September 16, 1999

New York City, New York

Resting my head in the crook of my elbow as I leaned against the back of the chaise, I mindlessly watched the rain streak the window pane. Watching the rain nourish God's greenery that was Central Park, I would occasionally sit up and peer down to see the view the beneath us. 39 stories below, the few taxis looked like tiny yellow bugs scurrying down the damp city streets.

The weather plaguing the city that never sleeps was a drastic comparison to what it was last night. The city is somber now. Flying in yesterday afternoon, his assistant Stephanie and I went to pick out a dress at Bergdorf's before me and P went out later that night. True to his fashion, he reserved a quiet corner of Per Se restaurant complete with candlelight and a breathtaking view of the city. Soft classical music playing in the distance only added to the romantic ambience.

While I scanned the room and took in my surroundings, he had scooted his chair closer to me and leaned in. "You're so beautiful." As his warm breath tickled against my earlobe, I couldn't help but shrug my shoulder and giggle.

Well-versed in this lifestyle, he didn't think much of anything when the waitress brought out the first of nine courses. Waiting until she retreated from our table, I tried to control my facial expression as I looked on at the tiny portion of what I believe was a Nut Custard with Pickled Radishes.

Unfortunately, he could read the perplexed look in my eyes. "Jazz, I know it's not your cup of tea but try it you may like it." I was none to convinced I would like any of that French cuisine but I gave it a chance. I know he was just trying to treat me to a nice night out, but I would've been content with Chili's or Waffle House.

The night was redeemed when he took me to see the new musical Marie Christine on Broadway.

Riding back to the hotel, our initial critiques of the musical led into a discussion of our families common origin of Louisiana and how he has always been curious about retracing his ancestry. Briefly mentioning his mother Mattie and his father John, I wanted to know more about his family but his sudden change in topic led me to believe that wasn't a subject he wanted to delve into.

Retiring to our penthouse suite, we submerged ourselves in the warm frothy waters of our clawfoot bathtub and bathed each other.

Resting my chin and the palm of my right hand against his bare chest, I found myself wide awake after our romp in the sheets. Delicately tracing my fingers along his buttery smooth butterscotch skin, my index finger wandered to the defined outline of the V cut in his hips. I was tempted to pull back the thin cotton sheets draped over his lower half, however I retraced my movements and rested my hand flat on his rippling chest.

No matter how many times I closed my eyes, I could not fall asleep. For whatever reason, my mind was racing at the speed of light and before long I found myself sliding off the king size bed and stepping over our discarded clothes before I made my way to the ash grey chaise that I have been stretched out on for however long.

Pulling the curtains back a bit, I just stared out the window. You ever just go into a deep thought while watching the rain fall from the sky? My thought process was all over the place. Bouncing from my grandmother, to Noah, to P's proposal, to this party, to the weather, I tried to get a grasp on everything.

I felt like everything was moving so fast. How is it almost the end of the year? The end of a millennium, an era? If you would've told me at the beginning of 1996 that I would be where I am, I would've laughed in your face. Who would've known I would be engaged, but then again you cant foretell the future.

I think thats the basis of my anxiety. I love him with all my heart, but at the same time I keep thinking to myself about whether we are moving too fast. I don't think I'm ready to be a wife and I'm not sure if he's ready to jump into another committed relationship even though he says otherwise. I'm not saying I regret saying yes to him but it's a lot, I don't know. Am I not allowed to have mix feelings about it all?

Although I was initially overjoyed about accompanying him to his album release party, the jitters have set in. After a couple days of considering, I was ready to back out in fear that if I'm seen on his arm that I might taint his image. Outside of the confines of 'Prince's world', he and Mayte are still happily married.

And then something told me to look up the weather forecast for the East Coast. Hurricane Floyd was approaching. Immediately I was over it, reminiscing on the horrible memories I have of Hurricane Andrew's 115 mph winds and induced tornadoes ripping through Louisiana when I was 12 and leaving us without power and us kids uncertain if we'd ever get back to Minnesota.

But as I listened to P's calming and smooth baritone voice, he reassured me that the event's start time would be earlier than originally planned, that way we could fly back to Minnesota before the hurricane made landfall in New York.

The horrible weather only caused the pessimism in me to rise about this evening's event. By my grandparents superstitions, nothing good can ever happen if it's raining, and if lighting strikes definitely not. I can only pray things go smoothly tonight.

Simultaneously, there was a rumbling of thunder in the distance and a light rustling between the egyptian cotton linens on the bed. Focusing straight ahead, I thought nothing of his tossing and turning until I heard a strained yawn. Suddenly, I felt a pair of strong hands gently massaging my shoulder blades as he placed a tender kiss on the top of my head.

Clearing his throat, his deep sleepy voice caused a warmth to rise in between my exposed thighs. "What's got my pretty girl wide awake?"

Everything under the sun. "Nothing."

Running his cold hands down my arms before lapping over my bare breasts, he sighed. "You're lying." I stifled a laugh at his ability to detect the change in my tone when I'm fibbing. As he traced his fingers along my collar bone, I jolted a little when the exposed flesh dangling between his legs hit my back.

Lightly chuckling at my response, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the chaise. "Let's go to bed baby."

Pulling the slinky black polyester dress over my head, I was extra careful not to bump the low bun Kim had pinned minutes ago. I'm convinced P has had a conversation with her because she's been 'fake nice' to me, attempting to hold conversation. Honestly Kim seems like a nice person, she reminds me of my Aunt Simone. One of the sweetest people, but is opinionated and doesn't take shit from anyone. Maybe if we started over we could be cordial, but our personalities are too similar to be best friends.

Digging my heel into the upholstered chaise, as I bent over to fasten the strap of my pump, a cool finger traced along the slit in my dress.

"P, you scared me!"

A devilish smirk was plastered on his foundation-covered face. "How? You knew it was me. Jazz, you're lucky we have to leave soon otherwise that dress would be on the floor."

Fastening my other shoe, I turned to see him biting down on his pink lower lip. Momentarily taking in his outfit of the evening, I realized he can make any color look good. The blood orange long sleeve tunic he wore perfectly draped over his toned body. With MY oversized gold hoop earring dangling from his right ear and his shimmering gold heels on, the matching headscarf tied around his bone straight mane completed the Bohemian-esque look he had.

"Is my dress that sexy?"

Snaking his arm around my exposed back, as his fingers crawled closer to my backside, he kissed my forehead, followed by the tip of my nose, and then the corner of my mouth, careful not to smudge my nude lipstick. Allowing his right hand to slink under the polyester fabric, I let out an inaudible gasp as he squeezed one cheek. He huskily whispered, "Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Put on a thong, just for tonight." Almost offended by his demand, I lightly pushed him away and scoffed. "I just don't want you accidentally flashing your kitty cat to Larry and Tina on the way to the party."

The record scratched in my head. "Time out, they're riding with us?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Don't ever ask a question you really don't want to know the answer to."

He smacked his teeth and shook his head at me. "Dial the attitude down a bit mama. It's not going to kill you to ride for five minutes in the limo with him." Hell it might.

Speaking of the devil, right before any more words could flow from my mouth, who I assumed was Mr. Graham and his wife knocked on the front door. Placing his finger under my chin, he kissed the corner of my mouth before exiting the bedroom. "Please behave, I love you."

He's lucky I even packed underwear in my overnight bag. With my gold clutch in hand, as I cracked the bedroom door I was met with the gazes of the three people in the living room. Straightening my posture as I strolled closer to them, I put as much sincerity as I could behind my fake smile.

Barely above a whisper, Larry's wife motioned to P. "Oh, she's just as beautiful as you described her." Ms. Tina already gets brownie points for the compliment.

"She is very pretty isn't she?" Larry said. My smile almost fell into a scowl until I locked eyes with P.

Behave. Extending my hand out, she took me by surprise when she pulled me in for a friendly hug. "It's a pleasure to meet you Jasmin, you can just call me Tina or Ms. Tina." A genuine smile arose on my face when I was met with her sincere greeting. It made me wonder how in the world was she married to such a prude.

The moment of truth came when I turned to him. I added a little bit of pep to the flattened tone in my voice. "It's a pleasure seeing you again Larry."

He firmly shook my hand. "The pleasure's all mine."

Taking a stand next to P, a second of silence washed over the four of us until Ms.Tina perked up. "So, the man of the hour has told me a lot about you."

I smiled and looked at my handsome fiancé. "Really? All good things I hope."

"Of course, he said how you we—" Before she could continue, the front door opened and in came Troy saying the limo and accompanying SUV were downstairs.

I know it was only five minutes, but that was the longest ride of my entire life. While the men chatted about Clive Davis and the terms that he was able to release his album, Ms. Tina attempted to make small talk. I really hate small talk. I love having conversation as long as its meaningful. Another thing I love about P, from the moment we met it was never the standard, 'hey, how are you?'. It was always non-stop, thought provoking conversation that would go on for so long neither of us would have realized four hours had gone by.

Any who, under any other circumstance I would've been more enthused to chit chat with her, but the comment she made on the long elevator ride threw me off.

"So, I heard you are a nurse."

"I am, I work at Shriner's Hospital in Minneapolis."

"I've heard that's a good field. What made you choose nursing? Was medical school too hard?"

Last time I was asked that idiotic question, I couldn't hold my tongue so it took everything in me to refrain myself. I didn't know whether her line of questioning was condescending or she truly had a little air in her head. From the moment we sat down in the limo, I started repeating to myself, 'This too shall pass'.

True to his fashion, we all arrived at the Equitable Building two hours after the listening party had already begun. I had already heard the album through and through the week before so I wasn't mad, but it would have been interesting to see how each one of his songs evoked emotions in those record execs.

Rushed in a side entrance towards the auditorium, we walked hand in hand until we were met by an elder white gentleman in a mismatched suit and tinted eyeglasses. Giving a warm handshake to P, he quickly introduced Clive Davis to all of us before they rushed into the auditorium and we heard a roar of cheers.

Occasionally admiring the blown up portraits of his album artwork, once P gave his short speech and answered a few questions he geared up to perform.

Thank god Stephanie was there. Other than some of his security and a few random employees, his assistant Stephanie was one of the few people in his camp that was genuinely nice to me. Pushing through the bustling, packed crowd, we managed to skirt our way to the front of the stage right as he emerged.

"Dearly beloved..."

The crowd of corporate execs let out deafening screams as if they were a bunch of giddy fangirls. From the moment he crooned in with I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man, he delivered a full-throttle performance that brought the house down. For the next hour, I screamed at the top of my lungs along with Stephanie and everyone else as if our lives depended on it. Sure that I wouldn't have a voice the next morning, I began to think that I was glad I came with him.

October 1, 1999

Prince's Perspective

Tapping the ballpoint pen against the granite countertop, as the minutes ticked on Jazz had become more high strung. The upcoming dinner with her parents had her so worked up for no reason. Despite attempting to prep me for tonight, I told her we just have to let things flow freely as they may.

Pacing from the open cabinets and back to her open notepad, I just shook my head at her. I told her to allow my chef Randy to take care of all the dinner prep but she was completely against it. When is she going to learn that it's okay to not be so independent all the time?

Resting my chin in the palm of my hand, I calmly told her, "You know I can just have Randy do this, it's not too late."

Digging through her oversized tote, she didn't even look up. "No I got this, it's no biggie. Once I find my keys then I can go to the store..." As her eyes darted around the room in an attempt to retrace her steps, I stared at her in confusion.

"Jazz..."

"Yeah?"

"Your keys are around your neck..." I said pointing to the assortment of keys and keychains dangling from her lanyard.

Smacking the palm of her hand against her forehead, she smacked her lips. "Duh! Don't judge me!"

I grew concerned at how scatterbrained she was. "I'm not, maybe I should take Noah with me. I have to take care of a few things at Paisley including checking on your outfits for the video. Little man can just tag along with me so he's not in your hair."

"That's fine, but are you sure he won't be all in your hair? You've never had him alone, you sure you can handle it?"

I chuckled, "It's not like I have any business meetings." Walking over to her, I rubbed her lower back as she looked up at me. "I can handle it, it's about time I get a chance to try and have him to myself. I am going to be his father. Trust me, it's all good." Giving her a reassuring peck on the lips, she eventually graced me with a smile.

"It's all good? Okay I believe you. How'd I get so lucky with you?"

I smirked, "Well you were the one that said when we first met, 'If it's meant to be, you'll find me.' "

She kissed her teeth, "Whatever! I wasn't thinking in terms of we'd become a couple, I was just speaking figuratively. Anyways, since you're taking my baby, now I have to pack his backpack and make a list."

My eyes grew wide as she switched into Mama Bear mode. "A list? For what?"

As she ripped a blank page from her planner and began writing, she explained. "Because you never took care of him by yourself. I know it's only for a few hours but still. Now," jogging over to the medicine cabinet she pulled out his rescue inhaler and detached face mask. "You remember how I showed you to give him this?"

"Yes Jazz, 2 puffs."

"Good, there shouldn't be any reason for him to get it, just as a precaution. He's not going outside, it's way too cold. You know he's not allergic to any foods, just if you choose to give him any cookies or candy, that's on you if he gets hyper. You know he starts acting like a damn gremlin when he eats a lot of sugar."

I stifled a laugh when she said that, its true though he starts bouncing off the walls and running in circles. "Anything else?"

"I'll put some kiddie Tylenol in his bag, whatever your chef cooks tell him don't overdo it with the dairy, too much dairy messes his stomach up. Umm what else...Oh! the little boy can smell weakness, so if you give into him once he's going to expect that again and again. Don't be afraid to put your foot down. He'll holler but he'll get over it, he won't hate you for too long."

I sighed, "Okay Jazz."

"Follow me so you can see all that I put in his backpack, oh and I'll get him changed now so you don't have to wrestle with him."

Adjusting my diamond cufflinks, she hadn't even noticed I was leaning in the doorway of her walk-in closet. I licked my lips, watching her posed with her back to me in nothing but her lacy coral bra and panties. Hurriedly steaming away the last wrinkles in her white trapeze sundress, I couldn't wait to see it draped over her heavenly figure. She looks stunning in white, but then again she looks good in anything or simply nothing at all.

She slightly jumped as I wrapped my arms around her bare waist and whispered against the back of her neck. "Why so jumpy? It's only me."

She sighed, "I knew it was you, I'm just nervous about tonight." Did I forget to mention she didn't tell them about who I was? Her leaving my identity out could be either a good thing or a bad thing.

"Jazzy Poo, it's going to be fine."

She scoffed as she inspected her dress, ensuring it was free of wrinkles. "Baby really? How are you not nervous? My dad is one of the toughest critics, didn't I tell you how he acted when he met my first boyfriend? The boy was almost in tears! I'm afraid what he's going to say about the age di--"

Turning her around in my arms, I reassured her. "Those are just numbers. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If we don't mind, it doesn't matter. Our love IS what matters."

She shifted her weight to her left foot and sassily placed a hand on her hip. "That's all fine and dandy Mark Twain, but I'm pretty sure he'll mind. I'm just so--"

In an attempt to ease her nerves, I crashed my lips onto her soft ones. Responding to my touch, the tension in her lower back melted away and she wrapped her arms around my neck. A subtle smile arose from her as she pulled away. "Feel better now baby girl?"

"A little, I might need another kiss though."

Tightening my grip around her waist, I pressed our bodies together tightly so she could feel how badly I wanted to take all her stress away. "I think I need to give you more than just a kiss in order to de-stress you."

Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, her words came out as more of a moan as I slipped my hand into her lacy cheekies. "Baby we don't have time for all of that. I need to get dressed and y-y-you need to ge—"

Placing a sole finger on her swollen lips, my voice dropped an octave as I whispered to her, "Lay on the bed, now."

Already having discarded of her underwear, as she was propping herself up on her elbows, she instinctively spread her toned legs open for me. Crawling on all fours, my fiery eyes immediately locked with her glistening heat. Trailing kisses along her inner thighs, the moment my tongue parted her folds her fingers became entangled in my freshly straightened locks.

I know her anatomy so well, I knew I could get her to that pinnacle of ecstasy on the moon and back in under two minutes. Laying my right hand flat on her lower abdomen and firmly gripping the other around her right thigh, just as I could feel the knot in her stomach tighten, the doorbell rang.

Without missing a beat, I didn't budge as she tried prying my hands off of her. I roughly pulled her hips back to my face. Pressing the palm of her hand against my forehead, the more she tried to push me away only caused me to jut my tongue deeper inside of her. In a breathless whisper she moaned, "Baby I need to get the door."

I hummed against her swollen bud, "Uh uh, not until you cum."

Throwing her head into the duvet, her moaning temporarily stopped as she tried to slow her breathing. Out of nowhere, in her best straight-laced voice she yelled, "HOLD ON, I'M COMI—"

But before she could get out her full sentence, I replaced my tongue with two fingers and wrapped my lips around her bud.

"Shit, baby I'm cumming, oh god I'm cumming."

Covering her face with a pillow to muffle her screams of passion, her back snapped into a perfect arch as I rapidly sucked on her pearl. Contracting around my fingers, the sweet sound of her essence gushing out, her muffled cries and my slurping filled the room.

As her hips slowed their bucking, I slowed my actions as the ringing of the doorbell persisted. Taking one last taste of her, I crawled up her flushed body and removed the pillow on her face. "You can let them in now."

After relieving the tension that built up just moments ago, I found myself readjusting my tie for the third time. Standing in the bedroom doorway, I could hear faint conversation between Jazz and her parents. Suddenly I felt like the seventeen year old me again, about to meet my girl's parents for the first time. I told her to relax, but suddenly I was feeling a little nervous.

Her house is a split floorplan, so the walk from her bedroom to the family room seemed like the longest walk of my life.

An unfamiliar male voice asked, "So how much longer is this mystery man going to keep us waiting?"

Jazz calmly said, "Not long Dad, I think he had to make a business call or somethi—"

As I rounded the corner and came into view, she graced me with a radiant smile as she stood up from the couch and walked towards me. On the other hand, her parents stared at me in disbelief.

Linking her arm around mine, she walked me closer to her parents who were exchanging gazes amongst themselves. "Baby, these are my parents Terrance and Alia Wilson. Mom and Dad...this is my boyfriend."

Her father's expression was completely unreadable as his glare shifted between his youngest daughter and I. Her mother Alia on the other hand looked as if she was attempting to keep her composure. Jazz told me her mom has admired my music since For You.

Extending her thin hand towards me, her mom excitedly said, "It's an honor to meet you. We don't have to be all formal with names you can just call me Alia."

I chuckled at her eagerness, "You all can call me Prince, I don't mind." Jazz shook her head in embarrassment as her mom's cheeks became flushed. It's easy to see where Jazz get's her beauty from, she looks so much like her mom who is a knockout. Even though she told me her mother was only a year older than me, she looks like she could be their older sister.

Unamused by his wife's antics, her father cut a glare at his wife before extending his hand. "Excuse my wife, she acts as if she's never met a celebrity before. You can call me Terrance or Mr.Wilson." His voice was very cut and dry. Yeah right, like I am going to call someone a few years older than me Mr.

Not too much more conversation occurred before we made our way to the dinner table. Small talk was made as we all feasted on the delicious vegetarian lasagna and garlic bread Jazz made.

Taking a sip of her sweet tea, Alia looked at me and asked, "So, when is your new album coming out?"

I laughed, "Oh so you heard about that? It's coming real soon, I might even be working on a special project with your daughter here." Turning to my left and winking at Jazz, she flashed me a small smile before abruptly changing the subject.

"So dad, how is everything going at the firm?"

"Jasmin, cut the small talk." Her eyes widened at her father's stern demeanor.

He turned his attention towards me. "Although I'm pretty sure I already know how, where did you say you met my daughter at?"

My nervousness was long gone. "We met through your eldest daughter Morgan, she's the reason why this beautiful soul is in my life."

He kissed his teeth. "I'm sure she is." Jazz shot her father a glare that said, 'really Dad?' "I'm pretty sure you're a nice guy. I'm not even going to waste my breath asking you to tell me about yourself, we all know who you are. Clearly, my wife cant see past that to notice the elephant in the room. Aren't you married? It makes me wonder what kind of man you are."

I was waiting for this real interrogation. As he looked under his glasses at me, I confidently said, "If you must know, I am divorced." That might be a little white lie. "When we met, me and my ex were already separated. And the kind of man I am is a real one, the kind that loves your daughter unconditionally and cherishes the ground she walks on."

As I felt Jasmin gently rub my thigh, Terrance was completely unfazed by me professing my love for his daughter. "Is that so? What exactly do you have in common with a girl, my little girl, who is 20 years younger than you? I've heard how you handle your women."

As he nonchalantly resumed eating, I just scoffed at his accusations. "We have more in common than you'd expect. With all due respect, if you're insinuating that I control her in any fashion, don't. Jazz is a grown woman who is capable of handling herself."

I don't know if he expected more of a rise out of me, but I was not going to raise my voice. I don't like to argue. Casting me a glare, he turned his attention towards a quiet Jazz. "A grown woman? You've been mighty quiet."

She's normally so confident and outspoken, but suddenly being looked down upon by her father she was as quiet as a church mouse. "Dad I am grown, the decisions I make for myself and my son are none of your concern." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tiny smile arise on her mom's face once she heard her daughter stand up to her father.

He however didn't appreciate that. "None of my concern? So your mother and I tried our damn hardest to raise you right and pay for your education, but now that you think you've gotten somewhere, your life isn't any of our concern? Your my child, I have a right to be in your business."

Jasmin huffed as she crossed her arms. "Are you serious? I'm an adult and you need to accept that!"

He snapped at her, "You better watch your tone."

Alia grabbed his forearm in an attempt to calm him. "Honey, please its not that ser—"

"No it is that serious Lia, do you want our daughter to make another stupid decision? Sleeping with a married man. What, have you realized working is too hard for you & you needed a man with money? I mean what was even the point of this dinner, you should've known from the beginning I wouldn't approve of this. I hope you don't think you two are going to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. If you really think that a man who chose to bed you while he was married is going to be faithful to you, you've got another thing coming. You might be book smart but that doesn't make you the sharpest tool in the shed. And an—"

As calm as I could, I sharply told him, "I'd appreciate if you not talk to her like that, don't you see you're only hurting her?" I motioned towards Jazz who had her face buried in her hands.

Terrance leaned back in his chair and rudely said, "Was I talking to you?"

Alia snapped, "Terrance! I'm pretty sure I am not the only one sick of your mouth tonight. All you've done is criticize this girl since the moment she got pregnant. Throwing dirt on both her and Morgan, I don't know why you expect our kids to be so perfect when you aren't either."

Shaking his head, it seems that his wife's disapproval was the only thing that could shut him up.

Rubbing circles on the small of Jazz' back, I leaned over and asked if she was okay.

She sniffled, "Yeah, I'm fine." Removing her hands, I could tell by the look on her face she was completely over the night. Fiddling with the lining of the tablecloth, she found her words. "Dad, Im trying really hard right now, but if you can't accept the fact that him and I are in love with each other...then you can leave my house. I don't need your approval to make decisions in my life. It would've been nice if you would've wanted happiness for me."

He shook his head, "What do you know about love?"

"I know about love. I know that he makes me so happy and I make him happy. Love cares what becomes of you because it knows we are interconnected. I mean love is just like chilling, you know? Kicking it with someone, talking for hours on end, making corny jokes. And, like not even wanting to go to sleep because you might be without that other person for a minute. You don't want that."

After her parents left, Jazz went to check on Noah before retreating to her room. Perched on the edge of her bed with her head in her hands, she slowly looked up at me when I entered.

"Hey", she peeped.

Standing in front of her, I caressed the sides of her face until she looked up at me with her tired eyes. "Tell me you're okay after all of that shit tonight."

She rolled her eyes, "A part of me keeps thinking, 'is he right?' Who's to say you will be faithful to me? I'm not your type, I'm not some protege or dancer like Mayte. I don't want you to get bored with me and throw me aside in two years because I don't inspire you."

Wiping away the stray tears rolling down her face, I rested my forehead against hers. "Look at me, you don't ever have to worry about me going astray. And you're right, you're not like her, I wouldn't have pursued you if you were. I love you just the way you are, I didn't have to mold you to suit me because you came perfectly packaged. You inspire me to be a better man."

She whispered against my lips, "I love you so much."

A/N: Long ass chapter as an apology for how long it took to get this out, I was on a mini-vacation. But yeah, a lot happened in this chapter. What do y'all think about her father? How about her venting her feelings in the beginning of the chapter?