’d dreamt of on her fell to the floor at once. Underneath, she exposed the crimson-colored lingerie.
“Bend over.”
Both hands rested against fresh sheets. Slowly, I closed my eyes, angling my head to the right to relieve the mounting pressure. The view was sickening. Heat consumed the room.
A few buttons weren’t enough, anymore. I needed the entire shirt off my body, but it would reserve my attention for far too long. It belonged to Rose for now. I dared to depart.
The panties were missing an entire strip in the middle, exposing her center, all the way up her back. Saliva filled my mouth. My craving intensified as I watched the pinkness of her pussy peek through her plump, chocolate lips as she deepened her arch.
Sweat beads formed on my hairline. Rose was unreal. It was the only way to describe her nature. Her depth. Her existence.
“O– on the bed.”
I pulled a chair from the table and placed it three feet away from the bed. Rose’s body was pressed against the sheets, ass piercing the air.
“On your back, my dear.”
She abided. Her small, full breasts left me dazed. Those pretty nipples hardened, sticking straight up.
“Open up.”
She spread her legs, allowing them to fall on both sides of her.
“Have you thought of me since our last encounter?”
“Yessss,” she moaned.
“Show me exactly what you’ve done when alone with me on your mind.”
She rushed to her vagina, dipping nearly her entire hand inside her canal and returning with well-lubricated, cream-coated fingers. Four of them, exactly. She’d rounded them, making a cylinder of sorts.
She smeared her residue across her clit. My dick began pressing against the zipper of my slacks.
Fucking ridiculous .
With an arched back, she inserted her middle and index finger, again. Her thumb, she brushed across her clit. Slowly. Gently.
“Ummmmmm.”
From side to side, she swiped her clit while using two fingers to massage her g-spot.
“Mmmm–”
She couldn’t keep still. Her hips grinded against her fingers. Her ass rubbed against the sheets.
“Uhhhhhmmmm.”
I lifted, slightly, and shoved my pants down my legs. They landed on the floor next to me, along with my shoes. My briefs were lowered but clung to the bottom of my ass cheeks. My dick was no longer fighting for freedom. That motherfucker was in my hand.
The solution to the dryness was only a few feet away, but I was afraid the show would end if I interfered. Simply lubricating my dick would prove to be difficult.
Without a doubt, I’d slide right in that shit. It was too fucking good. Too fucking wet. Too fucking ready.
Still, I was unable to resist. I stood and stalked her scent until I reached her center. I hovered as she continued pleasuring herself.
“You are stunning, Rose.”
“I– I’m gonna c–”
I swatted her hand away, dislodging it from her center.
“Not yet.”
“Fuccccccck,” she cried in agony.
She was close to her peak. So close tears were falling down the sides of her face. She was ready to release, but I wasn’t ready for her to unfold.
I tapped against her center with my dick.
“Pleaaaase,” Rose begged. She was wasting her breath.
Her body jerked each time my dick landed. Purposely, I made contact with her clit each time. Until, finally, I began rubbing up and down her slit, getting my dick nice and wet.
Slide in.
No.
Slide in.
No.
Slide–
I parted her sea with my girth.
“Ohhhh fuccccck.”
Her body rose from the bed. Just as quickly as I’d entered her, I was ejected.
Wrong fucking move, Priest. I chastised, knowing exactly what those consequences were. Going in raw meant staying in raw and would result in the birth of a child with a woman I had no connections to, wasn’t supposed to have connections to, and didn’t know from a fucking can of paint.
No.
I pulled away from the bed, reeling from the momentary bliss. She was as warm and welcoming as I’d imagined, but so much better.
“Continue.”
With her secretion covering my pole, I began to stroke it. My pace matched hers. Together, we found a rhythm that brought us both to the very edge of our seats.
“Ummm. Fu— Uhhhhh.”
“Eyes.”
Up on her elbows, immediately, Rose stared daggers into my chest. Her pretty face was distorted. Pleasure disrupted her features. Still, she was so fucking striking.
“Fuck,” I grunted, feeling the rise that always came before the fall. “Fuck.”
“Uhhhhh. Uhhhh. Ummmmmm. Oh my G— Uhhhh.”
Semen sprouted from my dick as I continued to fist it, unable to release it from my grasp. Simultaneously, Rose’s center was covered in a cream, ultra thick glaze. Her speciality.
“Mmmmm.” She froze in place, fingers dripping with evidence of her peak.
I managed to turn my shit loose. It was still rock hard, still ready to aim and shoot when I made it to the wash area. I grabbed a new towel, one for me and one for Rose. Once the water was at a decent temperature, I wet them both.
Mine was left in the sink as I used the second to carefully clean the mess she’d made. She was sensitive to touch. When I climbed on top of her, peering down at her, I noticed the laziness of her lids.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like the full day of rest I got to prepare for tonight wasn’t enough.”
“It wasn’t,” I proclaimed. “Under the covers, my dear.”
I cleaned myself back at the sink and discarded both towels. There were more to choose from. New towels would be ready upon our return. Linen was not an issue. That had been made clear in the informative pamphlet.
With an entire box of condoms in tow, I strolled across the room. I emptied them into the stand next to the bed. Forty were inside the container. It would be a while before I needed more.
One didn’t make the drawer. I rolled it down my dick and tossed the wrapper into the trash next to the stand.
She’s tired . I thought, knowing exactly how to put her to sleep. Staying a night at The Mansion wasn’t ideal, but I wouldn’t regret waking up to Rose. Having her in my arms didn’t feel like a bad decision even if it happened to be.
I peeled the covers back and joined Rose underneath them. Immediately weary of her distance, I pulled her closer and into my chest where she belonged. As I flexed my triceps, locking her in place, I used my left hand to navigate my dick through, now, familiar territory.
“Sssssssssss.” She released as I entered her.
“You feel so fucking good,” I groaned, face nestled in her hair.
From behind, I held her body close to mine as I stroked her with precision.
Satisfied grunts, groans, and mumbles escaped us both as we basked in contentment. For the moment. For each other. For the night.
Fuck .
In and out.
In and out.
She smelled divine. Her fragrance was being ingrained in my senses with each whiff. Her body fit against mine like a missing puzzle piece. The moans erupting from her mouth every few seconds were enough to send me into a state of ecstasy.
Rose’s grip on my arm tightened. My appreciation for the euphoria on her face as she came led me to my knees. I pushed her legs backward until they reached the headboard, keeping them together to maximize the healthy friction between us.
“Yessss–”
Her pussy was so generous. So giving. So selfless, offering me every inch of it for my own consumption. I got lost in her ocean, desperately trying to find a raft to avoid drowning. There was hardly any use. It was inevitable. As she began to mount, my semen began its journey from my sack.
“I’m cu— Mmmmmm. Uhhhh. Plea– don’t sto– Mmm.”
“Eyes.”
My limbs stiffened.
“Eyes.”
Low and lusty, her eyes penetrated me, reaching depths that were roped off and deserted. I removed my dick just as the bulge reached the tip. Her legs fell flat onto the bed. I stood on wobbly legs.
“Come here.”
Hurriedly, she twisted her body until her head was in my hands. I pulled the condom off and began stroking my tool.
“Open up.”
With a hand full of hair, I tilted her head backward. I stuffed her mouth, refusing to stop until I reached the back of her throat. Rose sealed her lips around me while placing a hand on the base. Another cupped my balls. The trio unified with promises to strip me of every sperm cell my body was capable of producing.
Slurping, with hardly any shame in the amount of saliva she managed, Rose disarmed me. My ass cheeks grew tighter and closer together. My toes curled, nearly cutting slits into the sheets.
And, then, when I thought I’d reached the brink of insanity, she pulled back and spat on my shit as if it wasn’t wet enough.
Fuck .
When her lips touched me again, all hell broke loose. I gripped her tresses, gently removing myself from her vacuum of a fucking mouth.
“Tongue,” I begged, desperate because I was losing my shit on the inside.
The second she revealed the vicious monster that was only part of the complete system, I let off. On her tongue and the roof of her mouth, my seeds found their home. Being a very good girl, she swallowed, erasing visible traces of them. However, I knew they’d linger.
“Good fucking girl, Rose.”
I patted her cheek, ready to fall on my fucking face. By the time I lowered my body to the mattress, her head had already hit the pillow. I pulled her closer to me, burying myself in her neck for an endless supply of her scent as her heartbeat lulled me to sleep.
The sun’s viciousness shined through the slits of the blinds, but it wasn’t what had awakened me. It was the feeling of those dark eyes and that pensive gaze of Rose’s.
“Good morning,” I rasped, still unsure how I’d managed a full night’s rest.
“Good morning.”
The sadness in her voice tugged at my lids, pulling them apart in spite of the brightness.
“How are you feeling?”
Those dark eyes were big and intrusive, saddened and regretful.
“Like I want you to wake up.”
“Then, why’d you let me sleep?” I yawned.
I grabbed her leg and pulled her closer. She was sitting up, still naked, with her legs folded Indian-style.
“Because–” she paused.
Her request. I was quickly reminded. “Understood.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m awake now.”
“Yes. Yes, you are. I’ve been bored without you.”
“You haven’t gotten out of bed?”
“You haven’t told me to.”
I hadn’t.
“I have to piss.”
I slid from underneath the cover, itching to take the fucking mask off. However, I was too committed to the thrill it produced to break the rules once contemplated abiding by. It was highly unlike me, but they were to my benefit so I settled with them. For them. For Rose and I .
“Breakfast?”
“I have business to tend to.”
Though I hated to break the news, business came first. And, Princeton wouldn’t touch his plate until he saw my face. It was best I got my shit together and got my ass home before his stomach was touching his back.
“Come,” I instructed, extending my hand for her to grab.
“Okay.”
Across the cold floor, she tiptoed behind me. The large shower was tempting, but I wasn’t ready to clean her remnants from me. Instead, I emptied my bladder with her standing near the sink. She hadn’t taken her eyes off my shit since I’d leaned over the toilet.
“Something on your mind?”
“Besides the fact I’d like to hold it next time and that it’s very, very handsome… no.”
“Next time,” I promised her. “Handle your business so we can brush our teeth and get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
I flushed the toilet and maneuvered for her to get to the toilet. I located the towels in the bathroom while she did so. New tubes of toothpaste and packs of toothbrushes were in the cabinets as well. I began opening and discarding the paper. By the time she finished, her toothbrush was on the counter with paste across the bristles.
I made room for her at the sink I was using though it was Jack and Jill style. Together, we scrubbed our teeth of gunk and the sex that was still on our breaths. I warmed the water in the other sink and drenched the towels once it was a suitable temperature. Because I knew women loved burning their skin half off when cleansing, I burned my hands squeezing the excess water from her cloth.
“You first,” I suggested, handing her the towel.
I slowly backed out of the bathroom so she could remove her mask and properly clean her face. Beside the door, I waited, wondering exactly what she looked like beneath. Her beauty was obstructed, but still radiant. I only had pieces, so I knew the full puzzle was ravishing.
Check on Princeton.
Morning meeting with Pops.
Forty-five minutes in the gym.
Lunch with my mother at Stadium.
Make my way to Spectrum to meet the new chef.
Wrap up the logistics for the upcoming shipment by five.
Dinner with a potential partner at House of Dragons. Eight, precisely.
I ran through the day’s work until the door creaked. Rose appeared on the other side, handing me a towel.
“Your turn.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted it with a kiss to her lips. It was her turn to wait as I cleaned up. The mask left lines on my face. The mirror allowed me to map out the damage. It was nothing an hour or two couldn’t cure, so stressing about it was pointless.
I hit every inch of my face and neck, then dabbled in both ears before tossing the towel in the trash can behind me. When I resurfaced, Rose was still next to the door.
“Get dressed, dear.”
Reluctantly, she crossed the floor and retrieved her dress. She slipped it onto her body without the extra shit I’d provided. She wouldn’t be needing them. She’d have more with time. I busied myself with my own garments. It wasn’t long before I was fully dressed.
I found her right where I’d left her. Those saggy features said things her mouth hadn’t and probably wouldn’t. Her vulnerability was peaking.
I enjoyed it. Every bit of it. It was one of the traits I loved about women. Their ability to be completely and utterly open, transparent, and true. That shit was addictive.
“Hey. Hey.”
I cleared my throat as I lifted her chin.
“Tomorrow. Here. Same time.”
I removed the bills from my pants and stretched her palm.
“Maybe this will keep you busy until then.”
She lifted the other one. With raised eyebrows, I scoffed. So quickly, I’d forgotten the caliber of woman made available in The Mansion.
I emptied my pockets, giving her every single hundred while wishing I had more. For once, I felt like a fucking bum. Six thousand wasn’t shit for her. I was sure of it.
“Tomorrow is no good for me.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not. I have a family dinner.”
“Then, the next day. At eight, since tomorrow is out of the question for you.”
Two hours more wouldn’t be enough time to repay me for her absence tomorrow, but it would be a start. I walked her toward the door. She stopped just a few steps shy of it.
“Here.”
I turned her around, knowing exactly what she was waiting for and what she was in need of. I kissed her forehead and then her lips. There, I lingered, taking her all in as I explored her mouth with my tongue.
“Until next time, Rose.”
I pulled away as my dick started to harden.
“Until next time.”
Big round circles were drawn with the tips of my fingers. One circle at a time, I nursed my son’s mind back to health. It was a routine I’d created for his morning refresh. Each day he woke, he was able to start anew because I’d made sure he went to bed free of any stress.
He had yet to close his eyes, but his grip on Woody had gotten tighter. This could only mean sleep was near. Tonight, I’d managed to convince him to get in the bathtub before dinner.
It had taken a handful of Cheez-its and his favorite applesauce to keep his triggers at bay as he bathed. He lasted only ten minutes, but that was enough for me to cleanse his entire body one good time.
My vibrating phone claimed my attention. I removed it from my pocket to find a few names scrolling across the screen. As much as I wanted to ignore the others, there was one in particular I’d never let ring out.
“It’s your aunt,” I explained to Princeton. “I need to take this.”
As the words left my mouth and I began to stand on my feet, his eyes finally grew tired. A yawn widened his mouth and he pulled Woody even closer to his body. His day was coming to an end and mine was about to begin.
“Kleigh,” I answered as I exited my son’s room, sure to close the door behind me.
Out in the hall, I waited for the rattling in the background to cease so I could hear my sister’s voice. Though she wasn’t on the line and there was so much ruckus, I knew she was home. Her ceiling tiles afforded me with comfort.
“One second, Priest. Sorry. I thought no one would answer.”
“When have I not picked up your call?”
“Okay, the others!” She admitted, finally picking up the phone and letting me see that gorgeous face of hers.
Kleigh was next to the youngest, but we considered her the baby of the bunch. Kofi, we hated to even claim that nigga and still wondered why my stepmother and father decided to have the nigga.
Not only was he a liability to the family, the motherfucker was downright ignorant. Sometimes, I questioned if we were truly raised and loved by the same people.
Strangely, he was Kleigh’s pride and joy. He was only two years younger than her, so she felt like she’d raised him, in a sense. And, that was the possible explanation to the mystery we were all trying to solve.
Mom and Dad were exhausted by the time he came along. They’d poured their energy into raising three children before him. Though I wasn’t Ashland’s biologically, I was hers in every other sense of the word. She and my father left Kofi for us to raise it seemed. That hadn’t turned out well. Not only was that nigga defiant, he was a fucking hellraiser and he kept us all on our toes.
“Don’t ever insult me in that manner, dear.”
“You’re right.” She recanted. “I apologize.”
“Is something the matter?”
Kleigh was notorious for her dramatics, but I loved her nonetheless. She was the only girl of four siblings. Her life was the epitome of theatrical according to us. We were men.
She was simply a woman evolving with each passing day. As the oldest of the herd, it was a blessing to watch her grow and become the person I’d seen in my dreams a million times or more.
She was the spitting image of our mother. The two of them, including my biological mother, were the ones to blame for my obsession with a woman’s aura. Her role in a man’s world. Her femininity. Her softness. Her gentleness. Her ability to calm raging storms or become the storm herself.
The way women’s power lies dormant would forever be incredible to me. They had the power to rule nations, yet most chose to dilute their competency and reign over households, children, and immediate circles.
They were structured so beautifully. And, built with so much intention. Their talents were endless. Their instincts were mindblowing. Their presence was undeniable.
“No. No, not at all. I just found myself missing the men in my life and wanted to steal some of your time if I could.”
Spoiled . Having three brothers and a father who catered to your every need had its privileges and Kleigh took advantage of those often.
She flaunted her independence and did so very well, yet, there were moments she remembered it wasn’t necessary. Moments like these, when she was ready to relinquish her power and allow us to guide her.
Rose . I was reminded of the woman who’d be waiting at my door tonight, ready and willing to fulfill every command supplied. My throat thickened at the thought of her. My memory and senses joined one another in their efforts.
I could taste her on my tongue. Feel her grooves extracting me of my manhood. I conformed as her thoughtlessness increased my capacity.
“That’s never a question. What do you have in mind?”
“I was thinking lunch with us all in attendance, but–”
“No Kofi.”
“My God, leave him alone, Priest. He’s getting better.”
“In fact, just you and I. Lunch at Pier . One-thirty.”
“Fine. I’ll be there at one-thirty.”
“And, Kleigh.”
“Yes?”
“Bring that nigga you’ve been swapping spit with for the last month. I need to make sure he fits the mold.”
“Pri–”
“If not, he can get the fuck out of your face.”
I didn’t wait for her to respond before ending the call. Though she would still be trying to pick her lip up from the counter seconds from now, the information I’d just shared shouldn’t have been news to her. It was my job to know the dealings of every one of my siblings. I was the Captain of our ship and I kept my shit tight.
I returned to Princeton’s room, prepared to continue luring him to sleep. However, his eyes were sealed shut and his grip on Woody had loosened, two signs his slumber was in progress. I kneeled down beside his bed and placed a kiss on his cheek, careful not to wake him.
“I love you son,” I confessed, barely above a whisper, “So much.”
I lowered the light beside his bed without shutting it down completely. In the event he woke during the night and his room was pitch black, he’d have a meltdown. I’d made that mistake three too many times and had learned my lesson now.
I freshened up and left Nikola to her nightly duties. On my ride, I sipped from a foam cup. Ice diluted the flavor of the liquor slightly, making it a bit smoother. Whatever was playing on the shuffled list made my stomach turn. There was simply too much yelling and too much hatred being spewed.
Rose’s influence was substantial. Shamefully, I angled my wheels toward the curb and came to a complete stop. I placed my cup in the holder and grabbed my phone with my right hand. My left was curled around my Beretta, waiting for a nigga to get stupid and get riddled.
I unlocked my phone, heading for the music application. The words of the song Rose had sang the first night we’d gotten acquainted replayed in my head over and over again.
I need a gangsta
To love me better.
I recalled the cadence as I typed the words into the search bar. Immediately, I was prompted to click the image of a woman with fair skin and short hair. I tapped and the low, seductive voice surrounded me. Quickly I understood why Rose was singing the piece.
I was back on the road a few seconds later, cup in hand and mind traveling to that place only the girl in my suite could lead me to. By the time I was entering The Mansion gates, the track had looped at least six times. With it blasting through my speakers, I pulled into the garage and shut off my engine.
Got me so high I’m barely breathing . I whistled the tune.
So don’t let me. Don’t let me. Don’t let me go .
“Ursula,” I called out.
Chuckling came through the intercom. “Yes. Mr. Valentine?”
She was waiting, knowing I’d be summoning her before slipping into my suite. I had plans for Rose and to make sure they went accordingly, the staff had to get their feet wet.
“All good?”
“Everything you requested.”
“Good. Good.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Valentine.”
“Goodnight, Ursula.”