A King's Heart

To Come As A Surprise

"I don't want this." Tiana backed away. "I'm not that kind of woman."

"When I'm done with you you will be." He said darkly and looked over at Trevor. "You wanna join in on the fun?"

The man grinned hard. "You think she can handle us at the same time? Remember what happened to the other girl."

"I have a feeling that this pretty little thang can handle three long and thick sticks in her." Willie evilly grinned, picking up a long black cane with a diamond ball glistening on top of it. "Open ya mouth, pretty mama." He rubbed the diamond against her lips.

"Sing for ya canary." Trevor laughed.

Tiana's heart stopped, tightly shutting her mouth close.

Willie chuckled. "We'll be having her shoutin' out high notes that will make all of New Orleans mighty proud!" He then pushed her onto the floor before pinning her onto it.

"Are you ready?"

Tiana shook her head 'no' while pushing him off her, backing away from the men. "No, I don't want this!" She backed up against a wall in the room. "Stay away from me!"

"Where ya going, sugah?" asked Trevor. "We won't bite."

"Yet." Willie finished with a chuckle, grabbing himself. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty…," He teased. "That's what I shall call you, my little pretty kitty." He then grabbed her arm and yanked her up to him, causing the strap on her dress to tear off.

Tiana slapped him and soon felt his fist hit her against her jaw, causing her to land on the soft cushion of the couch under her. Knocking the wind out of her.

"You will learn quick to never disrespect me, 'Kitty'." He plopped down beside her, running his hand under her dress. "You fresh? Or spoiled?" He sniffed into her hair. "Mmm…I hope ya spoiled. I don't need no virgin blood runnin' all over my precious hotel floor."

Trevor laughed, holding himself. "When are we gonna fuck her?"

Willie smiled in her hair, pulling at her feather hat. "I say we begin now—

"Give me my money, Willie!" Two men charged into the room with guns in their hands.

The slender man stood up, using Tiana as a human shield. "Oh, hello there gentlemen." He laughed nervously.

"Where's our money!" One man pointed a gun in his direction.

"Uh I got ya money!" Willie said, pushing Tiana toward the men. "I just don't have it at the moment. But you can have this girl as a small cover. She might be fresh—

"I don't want no girl!" The gunman shoved Tiana out of the way where she landed on the floor. "I want my money!"

"Look Leroy, I ain't got ya money." Willie told the man.

Tiana saw that the door was wide open.

"Give me my damn money!" Ordered the man.

"You ain't gonna shoot nobody." Trevor grabbed the man's hand but was instantly shot in the face by the other gunman.

Tiana screamed at the top of her lungs before running out of the room, soon hearing more gun shots from behind. She quickly ran out of the building where more guests from the party followed out all trying to avoid getting shot at. While everyone stopped at a certain distance Tiana kept running, not noticing that one of her heels broke in the process.

She didn't know where she was heading at but knew to not stop. Her heart pounding at her chest as the flashbacks of the men came back at her. How could she have been so stupid to let Willie trick her? His purplish eyes alone told her during her performances. Not all men are like Naveen.

Naveen?

She stopped running, just noticing that it started raining.

"Now are ya gonna stand outside my door or are ya gonna come inside?" asked Mama Odie.

Tiana turned to see the woman standing by her front door with JuJu resting comfortably over her shoulders.

"Mama Odie?" She asked.

"Yes, now come on in, child!" She waved her over.

Tiana was soon in the warm house and was welcomed with a warm blanket and herbal tea. JuJu and Mama Odie cleaned her bleeding bruise.

"I want you to change out of that dress and get into some dry clothes."

But Tiana shook her head. "I've got to get back home to Naveen. He's sick."

"And what just happened to you tonight besides almost gettin's rape and killed?" Mama Odie asked in a stern motherly tone.

"It happened plenty of times before, Mama Odie. I'm fine." She stood up.

"Baby you need to rest. Naveen would want the same thing."

"I never thought that he'd try to do this to me." Tiana said, holding in her emotions. "I always looked up to Willie."

"Sometimes appearances are often deceiving, baby." said Mama Odie. "Do you really believe that it's worth it? Dis jazz career?"

"With all of my heart." Tiana choked back her tears. "No one will ever stop me from getting' what I want."

"Are you sure about that?" The older woman asked with a raised eyebrow.

Tiana frowned. "Why are you questioning my dreams? You know that I always want to be a successful singer."

"Naveen knows this, too." Mama Odie added.

"Everyone who know me does!" Tiana pointed out and walked to her door. "I got to get back to Naveen though. He's sick."

"What you want isn't always what you need."

Tiana rolled her eyes, opening the door.

"JuJu!" Mama Odie shouted.

The snaked obediently came to her.

"I need you to drive that hard head girl back home. She'll never learn anything if she keeps at it with being so bull headed."

Tiana cursed at herself for even coming out in the rain, but was relieved to see JuJu starting up an old truck.

"Get in." Mama Odie said from the truck.

She quickly got into the vehicle and within seconds poofed into smoke and was instantly outside of the exquisite apartment building she and Naveen were staying in.

The valet did a double take at the run down looking truck's sudden appearance.

"What the hell?" He walked over to the vehicle. "Who's there?" He neared it.

When JuJu's head popped out of the window the man screamed like a woman.

The lobby man ran out with a club in his hand. "What in the Sam hill?" He saw the snake. "What the-a snake?"

"Go girl!" Mama Odie told Tiana who eased her way pass the men without them noticing her. By the time she made it by the elevator more employers of the building ran outside, wondering where the smoke was coming from.

Tiana was grateful to see Douglas who grew instantly concerned when he saw her torn and wet dress. She reassured him that nothing happened and that all she needed was a nice soak and rest.

Making it to Naveen's door she knocked as hard as she could. Soon the doors unlock and seeing Naveen's beautiful face came before hers. She didn't remember what happened after that except for when his strong arms carried her to her room.

"Tiana, please say something." He didn't know what happened to the woman and hoped that the worse didn't come her way.

"Mm…" She moaned, opening her eyes. "Naveen?"

"You're safe." He ran his hand over her bruised cheek. "What happened to you? Who's done this?"

"It doesn't matter. He didn't get far enough." She tried to reassure him.

"So it was Willie?" Naveen grew angry, but at not her. "I knew I should've come with you."

"But you're sick." She sat up.

"Not anymore! Mama Odie and her snake came over and gave me some liquid substance that immediately took away my cold." Naveen explained.

"That's very kind of her." Tiana thought outloud. "Look, I've been through this so many times. No man has ever gone far enough and I thank God for that—

"And you're brushing this off?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Yes." She answered.

"Why?"

"Because I want to." She began undressing.

He turned away so that he couldn't see her undress. "That's the last time I buy any of his music."

"Now that he's dead." Tiana put on her silk housecoat that reached slightly to her thighs. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm gonna take take a bath and wash his filth off me."

Naveen watched her leave the room and was surprised at how she wasn't shaken up. Her bruised jaw, the ripped strap on her dress, the dried mascara that ran down her face. He knew that she was putting up another wall around her as a way of getting over this but he had to let her know that she no longer needed to do this, as long as he was there.

So he left her room for her bathroom where he was about to open the door...until he remembered where he stood with her. She was only a friend and roommate, nothing more to his misfortune. With a sigh Naveen decided to not intrude, for now.

Tiana lathered her hair in shampoo for the third time now satisfied that the odor of cigar was finally off of her. Using a cup to pour the water over her head, she rinsed off the soapy substance from her body.

"Well Ms. Tiana you almost got ya'self caught up, but like always you've manged to run free." She said to herself. "But how could I be so stupid?" She got out of the tub, using a towel to dry herself before wrapping it around her body and using another towel for her hair.

"The signs were all there."

Looking at her reflection she could see the bruise on her cheek slightly healing from the cream Mama Odie applied almost an hour before. The bruise proved to be the hardest a man has ever hit her.

With a straight face, she replaced her towel with her house coat and walked right out of the bathroom, giving Naveen a small smile before walking into her room. Once she closed the door she leaned back against it, no longer able to suppress her tears.

Naveen stood by her door and heard some sniffling; he knew that she was crying so he slowly opened the door.

"Tiana?"

She looked up at him with teary eyes. "I-I'm all right."

He got down to her level and pulled her in his arms. "You don't have to face this alone, Tiana. I'm here."

She wrapped her arms around him as her body trembled. "Oh Naveen…," She cried harder.

Naveen kissed her on the forehead. "I'll always be here for you."

Tiana gently broke from hug to look up into the honey coloured eyes of the man who comfort her, and saw the caring, gentleness, concern and love behind them. It simply took her breath away.

"You said that you'll always be there for me?" she asked.

"Yes Tiana. I care deeply about you." He said, wiping away her tears. "When I saw you at that door tonight I—

Tiana's lips pressed onto Naveen's in a quick but passionate motion. She deepened the kiss when her tongue entered his mouth. Her heart racing.

Naveen wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her on his lap, his own tongue dancing in her mouth. His own heart racing and his stomach in knots. He was pretty much convinced of how he felt for Tiana. He was in love with her.

And before he could confess, she pulled away.

"I'm sorry." She stood up shaking her head, covering her lips with her hands. "I don't know what's gotten over me."

Naveen got up off the floor and dusted himself. "Don't apologize. The kiss—

"Was a mistake." She said with a serious look.

He was taken aback. "What?"

She then sat on her bed, hugging herself. "I should be gettin' ready for bed if I want to make ya breakfast in the morning."

"No, sleep in. You had a rough night." He said. "Goodnight, Tiana."

"Goodnight, Naveen." She replied as he closed the door. Placing her hands on her chest she fell back onto the bed. "I can't be in love with him." And closed her eyes. "I won't be in love with him." She tried to convince herself. "Naveen...why are you doing this to me?"

Naveen went into his own room with Tiana's hot kiss still lingering on his lips. After that kiss there was no denying it, he wanted her, in body and in heart. As a king, he knew what he wanted, as a man, he knew what he needed.

"Tiana...you certainly came into my life as a surprise," he said with a weak grin. "The best surprise I ever received."

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