Page 12

Two weeks later…

Nia’Rose

Brandy’s album played softly in my bedroom, filling the space with nostalgia as I hurriedly dressed for my night out with Prosper. Having stayed an extra hour at work for a staff meeting I’d completely forgotten about, I was running behind schedule.

Tonight’s outfit was cute yet comfortable: a cropped blouse paired with flared jeans. We were planning to grab some food and then head to a skating rink. I couldn’t wait to see Prosper’s face. I missed him. His late classes at the new campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays often meant he didn’t make it to my place until I was already asleep.

With yesterday being Thursday, I felt deprived. It had only been two weeks since we’d taken things to the next level, but in that short time, he had hooked me.

After getting myself dolled up, I quickly packed my bag since we agreed to head to his place later. Just as I zipped it up, I heard a knock at the door. Grinning, I opened it to find Prosper waiting for me. Before I could swing the door wide enough, he stepped inside and pulled me into his arms, enveloping me in his large frame.

“I missed you,” he mumbled, kissing my lips.

“I missed you too,” I replied, taking in the scent of Marijuana and Sauvage.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“You packed your bag?”

“I did, handsome.”

“It’s about time we get you some shit for my place instead of you always having to pack, don’t you think?”

“We’ll get there. It’s only been two weeks, baby. Give it time.”

“Damn, aight. My fault for rushin’.”

I snickered at our dynamics. Prosper often wanted to jump headfirst into things, while I had to be the one to calm him down and remind him to approach with caution. I supposed it was just part of having such a significant age difference.

“It’s okay. I appreciate you always considering me.”

“Of course,” he kissed my forehead before finally turning me loose.

I made my way to the back, grabbed my bag, and we headed out for our night. Inside the car, the heated seats welcomed me. With spring still in full swing, the nights could get a bit chilly in Texas. Prosper had learned how I felt about the cold and always made accommodations for me. He was the kind of person who typically kept the air conditioning at sixty but adjusted it whenever he knew I would be around. I loved that about him too.

“How was your day, mama?”

“Good, but long. I’m exhausted,” I yawned.

“You always exhausted. You wanna reschedule the date? We can grab our food and head to my spot.”

“No,” I pouted, sticking out my bottom lip. “I want to get out of the house. It’s okay.”

“You sho?”

“I am. How was your day?”

“Decent. It’ll be even better when I end the night in you, ya feel me?” He winked, and I laughed at his shenanigans.

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Burger Park, a little food spot in Prosper’s hood that he claimed to love. He ordered us burger baskets and two blue raspberry slushies. While we waited, he sold a few new pieces from his clothing line to people he knew, as well as curious passersby who thought his stuff looked nice. I couldn’t help but admire him for making his money, but I also felt a bit uneasy. All sorts of people were walking by, including some that looked like crackheads.

Jesus . I wasn’t judging; I was just observing.

Luckily, everything went fine, and we made our way to the skating rink after eating. I wasn’t sure why I let him talk me into this either. He said it was something he enjoyed in his younger years and promised it would be a good vibe.

Once inside, we bypassed the lengthy line because Prosper knew the owner well. They chatted for a few minutes before I watched him slide the older man a thick wad of cash. The guy then dapped him up and got our sizes for the skates.

I wasn’t surprised by their interaction. I’d learned that although his parents were financially well-off during his childhood, Prosper’s mother inherited her home from her parents, which meant he grew up in the hood. He knew all the best spots, and everyone seemed to know him.

When we retrieved our skates, my nerves crept in. I hadn’t skated in years and hoped I wouldn’t fall flat on my face in front of all these people; it was super packed.

“Why did I let you talk me into this? I’m too damn old to be skating, Prosper.”

“Baby, chill. You ain’t old at all and you damn sho ain’t too old to skate. Look around. People of all ages and different walks of life come here.”

“Like you,” I teased. “The big bad gangster on skates.”

He chuckled while lacing my skates, giving me a chance to glance around at the mix of older folks mingling with the younger crowd.

“If I bust my ass, I’m going to get you.” I threatened.

“Now we gettin’ somewhere. That’s the real problem, you scared.”

I shot him a playful glare and whispered,

“If I bust my ass, no goodies for you tonight, sir.”

Prosper whistled as he helped me up from the bench. “Well, shit… we can’t have that. Come on. I got you.”

He held my hand as we stepped onto the rink. I started a bit shaky, but to my surprise, I wasn’t as rusty as I thought. By the third lap around the rink, I was channeling my teenage self again. Smiling, I watched Prosper as he effortlessly blended in with the crowd. He moved with such smoothness on the skates that it was hard to keep up.

Once I got comfortable, he pulled me into his arms, and we caught a vibe to the beat of “Her Way” by PARTYNEXTDOOR.

“I didn’t know you were this good, baby.” I said against his ear.

“I told you me and my niggas used to come here often.” He bobbed his head to the beat.

“I know, but you’re really, really good.” I smiled as he spun me around, gliding gracefully across the rink.

“You ain’t too bad either, baby.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck as we hit another turn. The lights eventually dimmed, and I got lost in the moment. This was so dope, and I was glad I didn’t shoot the idea down like I initially wanted to.

“I’m really feeling you.” I blurted out to Prosper, all in my feelings.

“You been saying that to me all week. When you gonna act on those emotions, mama?”

“I am acting on them. I’m with you every day, ain’t I?”

“That ain’t enough for me no more, Nia’Rose.”

I stared at him as he effortlessly guided me around upcoming traffic. The rink had gotten even fuller just that quickly.

“I need you to be my lady.” Prosper added, and I thought it was so cute.

I blushed, realizing I wouldn’t be taking my time with him after all. He made it way too hard. “Okay,”

“For real?” He asked, shocked.

“Yeah, okay.”

“Bet,”

Blocking out the world, we skated for an hour, enjoying our little bubble before deciding to take a break. I was super thirsty and craving a snack. As I sat at the snack bar, waiting for our drinks and nachos, Prosper stepped away to use the restroom. He had been holding it for quite some time, refusing to leave me alone. Eventually, I managed to convince him that I was okay and to go.

I was sitting peacefully, minding my own business, when a familiar face approached and took a seat right next to me. My eyes widened at the sight of him.

“Nia,” Martin greeted me, equally shocked to see me.

I didn’t respond; I was far from happy to see him.

“Hey,” he then reached over and gently rubbed my arm.

“Don’t touch me,” I frowned, snatching away.

He sighed. “I know it’s been a while and you’re still mad at me, but—”

“Martin, what the hell are you doing here?”

“It’s my nephew’s birthday. We’re out celebrating. I spotted you over here and wanted to come speak. Who are you here with? Never knew you enjoyed skating.”

I glanced across the room and spotted a few of his loved ones, including Lil Ronnie, the birthday boy. It dawned on me that today was indeed his birthday. I figured they chose this area because Martin’s younger sister stayed down the street in some affordable apartments. She was a single mom, still trying to get her life together.

“It’s none of your business who I’m here with,” I replied with venom. “And for future references, I don’t fuck with you. So, when you see me out, please don’t ever feel the need to speak.”

With that, I tried to stand, but Martin gripped my arm, stopping me from walking away. It wasn’t a harmful grip, more like how Prosper often grabbed me when he commanded my attention. But Martin wasn’t Prosper, and the shit irritated me.

“Get your hands off me.” I told him.

“I know you’re mad as hell at me and rightfully so. But you just up and left without talking to me first, baby. We could’ve worked through our problems.”

“You must’ve bumped your head if you think I’d work things out after you had a damn baby on me.”

“That was a mistake, Nia.”

I considered telling Martin he was a pathetic ass nigga, and that this wasn’t his only mistake. However, I knew that engaging with him would imply I still cared. And I didn’t. So, I rolled my eyes and tried to walk away again. But he grabbed me once more.

“I said to get your fucking hands off me.” This time, my words came out more fiercely, causing his anger to flare.

“So, you want to throw eight years down the drain over some bullshit?! I made her ass get an abortion. Had you not changed your number, I could’ve told you that.”

Martin raised his voice, drawing attention, and I instantly grew nervous when I noticed a tall, dark figure approaching from my peripheral vision. I tried to walk away again to restore the peace, but his grip tightened. And that was the worst mistake he could have ever made.

“Say, nigga. You must’ve woke up wit’ suicide on yo’ mind.” Prosper charged in, just as I expected he would.

Taken aback, Martin released me. He tried to stand up and address him, but before he could react, Prosper landed a hard punch, sending him crashing back down. The force was so strong that Martin toppled over with the stool.

“What the fuck?!” He exclaimed in the ground, his eye already starting to swell as he staggered to his feet.

“Prosper, let it go. It’s okay. Calm down.” I urged, rushing toward him and holding his chest.

“Nah, watch out, baby.” He gently moved me aside, drawing his gun.

By now, a crowd had gathered, and I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. “No. Please. I promise it’s okay, baby. Let’s just go.”

Just as I was calming Prosper down, Martin decided to provoke him further. “So, you’re dating young niggas now, Nia? You stooping that low?” he taunted, then shifted his focus to Prosper again.

“You got that first punch, bro. You caught me off guard. But what’s up now? Put that gun down. You young niggas always quick to pull your gu—”

My heart sank as Prosper swiftly reached his long arm out, grabbed Martin by the back of his locs, and brutally slammed his face into the counter that he’d just managed to stand by. The move was so quick that I barely registered it.

“You young niggas what?! I’ll tear yo’ bitch ass up in here, whether it’s with my fists or bullets, nigga.” Prosper spat in a rage, and I almost didn’t recognize him.

Granted, I had seen him confront others before, but this time he was filled with a fury I had never witnessed. The man standing in front of me had morphed into a complete monster.

A few of Martin’s cousins rushed over, likely intending to intervene, but Prosper quickly redirected the gun in their direction, forcing them to stand back. My heart raced, leaving me terrified and speechless.

∞∞∞

Prosper

The drive back to my place was silent. I didn't need to ask Nia how she felt; I could sense her tension. My recent actions had shaken her, making her second-guess what I was trying to build with her. By now, my anger was long gone, and I felt like shit for scaring her.

“What you wanna eat, baby?” I asked, knowing she hadn’t had a chance to finish her nachos at the rink.

“Nothin,” she replied. “I’m fine.”

“You sho? You haven’t eaten.”

“I’m fine, Prosper.” Her tone was sharp.

Reluctantly, I passed all the restaurants, hopped on the freeway, and headed toward my place. I told myself that if she got hungry later, I could whip something up. I was tired as fuck and didn’t feel like cooking, but for her, it was whatever. I'd do anything to put a smile back on her face.

Once we were in the garage, Nia said,

“It’s late, and we were closer to your place, so that’s the only reason I didn’t push you about taking me home. But in the morning, I’d like you to drive me.”

“Thought you were staying wit’ me for a few days.”

“I changed my mind.”

Running a hand over my face, I sat back in frustration. “What did you expect me to do? The nigga put his hands on you, Nia.”

“Prosper, sometimes it’s not just about what you do but how you do it. Striking him is one thing, but pulling your gun in a public place is a big no. If you weren't cool with the owner, the police would’ve been called, and you’d be in jail again . That’s not okay, especially with me on your side. I’m not saying you were wrong to defend me, but it was excessive. You need to get that anger under control. You already have a record.”

“To you, it seems excessive, but to me, I’m protecting the both of us when I pull my gun. Where I come from, niggas have lost their lives ‘cause someone couldn’t handle getting their ass beat. Plus, his people approached me, and I didn’t know what they were on.”

“I hear you,” she said, pinning her hair up with a clip she pulled from her purse.

“I still worry the police might contact you.”

“Don’t worry about that, mama,” I reassured her.

“I don’t want you stressing over this. No one’s calling the cops in the hood, and the owner has my back because I saved his business a few years ago. I helped him out wit’ some bread when he ran into some financial troubles. He a man of his word. He not gone say shit.”

“It’s Martin I’m worried about. He can be arrogant and play tough publicly, but he’s not the same as you. He might decide to press charges.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that nigga either.”

“That’s easier said than done, Prosper.”

Her disappointment was deeper than anger; I could see it in her face as we got out of the car. Black greeted her at the door as soon as she opened it. They shared a moment before she headed upstairs to shower.

Wanting to give her some space to cool off, I focused on taking care of Black. I took him for a long walk, fed him, and then bathed him. When I was finished, I noticed Nia was on the couch in the living room, her eyes glued to the television.

“Why’d you come down here?” I asked her.

“Just needed some space. Not really in the best mood.”

“You know I have another room upstairs, right? I can sleep there while you take my bed. You don’t have to be on the couch, baby.”

“I know. I’m fine here with Black.”

“Understood.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead before heading upstairs.

After grabbing my clothes, I stepped into the shower to freshen up. I lingered there for about thirty-five minutes, replaying the situation in my mind, trying to figure out how I could have handled that shit differently. But honestly, no other solution came to me. That muthafucka had me fucked up.

Wanting to apologize again, I headed to the living room right after my shower, but I noticed Nia had fallen asleep, petting Black, who was dozing beside her. The sight tugged at my heart, and I hesitated, not wanting to disturb her peace.

Glancing at the clock, I noted it was 11:45. I had time to handle something quickly. Back upstairs, I shot a message to my private investigator, then slipped into a black jogging suit and put on my gloves. Grabbing my gun, I headed to the garage and started up my motorcycle.

After gathering the information I needed, I found myself at Martin Johnson’s residence. When I initially broke in, I noticed that, despite the late hour, he still hadn't returned home. An hour passed, and he finally showed up, looking like hell, with two black eyes and swollen lips. I had done a number on him. And as soon as he flicked on the lamp, I was on his bitch ass again. He wouldn’t get a chance to press charges.

Because Nia would know it was me, I had no intention of killing him. But by the time I was finished, he’d be too fuckin’ terrified to ever utter my name to anyone.

∞∞∞

Nia’Rose

I awoke to the sensation of my panties being gently slid down. My eyes slowly fluttered open, and the sight before me nearly made me jump out of my skin. But as the moonlight streamed in through the massive window, clarity washed over me. I recognized Prosper’s eyes peering at me through the holes of a ski mask. That dark, hooded gaze was unmistakable.

"W... what the hell are you doing?" I questioned him, my heart racing—he was insane.

"About to eat yo' pussy, then fuck you until you forgive me for my sins.” He replied, lifting the ski mask slightly.

"Prosp—" my voice faltered the moment his tongue connected with my clit. "Oooh," I moaned, my body trembling with pleasure. "Where’s Black?"

"I put that nigga up.”

“W…why are you wearing a ski mask?” I managed to ask, feeling confused.

I knew he could be something else in the bedroom; however, he had never taken things this far before. Maybe because I was livid with him, he felt the need to try something new.

With a dripping beard, Prosper paused for a moment and said,

“You wanted to know what I do for my paper. Well, I take care of problems, baby. I get paid to dead issues.”

Still in a state of confusion, I moaned while glancing down at him. I noticed he was dressed in all black. “And why do you have that on? Did you leave?”

“Yes,”

“To go where?”

“To make sure yo’ ex doesn’t press charges.”

“Oh my Go—” I tried to sit up and push him away, but he rose, pinning me to the couch with his body.

I was at his mercy as he slid down his pants and boxers, easing himself inside me. The warmth of his bare skin sent my eyes rolling into the back of my head, overwhelming me with sensations that both thrilled and confused me. I was caught between desire and a whirlwind of emotions all over again. Before I went to sleep, I had promised myself that I would pull back from him before I got tangled up in some bullshit. But now… oh, goodness, now… I found myself wanting to have his baby.

“I promised to always keep it real with you, mama.”

I nodded, as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he hooked my thighs over his arms. He did promise me that. The night before, while fucking me, he whispered a million promises in my ear.

“I could’ve hidden this, but I don’t wanna keep shit from you.”

“What did you do?”

"I didn’t kill him, but I made sure to ease your worries, ya feel me?" he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

“I want you to be carefree. You ain't gotta worry 'bout that nigga ever saying anything else to you. You ain't gotta worry about him going to the cops."

His words lingered in the air, leaving me feeling both protected and uneasy.

“B…baby.” I struggled to gather my words as he moved deep inside me, making it hard to think.

“I’ll work on my anger for you. I promise, Nia.” He kissed my neck. “But you have to understand, I’ll neva let a nigga disrespect you and get away with it.”

All I could do was nod my head as I whimpered, lost in the pleasure he was giving me. He felt so good that I couldn’t possibly argue with him at that moment.

“I’m your man, and it’s my duty to protect you.”

He found my G-spot, stroking it repeatedly, and I gasped,

“Ahhhhh…”

My pussy responded eagerly, foaming around him.

“You feel so good, mama.” He softened, showering kisses on my neck and face before his lips crashed into mine.

As I clung to the fabric of his long-sleeve shirt, I kissed him passionately, momentarily forgetting about the chaos of the night.

“You forgive me?” Prosper asked, breaking our kiss and pulling out, leaving me breathless and craving more.

He teased me, rubbing his tip against my slit. I knew what he was doing—trying to weaken my resolve so I would forgive him. Call me stupid, because it was working.

“Baby, put it back in,” was all I could manage to say as I glanced down at the precum glistening on him.

“Tell me you forgive me.” He sucked on my neck, gliding his head in and out. Just when I thought he would go all the way in, he would pull back.

“Please.”

“Tell me then.” He ripped open my robe, burying his face in my titties and sucking. He knew just how to push me over the edge. “You just became mine. I can’t lose you over one mishap.”

“I forgive you… plea—”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence before he was deep inside me again. With my legs lifted in the air, I cried out Prosper’s name, expressing how much I forgave him as he fucked my pussy brutally and choked me out. Because I truly did. I wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how much of a dangerous game we played…

The end for now...