13. London

"Ijust made it home, Chocolate," I informed Monroe as I pressed the key fob up against my door. I'd been on the phone with her since I'd left Havana. After we tied the knot and mingled with family, I hopped on the private jet. I had to be in the office in a couple of hours. Monroe was hesitant about staying in Cuba alone, but it was the only way I could ensure she was safe. I needed to keep Monroe hidden until after I met with her father and our union was legalized. I couldn't risk Kashus or Jacob snatching her up and forcing her back into her old life. That shit was over and done with.

"Connect the video; I want to see your home." Monroe yawned into the phone. I swiped the screen to answer the call. Her beautiful bare face came into view. She was lying in the bed, teetering the lines of sleep and awake.

"This is my living room." I turned the screen so she could see as I moved through the house.

"Nice." She smiled. I put my things down on the kitchen table and ventured further down the long hallway to my bedroom, showing Monroe a few things along the way. Today had been eventful, and the only thing I wanted to do was crash on my bed and talk to Monroe until sleep found me. Something was happening between us, and I was losing the war of trying to stop it. Entering my bedroom, I froze in my tracks as Briana's naked ass sprawled across my bed spread eagle came into view.

"Fuck!" I grunted, moving quickly to turn the camera. Even if our marriage was fake, I ain't want Monroe seeing a naked woman with her legs gapped wide open on my bed. I owed her more respect than that. Swiping at the screen, I disconnected the call. I could explain that later. Briana's naked ass lying in my bed not so much. I sighed as I wiped my hands across my face. Briana being here for our weekly appointment had completely slipped my mind. Shit, the only things on my mind were work and Monroe.

"Hey, daddy!" Briana giggled seductively. My head shook in disbelief. Usually, this was just what I needed after a long day of work, but today wasn't a long day of work. Today was the day I'd gotten married. The only woman's pussy I wanted to see was Monroe's. I cut my eyes away from Briana, trying to find the words to let her down nicely.

"Aye, Bri, this not a good time," I said as I walked past her into my closet. I needed to find some clothes for her so I could send her on her way and call my wife back.

"You good, daddy?" Briana snuck up behind me and wrapped her hands around my waist. Everything about her oozed sex appeal. It was leaking from her pores. The sight of Bri usually turned me on, but I wasn't the slightest bit aroused.

"I'm good, just tired from traveling." I pushed Briana's hands from around my waist. "Raincheck?"

"Come on, daddy. I miss you. She been thinking about you all day." Briana dropped to her knees. I had to stop her. If I allowed her to touch my dick, he'd probably wake up, but it just didn't feel right. Even though I wasn't sleeping with Briana, it felt like cheating. I couldn't do it.

"Not tonight, Bri. I just want to rest." I threw the T-shirt on the ground and stepped around her, leaving her there on her knees. My phone rang, and Monroe's name flashed across the screen. I allowed it to ring and go straight to voicemail. I'd call her back as soon as I got Briana to leave.

"Who is she?" Briana joined me in my bedroom. "That's why you are acting strange, right? I see the ring. It's never been there before."

I sighed. Briana and I had never been on that type of time, so I didn't feel a way about telling her about Monroe.

"I got married today." I came straight out and told her. Briana's mouth dropped in surprise.

"Married, and you came here to me?"

"It's complicated, but she is the only woman on my mind right now and probably for the near future."

Briana stood from the bed and proceeded to get dressed.

"Whoever she is, she's a lucky girl. I'd fight her about that dick, but I don't think I stand a chance with you on that level." Briana laughed, causing me smirk. Nobody stood a chance next to Monroe, and I was glad she was being an adult about the situation. I looked away as Briana dressed. My fingers itched to call Monroe back.

"I wish you and the wife the best. Walk me out?"

I stood from the bed and followed her to the front door, admiring the work I'd done on her ass along the way. I'm good as fuck at what I do.

"If y'all ever on a break, hit me up." She opened the door and sashayed out.

"Be easy, beautiful," was all I could offer her as I closed the door behind her. I didn't waste any time changing the lock code on my door. I didn't want any more surprise pop ups.

I walked back to my bedroom and called Monroe back as I undressed.

"London. Oh my God, you scared me."

My heart sank at the thought of Monroe being worried about me. I never wanted her to be worried about anything anymore.

"I'm good, Chocolate. My calls drop in here sometimes." I lied for probably the first time in my life. I ain't know if Monroe could handle the truth. Telling the truth would only give her a reason to doubt me and herself. We were in a good place, and I ain't want to fuck that up.

"Was that before or after you put your little friend out?" She quipped. My eyes bulged, and my chest began to hurt. My first lie, and she caught me.

"What?"

"I saw her." She confirmed my thoughts.

"Fuck, Monroe, I can explain…"

"Don't. This thing between us isn't real, London. I'm not really your wife. You're free to fuck who you want."

"I am fucking who I want, Monroe."

"No, it's getting late. Goodnight, Royale." She hung up.

"Fuck!" I yelled as I dialed her back. She let me go straight to voicemail the first time and then she answered and hung up the second. This thing between us was supposed to be about her freedom and her freedom only, but we'd already blurred the lines. I should have just left it alone, but I knew allowing her to sit in her thoughts would only make shit worse. Opening the security app on my phone, I quickly swiped to my safe house bedroom. Monroe was lying on the bed with her face in her hands. The realization that she was crying fucked me up. Pressing the speaker, I called her name.

"Monroe!" Her head darted up, and her eyes roamed the room. "I'm sorry, Chocolate. I'm sorry. I'm not a liar, but I lied. I ain't want you to be doing what you doing right now." I sighed before continuing. "I could say I didn't know she was gon' be here, but I did. Bri and I used to have a weekly meet up. With everything going on, I just forget to tell her ass not to show up."

Monroe looked around the room. Her head rose and fell again. Her mouth opened and closed.

"The apology isn't needed. We're not really married, Royale. This is business, right? You can do what you want. I hope you didn't put her out on the account of me."

That was the second time she'd called me by my name, and it was bothering me. I was London to her, and that's how I liked it.

"Monroe!" I called her name.

"Leave me alone, London." She covered her ears.

"Nah!" I yelled back. "Answer the phone, so we can talk this out like adults." I dialed her number again. This time, her soft voice glided through the phone.

"Yes, Royale?"

"Aye, stop calling me that," I warned. She didn't say anything. Her breathing was the only way for me to know she was still on the phone.

"Ask what's making you feel uncomfortable," I instructed. We might as well get it all out in the open.

"Who is she?"

"Her name's Briana. She was a friend."

"And you have sex with her?"

"I used to. Last Thursday was the last time," I answered honestly.

"Why'd you lie?"

"I lied to protect your feelings. I should have just been truthful about it."

Monroe sighed on the other end of the phone.

"You were right; we shouldn't have had sex. I don't think I can handle the thought of you fucking another woman."

I pushed the button, hoping she'd connect the video so I could see the jealousy etching across her beautiful face. She appeared on screen, and I cringed at her puffy eyes. I never wanted to see her cry or have to be jealous ever again. If I had it my way, Monroe would be mine, we'd ride off in the sunset, but that wasn't what she needed.

"I don't want to fuck other women, Monroe; that's the fucked-up part," I admitted.

"Why is it fucked up?" Her eyes held my gaze through the phone.

"Because you deserve freedom, not to be locked down in a relationship, and every time I look at you, that's what I want to do. Make this marriage more than just an on-paper situation."

"Why can't I have both? My freedom and you?"

Her question was simple, but I ain't have an answer for her. It had only been two days since we'd met. We shouldn't be having this conversation. The feelings we felt for each other we shouldn't be feeling, but we were.

"Maybe you can, Chocolate." I sighed. "But let's start with your freedom first."

The line fell quiet, and her head dropped. Monroe was special. I knew that, but she didn't and that was the problem.

"You need to get the experience of being alone—eating alone, sleeping alone, dating yourself. Making your own choices. Those are the only things that will allow you to grow, Chocolate." I checked the screen to gauge if she was actively listening. I needed her to be listening because I needed her to do the things I was speaking of. Her eyes were back on mine, holding my gaze, so I continued. "You need time to learn yourself, to learn what inspires you, to learn your hopes and dreams, to figure out your boundaries." I paused, trying to figure out the right words for the last thing I wanted to say.

"Monroe, baby, when you do all that and when you're healed, you better believe I'ma be there with open arms, waiting for you to choose a nigga. Not because I'm the only nigga that's ever treated you like you deserve or because I be digging yo' fucking guts out, but choose me because you know who the fuck Monroe is and how I fit into your life." I could hear her breathing get heavy. I hoped she was taking in everything that I had said because I meant every fucking word. I couldn't make it blunter than this.

"I don't know who Monroe is," she mumbled as if the discovery was new to her.

"And it's not your fault." She'd been born into a family that dealt her cards. "Make me a promise, Chocolate. Promise me you'll focus on getting to know who you are. Promise me you'll heal," I demanded. She stared at me with tears welling up in her eyes.

"I promise," she whispered into the phone. I could hear the reluctance in her voice.

"Good, now let's get some rest." I climbed my unclothed body into the bed and nestled my phone onto the pillow next to me. We didn't need to say anything further, and soon, Monroe's light snores filled the air, offering me the perfect background noise to doze off.