Page 65 of The Love of Priest

"Why not?" Britain asked in a light voice, which made him feel warm and welcome. She had the ability to make him forget all his worries and just focus on everything else that made him happy. This was why he rushed to her house. He knew she would make him feel better by just listening and being around.

Priest let out a sigh. She was no longer lying down on her back since she had now turned over to her side to face him. While one hand was folded into Priest's, the other one found its way to his burly chest, which she slowly ran her hand up and down in an attempt to calm him a bit. He blinked for a few moments, trying to gather his thoughts the best way he knew how. Britain took notice of his long, thick lashes that batted whenever he blinked. They had the slightest curl to them. It was what prevented Britain from being afraid to look him in the eye. Although his orbs were nothing but darkness, his lashes gave him a sense of innocence that many people looked past.

"My mind. Every time I try, I just end up thinking about shit that keeps me up," Priest admitted.

Britain nodded her head. She too knew that feeling all-too well. "You're worried."

"I'm not worried," Priest quickly refuted, offended that she would accuse him of being worried. He was Priest Justice. There was no room for worry.

"Priest, it's okay to worry," she attempted to assure him, only for him to shake his head.

"I'm not worried. What is there to be worried about, Britain?" he asked, truly believing she had all the answers.

Britain had an idea of what he could possibly be worried about, but she decided not to say. It was just too soon. Wrong timing had the ability to bring the worst out of situations.

Britain shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me."

"I can't. I just feel like things will no longer be progressing. Somewhat feels like the end," he explained.

"You're losing hope in yourself?" Britain hiked up a brow. As much as Priest wasn't trying to sound hopeless, that was how it came off. It was foreign to her, but instead of dramatizing it, she was going to help him through it.

Priest remained solid.

The man who hated when others lost their faith in him was losing faith in himself. It was unbelievable. He didn't want to admit it, but his silence told Britain all she needed to know.

"Can I tell you something?" Britain locked eyes with him.

Priest quickly nodded his head. He was out of the hot seat, and Britain was allowed to vent. "I've lost hope in myself too," she informed him with a light smile.

"That's not what I'm trying to hear," he chuckled a bit.

Britain nodded with a light laugh matching his. "I know, but I'm normalizing it for you, so you don't think less of yourself. Everyone has hit a low point in their life. It's not a bad thing. It builds strength, which you have a lot of. The issue you're having is that you're fighting off the feeling to uphold what comes with being Priest Justice— hard exterior, no worries, and a laid-back demeanor. I'm not gonna call that a front since that's part of you, but that's not all of you."

Britain's words resonated with him. All his life, Priest had to act accordingly. The slightest misstep would cause shit to go downhill with him, and he couldn't risk that, especially with him living not only for himself, but for Jazzy as well. Britain enjoyed his roughness. It gave her a sense of security; however, she never wanted that to overpower who he actually was.

She had seen so much more in Priest. He was funny, charming, almost as goofy as she was, and he enjoyed throwback R&B, and his favorite television show was a children's cartoon. Priest needed to realize that he had to allow parts of his true self to shine through instead of barricading it with the stone-hard man he was forced to become at such an early age.

He shifted his dark orbs from the ceiling down to Britain. She was already staring up at him with a light smile gracing her face. The look he was giving her indicated that she had him in awe, almost as if she had opened his mind up to a whole new way of thinking. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Britain now laid her head on his chest as her leg was tossed over his waist.

They were both comfortable and content, her with just hearing his steady heartbeat and him with just having her in his arms. "I prayed for you," Priest breathed out gently as his finger delicately traced small circles on her exposed shoulder.

"Thank you," Britain expressed her gratitude and appreciation. "I'm really grateful for you."

Priest applied a kiss on her forehead. "I'm grateful for you too,Gioia," he expressed, causing Britain's entire body to react to his words in warmness and butterflies.

"You still can't sleep?" Britain looked up at him with a taunting smirk. He chuckled a bit while shaking his head. "Let's go cook breakfast." Britain sat up in excitement, urging him to get out of the bed.

Priest furrowed his brows as he eyed her as if she was crazy. He shifted his orbs from her beaming in excitement to the clock nailed against her wall that read two-fifty in the morning. "Gioia,it's going on three in the morning."

"Exactly." She got out of bed, slipping her slippers on immediately. "Perfect time for breakfast. C'mon, get up," she persuaded him with a convincing smile. Priest agreed and got out of bed.

He wrapped his strong arms around her petite frame. He towered over her as he dropped his head down to kiss the top of her head. "You're my gray," Priest spoke lowly in her ear with a smile gracing his face.

Britain felt her heart skip two beats. She was overjoyed to hear this, but it confused her since she didn't necessarily know what he meant by it. She remembered that a few days before, he explained his whole meaning behind “living life in the gray.” As she thought about it, Britain realized she knew that being his gray was a good thing.The hell was I thinking? It’s a great thing!

"Forever?" She rotated herself in his arms so they were facing each other. Her habit of cupping his face in her smooth hands continued as she directed his head down to be closer to hers. They pressed their foreheads together, gazing into each other's eyes in contentment.

Priest nodded his head. "Forever," he confirmed. She jolted up on her tippy toes with her lips puckered. She peppered light kisses that trailed from his lips down to his neck.

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