This November

Chapter 32

He hated that he had to spend days away from Nova and his son.

There was tons of paperwork to fill out for his movie coming up. Fabian scheduled meetings for him while in Atlanta, and then he flew to Los Angeles and did a bit of voice work that was scheduled. Then he had his locs done by the only person he ever let groom his hair. He also treated himself to a spa day but wished November was there with him.

He was gone only seven days but it felt like forever. He talked to Nova every single night. He wanted her to be the last voice he heard every night, every day, for the rest of his life.

He never thought he could miss someone as much as he missed her.

And he knew for sure he wanted to marry her and have her with him forever. What would she say when he asked? The fear of rejection was real.

When he finally flew back into St. Louis, he didn't stop at his hotel, he went straight to see Nova. As soon as she let him up and opened the door, she jumped on him, wrapped her legs around his waist, and kissed him.

"I missed you!"

"I can see that," he said with a chuckle.

He continued to hold her and kiss her, becoming aroused and wanting more of her. He pulled away from her.

"Come on November, we have to stop."

"Why? I don't want to." She licked his neck, sucked on the hollows and he grunted, leaned her against the wall rubbed himself on her. He did not know how much longer he could wait for her, not when she made his insides burn like hot, molten lava. "November, my sweet November, I love you so much."

Her face planted between his neck, she murmured, "I love you too Leek."

That was the first time she said it to him, though he knew she felt the same.

"Really baby? You love me?"

She looked up at him. "Yes Malik, I always have. I don't want to be with anyone else but you."

A twinge of guilt filled his brain as he thought of Starchima and the things she did to him, that he allowed, and shouldn't have if he truly loved November. How could he tell her that and break her heart? He couldn't. But he had to find a way that Davina would not tell her either.

"I brought you something back."

He carried her over to the couch. He bought her several things actually, but he was not ready to hand her the ring just yet. He sat her on the couch then he went to grab his overnight bag he dropped at the door. He opened it as he walked back over to her.

He pulled out a box all wrapped up with pretty paper he had no clue about so he had a professional do it. Nova took the box, smiled, and shook it.

"What? A bomb?"

"Stop playing girl. Open it."

Nova ripped the paper off the medium-sized box and then opened it. Her mouth dropped open. It was a small replica of the piano from Roosevelt High's theater where he played the song "My Cherie Amour" to her. He hoped she understood what that meant to him.

"Malik!"

"You like it? It's a music box and you can record songs on it. I recorded myself singing our song."

"Our song?"

He hit the play button and the piano played the song. He sang along with it, pulled her in his arms, and sang with all his heart. He still felt butterflies like he did that day.

When he finished, he snuggled against her face and kissed her cheek. "Just to show you how much I love you."

"I love it! I love you." She turned to kiss him, her hand on his chest, caressed him and he burned for her.

Tonight was the night.

"I want to make love to you, but I want it to be special Nova. I really want it to mean something."

"It means something Leek because we've waited for this moment for too long."

She took his hand, stood up, and walked toward her bedroom.

Why was he nervous? He had been in her bedroom many times. He slept next to her nearly nude plenty of times. But this time he was called to action and it was like he was a virgin all over again.

He had to tell himself, it was just November, the girl next door.

The girl that had your heart before he even knew what love was. The girl that always came to him in his dreams, and he did all the things to her in his dreams.

"Nova, are you...on anything? Birth control or..."

She bit her lip and looked up at him. "No. We need condoms?"

He usually carried a couple because he never knew when he would meet a hot random down for whatever. But since November he tossed them out of his wallet. He should have planned ahead, but he thought they were waiting even longer.

He grabbed her in his arms and kissed her as he held her tight.

"Can we hold off for a bit, I can run and get some?"

She groaned and stomped her foot. He laughed at her.

"We've waited this long, baby. I'll be right back." He kissed her again, not wanting to leave her arms, but wanting everything to be right in his conscience.

He pried himself away and headed out of her place. There had to be a Walgreens or CVS somewhere nearby. If he would have known tonight was the night, he would have been prepared. This gave him time to get his nerves together.

It was just sex, he told himself.

With November.

What if in his excitement, he fizzled out early?

What if he couldn't even get it up?

He brushed that thought aside because he was always aroused just looking at November.

What if...what if... November didn't sexually please him? Maybe it wouldn't be great. Maybe it was awkward.

He wiped sweat from his forehead. It was hot, but that was not why he was sweating. He was in his head too much about this.

This was November Washington, the only girl he ever loved.

Of course it would be great.

He bought the biggest box they had and made his way back to November's place. She gave him the code to get in the building and she left her door unlocked for him, so he made it inside without bothering her. He locked the door and made his way to Nova's room.

She had the lights off, candles burning, and she lay in bed waiting, dressed in lacy red panties and matching bra. He dropped the bag he held.

"What's wrong?"

"You look amazing!" He had no problems about getting aroused, he was hard as a rock right now. He kicked off his shoes, undid his pants and pulled them down then took off his shirt. He kicked the pants off as he made it to bed with November, pulling her to him in a kiss.

"We look so good together," he said, in reference to her ebony brown skin and his pale yellow skin. He always loved the way they were opposites that way.

She rubbed her hand over his bare chest. "You're so gorgeous."

He smirked at her. "You like my body?"

"Yes."

He glanced down at her nice, toned thighs, her shapely hips, her flat and tight stomach, her perfectly sized breasts and had never seen a woman so perfect.

"November, there are no words for the way I feel about you." He stared into her eyes through the dark, dimly lit room. "Tell me all the things you want me to do to you."