Page 29 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

Circling my arms around his waist, I was on my tiptoes puckering my lips in his direction.

He smirked as he leaned down and honored my request. This was the first time I initiated anything between us, and I was almost certain it wouldn’t be the last. I found myself wanting his presence near me more and more.

It could’ve very well been because he handled Essence and CJ so well and was actively showing me what a two-parent household would look like.

Whatever the case, it was starting to make me develop feelings that I probably shouldn’t have had.

“Thank you,” I spoke softly against his lips.

“What I just tell you? When it comes to you and them kids, I’ll give y’all the fuckin’ world. You just got to let me, My Baby.”

I’m trying. I really am.

Nodding, I said, “Patience is all I ask. I’m not used to any of this.”

“You will be. It’s one last thing. We got to go back in and get on the elevator though.”

“What now, Royce?” I was already looking at probably a quarter million dollars alone. What more was there to see?

“Be easy baby. You gon’ see it in a minute,” he said with that sly grin plastered on his face. That man was fine, and he knew it. Looking at him was a great way to pastime.

I was ushered back inside to the elevator.

I hadn’t seen any other part of his house since I’d been here.

In that room and in that bed was where I was at mostly.

I needed the rest and peace. No one bothered me while I was here except for Royce and Ms. Iris.

She always relayed little messages from her husband, but he never came back himself.

I took it as him giving me the space I deserved.

We rode to the second floor where the doors opened to an open floor.

The stairs sat a little ways out in front on both the left and right side.

We stepped off with him leading me down the hall to our left.

The first door on the right of that hall was opened and my hands flew to my mouth.

CJ had his own room and my God it was just as spacious as the guest bedroom downstairs.

NASCAR was his theme, and I couldn’t deny how good it looked in there. They went all out for my baby.

“What’s up? You like his lil’ set up?” Royce questioned.

“Royce, why does my baby have a room here? You said six weeks.” I wasn’t trying to give in too much. He was making us a part of his life without hesitation. This was the most anyone had ever done for us.

“Where the hell else is he gon’ have a room at? This where the fuck he lay his head at, ain’t it?” He spoke as if we weren’t going anywhere. Two weeks and this man was head over hills for me and my crew. I was liking his dedication, I couldn’t lie.

“Six weeks is what I gave you. He didn’t need his own room for that time frame.” I needed something to go against because besides being weak physically, I was starting to be weak emotionally for this nigga.

“Six weeks, huh? Ha ! Yeah, aight. Come on and see baby girl’s room, so I can get you back downstairs and in the bed.”

“She has one, too?”

“Why the fuck wouldn’t she? Don’t ask me no dumb ass questions, My Baby.” His response was on the irritable side. He was acting like she would have one regardless of who stayed or left.

We walked into the bedroom across the hall from CJ’s and I immediately knew Essence was going to get a princess treatment until the day she died.

Her room was pink, white, and gold. Her crib had a cute little canopy over it giving it the princess effect for sure.

So many pictures of her hung and she was only a couple weeks old.

She had no business having a jewelry box full of custom pieces already.

“Royce… why are you going all out for them? For us? Is this what you do for every other chick you’ve encountered?” I was so sure I wasn’t that damn special to him. Maybe his kind gestures were just his character.

“I wish I would. I’d whoop my own ass then.

I don’t do for anyone I don’t look at as family.

Whether you were pregnant with baby girl or not, I would’ve approached you the same way and took care of just you and CJ.

You so goddamn pretty to a nigga that I couldn’t help but look at you every time you came to see that fuck ass nigga.

I was lowkey glad to hear he was mistreating you; it made it easier to swoop in and show you what a real nigga could do.

Nah, I don’t like what you went through, but it was opportunity to prove myself.

I know material shit won’t make you comfortable with me or love me, but it’s a start. ”

His start was one I saw myself adjusting to.

Sincerity was laced in everything he did, and I believed with him, me and my little ones could have that stress free as well as carefree life.

Most men only played with a woman because there wasn’t genuineness in their words or actions.

I felt nothing but genuineness anytime Royce spoke setting him apart from other men.

“Thank you… again,” I whispered.

Here’s to my little doll baby being officially a month old, happy, and healthy.

Essence and I had just gotten back to the Atkins compound, and I couldn’t deny how much I wanted to call it home.

I’d gotten used to smelling him and hearing his voice every day.

It never occurred to me how much I could like him if I just calmed down and went with the flow.

I was doing that more than usual lately.

I was able to move around much better now. Those four weeks of healing were really needed. I was at the point where Royce and Ms. Iris could take a break from waiting on me hand and foot. I was appreciative in more ways than one.

Royce opened the passenger door and helped me out. He wasn’t missing anything when it came to baby girl. He wanted to be there for everything that involved her. He was taking his daddy role very serious.

“Come on baby, I’ll get her.”

“You always do,” I said knowing anytime we were altogether, he would have the kids by his side. That overprotectiveness didn’t do shit but turn up a notch.

We headed inside where the smell of baked goods lit up the house. I just knew Ms. Iris had the bakery jealous with some good shit up in here. I excitedly scurried to the kitchen only to be surprised by the one person I had no intentions of seeing willingly.

Heidi was a beautiful dark chocolate woman, and her vitiligo only made her that much more striking.

As always, she had bundles flowing down her back, a golden tint to her dark skin, and back dimples that held diamond studs.

I was jealous of how angelic she looked.

I was a bad bitch myself, but it was something about her that looked untainted and pure.

My presence wasn’t noticed but Royce’s was.

As soon as he stepped behind me, she turned around.

I’d been standing there taking her in for at least a good thirty seconds by myself.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes as I shifted my weight to my right side.

Royce placed Essence on the counter to our left and wrapped his arm around my waist. Her gaze dropped to where his hand was and smirked.

“I didn’t think y’all would be back so quickly. I thought I had time to get in and get out. Clearly, I was mistaken,” she said in the softest voice.

“What you here for?” I asked dripping with annoyance.

She’d been on her Casper shit since I got here now all of a sudden, she wanted to make her presence known. Was it because I was nearing my six weeks, and she wanted her spot back or was it to remind Royce that he was already taken? Either or, she could stay the hell up out my face.

“CJ liked my cookies I baked at Mama Iris’s house, so I thought I’d make him some and a banana pudding for Royce. I don’t know you, so I opted out of wasting food before asking.”

Bitch, how dare you cook for my son and nigga? That was disrespectful as hell.

“ Tuh !” I turned to leave when Royce stopped me.

“Where you going, My Baby?”

“Aye, I don’t play these type of games. Move so me and my daughter can go on ‘bout our business.” I was irritated as well as pissed. The nerve of some women but then again, my anger should’ve been direct at him and not her. If he knew they had a thing going on, why bring me and my kids into it.

Chuckling, he asked, “What the hell you talking ‘bout? What games?”

“Royce, this is why I said tell her. Look, Klarity, me and this man are not involved in any way, shape, or form. He’s my best friend, nothing less, and for darn sure nothing more.

We’ve known each other since the fourth grade and not once have we shared any physical contact beyond platonic.

You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me other than bothering y’all for a spot in the wedding…

if there is one,” she stated. She didn’t stutter, raise her voice, show aggressiveness, or annoyance the way I did.

Her focus stayed locked in with mine the entire time. If she was lying, I couldn’t tell.

“Damn, ain’t that something,” Royce voiced in my ear. I mushed him off me and he found that to be comical.

Turning around, I looked up at Royce ready to slap the shit out of him.

He could’ve easily told me what the hell him and Heidi had going on, but he let me wonder as if that shit was cool.

I had so much animosity and his big overgrown ass let me have it.

Bending down, he kissed my cheek thinking shit was sweet.

“Why you ain’t tell me what the relationship was knowing I felt some type of way? Royce that’s childish as fuck and you know it.”