Cherry Mountains

(XXVIII) Make This Feeling Last

     After we declared 'forever,' Prince and I went back to his house on Kiowa Trail to settle a bet.

     "Whoever loses has to give the other a lap dance."

We were outside on his private basketball court. I was in shorts and a cropped shirt, nothing out of the ordinary. But Prince—he shocked me when he pulled out some high-top Nike's. With it, he wore a black muscle shirt and loose-fit pants.

"You ready?" he asked.

I nodded and stepped onto the court. I stood under the lamp that provided us with light. "Let me go first."

Prince tossed the ball to me and it fumbled out of my hands.

"Oh, damn," he laughed.

"Shut up, Mr. Nike." I sported my slip-on Vans.

"First one to five. I don't have all night."

"No. I wanna play Horse."

He laughed. "You'll definitely lose in like sixty seconds."

From my position near the sideline, I shot the ball towards the hoop and it circled the rim.

After a quick prayer, it fell in the hole.

"Cute," he said, walking towards the rolling ball. "But we're doing one-on-one."

...

I underestimated Prince's skills. I thought just because I was now three inches taller, I would have an advantage. But he was so quick and crafty, I couldn't keep up with him.

The one moment I blocked his shot, I celebrated under the hoop, and while doing so, he hit an easy three-pointer.

When the ball was in his hand, it was impossible to get back. So, when the game was 4-0 in less than three minutes, I knew what I would be doing for the rest of the night.

"Wait," I said to him from across the court, trying to catch my breath.

Prince kept active, dribbling the ball in between in his legs.

"Let's make another arrangement. I bet you can't beat me in your heels."

"Man, whatever." Then he jumped with the ball and made the winning shot.

I pouted and he looked at me with jumping eyebrows. "Wait, this isn't fair."

"Nope. Game over," he said approaching me. "Don't be a sore loser."

"Prince!" I yelped as he lifted me from my knees. "Can we try again?" I asked from over his shoulder.

"Nope. I want to see this ass shaking," he said, groping my backside.

I was dropped off at the front door and I followed him into the house.

Prince dragged a chair from the dining table to the middle of the living room and sat down. "I'm ready, Vicki."

"Ugh." I walked to his sound system and picked through his records and CD's. And I took my sweet time.

"Hurry up, woman!"

I took the easy route and chose a song that was already in his Sony CD player. Of course, he was listening to himself.

I skipped the track to Temptation. But as his electric guitar began to play, I just stood there, facing the system.