✧

      It wasn't long before Tatiana and I caught up through casualties at a small restaurant and explained the current events occurring in our lives before she ruined the conversation by asking about my drug use.

She easily danced smoothly around the subject before bluntly questioning if I was still indulging.  In honesty, I revealed that I wasn't but left out the important detail that if it were to be in my possession, I would still use it.

Cocaine wasn't a drug one could simply stop taking without having lingering after affects. It poked at me constantly and even though Prince stressed the importance of staying drug-free while on the tour, it was difficult to abide by his rules. Although, I had no other options but to follow through, for I would be kicked off the tour if I didn't get my act together, direct words from Prince's lips.

Even while touring, Prince wasn't paying me anyway. He claimed that he knew what I would do with it if he ever were to hand over the check, and even though I denied his assumptions, he still refused.

His controlling actions had me pissed off for a small duration of time, but I realized this was his way of helping me overcome the strong desire and it was seemingly working.

Once the scolding from Tatiana's was over, we talked for a little while longer about her career and what she planned to do in the future. She claimed to want to take up acting as another form of occupation—starring in television shows, music videos, any opportunities. She had true ambition.

      I commended her for it but tensed when she teasingly questioned if I could get her into an opportunity to be in any of Prince's future music videos.

I simply stirred the chunky ice in my glass before voicing that I didn't control that aspect of his life. But I promised her that I would attempt to talk to him about it. That's when we immediately got on the topic of Prince and I never had found myself calling for the check so quickly.

Soon, I was on my way back to the hotel just in time to go through makeup and wardrobe. During this time of prepping, a soft voice called my name causing my eyes to flutter back open.

Once the darkness cascaded away, I gave a stoic expression to the woman standing before me, already in her pearl lingerie.

      "I think we need to talk."

It was all like a flash of dejavu to when she had shly voiced those same words to Prince on the night of my birthday.

In the flesh once more, Susan came barreling reality back towards me. Nonetheless, I emerged from the makeup chair with hesitance and followed her small form into the backstage open area. It was clear what the pending conversation would involve but Susan spoke up before I could think on it any longer.

      "Listen Denise, I don't want this incident to cause  unnecessary tension between the both of us. We're both women, in the same industry, in the same band and I feel like we should bury bridges whether you're with Prince or not."

It was surprising that she was coming to me with this conversation so long after I became aware of Prince's relationship with Susan. But I didn't remain judgmental as I believed that this conversation was better late then never. Though, I rather had preferred if Susan and I avoided discussing what occurred.

      "We we're both played by the same man and I know that can cause friction between the both of us. But, I'm coming to you as a woman and saying that I didn't know at the time that he was still with you."

That part of her words made me still. "I even tried talking to him about it earlier when I went to The Time's rehearsal." And that caused skepticism to ignite within me. But I refrained from commenting.

      She paused, "Anyway, he made it out to seem that you two were on a break, so I believed him. He's very manipulative if you hadn't noticed." I only nodded my head at her words before feeling my voice tightening at the truth that was coming to the surface.

      "I assume that's the same thing he did with Jill and that's what caused him to be juggling us all at the same time. I don't know, it just seems like even though he has love from one woman — it's not enough. Nothing can satisfy that man," Susan's words grew soft and low and I nearly had to strain my ears to catch wind of her words.

It grew quiet for a few moments before she seemed to snap out of it. "I just don't want that situation to affect the way we act around each other. I hate confrontation so this is difficult for me." She laughed off and to make her feel better about it all I cracked a smirk.

On the inside however, I still was boiling towards Prince and his actions during the time that we had been together. Even though I forgave him for it all, to hear about what occurred behind my back again just caused those angered emotions to flow back.

Towards Susan, I couldn't continue to hold grudges. She hadn't known that Prince and I were still involved and she along with Jill were affected by his actions as well. It would be childish of me to act indifferent towards her when Jill and I had already washed our hands of the situation.

So, I did once more. "We both didn't know and its over with. I'm over it." I lied smoothly. It would truly take a while for me to fully get over Prince infidelities, if ever. But I was willing to attempt to disperse of those thoughts from my mind in order for our relationship to truly work.

Speaking of said devil, Prince came walking out of his dressing room with Chick following close behind.

       The sight of Susan and I together stumped him for a moment and as he looked to me for an explanation, I only directed my eyes back to Susan.

       "We should finish getting ready." At my words Susan nodded and took the lead. But in a split second I decided to stay behind and watched as Prince walked up to me, Chick absent from his side.

"Hey," he kissed my mouth but my mind was still distracted. Clearly, he noticed. "Are you okay?"

     I hesitated. "Yeah, why?"

Prince laughed. "You look pissed off."

       I contemplated bringing up the topic that was somewhat bothering me, but it left my lips before I could ponder on it longer. "Why didn't you tell me Susan came to see you at The Time's rehearsal?" At this, Prince appeared confused.

   "I didn't even know she was there. They rehearsed for a while but I only stayed for a couple of hours before leaving." He grabbed my hand and made circles with his thumb. Soon enough, he noticed my hesitance and furrowed his brows.

       "Did she make it seem like there was something otherwise?" I shook my head and licked my lips.

        "No, she didn't." I paused to switch discussions."Me and her are fine now. I just don't want to be made out to look stupid again.

       Prince pulled me closer, "I refuse to let that happen again mama.." he vowed as in the same second, I remembered his words and kept them stored in the back of my mind.

Just as I went to open my mouth, a Chick was ushering Prince back into his dressing room and I could only huff at the bad timing.

"Come up to my room tonight. Go to the desk and ask for the key." I grew slightly happy at the fact that I would be joining Prince in the hotel suite for the rest of the night.

But a part of me kept nagging, the part that still remained in a hesitant state. Not only to Prince, but to the relationship as a whole.

I only shook those thoughts from my head and hope they would dissipate, soon.

✧

      It was a pain getting into Prince's hotel suite. After the clerk asked for me to repeat my name more then an estimate of ten times, I knew maximum security was being placed over him. Eventually, I was able to be delivered a room key after she called Prince's hotel room and confirmed with Chick that I was allowed up.

As soon as I opened up the room, I was taken aback by how dark it was. Not a single light was lit except the alumnious glow of candles lining up to a certain path. I found myself laughing at the sight but entertained it nonetheless.

My feet danced around the little wax and eventually, the path led me to a grand piano sitting in the corner of the room, with Prince sat comfortably onto the bench.

His fingers were pressing against the keys gently, playing some unknown tune to me but soon enough, his frame froze and I assumed that he knew I was near.

"What's the occasion?" I questioned as soon as I got closer and took a seat beside him. Prince's soft eyes looked at me from the side with a smirk playing on his lips and his fingers playing on the piano.

        "Rebirth.." my brow shot up at his words and a smile creased my lips.

         "Of?"

         "Me," then Prince backtracked. "Well not just me, but us."

         "What do you mean?"

         Prince licked his lips and let his fingers rest from the piano to grasp both of mine, "I know I already apologized and I know you already forgave me. It could just be my guilty conscious but I feel like I haven't proved to you how much I uh," He coughed and even though he tried his best to hide it, it was clear a nervousness coarsed through him. "- I actually love you and want this to work."

       My grip on his hands grew tighter.

       "You don't have to do this–"

       "No, I do. Because even though you say you forgive me, you don't. "

       I furrowed my brows as he continued, but I didn't take the moment to correct him.

      "..And I'm not blaming you for that, I can only blame myself for hurting you. But I need for you to know that I will literally do anything to prove that I love you and only you."

His eyes were directly laid upon mine and with each second that passed, my heart picked up within speed.

"With saying that," He removed something from his pocket, an envelope painted in purple. "When this tour ends I want you to feel like you have a place within me, mentally and physically."

      Prince let me take the envelope from his hands and with shaky fingers I opened up the envelope and shook it gently. A golden key fell out into my lap.

      I looked up and smiled through my emotions.

      "Baby," He began as I stared at the key before me. The thoughts of what it opened raced through my mind.

"I want you to move in with me, once the tour is over."

Hearing the words pass his lips and the golden key brushing against my fingers as they flowed into my ears, I couldn't have felt more scared and happy all in the same moment.

"Wha-"

"You don't have to agree or disagree now. I only wanted you to know that I want you to live with me and those months without you felt like hell. I don't want to go without knowing that your going to be by my side, even when this is over."

Words couldn't escape my mouth and even if I formed the sentence in my mind, it surely wouldn't pass my lips. I was so stumped on the fact that Prince wanted me to live with him, that I didn't even realize the ring he was sliding on my finger.

When I looked down I realized it was the promise ring I had given back to him on the night of my birthday, when his confessions poured out of him, clearly upgraded. Diamonds now were encrusted around the band and the combination of our names were engraves along the inside, causing the tears to give up the fight.

"Don't cry baby," Prince chuckled, pulling me closer until I was half sitting on his lap and half placed on the bench. "Am I the only one that wants this?"

I immediately shook my head. "No, no. Of course I do. Its just shocking that your actually giving me this."

      "Well I'm showing you that I'm serious about us."

      I could only cheese happily at both the golden key and the golden band locked within both of my hands. As he kissed my neck lovingly I couldn't stop smiling.

"Is this what meant earlier when you said that you had a 'surprise''?" I questioned, finally turning to face him as my fingers got lost in his thick head of hair. Prince smirked against my mouth that kept meshing softly against his.

        "Yes, did you like it?" I answered his question again with a sweet kiss to his soft lips and then another, and soon enough it prologoned until I was fully settled atop of his lap. It had been so long since his hands had roamed across me like they currently were in the process of doing.

     It wasn't rushed nor was it slow, it was a perfect balance throughout our touches and kisses that spelt out the need we both had. And my entire lower half was heated pleasantly as soon as his hands began to travel south.

     The candles still lit couldn't compare to the heat being exchanged between our flushed bodies.

     "I love you..thank you for this." I whispered when I finally had the chance to breathe.

      Prince's hands were glued to the curve of my hips as he said, "Thank me when this is over and when you come back with home me."

     Then the tumbril of passion began, our surroundings soon forgotten as my clothes mysteriously began to become discarded with each passing second.

    The sounds of our heavy breathing and my sighs as he signed his lovely signature against my craned neck with his slick tongue, suffocated the dim-lit hotel suite. I wanted us to travel to the bed, but Prince had other ideas in mind.

"Have you ever made love against a piano?" He gently whispered in my ear before capturing it in between his teeth. My loins trembled and ached as I worked up a response.

"No."

As soon as the words left my lips, his pants became unzipped and the reflection of our intense eye contact settled in the golden ring set comfortably on my finger.

"Let's fix that."