"You need to get back home, I have some scripts in front of me that would be perfect for you to go after."

This was not the first time, nor last that Fabian would harass him to get back to Atlanta. And it would not be the last time he told him no and he needed to be in St. Louis till everything was taken care of.

"I told you what my deal was here."

"And I say you let it go. Imagine word getting out that Malik Hunter has a son out there he never took care of. Let the boy continue thinking his father is who he believes. There's your out."

He could not believe his manager said this to him. Then again, in Hollyweird, it was all about the dollar. If any scandal broke that would cause him to not get booked, that meant less for Fabian. He considered Fabian his friend, not just a business manager, but this kind of talk, he saw it was all about the money.

"My family is here. My son is here. My girl..." He had not told Fabian much about Nova, but he had tracked her down in Atlanta. He did not want to say much more or else Fabian would do what he did, get into Nova's life, and say why she was not good enough for him.

"I can hold things back a few more weeks, but my man, business is business!"

He had more words for his friend, but then he saw that Nova was calling him.

"Bye Fabian." He clicked off with him and connected with Nova, a big smile crept on his face. "Hello, beautiful."

"Are you busy?"

"Never for you."

"Want to come over and hang out?"

She didn't even have to ask. "I'll be there as fast as I can."

He did a quick shower, made sure everything was fresh and clean, pulled his locs back with a hair tie, sprayed his body with his favorite cologne, and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Oh, and brushed his teeth because he imagined kissing her all night.

The drive from Davina's place was too long for him, but he drove the speed limit, he could be patient.

"Thanks for inviting me over," he said as soon as she let him into her place.

"I was bored, and..." She trailed off whatever she was about to say then jumped on him, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck. "I kept thinking about you all day...the things I want us to do."

He had the biggest erection of his life if that was possible. Many women turned him on, but Nova Washington did something different to him.

Nova kissed along his neck, as held her in his arms, trying to concentrate on what was taking place. Did this mean she was ready for them to have sex because he was on ready since she first came back into his life?

She felt so small in his arms. Yes, she was short and he was tall, but she felt like she weighed nothing. That was sexy to him. Like she was small enough to fit in his pocket.

"So you missed me, huh?"

She kept kissing him, till her lips made their way to his lips. He felt weak from her kisses, but he still held her in his arms.

"I missed you too," he said between kisses. "But...can we...sit on the couch."

"Or go to my bedroom." She gave him a penetrating look. "I want you to fuck me like you were supposed to back then."

He couldn't believe little Nova said that to him. He nearly dropped her to the floor but caught her before she fell.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean...why would you say that to me? I told you we need to wait and take our time. Feel things out."

She looked down and bit her bottom lip.

"So you're saying you don't want me. Rejecting me again. I'm not pretty enough to fuck."

"Nova!" He reached out to touch her cheek, but she moved away. "Why would you say some stupid shit like that? You're beautiful, and I will tell you every damn day so it's clear to you. Me not wanting to have sex with you...right now, because believe me, I do, that means I respect you more than just to sleep with you."

She put her hands on her hips. "We can have sex and still have respect for each other. Or is it the Malik way, you have sex and lose all respect for the girl? I mean, that's how you ran through so many as a teenager."

She stormed away but he was right behind her, holding her arm.

"You cannot keep throwing up childish shit I did in the past. I told you things were different now. I'm different. You're different...I can tell."

Someone hurt her badly. It was the only explanation for her thinking sex solved all when he knew sex just muddled things up. He had so many questions he wanted to ask her. Who was her first? Did she enjoy it? How many guys she'd been with? Why didn't things work out?

He knew any questions he asked she could ask him in return and he was not prepared to answer.

"Nova, can we just sit down, watch a movie, find something to eat and-"

"Or, we can make out on the couch."

He grinned. "That too."

Whatever movie she picked, he was not into it. He was more into holding her in his arms and just chilling. He thought about how much longer he could stay in St. Louis. He knew he could not stay much longer, he was committed to filming a movie in a few weeks. What was he going to do about his son? About Nova.

"You're not into this movie at all, are you?" she asked him.

"Not really."

She turned in his arms. "Me neither." She laid her body on his and kissed him, her hands going up his shirt.

Her hands were warm, his body hot, and he ached for her so badly. Nova was making this really hard...literally. How was he going to continue to turn her advances down?

Again, his shirt was pulled off and discarded on the floor. Nova planted kisses all over his chest. He tried focusing on something else, not his throbbing erection. But Nova noticed it, felt it, and grinded her hips over it.

"Mmmm, stop it. Stop tempting me."

"Why are you resisting me?" Her hand slid down into his pants, playing with the curly hairs down there and he almost yeeted right there.

"All right, stop!" He grabbed her hand and sat up on the couch. "I said no Nova. We are not doing that."

"Why?"

"I want us to work on our relationship, and sex is not the answer. November, I'm in this for the long haul."

"But I don't want to wait."

"I'll make it worth the wait, I promise." He pulled her in his arms. "Not here on your couch. I want it to be something you remember, forever. Do you remember your first time?"

He could not believe he asked her that, but there it was. He wanted to know because clearly it defined how she saw sex.

She pushed him away and stood from the couch. "You don't get to ask me that! After what you did to me did you expect me to stand around and wait for you? Ugh!"

She stormed off, down the hallway. He jumped up to follow her.

"Nova, I just asked a question. You can ask me if you want. I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"Fuck you!"

She went into her room and slammed the door in his face.

"Nova, open the door. Let's talk about it. You're acting like a child."

"Fuck you and you can leave since I'm a child. Bye!"

He did not know what to do or say to make her open the door. Here he was trying his best to be a gentleman, not rush into sex with the girl he'd wanted for years, yet she was all over him and the temptation was agonizing. He wanted her naked on the bed playing twister and exploring her body. He wanted to watch her on top of him, riding him up and down. He thought about the ways he wanted her to scream his name.

Yet, he was on the other side of the door looking pathetic instead of being in bed with her naked.

"Nova, I'm not going anywhere till you talk to me." He slid down the door and sat on the floor. He knew how stubborn she could be. This would be a long night.