TLWM: The Hate Experience

\XL/ Be Careful What U Wish 4

     As the elevator ascended towards our exhale, it felt like I was suspended in the air. This was the longest trip of my life—and the hotel was only 10 minutes from Radio City. This crave killing me wasn't even for sex. I just wanted to love on my fiancé in ways that required a level of comfort I didn't have in the public eye.

Duane and Dylan stood facing the doors and Prince and I stood behind them. Being stingy with my lips, I kept them hidden by sticking my forehead on Prince's chest. His hands slid past the arch in my back and rested over the mountain. Clenching the fabric of his jacket, I closed my eyes, swallowing the tension in this box that wasn't climbing fast enough.

A tune from decades ago crackled through the speakers. Prince glued the side of his face to mine and led our hips to sway to the music. "In the still of the night, I held you, held you tight." His melodic whisper was sending a stream of tingles down my spine. "'Cause I love, love you so. Promise I'll never let you go, in the still of the night." He traded words for kisses, stamping his lips on my cheek in no particular pattern until the elevator came to a stop.

Ding.

Duane and Dylan stepped into the room with us. Prince stayed with them at the front door, talking about this after party. I didn't hear much. I didn't stop my stride until I was in the bedroom with the door closed. I wanted to get some bath water going.

By time Prince joined me in the master suite, the oversized tub was full of warm water, blowing jets, and rose petals. From the boombox on the chair, his blues mixtape played to top things off. "Thank you," he said, leaning in the doorway while watching me light candles in my bra and panties. The rest of my clothing lay as obscure shapes on the tile floor next to my heels. "Tired?"

Glancing at him, I broke my grin to say, "No."

Taking his weight back from the doorframe, he stood straight and began unbuttoning his shirt. "I don't feel like going out tonight."

Lighting the last wick, I set the matches down and walked over to him. "I'd rather stay in too but I can't let you do that. These promoters are throwing the party for you."

"So?"

I reached past his shoulders to turn off the light.

"I've done it before."

"Miss a party thrown for you?" My fingers were ready to help him undress but his hand stopped me. "What?"

"Why did you..." He took a few steps back to create distance. "Why were you pushing me away earlier? In front of your cousin."

"Pushing you away?"

"Yeah. You told me to get off of you."

My heart sank because I didn't know my apprehension came off so cold. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean for it to seem like I was pushing. I was just really in my noggin in front of everyone."

"Even in the car though," he added with a little snicker. "You were still disconnected."

"No, I get self-conscious," I said, my nerves coming out in laughter. "You know I'm not naturally affectionate."

"I know," he said, hanging his head as he started undoing the rest of his buttons. "I think I expect too much from you sometimes." He shrugged. "It just threw me off."

"I am so sorry it came off like that."

Pity hid behind his smirk as his eyebrows did a quick jump. "It's cool, baby." Taking off his shirt, he turned around and walked away into the bedroom.