Chapter Nineteen. #3
Nivéa was all smiles now. She was so over the moon that her heart went from racing to dancing in her chest. This had made her day. Every day was a movie with Crown. They stayed like that, savoring the moment, until she shattered the silence that had grown between them.
“I’m so happy you’re home. When you’re away, I feel a tad bit scared.” She admitted softly. “But somehow, when you’re here, I feel safe again.”
Crown lowered his chin against the top of her head and held her tighter.
“You ain’t gotta ever worry about shit. Not only do you got me, but you also got a whole club behind you, ready to go to war if need be. Niggas that’ll take a bullet for you just because of who you belong to.”
“I believe that.”
Nivéa lifted his hand and gently kissed the leather of his glove.
The simple gesture hit her harder than she expected.
Another tear slipped down her cheek as she stared at his hand.
That glove had been wrapped around her neck when he held her protectively.
It had touched her skin and held her close during moments when she gave herself completely to him.
But those same gloved hands belonged to a man who lived a life she didn’t always understand.
Hands that had done things she probably never wanted to know about.
For a second, she wondered how many times he’d put those gloves on before doing something he could never take back. And somehow, she loved him anyway.
Crown noticed the tear and gently wiped it away with his thumb. “What’s wrong now?”
“Nothing.” She smiled through it. “Nothing at all. Tears of joy.”
They grew quiet. The music she had playing filled the silence between them. Without thinking, they started swaying together, her body pressed against his.
“This my song, baby.” She said.
“Every song yo’ song.” Crown shook his head.
“Whatever.” Nivéa laughed. “You love it too.”
“Who told you that?”
“You do, big man. It’s okay. I can tell.”
Crown looked down at her with a small smile as they continued moving slowly to Cosmic Love. She was right. He had to admit Monaleo’s voice sounded dope. There was a certain soul to it on this record that he liked. He had never heard of it before that day, but he fucked with it.
It had him moving. Crown was the type who didn’t like dancing. He was too laid-back to groove, but the odd thing was, he actually could. They let the beat carry them. Nivéa slid her arms around his neck while Crown held her by the waist, taking the lead. He rocked them slowly to the rhythm.
“Look at you.” She teased.
“Don’t start, ma.”
“You can dance, baby. Big, fine ass.”
When Crown didn’t say anything back, Nivéa laughed, eventually pulling a laugh from him.
“Show me all you got. I won’t tell nobody, big daddy.”
“Here yo’ ass go.”
“Please.”
Crown shook his head, but the smirk on his face gave him away. He was enjoying every second of it. He gave the sway his all…simply because she asked him to. He couldn’t do too much with the beat being slow, but when the record changed, he added a little footwork that had Nivéa grinning ear to ear.
Tonight he would dance with his wife.
Tomorrow, and the day after that…he’d bust his fucking guns.
∞∞∞
While the world was sleeping, Crown was still up taking care of his Nyla.
Baby girl had woken up throwing a fit around one o’clock in the morning.
Nivéa had tried consoling her while breastfeeding, but Nyla wasn’t having it.
She drank her milk, then started right back up.
It wasn’t until she reached Crown’s arms that she found some solace.
With red eyes, Crown bathed her in the pink spa tub he’d picked out for her.
Nyla’s self-care was better than most women’s thanks to him.
He’d stocked the entire bathroom with gentle baby wash, natural shea-butter lotion, organic cotton washcloths, and a soft chamomile-scented room diffuser.
He even had a warmer that kept her towel, robe, and blanket warm and ready for her when bath time was over.
Nyla loved baths, but Nivéa had taken the shortcut that night, just washing her off. They hadn’t been outside the home, so she thought it suited. Nyla wasn’t having it, though. Crown was positive that missing her routine was what had her so cranky.
When he finished bathing her, he dried her off, applied her lotion and diaper, then dressed her in her onesie.
Afterwards, he turned on the massive television he had installed in her room as he sat down in the rocking chair and turned her to face it.
Nivéa had sworn he had overdone it with the 110-inch screen.
The damn thing practically swallowed one wall of the nursery, but Crown didn’t give a fuck.
Nyla would always get the best from him.
As Bluey played, her eyes widened at the bright colors and movements, but soon she started to fuss again.
So, Crown went old school. He threw on some Sesame Street, and baby girl quieted down fast, watching Elmo like she recognized his red ass and the fun he brought.
After that, he switched to Barney. Nyla was so happy and content that he couldn’t help but chuckle at her.
She kicked her little feet, blowing spit bubbles.
Then they moved on to Clifford the Big Red Dog.
By the time Nyla dozed off again, it was 3:10.
Crown had accidentally drifted off too while rocking her.
Nivéa tiptoed into the room, softly rubbing her hand over his shoulder. “Hey,” she whispered.
Crown popped one eye open. “Sup, baby?”
“She’s asleep. Come get back in bed.”
“Aight.” He looked down at Nyla on his chest, kissed the top of her head, then stood and gently placed her into the crib.
As soon as he finished, Nivéa grabbed his hand and led him to their bedroom, slipping out of her robe along the way.
With everything going on around them, she hadn’t felt him in a few days, and she was going crazy about that.
She lay back on the bed, legs spread wide, making it clear what she wanted.