Upside of Love

by Dominique Thomas

  “Whatever, you gone spoil this baby too. I’m just making up with my boo. I see we’ve both been treating her wrong. Our girl has done covered magazines without us. Got custody of her son and moved in a crazy ass girl that looks like she likes to sniff yall dirty clothes when yall not around. We done missed it all.”

  Dreux laughed as he passed Billie her flowers.

  “We damn sure did. I’ll make up for the both of us though. I got a lot of ass kissing to do,” he said with his eyes on Billie.

  The look he passed Billie was enough for Novah to make her way towards the door.

  “And on that note, I’m gone. I’ll be over tomorrow Billie to get you. We need to start on my baby’s nursery.”

  Billie shook her head with a playful smirk on her pretty face.

  “You should have people to do that now seeing as how you got another baller baby daddy. With your gold-digging ass!” she jested.

  Novah flipped off Billie as she opened her bedroom door.

  “You get on my damn nerves. I’ll call you later. Love you.”

  Billie giggled as Dreux smothered her with kisses.

  “Love you too!”

  Novah quickly headed down the stairs while smiling. As she walked towards the door, Reese appeared out of nowhere with a big grin on her pretty face.

  “You two made up?”

  Novah looked Reese up and down wondering what her angle was?

  “Are you crazy? Do you want Dreux? Are you secretly in love with Billie? What is it?” she asked Reese.

  Reese gasped before shaking her head.

  “What? I’m confused.”

  Novah nodded, pulling out her key fob.

  “I am too. You seemed to come out of nowhere and be Billie’s shadow. I get bad vibes from you, and I don’t like that. I don’t have time sweetie to decipher who you are. Know I won’t be pregnant forever so if you do something crazy you should know I’ma eventually reach out and touch your ass. Okay?”

  Reese stared at Novah blankly before turning around and walking away.

  Novah smiled as she opened the front door.

  “That’s right Satan be gone. You have a good night as well Riri!” she yelled to her before leaving the house.

  Novah stopped to grab some Benihana style takeout from her favorite local hibachi restaurant before going to Durand’s place in downtown Detroit. Her sex involuntarily clenched as she rode the elevator. Just thoughts of being back at his pad made her body shudder. He was like her very own Christian Grey; he even held the same attitude as him. Novah snickered at her silly thoughts.

  “Yes, I guess you could say he was like him if maybe Christian had grown up in the hood and was jacking dope boys at ten,” she murmured. “He’s just freaky Novah. That’s it,” she told herself as the doors opened.

  Durand stood on the other end of the elevator holding a large platter of chocolate covered fruit. Novah wasn’t sure what looked better, Durand or the fruit? The fruit was a vibrant color telling her it was fresh while Durand was looking like a chocolate bar as he stood before her. The low-cut waves decorating his head was spinning like always as his short beard was neatly groomed. He wore a grey beater that hugged his toned, tatted chest while red joggers hung off his narrow waist. The thick imprint of his member wasn’t lost on Novah as he stared down at her. Novah swallowed hard at the man that had come into her life and turned shit upside down. He was a force to be reckoned with.

  “Look at you. Come here sexy,” Durand said and smirked at Novah.

  Novah swallowed hard. The feelings Durand evoked out of her was unnerving. She walked slowly into his personal space, and he smiled down at her.

  “You look beautiful. You still mad at a nigga?”

  Novah shook her head slowly.

  “No, but please think before you do something like that again. Carter isn’t worth the trouble. I just wanna be happy.”

  Durand leaned down and pecked Novah’s full, soft lips.

  “And I wanna make you happy. You and the kids,” he said and grabbed her hand.

  Novah smiled sheepishly as she walked with him down the hall. Durand led her into his lavish penthouse and laughter, and the smell of soul food greeted Novah. Novah spotted Durand’s mother and as she attempted to let his hand go Durand tightened his grip.

  “I just got you, chill out,” he said lowly taking her over to the large suede sofas.

  Novah playfully rolled her eyes as they sat down. Durand took off her shoes then her jacket. As he rubbed her belly, she began to eat fruit from the tray.

  Durand’s mother and assistant sat inside of the living room with laptops on their laps and a large bottle of wine sitting on the coffee table in front of them.

  “Novah, how are you feeling? I know my son damn near drove you into labor,” Durand’s mother Tonya quipped while smiling.

  Novah smiled as her eyes connected with Durand. He smirked at her and continued to rub her belly.

  “I’m good, and yes, your son almost pushed me to go there. How is Durand’s tour looking? I’m already having Braxton Hicks’ contractions,” Novah replied.

  She sat back as she stuffed another strawberry into her mouth, and Durand leaned over to kiss her fat cheeks. She giggled, and he playfully bit her nose. She could feel the sexual tension between them brewing. Novah wasn’t a nympho by far, but with Durand, she couldn’t control herself. She wanted to hump on him the second she saw his handsome mug.

  “He has a show in the UK then he’s all clear for you. I can’t wait to meet this angel. This has been a long damn time coming,” his mom replied, and his second assistant laughed.

  “It really has Novah. Because of you, we’ve seen sides of him that we didn’t know existed,” she replied, telling Novah what so many of Durand’s people had already revealed to her. “Durand is a different person when he’s with you,” she said, smiling their way.

  Novah cheesed at Durand.

  “You are?” she asked, feeling butterflies brewing in the pit of her stomach.

  Durand shook his head.

  “I’m the same nigga. You bring shit up out of me that I haven’t shown anybody else before. That’s it.”

  “You really do,” the popularly known singer Naiyana co-signed stepping into the room.

  Durand’s mother frowned and abruptly stood before exiting the room as Novah smiled at the gorgeous girl. She knew that Durand and his group had done plenty of songs with her and she also knew that she was touring with him.

  “Has he been nice to you on the road?” Novah asked the pretty singer smiling.

  Naiyana stared down at Durand intently as he rubbed Novah’s belly. She took a deep breath and exhaled as her eyes connected with Novah’s.

  “He’s been himself. We’re used to a reclusive, serious Durand. This playful Durand is like a stranger to us. I’ve been to Paris, even Africa with this man, and he acted as if it was another day in the neighborhood. Only a few other times can I remember him showing some real emotion, those times were scary, however—”

  “Well let’s get you out of here Naiyana. You all have a good night,” the second assistant said, standing up.

  Naiyana glared at the assistant before looking to Novah.

  “Yes, and it was good seeing you Novah,” she said and smiled.

  Novah returned the smile as Durand rubbed her stomach. His eyes never left her’s as she looked at Naiyana.

  “You too, Naiyana,” she said politely and Naiyana along with the second assistant, walked out of the room.

  Durand leaned over Novah and began to kiss her belly gently. As his eyes gazed into her’s, she swallowed hard.

  “I missed you. Sir, fight a lot.”

  Durand chuckled.

  “You and them weak ass jokes but I missed you too. You ready to have this baby?”

  Novah shrugged.

  “I’m not looking forward to the contractions, but I’m anxious to see our little girl. I always wanted a daughter. I can’t wait to see what’s she’s going t
o look like,” Novah gushed.

  Durand kissed her stomach again.

  “Hopefully, your beautiful ass,” he murmured, and his cellphone started to ring.

  As Durand took his call, Novah finished off the fruit. She then retreated to his bedroom and was surprised to see designer bags decorating Durand’s large bed. In the center of the bed was an overly big white fluffy teddy bear with a Harry Winston box sitting in the lap of the bear.

  Novah blushed as Durand stepped up behind her. He tapped her ass as he kissed her neck.

  “Open them up,” he whispered.

  Novah smiled so hard it stretched her face.

  “It's not my birthday.”

  Durand bit her neck playfully.

  “What the fuck does that have to do with anything. My mom said something bout a push gift, and I honestly stepped into the store to grab one thing, but I thought about your pretty face and just started grabbing shit. You’re a good mom and a good person. You deserve to be spoiled everyday Novah,” he said sincerely.

  Novah licked her dry lips.

  “Thank you so much, but I can’t take all of this,” she said, feeling overcome with emotion.

  “Aye let me talk to you real quick,” Durand said and took her over to the bed.

  Novah sat on the bed and looked up at Durand.

  “Durand I’m not with you because of what you can do for me. Since I’ve been in the public eye, people have been judging me. I’m not that girl, and I don’t want you to think I am.”

  Durand shook his head. He pulled over the largest bag and slowly tugged out a cream-colored dust bag. He sat the large bag onto Novah’s lap and grabbed another bag.

  “I’m not gone even respond to that shit you just said. I know we don’t have years up under us but trust if you was a gold digger, I wouldn’t be fucking you. Especially not raw. Check this out,” he said and slid her a stunning watch box.

  Novah admired the diamond watch with wide eyes. She sometimes splurged on herself but having such lavish items at her disposal was new. Even Carter didn’t lace her like that.

  “This is too much, Durand. I didn’t need any of it. I just need you and those kids, and I’m good.”

  Durand kissed her lips so sensually that it made her moan.

  “Pass me the box that teddy nigga is holding.”

  Novah laughed at Durand’s choice of words.

  “Teddy nigga? Men,” she scoffed playfully.

  She grabbed the box and handed it to Durand. He opened it while staring into her eyes.

  “I don’t wanna hear you say shit else about being a gold digger. I know your heart, so you don’t ever have to explain shit to me. If you wanna wear this bitch on a Tuesday to grab a coffee, then I want you to do that. If you wanna get in the tub and play in that pussy while wearing this, then I want you to do that. If you wanna drop the kids off at school toting a $30,000 bag, I want you to fucking do that. I’m not Carter or anybody else. I’m me, and I’m on your side, if don’t nobody else got you, I do. Okay?”

  Novah smiled. She slowly nodded, and Durand kissed her one last time before opening the box. The sunflower diamond necklace lit up the dimly lit bedroom. Novah gasped as she stared down at the most beautiful necklace she’d ever seen in her life. It was exquisite — something you wore to a gala. Nothing was ordinary about it, and it would be placed in a case. Fuck a jewelry stand.

  She slowly touched the diamonds. It was 429 of them as she marveled at the neckwear.

  “And it’s still not enough. You deserve the world and I’ma give it to you. I know our situation isn’t ideal, but it happened for a reason. God picked the right woman to give my child to,” he told her lowly and with sincerity dripping from his words.

  Novah’s eyes leaked with tears. She blinked, and Durand wiped a few away.

  “This scares me,” she admitted.

  Durand’s brows drew together at her words.

  “Why?”

  Novah shrugged. Her emotions were all over the place, and that was the biggest thing she hated about being pregnant.

  “Because I’m falling in love with you and I don’t wanna get hurt again. You’ve done something to me. It's like I can't imagine us not being together and that’s a scary thing to feel. What if we don’t work out? How will I recover from that?” she replied.

  Durand took all of the items from Novah and set them on the bed. He led her into his large bathroom, and she noticed he’d laid rose petals on the floor along with a mini fruit stand near the tub. He touched the water that had filled up the tub while staring at her.

  “Can I take a bath with you?”

  Novah blushed.

  “Of course!” she said quickly, and he chuckled.

  “You must be ready for this dick,” he remarked, making her shove his arm.

  Novah blushed, and he pulled her into his arms.

  “It's cool, I been feigning for that pussy too, dreaming about licking on it and shit. I’m addicted to you. Take off your clothes and sit on the toilet while I get the water back warm,” he replied.

  Novah quickly did as Durand asked and copped a squat on the closed toilet lid. Her leg shook nervously as she stared at Durand. He was so handsome, so loving, and she was grateful. It was like her football mom friend had told her. The pain hadn’t been in vain. She’d weathered the storm with Carter and was now receiving her rainbow. The skies were so blue, and with Durand every day, she felt like she was floating amongst the clouds.

  He turned to her once the water was good and his dick stood at attention. It hung heavy between his legs like a large sausage as he licked his lips.

  “Come on, baby,” he murmured and rubbed the tip slowly.

  Novah swallowed hard as she stood up. She stepped into the tub, and Durand was behind her. He sat down first and turned her around. Slowly he pulled her down onto his awaiting shaft as water sloshed around them. Some of it even fell onto the marble floor as he sexed her slowly.

  “Pussy too wet. You are so fucking sexy, it's ridiculous. Give me a kiss,” he demanded huskily.

  Novah leaned towards Durand, and he attacked her lips. As she rocked her hips slowly, he fucked her from the bottom. Novah moaned as he hit her spot repeatedly.

  “I’ma cum,” she announced weakly as rapture flowed through her body.

  Durand groaned and sunk his teeth into the soft skin on her neck.

  “Let me feel it, cum for me,” he demanded, and Novah’s body shook as she released on his hard dick.

  “I’m serious. Where did you meet that girl at? I don’t know if she wants to fuck or kill you,” Novah said sitting clothes into her daughters large mirrored chest.

  Billie laughed. She hung up some of the baby’s dresses and glanced over at Novah.

  “She’s a sweet girl. She is extra at times, but trust she isn’t a threat. I wouldn’t have her around my son and my man if she was. She’s just lost.”

  Novah nodded. She sat in the chair closest to the chest and sighed. Her ankles was starting to swell, and she was finding it hard to stand for long periods of time without getting tired. This was by far the hardest pregnancy on her body.

  “I know you have a huge heart, but you don’t have to save every person suffering from alcoholism.”

  Billie nodded with sad eyes.

  “If I’m better Novah because of God and I don’t use the things I know to save people what was the point of him leaving me here on this earth? We’re here for him to use us,” Billie told her.

  Novah nodded, knowing she wouldn’t win with her headstrong friend. Novah admired Billie’s devotion to helping alcoholics, but she also didn’t want her friends’ big heart to get her into any danger.

  “Get her out of your home. I feel something weird about her, and you know my vibes never lie. Please for Kawan send her back to her dorm,” Novah begged.

  Billie sighed as she looked at her.

  “I guess she could go back since Dreux is home. I’ll talk to her. How are you doing? Is Carter giving you
space right now?”

  Novah shrugged while rolling her eyes.

  “He’s been too quiet. Hopefully, he’s spending time with his new son and just getting his shit together. My mom has been our go-to person because I don’t wanna see his black ass,” Novah grumbled as someone began to ring her doorbell.

  “I’ll get it,” Billie said, smiling at her.

  Novah slowly stood and rubbed her back. It seemed like overnight her belly had dropped.

  “I can go with you. I need to walk as much as I can. Even if the shit is uncomfortable,” she laughed.

  Together they walked down the stairs. Novah opened her door as Billie told her about Kawan’s latest karate match and was met with flashing camera’s. The man she knew as Carter’s lawyer stood before her in a crisp two-piece suit with a small frown on his face.

  “Ms. Royale. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but my client said this couldn’t wait. This is for you,” he said and passed her a manila folder.

  The lawyer quickly walked away as Novah frowned. Billie snatched the folder from her hand and sucked her teeth.

  “Novah, how does it feel to know that Carter is trying to fight for the rights of your unborn baby! Have you always been sleeping with both he and Durand! How will Durand respond to this!”

  Billie protectively shoved Novah into the house.

  “Go to hell!” she yelled before slamming the door in the press’s face.

  Novah slowly went into her family room and sat down on her sofa. She laid back as her heart raced. She was so upset she couldn’t think clearly.

  “Novah, we both, know you haven’t fucked that slimy ass nigga in years. He’s not her father. This is another stunt to slander your name. I'm going to call your lawyer, and we will send Carter a cease and desist so he can no longer speak on you. Then I’m calling in Quez. This nigga needs to be handled.”

  Before Novah could protest, Billie was out of the room. Novah grabbed her belly and closed her eyes as she pondered on why Carter was so malicious her cellphone rung.

  “Hello,” she answered without looking at the screen.

  Her buds were still in her ears as her phone rested in her hand.

  “You looking bloated as fuck ma. You ready to have my baby,” Carter laughed.