His Prologue
Later that Night
The purr of Navy’s engine as she pulled into the parking lot caused Zander to grin.
It was sexy, and it fit her. For all intents and purposes, Navy was a good girl with the girl next door vibe.
However, there was a roughness about her that Zander had been attracted to since they met.
She didn’t get loud and curse often unless she was mad.
She didn’t like violence unless she had to protect someone.
She was quiet, shy, and reserved unless she was around people she trusted.
She ate healthy and didn’t indulge in a lot of bad habits, but she could smoke and drink with him at any time.
Zander was sure it was because her parents were project babies who made it out the hood. She was raised in the suburbs and never wanted for anything, but her parents made sure she knew where they came from and that she had that same strength and hustler mentality within her.
When she texted him and asked him where he was, Zander dropped his location.
He stepped out of the lounge to meet her, and as she stepped out of the Mustang, he couldn’t stop the physical reaction that made his dick hard at the sight of her.
Dressed in a one piece jumpsuit, a thick fur coat was draped over her shoulders.
Dark sunglasses covered her eyes even though the sun had made its departure hours ago.
Her heels clacked as she made her way over to him, and Zander couldn’t help but smile.
He'd always been attracted to her, and if he felt they could have a healthy relationship, he would have made his move years ago. The closer she got to his sister, Twyla, the more Zander realized she deserved a man that was better than him. One who was ready to commit and treat her like the treasure she was. One who would be satisfied with just one woman. One who could be consistent and put forth effort. Though he could do all those things, a decade ago, Zander simply didn’t want to.
As more time progressed, he noticed the shift in Navy’s perception of him.
She still adored him as a man, but his habits and ways when it came to women stopped her eyes from twinkling when she looked at him.
And for that reason alone, Zander vowed to never try and have a romantic relationship with her.
He was never afraid of rejection when it came to any other woman, but if Navy rejected him . . .
“How does she ride?” Zander asked.
“Beautifully,” Navy cooed with a smile. “Did you hear that purr?”
“I did. Shit was sexy as fuck.”
Navy giggled as she stepped into his personal space. He wasted no time wrapping his arms around her waist to give her the hug he’d been craving all day. Navy shivered and wrapped her arms around him.
“Your hands are cold. How long have you been standing out here?”
“Not too long,” he replied, removing her shades so he could see her eyes.
“Zander . . .”
Her tone had him shaking his head because he knew she was about to be on some bullshit. “What did he say?”
Sighing, Navy ran her hands down his chest. “He feels like we’re too close and that our friendship is disrupting my relationship.”
Zander sucked his teeth before he chuckled. “I’on give a fuck about that shit.”
“I think he has a point, Z. How will I get close to any man romantically if you’re the number one man in my life outside of my daddy? He doesn’t really have the space and opportunity to be there for me like he should be because of how well you take care of me. How much time we spend together . . .”
“And? That’s his fault. If he wanted to do more or spend more time with you he could. That’s what real men do.”
Her eyes closed briefly as she inhaled a shaky breath. “Ian would like for us to stop being friends. Or, at least, stop spending so much time together.”
Zander’s eyebrows wrinkled as she avoided his eyes. It wasn’t until he released a hearty laugh that she finally looked at him. Her eyes rolled in annoyance before she smiled.
“You don’t take anything seriously,” she muttered.
“I do, but that nigga is a clown telling jokes, so what else am I supposed to do beyond laugh?”
“Zander—”
“Nah, fuck that. I’ll step down for your husband, but not no boyfriend. The fuck?”
Navy groaned and tried to put some space between them, but his grip on her waist tightened.
“I don’t even know if I want him to be my husband honestly. I like him a lot but I’m tired of the back and forth about you. You’re my closest friend. I’m not giving you up to be with him, but I also don’t want him to feel threatened by our friendship and like I’m not invested in our relationship.”
With a sigh, Zander decided to be softer with her since it was clear she was conflicted.
“My daddy taught me and Twy submission is not demanded or required. It’s summoned based on how a man leads and how safe a woman feels to surrender to him.
If he’s asking you to do something you don’t feel comfortable doing, don’t do it.
You can compromise if he’s worth that, but if he isn’t, don’t ever do no shit you don’t want to just to appease a nigga.
I know OG Pops taught you better than that. ”
“I know, I know,” she whined. “I’m just trying to do the right thing.
All my boyfriends complain about you at one point or another, and if they are all saying something, maybe I do need to consider how close I am to you.
That’s not to say I want our relationship to change.
I guess I just need to figure out how to have you and them too. ”
“The right man won’t see me as a threat. He’ll see me as an asset. Another form of protection and provision for you. And like I said, when you get married, I’ll stand down—a little. You gotta marry the right man, though, or I’ma bully him for the rest of his life.”
Her light laughter as she relaxed further against him was like music to his ears.
“I know you will, and I will feel so bad about that. Me and Twyla were talking about that the other day. Between our daddies and you, our husbands will have to have skin as thick as—” She groaned and pulled her vibrating phone out of her cross body purse.
“This is Ian. I’ll call him when I get back home.
I just wanted to pull up on you and say thank you again. And to get my hug.”
Zander’s arms encircled her again, and he dropped a kiss to her neck and forehead.
“I love you, Nae. I hope you enjoyed your day.”
“I did. I love you too. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Aight but let me know when you get back home.”
“Yes, daddy number three.”
As irritated as Zander would get when she called him that, that time, he was rendered speechless.
She teased him with that name when he told her what to do.
Navy would always say his and Twyla’s father was like a second father to her, and when Zander tried to tell her what to do, he was the third daddy she didn’t ask for but was glad to have.
If only she knew—being her daddy was the last role he wanted to have in her life.
The things he wanted to do to her weren’t familial at all.
His eyes lowered down her frame as she took short steps away from him.
Perky breasts sat up at attention, her flat stomach lowered and highlighted fat pussy lips and shapely hips that he wished he could spread while he pummeled her pussy.
Clearing his throat, Zander forced his eyes up to hers, but she turned and headed toward her car.
Damn what Ian or any other man was talking about.
No man would remove him from Navy’s life—none.