Page 71 of The Love of Priest

"Priest, what are you doing here?" She tried her best to remain calm and act normal. Bending down to get her aching feet out of the heels, she realized that Priest gave her no response.

Priest was hard to read most of the time, but right now had to be the hardest. He looked so empty and emotionless that Britain couldn't make out whether she should just give him some space or coddle him.

Realizing the space between the two was making things far more awkward on top of the silence, Britain shuffled her way over to him.

Craning his head up at her so his orbs could meet hers, the menacing look he gave her made her stop right in her tracks. She was frightened at how much darker his eyes seemed to be. They were filled with a blackness that looked like it could eat her alive. Whatever demon was raging within him, Britain knew her attendance at his trial was adding more fuel to the fire.

"Did I do something?" Britain uttered nervously. She was hesitant to speak to him, but she knew silence would lead her nowhere. Priest stood to his feet. Britain was no longer standing over him. His six-foot-five frame towered over Britain in intimidation.

"Why you make me trust you if you were just gonna do this?" Priest asked. Anger had diminished from his tone as disappointment began to settle in. He really felt like his last hope, last resort, last… everything had gone to waste on Britain. Wasted time, wasted sex, wasted laughter, wasted energy. Everything was a fucking waste when it came to her at the moment!

"Priest, what are you talking about?" Britain furrowed her brows, unaware that her deflecting the truth would only upset him more.

"C'mon, Britain. Don't try to pull this fucking game on me!" he jeered through clenched jaws. "Now answer my fucking question!"

During the month of enjoying her best moments with Priest, she had never heard him raise his voice, and she never expected him to raise it at her. Britain honestly expected Priest to cry out of sadness from what he'd been through before lashing his anger out on her. The firmness and roughness in his voice wasn't the one she preferred when he was deep inside of her exploring the depths of her mind and body. This type of tone was what brought tears to the eyes, and she felt them brimming at her slanted feline-like lids.

Usually, Priest would find her so gorgeous as she bore her orbs into his. There was an innocence within them that made him just want to kiss every inch of her body and nurture her from all the scars of her past. Even though he was far too afraid to admit it openly, Priest had fallen in love with Britain. He loved every part of her, the good and bad, the beautiful and the ugly. She had the class that brought him to his knees. It pained him that not only was she lying to him at the moment, but she seemed to be against him.

"Priest—" Britain reached up and cupped her gentle hands around his face. She forced him to crane his head down so he could look at her. His dark orbs were filled with the same look that graced them the night before: hopelessness. Britain felt horrible that she was now the one evoking that feeling out of him. This was never her intention.

"Britain, be honest with me. That's all I need is the truth," Priest croaked in defeat. There was no use in being angry. Even if he tried to be, he couldn't. Britain had a long-lasting effect on him. One thing he knew he could always count on Britain for was the truth. He was hoping he could still get that from her.

"Can we sit so I know you won't leave? I don't want you leaving, especially pissed at me." Britain's light and airy voice trailed into his ears, causing his heart the fill with warmness.

Priest’s orbs pierced Britain's deeply. He could see she was being genuine, so he agreed to sit down and listen. He brushed Britain's hands from his face. He didn't want any physical contact with her. The more her soft hands graced against his skin, the harder it would be for him to leave her if he needed to.

"Britain, start explaining before I leave you in my past," Priest warned, his harsh words striking against Britain's heart consecutively, one after the other.

Britain sighed before sitting her sweaty hands on her lap. "First, I want to clarify that I never lied to you, and I never will. I'm no liar." Britain didn't want Priest thinking she was showing him one thing and doing the other. She was genuine, especially when it came to him.

"When we first met, I led with the fact that I have connections toThe New York Times, and you assured me that was no issue. Since we've been enjoying each other, I've never attempted to lure information about anything out of you. Everything you've ever told me, you told me on your free will, and I made sure to keep it between us. Priest, you opened up to me. I would never take that for granted. Do you really think I'm that type of woman?"

Britain furrowed her brows. She wanted some understanding of where his head was within the situation. She could understand that going against his request to not show up would upset him; however, what she would never understand was him doubting her loyalty to him. Even in the toughest situations, Britain would never side with anyone besides Priest.

Priest shrugged his shoulders as he held his head in his hands. "I don't know, Britain. You tell me."

Britain was definitely offended, but she realized he had the right to be a bit disrespectful. He was confused and wanted his guard up just in case things played out how he was assuming. "I'm gonna let that one go because we both know I've proven my loyalty to you." She let out a sharp sigh.

"Get to the fucking point, Britain!" Priest snapped, no longer feeling the need to listen to her plead her case. "Am I gonna be looking out for myself or for me and you?! Right now, you not telling me shit that can clarify that for me!"

Britain stood up from her seat, standing before him. "Listen, one thing I do know is that you're not disrespectful, so I won't tolerate it!" Britain spat. "Speak to me how I'm speaking to you!"

Priest scoffed. He knew he may have taken it a bit too far by raising his voice, but she had to understand where he was coming from. Priest hiked his head up at her. "Britain, miss me with that! You expecting me to act all civil and shit after finding out my shorty playing both sides! You got me confused for some lame!" He shook his head, shaming her.

Britain rolled her eyes. "Who told you I was playing both sides?! J'Ru?!" She placed her hand on her hip.

Priest smacked his lips. "J'Ru ain't have to tell me shit! You don't think I felt your fucking presence, Britain?!"

"What do you want to hear, Priest?! I took a fucking job to write the front page about you! Is that it?!" Britain finally let out, defeat and sorrow embedding her eyes as she looked at him.

"Britain, fuck all that shit!" He waved her off. "I just need to know if you're with me or against me!"

"I'm with you! You know that, and I know that! Don't ever question me again!" Britain, who was growing frustrated at Priest questioning her loyalty, slightly pushed his chest.

Priest ran a hand down his face. "I'm supposed to believe that so easily? Shit don't even feel the same anymore." He shook his head. "We built this shit off transparency and trust. How are we supposed to continue if you’re writing front pages about me, slandering my name?" The last thing Priest wanted to do was pull the cord on what he and Britain had. Flatlining this relationship meant flatlining his source of constant happiness. Britain brought him more joy than he'd felt in a while, and he wanted to be selfish and continue feeling that feeling.

"One thing I will never do is slander your name. I know who you are genuinely. I know what motivates you, discourages you, what makes you happy, your triggers— everything. Why would I tarnish you if I know how much you've been through? You have me confused as some snake-ass female," Britain scoffed.

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