Taj POV

His Christmas was spent with Faye and Kelandria and it was nice. They both did some of the cooking and spoiled Kelz with lots of gifts. It was his first time shopping for a kid and he liked buying her things he knew she wanted. He liked that little girl.

But then the next day and the next, he spent time with them both, but he wanted some adult time just with Faye. Kelz was playing off in her room, and they were in the living room watching television.

"Maybe we can find a sitter and go out tonight."

"No one's in town." Faye leaned over to kiss him while they sat on her couch. "Besides I don't trust anyone watching my kid."

He forgot what he was about to say as Faye kissed ask over his beck and he became aroused. The blood rushed down to the nether regions of his body. He had yet to have sex with Faye. He was a patient man, but not sure how much longer he could wait.

"I know someone who would love to watch her. Jossie." He planted kisses along her neck and down to her ample breast gracing the top of her low-cut shirt. "She's here in town because she lives here. You know her. Let me call her up and-"

"Why are you trying to get rid of my child so badly?" Faye held him away, even though he wanted to be all over her body.

"Because we can have a night alone, just us."

"Come on Taj, are you trying to get rid of my daughter so you can get into my pants?"

She did not have to make it sound like that. What was wrong with wanting sex with someone you were dating, you were attracted to, and wanted in every way? If it was wrong, he was doing relationships all wrong. He understood she was hurt by past relationships, but so was he.

"That's not the only reason I want us to be alone Fay, don't make it sound like that's all I'm about. We've gotten to know each other, and you know me better than that."

"Yes Taj, you are different." She rubbed his face. "But I still want to wait for that. Just cause you're mad sexy doesn't mean we need to have sex."

"I'm mad sexy?" He gave her a grin and pulled her back into his arms. "I think you're everything too, and I'm with you, and I'll wait till whenever you're ready."

"Don't think I don't want you, Taj, because I do, just..." She stopped talking, twisted her mouth in thought, and looked away from him.

"I understand, you don't have to explain."

"I feel like a horrible girlfriend to you. I feel like once sex is involved in the relationship, everything changes. Just give me more time."

"I said I would wait for you. I'm not going anywhere." He pulled her in his arms to hold her. "Long as we both are in this for the right reasons, we will be okay.

After what he went through with Sherry, maybe this was what he needed. Slow things down. All the way down.

Instead of having alone time with Faye, he shared time with Kelandria. They ate dinner that he and Faye cooked and then played with her toys all together. He had younger brothers and sisters, but not this much younger. It was fun playing with her dolls and games and new reading books. He was also glad that Kelandria was used to being around him, liked him, and respected him. He had a good time together.

Then he left Faye's house, went home, and slept in his room alone. Thinking of what he could be doing with Faye. For now, he would work on building a solid relationship with her. He had to prove he was the man for her, the only man. He had to step his game up.

He came over early one day and made breakfast for them both. Every woman loved a man that could cook.

He took them both shopping, spending his hard-earned money. Even though he was far from rich, money did not matter.

He came over again later and made dinner all by himself. Again, the woman liked that.

The best thing was using this time to get Kelandria to bond with him. He read her stories every night till she fell asleep. Played endless board games as well as video games with her. And spent quality time with her, watching educational shows and helping her learn. She was smart, like her mother.

For New Year's Eve, he drove them up to Chicago. They got two hotel rooms, adjacent. Their rooms had a lake view with a balcony, so they could watch the fireworks at midnight. Faye let Kelandria stay up to watch, and she barely made it five minutes and fell asleep sitting in his arms.

He put Kelandria in her bed and they went back to enjoy bringing in the new year.

"We didn't kiss at midnight," he said to her with a smile, pulling her in his arms.

"You were too busy sucking up to my daughter."

"Let me suck up to you now." He kissed her and hoped she felt what he was feeling. It was a magical night. "I'm glad I'm bringing in the new year with you. I hope that means we're going to spend the whole year together. Happy, like this."

"That's a myth, that doesn't mean-"

"We can make it mean that." He kissed her again, this time, letting the kiss last longer, making sure it was more than a kiss.

He had to admit, he was sexually frustrated. He wanted her. He wanted to make love to her.

"Taj, wait...slow down, we can't. Not tonight."

"Why?" He kept kissing her. "Kelz is asleep, we can go to my room, keep the adjoining door cracked if you need to. Baby, we can be so quiet. Because I'm gonna make love to you so slow..."

Faye let a moan escape her lips while he continued to kiss her, along her lips, down to her cleavage. He kissed and licked between her crevice and wanted to take her blouse off and suck on each one of her beautiful, round breasts. That was not the only thing he wanted to do with her, but he would start there.

"Taj, wait." She held him away from her. "We are not having sex a few feet away from my daughter, and trust me, I want you...but not here. Just wait, okay."

Acting like he was not disappointed was going to be hard, like other parts of his body. He was doing everything he could think of for this woman and getting nowhere.

What else could he do?

A/N: Poor Taj. I started this book because I wanted Taj to have a happy ending, and I am going to do that...just be patient with me, he needs to learn first.