I was standing on the edge of Love

River

“That wedding was so damn beautiful,” I sang as Crown carried me to our room. Wolfe and Chosyn had their wedding at Grove Towers and the reception in The Vault. We partied well into the morning, and I was feeling drunk, horny and down to do something a little nasty, especially with the way this man’s fingers pressed against the back of my thighs. Whenever Crown’s hands were on my skin something inside of me ignited. His touch wasn’t just a touch, where his skin touched mine. It was so much more, something like all the nerves in my body coming alive and shocking me numb. It was hard to put into words but I’ve never felt more alive than when Crown’s skin was against me in.

“Do you see yourself getting married?”

“Huh?” I was so caught up in the feeling of him on me that I swore I didn’t hear him right. When his eyes met mine, I knew exactly what I heard was, exactly what he said. “Where did that come from?”

Crown pressed the key card against the lock and pushed the door open, then kicked it shut all with me in his arms. He carried me through the living room space and walked through the double doors that lead to the bedroom. Laying me down he stripped me of my dress and shoes. Being at that dress had me feeling free, so free I spread my legs wide enough for him to see just how wet between my thighs were. We caught eyes and I grinned amused by the fact that the only thing I wore were the rings on my finger courtesy of the man standing before me.

“Four you listening to me?” Crown asked standing at the foot of the bed. That feeling of freedom vanished as Crown’s eyes poured into me. Talking about weddings or if I wanted one wasn’t on my list of things to do in this moment. The only thing I wanted was Crown’s fine ass ten inches deep in my pussy, the sound of my juices gushing against his pelvic serenading us as he ruthlessly fucked me into a coma, just to wake me up and do it again.

“What did you say?” I asked giving into his unrelenting gaze.

“Marriage. Can you see yourself getting married?”

“I mean, I guess at some point…maybe… I don’t know.”

I gave him the best answer I could and prayed it was enough to satisfy him and leave all this marriage talk alone. I wanted dick not a damn proposal or the hopes of one finding it’s way to me. The frown lines between his brows answered my inner thoughts. The conversation was far from over.

“Sit up,” He commanded tapping my thigh. I laid still hoping his fingers moved closer to my inner thigh. All I needed was for him to feel how wet I was, and this marriage talk was a wrap.

“Four,” he snipped pissing me off.

“Cortez please!” I whined sounding just like a spoiled brat. “I want dick!”

My bottom lip folded towards my chin as I gave him my best pout face.

“Man get your horny ass the fuck up and stop playing. I wanna talk to you ‘bout something.”

He tapped my thigh again this time with enough umph to let me know he wasn’t going to repeat himself for a third time. Sucking my teeth, I smirked and cupped my breasts. Holding his gaze through hooded eyes, I ran my tongue across my nipples until they hardened just how Crown loved them.

“Yo,” He groaned. “Be fuckin’ forreal, River.”

River! Grimacing at his use of my name knowing damn well he called me Four, I dropped my titties and finally sat up.

“Fine,” I bickered. “What’s so important you’re keeping the dick away and acting like an asshole?”

Chuckling more to himself than at the situation this nigga pinched my nipples, twisting them until I yelped in pain.

“Keep fuckin’ playing with me Four.”

“Okay,” I whimpered squeezing my eyes shut. The sharp pain subsided when his tongue swiped across right before his tongue sunk into my nipple.

 “Crown,” I hissed arching my back.

“You gon’ listen to what I have to say?” His mouth was full of my titty. Spit swishing, teeth grinding against one nipple, as he massaged the other between his fingers.

“Yesss!”

“Ight open your eyes and look at me.”

My eyes flew open as Crown go on his knee taking my pleasure with me. He dug into his left pocket and my heart raced thinking the fucking worst was about to happen. Crown and I had been so happy, things had been so good with us and he was ready to fuck it up all because Chosyn and Wolfe dumbasses had to get married in front of their friends and family. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy for them but damn, I didn’t need this type of drama right fucking now.

“Crown please don’t,” I whispered, fear stealing my voice. He pulled out a small key then took my left hand into his. I watched, my eyes growing with each passing second. He stuck the key into the first ring and turned it, then did the same with the second band. The rings loosened and I swore my eyes were about to fall out their sockets.

Was he ending us? Oh lord please don’t let this man end us!

“Wh…what are you doing?”

It was clear Crown was freeing me of our imaginary married shackles but I didn’t want to be free…not in this way. Then he slipped the rings from my finger and my heart got to knocking at an alarming rate.

Am I having a fucking heart attack?

All the conflicting things I was feeling had me on high alert because none of it was making sense. I’d been against wearing the rings at first. Crown was acting in pure delusion when he tricked me into wearing these rings. He saw a future for us that I just couldn’t imagine. Crown was fun with great dick, that’s all this was supposed to be for me.  Six months of fun and I was gone. Somehow he managed to fuck me into the same delusion he was living in. Thoughts of my ex weren’t as vivid as they once were. I didn’t miss the linger of Sincere’s lips against mine as much because Crown’s wouldn’t allow me to. Crown’s presence didn’t allow for space in my mind to be occupied by any other nigga. Crown did what no other man had been able to do since Sincere passed. He selfishly pulled me into his world. The thought of no longer being welcomed scared me in a way that made me question the promises I’ve made.

“Four, I fuck with you. I fuck with you so much that it scares me. You cool as fuck, lowkey, and don’t nag a nigga ‘bout nothing all the while keeping me on my toes with how I care for you.”

“Crown I—”

“Let me finish. In my eyes you’re Mrs. Gravehart even when you’re not. With that I know I gotta do this…us the right way. I wanna be selfish as fuck with you, Four. Shoot up the block ‘bout you type shit. Snatch your fuckin’ glasses from your beautiful face and make you choose which you’re tryin’ to lose…your sight or your attitude,” He chuckled that sexy chuckle I found myself falling in love with. “I can already see your ass tellin’ me to keep yo glasses ‘cause you stubborn as fuck.”

“Whatever,” I smacked suppressing a smile that the blush in my cheeks gave away.

“I’m dead ass. I don’t wanna do us without strings. Give me all your fuckin’ strings and attach ‘em right here—” Crown took my hand placing it on his chest. In mere seconds the rhythm of his heart drummed against my palm. The reassuring thump matching the fluttering chaos of my own heart.

“I want you and all that comes with you. I don’t wanna have my cake and eat it no more, I’m cool with only you.”

“Wh…what are you saying?” I stammered, tears glossing my eyes.

“Four I want you to be my girlfriend. I wanna lay our foundation so we can build towards making you the real Mrs. Gravehart, ‘cause Chosyn out here false flagging. She the fake Mrs. Gravehart.

The sentiment was cute but I couldn’t help laughing at my bestie catching a stray. Staring at Crown, I wanted to question how serious he was about this. Honestly no reason to it was written all over his face. He wanted what I promised to never share with another man. What made the situation worse, was the moment he said he wanted me to be his girlfriend was the moment, my heart settled back into its natural rhythm. I felt horrible. Giving into Crown meant forgetting about Sincere…but how could I say no.

“Yes!” I cried, unsure if I was truly ready for a relationship but knew for a fact I wasn’t ready to be without Crown.

“I’m putting these back on,” He gestured towards the rings. “This time you can take them off whenever you want. I want us to be something you choose, not a situation I forced you into.”

He slipped the rings back on and I smiled admiring the pretty jewelry.

“Act like you gon’ break up with a nigga, and I’m lockin’ ‘em back,” he warned with darkened eyes.

“What happened to not being forced?” I chided still in awe over the rings. They were the same rings as before but they held a different meaning, I appreciated them differently this time.

“I meant that shit but I’m also not playin’ with you or about you. I meant what the fuck I said…You’re Mrs. Gravehart even when you ain’t.”

“Shut up and fuck me Crown,” I purred pulling him on top of me. I was tired of talking, I only wanted to feel him.

“Keep talkin’ like that and I’ma shoot my junior in you.”

***

Heavy pounding on the door woke me from my sleep but not enough for me to get out of bed.

“Crown the door,” I grumbled thinking I could trick him into seeing who was interrupting my sleep.

Morning had come too damn fast for me…if it was even the morning. The blacked-out curtains kept the sun out a little too well. Had it not been for the birds chirping I might’ve assumed it was still dark outside. I wrapped myself further into the blanket ready to drift back to sleep. My head was spinning, and I hadn’t even stood up yet. I could only imagine what my head was going to do once I was upright. Facing the day was just gonna have to wait a few more hours.

The knocking continued right as I felt myself drifting back to sleep, this time it was more obnoxious. Whoever was at the damn door deserved whatever Crown planned on serving their ass for wakinag us up.

“Cortez the—” reaching behind me to tap Crown awake, my hand hit the bed. I shuffled to my left thinking something was wrong. I turned and sure enough his side of the bed was empty.

“River wake that us up!”

Sucking my teeth, I tossed the blanket from over me and groaned. The pounding in my head had somehow fell in sync with the knocking on the damn door.

“River!”

“If I never heard my name a fucking again it would be too soon,” I grumbled.

“River let’s fucking go!”

“Hold on!” I called out the best I could with how dry my throat was. I hadn’t even made it out the bed and waves of nausea rolled through me.

“I’m never drinking again.”

I dragged myself upright then stood up from the bed. I smirked at the mess Crown and I made last night. His pants were flung on one side of the room, his shirt and suit jacket thrown in the opposite direction, my shoe and his tie were thrown by a light fixture and my dress was crumbled in the corner. Slightly confused I wondered how Crown was nowhere to be found but his clothes were still in the room.

“River open this damn—”

I swung the door open mugging a smiling Honey. She was fully dressed in a cute jogging set with her hair pulling into a low ponytail and smelled like peaches. I scent instantly made me want to vomit.

“Fix your face, go brush your teeth and shower so that we can go shopping.” Honey sounded just as happy as she looked as she pranced her way into my room.

“Mhmm, you and Crown had fun I see,” she giggled.

“Wish I could say the same about you and Lynx but unlike you I’m not knocking on your door at some ungodly hour.”

“Opp! Not you waking up with an attitude and funk breath,” She smacked.

“Honey why are you here?” I groaned not in the mood.

I had no plans on leaving this room today. Chosyn was off with Wolfe probably already in St. Lucia enjoying their honeymoon. I took a two-week vacation from work so I really had no responsibilities at the moment.

“Oh, this room is nice,” she marveled following me into the bathroom. While she stood leaned against the door frame, I swished around some mouthwash, brushed my teeth and washed my face.

“Your room wasn’t like this?” I asked leading the way into the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of water then hopped onto the counter. I downed the eight ounce bottle then asked Honey to passed me another one.

“Our room is cute as hell but we weren’t in a suite with penthouse vibes.”

I nodded my head understanding exactly what she meant. The moment you stepped into the suite, the scent of vanilla, cinnamon and fresh linen greeted you. The room was bathed in warm ambient lighting that reflected off the marble floors. Floor to ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, painting the sexiest skyline the city had to offer. To the right was the kitchen with dark quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and a wolf range that was a cook’s dream. Beyond the kitchen, was the living room. It looked exactly what any penthouse living room resembled.  My favorite part was the fireplace of course. I couldn’t wait to snuggle on the floor and watch the flames flicker behind the glass partition with Crown’s dick carving his name on my inner walls. This room had to go for five figures a night easily if not more.

“Let me find out these niggas are rich for real,” Honey continued.

I shrugged at the thought. Crown’s financial situation never crossed my mind.

“Where’s Lynx?”

“Don’t know. He slipped out this morning.”

“You didn’t feel away?”

“Not really.” Her gaze bounced around the room as her shoulders hunched forward.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. I guess Lynx isn’t fucking with me like I thought.”

“Honey,” I smacked not in the mood to pull it out of her.

“You know I’m not one to tell my business especially to niggas. They get caught up in their heads and start thinking they’re a mark. But Lynx seemed different. He was so damn laid back and chill ‘bout shit that I told him the truth.”

“And he got upset?”

“Not at first. I told him after the New Years. When we talked about it, he seemed cool. We continued doing us and never talked about it again. I handled my shit on weekends, and he never questioned me. Then he started acting funny. We went from talking all day every day, to maybe texting a few times out the week. We still linked to fuck but it wasn’t how it used to be.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Just wasn’t a priority and everyone was busy. Chosyn with Wolfe and you with Crown.”

“Okay but what does that have to do with you telling me?”

“You were busy River. I didn’t want to put my shit on y’all.”

“You sound dumb,” I smacked hopping off the counter. I must’ve moved too damn fast. My feet touched the floor and seconds later I was bent over, hands on knees trying to steady the room.

“Let me get you back to bed. I’ll order a burger to help soak up that liquor.”

“We’re not done with this conversation,” I scolded.

She laughed wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “Yes, ma’am.”

Laughing we walked back to the bedroom, where I got comfortable in the bed and went right back to grilling my friend after she ordered us food.

“I don’t care what I have going on, when you need to talk you can always come to me.”

“I know but I didn’t think it was a big deal. Lynx isn’t my man.”

“But you want him to be. Honey, I’ve never seen you so smitten with a nigga before.”

“Because there wasn’t a nigga to be smitten about before him.”

“Then talk to him. Y’all were too damn happy together for y’all to ignore the elephant in the room.”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “But enough of me and my mess. Where’s Crown?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” I nibbled on my lip wondering if I should say more. Last night might’ve been a blur but I remembered the conversation we had right before his ass fucked me into delirium.

“River your ring!” Honey squealed. “You can move it.”

Her excitement drew my focus to my hand where I was twisting the rings on my left hand with my fingers.

“Uh yeah. Crown unlocked them last night.”

“Really?” Honey did very little to hide the shock in her voice or on her face. “You must’ve put the pussy on him real good for him to do that. That man doesn’t understand nothing but wife and glasses when it comes to you.”

A chuckle seeped from my lips because that was really all Crown understood. Either he was telling people I’m his wife or he was threatening to take my glasses to get me to pipe down.

“Well!” Honey smacked waiting on me to fill her in.

“Uh Crown…asked me to be his um…his girlfriend.”

“River!” Honey shrieked shooting up from the bed. “Please don’t tell me you turned him down. Is that why he’s not here? Oh my god, that might be why Lynx left. He’s talking Crown’s crazy ass off the ledge. Nah Crown isn’t the type to jump. Lynx is probably stopping Crown from buying, rope, duct tape and whatever else he needs to tie your ass up in a basement somewhere. Damn,” she laughed. “You think it’s possible to have Stockholm syndrome if you’ve already been intimate with your captor?”

Honey continued rambling off all the possibilities of what Crown was out there doing all because I supposedly turned him down. I didn’t cut in or nothing just laughed at all the scenarios her ass came up with, each one more deranged than the last.

“You sound crazy,” I finally spoke as someone began knocking on the door.

“Well, you’re not saying much so I’m left to let my imagination run wild.”

“And that it did. Crown drugging me, cutting off my hair so no one will recognize me and sneaking me out of town will never happen. That nigga loves my curls as much as my glasses.”

“Well tell me something because we both know his ass is missing a few screws.”

Honey tapped against her temple as I shook my head and headed out of the bedroom. I thank god for the food arriving stalling the conversation. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to speak on Crown and I. Our situation was one many didn’t understand. Honey and Chosyn both lectured me letting go of what was and opening my heart to what could be long before Crown asked me to be his girlfriend. What they never seemed to realize was Sincere only died three years ago. Three years was hardly enough time to move on especially when wound his absence left was still fresh.

 “Sorry, I was—" my words trailed off as my eyes landed on a cart that carried way more than two burgers and a basket of fries.

“What is all of this?” I asked.

The hotel attendant wheeled in a service cart overflowing with breakfast foods. My mouth watered and my stomach growled as the aroma wafted into the room.

“Where would you like me to set up breakfast?” He asked, completely ignoring my question.

I hesitated, glancing over the delicious spread. “Uh…the living room is fine.”

He gave a small nod and moved across the suite. The clinking of silverware and soft rustling of linen filled the silence as I watched him uncover plate after plate. Fluffy blueberry pancakes dusted with powdered sugar, soft scrambled eggs, bacon and a fruit platter.

Crossing my arms, I caught the gaze of the attendant. “I didn’t order this.”

“It’s courtesy of your husband Mr. Gravehart.”

A sheepish grin appeared as I rolled my eyes because of course Crown did this. The attendant finished setting the table, adding a bottle of Prosecco and a pitcher of orange juice.

“Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to call.”

With that, he wheeled the empty cart towards the door then disappeared into the hallway before knocking again just a few seconds later.

“Yes,” I answered.

“I almost forgot these are for you.” He handed me a slim vase filled with a beautiful arrangement of blue flowers.

“And these are for a…Honey.”

I took the second vase of flowers and thanked the attendant again. Just as the door was closing Honey walked into view.

“These are for you.” I passed her the vase of roses and went to sit my own vase down to search for a note.

“Damn what that nigga say to have you smiling so hard?” Honey quizzed as I glanced from the note sitting it down in front of me.

“Something just as sweet as whatever Lynx wrote you. Your smile ain’t chomp,” I giggled.

“Whatever,” she giggled too. “Let’s eat this food and get you situated because tonight we have a race.”

“Race?” I frowned.

“Yes, that’s what I came over here for. I set up another race with the scorpion queens. Shopping was just a rouse to get you out the room. The race will be fun and easy money tho.”

“I guess,” I sulked playfully. “Let me grab my phone so I can thank this man.”

“Judging from his note you mean thank your boyfriend.”

When she snatched up the note, I didn’t know but it didn’t even matter. Cortez Crown Gravehart was really my boyfriend. The thought alone caused my heart to skip a beat and a panic I wasn’t sure of to cruise along my veins.