Pleasure Principle (25 page)

Prissy was just returning from the gym when she got an unexpected phone call. It was Zoey. Since the accident she made it a point to check in with Zoey at least once a week. She felt bad that she spent so much time disliking her for no reason. Okay yeah, there was a big giant, six foot four reason, named Bear, but that was beside the point.

Her relationship with Teddy was never hindered by anyone, not even Mye Queen. Sure, Teddy was in love with Queen, but he continued to see Prissy whenever she would allow it. Prissy was not proud to admit that over the many years since their college years she allowed it quite a bit.

Still, things change, people grow up and people move on. Teddy’s with Zoey now.
Prissy wouldn’t dare submit to him and do anything to destroy their relationship. So, she decided to extend the olive branch and make peace with Zoey. In retrospect she was glad she did. Zoey is actually a pretty cool person and amazingly a good friend.

Prissy confided in her when she broke off her engagement to her long standing boyfriend of five years. Prissy couldn’t marry him. Her conscience wouldn’t let her marry him when her heart beat for another man. It was hard to admit that to anyone, but somehow Zoey got her to admit it to her.

Sure Zoey knew that Prissy was still in love with Teddy. Hell, Zoey knew that Teddy was still in love with Prissy. Of course he loved Zoey and he always would love her. But Zoey understood that though his body was there in LA with her, his heart and his very soul resided with Parisa Crown in Paris.

“Hey girl! How you feel? Is everything okay?” Prissy asked as she stripped out of her gym shoes and prepared for a shower.

“Hey Prissy! I’m great… What about you?” Zoey cheerfully responded.

“Good, just got in from the gym.
I’m going to catch a quick shower and then work on my book.”

“So, when am I finally going to get to read this elusive book you keep mentioning? I’d better be in it!” Zoey teased.

Prissy giggled. “I honestly wish I could say that you weren’t in it, but sadly you are. I’ll get a draft to you the second I get finished. I’m going to need some honest feedback.”

“Well I am honest if I’m nothing else. I’d be honored to read it. What’s it called?”

Prissy laughed. “Zoey, you’re going to love this. It’s called, ‘Loving an Unavailable Man.’ It’s a non-fiction self-help guide for pathetic women like me who keep selecting emotionally and physically unavailable men. What do you think about the title?”

“I love it. I can see why I’m in it.” Zoey laughed.

“Oh no Zoey! You are one of my positive out
come stories. Bear is there for you now. He’s there both emotionally and physically. My book is more about me than anyone else. I’m the one working out my issues. Sweetie I didn’t mean to imply that your relationship with Bear was anything but great.”

Zoey sighed deeply. “My relationship with Teddy is over. It’s been over for almost a month now. We’re just friends now.”

“What? Please don’t tell me that he dumped you! Zoey, no! I’m so sorry! He doesn’t deserve you.”

Zoey burst out laughing. “No, actually I dumped him. Priss it’s okay.”

“You dumped him what did he do? Zoey I don’t understand. Did he cheat on you? Is that what he did? I’m going to whip his ass!”

“Priss calm down. Teddy didn’t do anything. I let him go so that at least one of us could live.”

“Zoey, I don’t understand. If he didn’t do anything why did you break off your engagement?”

“Priss imagine if you had this magnificent falcon. He was strong, and massive and could soar high. How great that would be to see it soaring high above the clouds.
Imagine how awesome that would be to watch him spread his massive wings and fly. Can you see it?”

“Yes, I can see him.”

Okay now imagine that you were so afraid that he would fly away and never come back, so you kept him on a
leash
. He could hardly lift off before the leash would snatch him back to you. You know what would happen?”

“No.” Prissy sadly admitted although she really knew the answer.

“He’d stop trying and eventually he
’d
die or at least want to die. That’s my relationship with Teddy right now. Prissy I’m prevent
ing
him to soar among the stars. I’m holding him back and he’s too noble to admit it. Prissy I watch a piece of him die every day and I just can’t do it anymore. I just can’t! Prissy, do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Do you?
I wish I had just died. I do! Every time I see what
my
injury does to him I want to die and I can’t live like that anymore.
” Zoey said as she became emotional and started to cry.

Prissy couldn’t answer, because she was crying too. She put her phone on mute and sobbed loudly.
Her heart was breaking again and indirectly Teddy was the reason. Fate was so unkind to both of them Prissy could hardly stand it. She knew that she could never be with Bear again. Not at the risk of sticking a knife in Zoey’s back and twisting it for good measure. Her heart hurt and suddenly she wanted to die as well.

Prissy pulled herself together long enough to try to get Zoey off of the phone. “Zoey, someone is on my other line. It’s an important client… Can I call you back?”

“Is it Teddy?”

“No! Of course not! Why would
it
be Teddy? Teddy and I are officially finished. I told you that the first time we talked.”

“Prissy cut the crap! I know no one is on the phone. I know you are upset. I can hear it in your voice. I called for a reason, so let’s just get through this okay?”

“Zoey, I’m not going to go after Teddy if that’s what you think. Teddy and I…”

Zoey interrupts her
mid-sentence
. “
You too will not just shut up and listen! Damn! Please let me talk. Don’t say anything just listen. Five minutes, that’s all I’m asking for. Just five uninterrupted minutes
and then you can talk your ass off
. Okay?”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Thanks. Teddy is still in love with you.”

“Zoey, I told you…”

“Prissy, do you have any concept what the term shut up implies. Stop talking and listen.”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry. Go ahead. I’m pinching my lips shut.”

“As I was saying, Teddy’s still in love with you. He’s very vulnerable right now and I need you to reach out to him. Prissy he’s a good man as you know. He’s capable of being a good, good husband. He’s proved that to me. Over the last three months he hasn’t once been unfaithful to me, not once. It’s time he moves on and I think he should move on with you. Don’t you dare open your mouth! Let me finish. There’s a reason you didn’t get married. Just like there is a reason that we didn’t get married. You two are supposed to be married to each other, so stop fighting it! Teddy is going to call you. Shut up! I know you have something
to
say, but I’m not finished. When he calls I want you to open your heart, your arms and your legs and let that magnificent man in.
Marry him! Make some beautiful babies! Have a wonderful life!
And do it all with my blessings! Do you understand?”

Prissy was overwhelmed. She never expected in a zillion years that she would hear these words come from Zoey Chandler’s mouth.
Prissy hit the mute button again dropped her phone and cried like a toddler who needed some milk and cookies, her mommy and a nap.

“Prissy are you there? Prissy answer me! Prissy! I know this girl did not hang up on me!” Zoey said as she pushed random numbers on the phone to make sounds that would get Prissy’s attention.

Prissy finally recovered enough to pick up the phone and simply say, “Okay. I will.”

Teddy Bear

Two days have passed since Prissy spoke to Zoey. Teddy had not called and she did not have the heart or the balls to make the first move and call him. It was Friday night around ten at night and she was emotionally tired, frustrated, confused and horny as a damn Bull Run. She looked at her phone and considered calling him. Just as she reach to pick it up it magically started to ring. It was Teddy.

Prissy drew a big breath and blew it out slow. She was done playing games with Teddy. She didn’t give a damn who the flavor of the week was
they had to go! Teddy was her damn man and she wasn’t going to mince words when she told him.

“Hey you!” she cheerfully answered the phone.

“Hey yourself.” He chuckled.

“What are you up to?”

“Trying to stay out of trouble.”

“Yeah, well you better stay away from me.” Prissy nervously giggled.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, pretty much. You know my middle name is trouble. Parisa Trouble Crown, that’s me.”

“Yeah well I like trouble. Hell, I love trouble.”

“I know you do.”

“You know Zoey and I broke up right?”

“Yeah, I heard. Sorry to hear it. How are you holding up?”

“Not so good.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I need a friend.”

“I’m a friend, you know that.”

“Actually I need a girlfriend.”

Prissy immediately muted the phone and screamed, loudly
. “Yes, thank you Jesus!” she immediately did the happy dance.

“Miss Priss are you there?”

She unmuted the phone and calmly replied, “Yeah. I’m still here.”

“Look Miss Priss, I know that we’ve been through a lot of bull over the years. I know most of it was because of me and I’m willing to own that now. But, I was wondering would you consider going out with me?”

“You know we live on different continents right?”

“Yeah, but if you want something bad enough you’ll do whatever needs to be done to make it happen.”

“Oh yeah and what are you willing to do to make this date happen.” She coyly asked.

“Any damn thing that needs to be done.” Teddy’s sexy baritone voice answered.

Prissy could feel the sound of his voice cause ripples of desire to resonate through her erotic core. Teddy came to play ball and she was all in. “I
guess I could take some time off from work and come to LA to visit you in a week or two.”

“A week or two, that’s too long. I was thinking of hooking up a little sooner than that.”

“Let me check my schedule and see if I can juggle a few things. If so I’ll fly out next week as soon as I can get a flight.”

“That’s too damn long Miss Priss. I need to see you ASAP. You’re going to have to do better than a maybe in a day or two.”
 

Prissy became flustered and a little frustrated. “Then what do you suggest Bear? Huh? I don’t hear you making any moves or suggestions. What do you want me to do?”

Teddy chuckled. “Calm down and I’ll tell you. Are you calm?”

“Yes, I’m calm. Tell me what to do.”

“Okay
,
go to your window and look outside. You’ll see a limo. Take your purse, your keys and your phone and run to that limo. It will get you to me tonight.”

“What are you serious? I need to pack and find my passport and…”

“Priss, stop wasting time! Everything you need is in that limo. So go now!
Don’t forget your phone. I’ll talk to you when you get in.”

Prissy stared out the window of her condo. Parked in front of her building was a super stretch chromed out, white escalade limo with a driver standing in front. Her heart raced. It sounded crazy to leave without packing. She looked at her phone and the limo again to make sure she wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating. Realizing that it was real she grabbed her purse. Throwing her keys and her phone in it she raced for the door. Locking the door behind her she ran down the stairs to the limo.

Bursting through the front door of her building she yelled to the limo driver. “My name is Parisa Crown is that limo for me?”

The limo driver smiled as he bowed. “Yes Miss Crown. I my name is James, I have been waiting for you. Please step in.” He said as he opened the passenger door for her to climb in.

Parisa cautiously
took his hand as he helped her in the limo. “Where are we going James? I don’t have my luggage or my passport. He told me you’d have everything I need in the limo, but I need my passport.”

James smiled politely. “Please just get in. I have everything you need inside.”

Parisa climbed in the limo and almost passed out. Her heart stopped beating as her eyes met his. She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t think, she couldn’t breathe. Tears burst from her eyes as she flung herself in his waiting arms. Looking finer than crushed fairy dust, Teddy awaited her in that limo. They were right. Everything she needed in life was in that limo.

James closed the door, got in the limo and drove them to Teddy’s Presidential hotel suite in the heart of Paris.   

Overwhelmed to see her as well he kissed her full in the mouth. Their tongues danced that familiar dance that they started when they were fifteen years old. They didn’t miss a step
as they shamelessly ravished each other right on the spot
.

Reluctantly Teddy pulled away from her hungry mouth. “I have something for you.”

“I can see.” Prissy said as she sampled his lips and rubbed the imprint of his rock hard dick through the fabric of his pants.

Teddy laughed. “Yeah
, naturally, but I have
this
als
o.” He said as he handed her a large
, blood red,
velvet jewelry box about the size of a half of a sheet of paper.

“What’s this?” She asked as she looked as the beautiful box in Teddy’s hand. “Teddy you don’t have to buy me something every time you see me.

“This isn’t for you. This is for us. It’s something I should have given you years ago.”

Prissy looked confused but she was very intrigued. It couldn’t be a ring because the box was too big, she thought. “What is it? Open it up and let me see.”

Teddy sighed deeply as he started to become emotional. Tears filled his eyes and rolled down his chiseled cheeks. He opened the box.
“I
’ve loved you all my life
Parisa Crown.
My body has known yours since I was eight years old. My spirit feels like it has loved you before my heart first pumped in my mother’s womb. My soul is convinced that it knew yours in heaven.
Please marry me?
I’m begging you. Please marry me right away.
”

Prissy was so overwhelmed her body had frozen stiff like a bug on a metal ice tray. She heard the words but she couldn’t look at him. I eyes were fixated on the jewelry box that held not one but fifteen diamond engagement rings.

“What are all of those? Am I supposed to pick one?”
She
managed in a very soft, tiny voice.

“No these are all for you. There is one ring for each year I should have asked you to marry me. There are fifteen rings for each of the fifteen years we should have been together. Just say yes
and pick the one you want to wear first.
”

Prissy
held her heart and screamed loud enough to wake the Zombie Princess! “Yes!” She screamed loudly, fifteen times.

Teddy laughed as he checked to make sure he could still hear once she stopped. “Okay, okay! I hear you. Now which one do you want to wear first?”

“There are all so beautiful. I can’t decide. I’m going to close my eyes and you just pick one and put it on my finger. Okay?” she said as she closed her eyes.

Teddy chuckled. “Okay that will work.” He carefully survey the lot of obscenely expensive Tiffany engagement rings and found his favorite. It was an absolutely flawless twenty
K
arat
princess cut diamond set in platinum. He sparkled as bright as the moon and it was perfect for the woman who was the stars, the moon and the sun to him. He slipped it on her finger and waited with bated breath for her reaction. “Open your eyes.”

Prissy opened her eyes and started screaming in delight. She screamed, yes, fifteen more times before jumping in Teddy’s arm and planting a hundred wet kisses all over his Adonis face.

“Yes! I will marry you! I’m so in love with you. I’ve never stopped loving you. You know that right?” Overwhelmed with joy, Teddy nodded yes as tears burst like rain from his eyes.