Page 27 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

“I ain’t told her shit. She seen you at the visits a few times and assumes you’re one of my women and okay with her being here. She crazy, I’m trying to tell you,” I said shaking my head.

“You told her what the deal was between us, right? Royce, we don’t even play like that, not even a little bit.”

“You ain’t saying shit I don’t already know. She ain’t ask, so I ain’t tell. I don’t think she’ll believe me though.”

“And why not? She’s living in your house for the next what, four weeks?

Don’t leave that girl in the dark about some mess that’s not true.

Women don’t like that, Royce, we like reassurance.

Assure that girl that she’s the only one you’re interested in because if you don’t, it’s going to be hard to get her to love you. Trickin’ on her won’t do it, trust me.”

I heard what she was saying but right now, this was the move.

I could reassure her afterward if she wanted to talk.

I knew this was for her and only her. All I was fishing for was a genuine reaction from her.

The life I lived was a luxurious one, and I was sure she’d never experienced any treatment like this before.

“It ain’t trickin’ if you got it. You ain’t listen to shit Mullage said back in ’09, huh? Put yo’ listening ears on.”

“You need help. I’m heading home. Your lady shouldn’t be stressed out during this time and now that I know my presence does, I will be over less frequently. I’ll text you later.” She walked off but not before punching me in the arm. I was glad she left before I called My Baby out here.

Once I was done, I called her phone. She answered with a groggy voice. Now I was feeling bad that I woke her up.

“Yes Royce.”

“I just got home, baby. Were you sleeping?” This shit could wait if she was.

“I might’ve dozed off waiting for you. Why are you calling me if you’re here?”

“’Cause I had something for you, but it can wait. I’m walking through the door now. I’ll be to you in a second.” Hanging up, I closed the car door and headed inside. She could get it all later. It wasn’t going nowhere.

As soon as I stepped inside, CJ came riding through the foyer in his car. Pops was right about this lil’ nigga running him ragged. He didn’t have that muthafucka yesterday, but he did today along with two others lined up against the wall. Just spoiled as hell. They did the same thing with me.

“Royce!”

“I see you riding real clean. What? You trying to be like me?” He was rolling in a black and white Rolls Royce. He looked like a younger me in that thang.

“ Un huh !” he said nodding wildly with a big smile on his face.

“My man.” I extended my hand for him to slap it, and he hit it as hard as he could. “Where’s Mommy and Granny?”

“He rolling with me today,” Striker chimed coming around the kitchen corner. CJ had no idea he was with the wrong nigga. Uncle Striker was gon’ teach him some ruthless shit.

“Nigga, where my mama or Pops? He don’t need to be with you at all.”

Striker laughed, and said, “Ma in the kitchen. She just cooked for yo’ lil’ family and whatnot. That lil’ baby you got, she beautiful, bro’. I swear she look just like sis but with yo’ complexion. She did good.”

“I been trying to tell y’all lil’ mama a real live baby doll. I ain’t ever letting her out my sight and this lil’ nigga here gon’ protect her, too. Ain’t that right, CJ?”

“Yup!” he shouted causing me and Striker to laugh.

“He be on go don’t he. Look, I only wanted to see what Ma was cooking for the day, but she was over here cooking for y’all. Save me a plate, and I’ll drop through later. Go ‘head and handle yo’ business, bro.” We dapped up and parted ways. He was gon’ check in no matter who was around.

I walked to the room Klarity was stationed in to find her pulling herself up to sit up.

Exhaustion was still on her. I knew being a new mom again was taking a toll on her and I applauded her for going so hard for our babies.

This was the woman I needed in my life. She was a nurturer and damn it showed.

“What’s up, My Baby? My bad for being late. You ready to shower with me?”

Nodding, she swung her feet to the side and stood from the bed slowly.

She’d only been here for two weeks but her presence felt so familiar around this bitch.

I swear it felt good coming home to her and the kids.

Essence was in her bassinet sound asleep.

If she wanted to shower, she needed to do it now.

I did a light jog over to her and helped her to the bathroom. I turned the shower on while she got undressed. I grabbed everything she would need and sat them on the sink.

“Can you wash my hair for me, too?”

“I’ll wash whatever you need me to, baby. I been out all day, can a nigga wash his ass, too?”

“I don’t care, Royce, it’s your house,” she stated slowly making her way to me.

“It’s ours,” I corrected her.

I undressed as she crossed the room. By the time she made it to me, I was just as naked as the day I was born. She ignored everything about me. She ain’t take a peek at my dick or nothing. Either she wasn’t interested, or her amount of fatigue had her moving like a zombie.

Klarity entered the shower and stood underneath one of the shower heads.

Her naturally curly hair became soaked along with her canvas.

She allowed her head to fall back as she closed her eyes.

When she swayed a lil’, I stepped in behind her and pressed my chest against her back.

My arm then snaked around her waist holding her in place.

“Why you so weak, My Baby? Have you eaten anything?”

“I’m just tired, Royce. Essence hasn’t really let me sleep today. She sleeps just fine when you’re here but when you’re gone, she’s giving me hell. I don’t understand that.”

A low chuckle rumbled in my chest as I kissed the top of her shoulder. Essence was a daddy’s girl already. Lil’ mama slept like a champ with me. I was loving that shit honestly. It made me feel like all the effort I was putting in was paying off.

“I’ll take her tonight and let you sleep. Were you able to pump today?”

“I got a good amount out. I handed them all over to your mother, and she stored them for me. I haven’t had much energy to do anything. It’s easier when you’re here because you handle it for me.”

“So what? You want me here until yo’ six weeks up?” I had no problem putting my life on hold for her and the kids. Hell, I could use some damn time off if you asked me.

“I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to do, Royce. Wash me already. I can’t keep standing like this. I’m still hurting you know,” she complained.

“Aight, aight.”

I grabbed the rag, lathered it good, and began to wash her off.

Soft moans were heard as I went from neck to toe.

I repeated the same action four times before I moved on to her hair.

She turned around and held onto my waist as I took my time washing that sweat and dirt out her hair.

Behaving like she was so helpless was making me feel as if she truly needed me.

“My fault for being gone all day. I had an important meeting then some errands to run. Why you ain’t call a nigga to come home if you wasn’t feeling yo’ best?”

“Why would I call you, Royce? You’re not my man,” she spoke softly still tangled around my waist. Saying I wasn’t yo’ man while letting my hands explore every part the good Lord gave you was crazy work.

“Damn. Since when? You starting to make me feel like I’m crazy, My Baby, I don’t like that.”

“Royce, you are crazy. You kidnapped me for the next four weeks and you conned me into making my daughter an Atkins. On top of that, you stalked me without me realizing it. If that ain’t crazy, then I don’t know what is.”

Gently pulling her hair, she lifted her face to mine.

She was so goddamn fine. I really towered over her five-foot five-inch frame.

Lifting her to do unimaginable things was going to be fun as hell.

I could see her now bouncing off the dick in midair.

When she looked in my eyes, I saw content instead of fear.

For the first time, she wasn’t scared of me.

Bending down, our lips connected and although she was drained of energy, she had enough to kiss me back.

It was never a fight for me to get one. She returned my kisses with ones that were slow, passionate, and addictive.

The way she held onto me while doing it was something I couldn’t get enough of.

Breaking the kiss, I spoke against her lips, “If you ain’t know, then you should’ve said that ‘cause all I heard was a nigga in love.”

“ Hmph ! You’re proving my point. Are you done with me? I need to lay down. I feel lightheaded.”

Pecking her lips once more, I spoke lowly, “Yeah baby. Go ‘head and lay down. I’ll bring you some food and get her once I’m done.”

“Thank you.”

She walked out wrapping herself in a towel.

I washed my ass over a course of fifteen minutes before following suit.

I handled the rest of my hygiene at the sink, then left out the bathroom completely.

When I walked in the room, she had Essence in her arms feeding her.

My Baby was worn out, you could see it all over her face and in her movements.

I quickly got dressed and took Essence from her. She was ready to be burped anyway. “Food then sleep or sleep then food?”

“I just want to sleep, but I have to eat something. I haven’t eaten anything, not even a damn cracker.”

“Aight, hold on. Let me see what Mama cooking.”

With Essence in my arms, I went and found Iris. She was in the kitchen packing up food. There were two bowls sitting on the counter wrapped up.

“What’s this, Ma?” I asked while tapping Lil’ Mama’s back.

“Some chicken pot pie. I figured she needed something heavy on her stomach. Take it to her. You need me to get my baby?”

“Nah, I got this. Has CJ eaten yet?”

“He just did. He’s with Senior over at the house watching movies. He seems to think it’s a Tinseltown for real. After I’m done cleaning, I’m heading that way. Those are push gifts for sweet pea back there?”

“Hell yeah. I had to make sure she was showered, especially for giving a nigga this princess right here. I can take one, can you bring the other?”

“I’ll bring both. Go get comfortable with her. I’m right behind you,” she instructed.

I headed back down the hall to the guest bedroom me and Klarity shared.

I climbed in bed with her, and she looked at me with irritation.

She ain’t have to say shit, her eyes were talking for her.

She was already running on a low battery, I wasn’t ‘bout to make it worse. I climbed out just as fast taking Lil’ Mama’s bassinet with me.

Iris walked through the door seconds later with the food and drinks on a tray.

She gave us both a bowl and she left the same way she came.

Silence surrounded us as she began to eat.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for this moment.

If you asked me who the hell I was gon’ marry to fulfill the damn terms of The Oath a year ago, Klarity would’ve never been mentioned. Now she was all I could see.

“You need anything else?” I questioned. She shook her head no and continued to eat. As long as her and my kids were good, so was I.