Smirking at her wit, Crown slid into bed under the covers. He went to position her head on his chest, but Nivéa climbed on top of him instead, staring in his eyes.
“Yo’ lil ass think you know me so well.” Crown said, massaging her hips.
“And do.”
“Yeah? What you know after only a few months of being with a nigga?”
“I know you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You keep everything bottled inside and use work as a scapegoat. I also know you’re over that shit…over this chapter in your life. You love the Knights, but you feel your time has expired. You’ve outgrown the chaos it brings. You’d much rather live in peace and be boring right along with my boring ass. Quiet as kept, I know that’s why you like me so much, nigga.”
Crown chuckled against her lips, laughter bubbling up from deep inside him. This was the most emotion he’d ever shown in his life. Every word she said rang true. He yearned for a normal life, and besides her beauty, he’d damn sure chosen her for that very reason. Nivéa’s quiet aura brought him a feeling he was still trying to articulate. What might have been boring to others felt like comfort to him.
They shared a smile as his hands moved down to her ass, massaging both cheeks. The harder he squeezed, the more aroused they both became. She was dripping against his hardness. But neither acted on it right away. Instead, Crown took her lips into his mouth, kissing her slowly. He kissed her like he would never see her again…like the world was ending.
“You okay?” Nivéa said, pulling back and tracing his bottom lip with the tip of her nail.
“Yeah, I’m straight. It’s just sometimes the game forces you to do shit that fucks with your conscience. Shit that haunts you.”
“I get it. Just be careful out there, okay?” Nivéa’s brows knit together as she poked out her bottom lip, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
“See. That’s why I shouldn’t tell you shit, baby.”
She burst out laughing. “You think I’m weak.”
“Hell nah. You strong as hell. You just emotional as fuck.”
“Not you thinking you know me.”
“I don’t think. I know, I know you.”
“Hm, what you know?”
“I know you was tired. Tired of being strong, tired of struggling, and tired of love leaving you bleeding. I know you miss your mama, and being with me brings you a happiness you haven’t felt since she was here…the kind of joy that not even your bond with Reesh can bring. Our connection is on a whole other level, ma. I know because you bring me the same joy. I don’t give a fuck about shit when I’m with you. There ain’t a soul I can kick it with that makes me feel what you make me feel.”
A tear slipped from Nivéa’s eye before she could catch it. She loved the way he articulated his thoughts, and she especially admired his wisdom. In her eyes, Crown was the blueprint for so many things. He would take her far in life, and she was willing to bet everything she owned on that.
“Here you go crying and shit.” Crown teased but still reached up to wipe her tear away.
“Hush, it’s all your fault.” She gently smacked his chest, pressing her forehead against his. “You make me happy and emotional. Your entire existence calms my nervous system.”
“You calm mine too, baby.”
Crown kissed the side of her neck, cheek, and lips before flipping her onto her back. He planted a trail of kisses from her chest down to her stomach. He couldn’t get enough of doing that. He was ecstatic about becoming a father and about the life they were building together.
Chapter Five
After the chaos at Rell’s club, Danger sat at the bar inside the clubhouse, one elbow resting against the counter. A half-empty bottle of Bourbon sat in front of him, alongside a glass he’d refilled more times than he intended. He had taken his brother's place. Normally, that’s where Crown would be, lost in thought and sipping his drink.
Unfortunately, the Bourbon wasn’t unwinding Danger. Instead, it had him thinking and feeling more. It had been a minute since he’d been with a woman, and with the liquor in his system and the R&B playing softly, he was acutely aware of it. He was horny out of his fucking mind.
This was unusual for him; Danger wasn’t used to going without. But grief had a way of shifting everything, even him.
Grief.
His heart throbbed at the thought of Lil Mo’s death, and he bowed his head for a moment, pushing the hurt away before it could settle. Reaching for the bottle again, he poured some onto the floor beside his stool for her, then poured the rest into his glass. After tossing it back, he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Several unread messages. Multiple missed calls. All different women from different area codes. He had so many options that he’d lost count. Yet none of them felt right for his vibe. Yeah, he wanted pussy, but he needed someone with personality, too. His thumb hovered over the screen before landing on one name…only she was on his mind that night.
Caresha.
