"Are you awake mama?"

Was the first thing I heard coming out of the post sexual fog I fell into after falling asleep in his arms on the cold tile floor. Trying to get my eyes to tear up to get the thin layer of makeup out I slowly sat up from his chest and smiled.

  "You let me go to sleep? In here? That was pretty dumb of you." I giggled as I made the attempt to stand but couldn't because I came to the realization that I could no longer feel my legs.

Prince stood up and went on the hunt to find my clothes. Turning the light on the single bulb gave us just enough visual of the small space we made love in a while ago. Still sitting on the floor I brought my knees to my chest and watched as Prince got dressed then handed me my top which was now torn from him trying to take it off of me in a hurry. Noticing the hole I started to wonder how I could cover it up without anybody asking questions of where I was and what I was doing. Prince saw me trying to find ways to put my top on to cover the tear as well as the scar on my body.

  "Anything you need me to do?" He asked me.

  "Well for one you could have been more careful and controlled your hormones a little better."

He flashed me a grin and shook his head.

  "Well in a way I could have but then again I can't help it if you're beautiful."

I glanced up at him while putting my jeans back on.

  "You know you're cute and all but you're cheesy pick up lines won't work tonight."

  "And why not?"

  "Because you already got what you wanted. Hence the fabulous hole!"

I pointed to the tear in my shirt before buttoning my jeans and reaching for the door knob. Prince grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him.

  "I didn't get what I wanted just yet." He said to me deeply and kissing at my neck.

I had already gotten myself to a point where I can stand without my legs giving out on me and he's still trying to seduce me into submission for the third time. As my eyes were about to roll into the back of my head I had to catch myself.

  "Haven't you done enough nerd?" I asked him pulling myself away from him.

  "Nope! You still want me. I can see it on your face."

  "We'll stop seeing it. We need to find the others and get out of here."

  "What's the rush?"

  "They might be looking for us and besides I'm cold and I'm still not wearing any shoes! Oh and I'm starving! What I'd do for a double burger with everything on it!"

  "You shouldn't be eating that stuff."

  "What are you my doctor?"

  "No I'm you're friend."

  "Yeah ok. The way we were getting it on a while ago is not a friend."

  "Then what-"

  "You are my boyfriend and that's all there is to it."

Prince looked surprised that I let the word 'boyfriend' come out of my mouth. His eyes tried to curiously read my face as I smiled at him.

  "What?" I asked him confused.

  "So were a couple again? No waiting? No taking this slow?"

  "Prince you know that I love you and I value our friendship but.....I can't play myself for a fool knowing that....I fell for you. I can't tell myself that we can be just friends when we can't. I can't live without you either....and I don't want to."

  "So what are you saying?"

  "I'm saying that as long as we have each other and stay truthful nothing will tear us apart.....ever.

  "You mean that?"

  "Of course I do. Do I have to have sex with you again to prove it?"

Prince tilted his head as he thought about giving me an answer to what was meant to be a sarcastic question when I stopped him.

  "Keep your thoughts to yourself. Men."

I unlocked the door and opened it slowly so I wouldn't bring any attention to me coming out of the small room. Taking Prince by the hand letting him know the coast was clear I pulled him out behind me and we went back out to the  VIP section to find our little group looking back at us with looks of "you don't have to tell us we already know" on their faces.

  "So y'all back at it like rabbits again huh?" Morris said tapping the table with his nearly empty glass.

  "Maybe. But that's for us to know and y'all to find out!" I joked as I clutched myself around Prince's left arm.

  "Damn mouse so I guess I won't get my chance. I thought we had something special baby!" Andre said

I walked over to the chair that Andre was sitting in and sat in his lap. His face was shocked and so was Prince's. I watched as he crossed his arms and bit at his lip in frustration. I gave him a playful wink and his expression changed instantly. The look of 'I see where this is going grew on his lips as he shook his head watching curiously. Running a finger down Andre's left cheek I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in closer to him. I can tell he was getting hot and bothered because his breathing was getting heavy and his heart rate increased. He broke into a light sweat and tried to contain his inner excitement.

  "Andre baby. When that day comes I'll give you a call......from Paris when me and Prince are married with twelve kids. Then maybe....just maybe.....you'll be able to make love to me without releasing your soldiers into battle early."

The whole table burst into laughter as I got up from a now defeated Andre's lap. Dez handed me my shoes as he laughed.

  "That was cold Mouse." He said.

  "Yeah Mouse that was foul girl!" Andre yelled as he stood up from his seat.

  "Oh relax Dre I was just kidding. You know I love seeing you sweat." I giggled.

  "Yeah well lets sweat our asses out this club and hit the diner. I'm sure P could cover the early breakfast special."

Prince raised his eye brows and Andre and put his arms behind his head.

  "As long as there's pancakes I'll buy."

Without any extra thought we grabbed whatever jackets we came with and left Sleepily out of First Avenue with food on the brain. After the diner the girls and the guys went home and Prince and I rode back to my house alone. When we pulled up in the driveway it was 3:45AM Thursday. Prince got out of the car and came around to the other side to let me out.

  "Here you are my lady. Welcome home." He said taking a bow as I stepped out.

  "Thank you my king." I said with a smile taking his hand to keep my balance.

He closed the door to the car and we went up the steps and to the side door which led to the kitchen. There were no lights on anywhere and the house looked eerie. My mom must have just left for work at midnight because I could smell a fried substance from where I stood.

  "Something wrong Regan?" Prince asked.

  "It's god awful dark in there." I replied hesitantly turning the key.

We stepped inside and I flipped on the lights in the kitchen. I could hear the sound of the door coming closer behind me as I went into the living room to hang up my coat and take off my heels. Coming back in the kitchen Prince was looking through the cabinets as if he never had anything to eat all day long.

  "What are you looking for troll? Didn't you get enough food at the diner? I asked as I watched him from the entryway.

  "Where does your mom keep the tea?" He asked still rummaging.

I went over to the fridge and grabbed a tall silver canister and handed it to him.

  "We're out out of peppermint so......"

  "I'm not making it for me."

He took the kettle from the stove and filled it half way with water.

  "Mugs woman." He said as he turned the flame on and sat the kettle right above it.

  "Hanging on the rack right in front of you man." I shot back at him.

He grabbed a baby blue mug off of the pegs and sat it down on the counter next to the canister of tea bags.

  "Any flavor spark your interest?" He asked.

  "Surprise me. I'm gonna go and get out of these clothes and get comfortable."

  "Bring a blanket with you when you come too."

I went up to about the fifth or sixth step I leaned over the railing snapped my fingers to get his attention. He looked up from what he was doing and gave me a small grin.

  "Light on the honey medium on the sugar heavy on the lemon. No cream."

He smiled and gave me a thumbs up just as the kettle began to whistle. I watched him turn off the water and pour the hot water then went up to my room and turned the light on to find some warm pajamas to put on. My usual go to's have always been the black and white Felix the Cat set that I got for Christmas a few years back. Once I was changed I went into the bathroom across the hall and washed last night off of my face and put my hair in a pony tail. Just as I was wrapping up I heard Prince calling me.

  "Regan? You ok up there?" He asked.

  "Yeah! I'm fine!" I called back.

Turning out the light I went back into my room and grabbed one of my pink and black fleece throw blankets and a pillow from my bed and made my way back downstairs. Prince was no longer in the kitchen but the silhouette moving in the candlelight in the living room told me he was there.

  "Skipper?"

  "In here."

Walking through the entryway Prince had my tea as well as some toast with light strawberry jam on one of the tray tables. It was a cute little set up and it made me smile that he was doing all of this for me.

  "What's all this for?" I asked as he came up to me and took the pillow and blanket from my arms.

  "This is the start of a new us. If we're gonna do this thing mama we're gonna do this the way it was supposed to be done."

Prince unfolded the blanket and spread it out completely on the sofa and place the pillow at the left side on the arm.

  "Come lay down and get comfortable."

I did as he asked and he covered me with my blanket and handed me my tea. I took a small sip to make sure he made it right and he watched my face to see if I liked it or not. It was actually perfect.

  "How is it?" Prince asked nervously taking the mug from me and setting it back on the tray table.

  "Better than I could ever make it. Bravo Skipper! Is there anything I can't do!" I giggled shifting myself down on the pillow.

  "I'm glad you like it." He said with a smile.

We sat for a moment silent with nothing but the sound of the grandfather clock ticking away in the corner.

  "Prince?" I called as he began to grow deep in his thoughts.

  "Yeah?"

  "You don't have to stay with me. I'm fine here by myself tonight."

  "Oh no. Not this time mama. You're not getting rid of me that easily." He smiled as he laid his head but my arms.

I ran my hand through his hair and his eyes fell clothes.

  "Don't you wanna go home and get in your bed and go to sleep?"

  "Stop trying to run me off Mouse. I'm not going anywhere."

I couldn't argue with a man a persistent as him. So with that I just smiled and ran my hand from his long back hair to his face. He softly grabbed my hand and kissed my fingers lightly.

  "Get some sleep my love. I'll be here when you wake up."

We looked in each other's eyes for a while for as long as consciousness would allow. Prince as slowly nodding out and so was I. The big brown grandfather clock ticked a somber lullaby in the candlelight and soothed us both to sleep.