'Head for stop two, please,' Prince said to the driver.
'I'm sorry I froze; I wasn't expecting racism in Switzerland,' Emma whispered.
'It's everywhere,' he replied, 'Those jerks will say anything to get a response that makes a better photo for them, it's how they make a living. What a nasty choice of professions. I can usually escape them completely in Minnesota. But I wasn't expecting that, either. I'm not going to stop my day for them, though. That's letting them win, and I'm not up for that.' He turned her face up to his for a reassuring kiss. Her mouth opened to him immediately, as if it was second nature to her to allow his tongue access.
Emma eventually broke off the kiss, placing her head against his shoulder. She took a deep breath, smiled, and asked 'What's the next stop?' while tracing circles on Prince's thigh.
'We're just going to pick up some more clothing and shoes for you. Are you more comfortable in heels or flats?'
'Either. I'm most comfortable in kitten heels, but flats are cool, too. I don't need sky high heels these days, though they're fun sometimes. I'd argue that I don't need more clothes, but you'd just ignore me, wouldn't you?' Emma smiled up at Prince's face.
'I see you're catching on. Let's see what they can do for us,' he replied, smiling at her as if he knew a delicious secret, and giving her a peck on the lips. Rolling down the dividing window, Prince continued, 'Kirk, please make sure the store is empty for us.'
'Will do, P.' Kirk replied from the front of the car. Prince raised the window again.
'Did you really mean empty the store?' Emma asked as she sat up.
'Of customers, yes. At this point, it's the only way I can get shopping done without being overwhelmed with fans,' Prince replied. 'The only place I get left alone anymore is my hometown.'
'Well, this will be new for me,' she replied.
'Now,' Prince said, in a very serious tone of voice, looking Emma in the eye and gripping her hands tightly, 'I don't want any arguing, I want to do this for you, and I don't want you looking at price tags. If I say we're getting it, that's it. Understand?'
'What if I hate what you like?' she replied, looking genuinely worried. Prince just started laughing.
'Mama, you are a trip!' he bent over, he was laughing so hard. 'If you are seriously uncomfortable, let me know. Trust me, I do sort of have a reputation for my style.'
'True,' she admitted. 'I've loved examining pictures of your clothing. Your style is always exquisite.'
'And so are you,' he replied. 'Let me do my thing now, okay?'
'Yes, sir,' she said, with a fake meek tone in her voice. 'Your wish is my command.' She looked at him from under her lashes.
'Well, not yet, but soon,' he promised, as he drug his hand up and down her side. Her eyes fluttered closed and she bit back a moan at the sensations he was creating. He was pleased to see her bite her bottom lip; obviously his smallest caress had an effect on her.
'We're here, boss.' Kirk turned in his seat to prepare them for entering the store.
'Thanks, Kirk,' Prince replied. He turned to Emma and said, 'Ready to hear more unpleasantness?' he asked, holding her hands.
'Yeah, I'll go through a lot for new shoes,' she smirked at him.
'All right, then,' he said. 'Let's go.'
Shopping with Prince was a unique experience. He was seriously involved in every choice, from outfits to shoes to even handbags. As in multiple pairs of shoes, multiple handbags, multiple outfits. Emma's head was reeling at the sight of so many purchases.
'Just where do you think I'm going to wear this back in Atlanta? Costco?' she quipped.
'Shhh, just go with it,' Prince replied. 'You never know what might happen.'
Out another door, through another gauntlet of reporters and photographers, and they were back in the car.
'Our hard work is finished for today,' Prince said.
'You mean my hard work is done today,' she responded. 'I think you have a couple of other things to do before we call this a day.'
'I mean, now it's time for some relaxation. You said you wanted to see some mountains. You ready?' Prince said once again using his silly, high pitched voice. Emma giggled at how adorable he looked when he used that voice.
'Absolutely!' she replied.
'While we drive, I'd like to ask you something,' Prince said. 'You were doing a devotional this morning, which shows me you believe in God. How would you categorize your beliefs?'
'Well, I was raised a Christian, and have stayed with the faith all my life. Not to say I'm some sort of perfect person, you know?'
Prince nodded his understanding, pushing Emma's hair behind her ear, running his fingers down her jawline and neck, down to her collarbone. He kept trying to find ways to touch her that wouldn't seem too forward. Her skin was so soft, and he really wanted to just play with her hair. 'What I really want I have no business doing...yet. Stay cool, Nelson.'
Emma blushed, and put her head down. Prince picked up her chin and said, 'Go on, I'm listening.'
'Oh. Right.' Emma replied, still flustered. She took a breath and continued. 'I'm thankful for the miracles of grace and salvation, and I try to be forgiving of others. How about you?'
'I think my spiritual brother Larry and the other Witnesses saved my life when I was at my lowest, but almost 15 years in, I find there are aspects to this religion that are confining to me, not just theology, but deeper than that.' Prince looked at her quizzically. 'At the same time, I feel very loyal to them for all they've done for me. Does that make sense to you?'
"Yes,' she said. 'I'm not about to argue about religion with you. I'm not that smart!' Emma laughed, and Prince chuckled. Emma went on, 'The fact that we are both believers is enough for me right now. Sometimes I think there are many denominations because God is so merciful; and he realizes that we humans can't all agree on much of anything.'
Prince threw his head back and laughed out loud. 'Wow! That was wild, mama. I love it.' He kept laughing as he squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Emma smiled at his upbeat response. She felt like she was experiencing the relaxed side of a man who let very few people in.
Just then, the car pulled off the main highway. After keying in a passcode, they passed through a set of gates into the driveway of a chateau perched on the side of one of the many mountains surrounding Montreux.
Prince lowered the dividing window and asked Kirk, 'You think it's okay to get out?'
'Yeah, P, we lost them a while back. Lots of good things to say about this driver!' Kirk answered.
'This is the chateau and winery of a friend of mine. They said it would be okay to stop by for sightseeing. They aren't in town, and the chateau isn't open, but we can walk the grounds and enjoy the view. I believe there's a hamper in the trunk for our lunch.' The driver and Kirk opened the doors, and Prince and Emma got out of the car.
It was a breathtaking view. 'This is exactly what I was hoping to see on this trip,' Emma said. 'What a perfect day to be out in the open!'
Prince led them to a beautifully appointed patio overlooking the lake. 'This will be a good place for a lunch,' he said. 'We can enjoy the view and the peace and quiet.'
'Do you find that there are times when you don't need music, or is there music playing in your head all the time? I usually have something running through my head all the time, though nothing original.' Emma continued. 'I always know I'm ready for a performance when that music is on a nonstop replay day and night.'
'There is always music in my head. I use the ipod at night to mask anything new that might keep me from sleeping. Sleep has always been difficult for me,' Prince replied, as Kirk brought over the hamper with their lunch.
'Won't you join us, Kirk?' Emma offered with a smile. Realizing she'd spoken before thinking, she looked at Prince to make sure she hadn't overstepped any boundaries.
Kirk smiled, and said 'Perhaps another time, ma'am.' Emma looked back to Kirk with a big smile.
'This ma'am thing isn't going to fly with me, Kirk. Please call me Emma.' she replied.
'Of course, Emma. I look forward to getting to know you another time.' Kirk moved away from them, to another side of the chateau.
Emma looked over to see Prince glaring at her. 'And just what do you think you are doing, interrupting our time together? Are you trying to avoid time alone with me?'
'What? I've offended him? What else can I do wrong?' Emma thought to herself.
She opened her mouth to apologize, and Prince said. 'Psych! Gotcha, didn't I!' He laughed, putting his hand up to his head and leaning back as the laughter continued. 'That was very sweet, asking Kirk to join us, but he's too smart to interrupt my time with a beauty like you. You'll get opportunities to know him better as time goes on. He's really the closest thing to a brother that I have.'
'Man, I'm going to have to get to know you better, so you can't get me going like that! I was really afraid I had blown it,' Emma said, sincerely concerned she might have gone too far.
'No, mama, I meant it when I said it was very sweet. But I haven't had you to myself enough to start sharing our time together quite yet. We'll get there.' 'God, you just keep fulfilling my wish list,' Prince thought as he considered Emma's willingness to make friends with his friends.
Previous girlfriends, and even wives, had tried to control who his friends were. He had friends and acquaintances from literally all walks of life, from pimps to presidents, and he was glad to see Emma could hang with anyone. He opened the hamper to reveal a delicious pasta salad, green salad, fruit salad, tableware, and bottles of sparkling water.
'I hope you don't mind that there isn't any alcohol. I don't typically drink before performances, since it can dry out your vocal cords. But I guess you know all about that,' Prince said, grinning at her.
'No problem. At this altitude I'd be even more of a lightweight than I usually am,' she replied, accepting the plate that Prince had filled for her.
'You mentioned that it was hard for you to sleep,' she continued. 'I used to say sleep was one of my best skills. Sleep has become more difficult for me recently, though I didn't wake up at all last night.'
'Mama, you definitely slept well last night!' Prince grinned at her playfully. 'I was looking forward to a little snoring, but no luck. You just slept. All over the bed. There almost wasn't room for me!'
'Now I know you're messing with me!' Emma giggled at what she knew to be teasing. 'I rarely move in the night, and when I do wake up, I'm usually having to find a way to wake up an arm or leg so I can roll over! No psych this time!' she replied with confidence.
'OK, I'll give you that one. But don't think you've got me figured out already!' Prince said, and they settled down to finish a delicious lunch in that gorgeous setting.
They talked about everything and nothing, just talked easily, like people who'd known each other for years and were catching up. Prince wanted to know about her daughters, their interests and career paths. He was interested to hear her younger daughter was pursuing a career in commercial, popular music, rather than follow her mother's footsteps in the classical field. Emma told him she'd already informed her daughter that any contract she signed with a record company had to include a clause stipulating she would be owner of any master recordings she created. Prince smiled and shook his head at that. 'Smart mom,' was all he said.
After lunch was finished, they walked around a little bit, and then headed back to the car.
A/N-They know each other pretty well now, don't you think? Where do you think they're going next? Don't forget to vote and comment! Thanks for reading!