Chapter 12 #2
Irish swiftly kissed his cheek and voyaged out the section, leaving him no time to protest. She looked back, hoping he didn’t follow her.
When she saw Jovanis resume his conversation, she breathed a sigh of relief and exited the club.
Parked out front was Noble’s truck. Irish looked around, to ensure no one she knew was out there before she got inside.
“You're real reckless, Noble,” she scolded him, inhaling the scent of his cologne.
Leaning back in his seat with one hand on the wheel, he planted his other hand on her exposed thigh. Thank God he had five percent tints on his windows.
“Who told you to wear this?”
Chuckling, she playfully retorted, “Me.”
His onyx gaze focused on her, making Irish feel chills sprout on her skin.
“You be trying me, Pumpkin. You’ll learn soon though.”
She leaned over the middle console. “Learn what?”
Noble drew in closer to her as her stare centered on his lips. Without her having to ask, he kissed them, prompting a purr to appear in her kitty.
“You’ll figure it out. You feel like hanging with me?”
“Of course.”
Noble drove away from the club. Irish sat in the passenger seat, feeling as if she belonged on the side of him.
She was comfortable as her thoughts drifted to the endless possibilities for her and Noble.
He had kicked in the door to her heart, demanding everything inside.
What she thought was a secret crush had blossomed into a connection that would take an army to sever.
It moved way too fast, but she loved the rush.
No longer did she dwell in the house of loneliness now that Noble had entered her world.
Everything about their affair was exhilarating, and Irish unashamedly needed more.
While Noble drove, Irish thought of him until she realized they had driven to the suburb of Emerald Village. They pulled in front of a neon red sign that read Danger Zone. He got out first then rounded the truck to help Irish out the car. Holding his hand, the couple walked toward the entrance.
“My nigga, Noble, done made it over this way,” the guard joked.
Noble shook his hand. “What’s up with you, Kirk?”
“Shit, I can’t call it. Go ‘head and enjoy, my nigga.”
Noble shook his hand again. “I’ll holla at you.”
Irish followed him inside where the theme was clearly red.
More neon red signs were on the paisley printed walls.
Checkered floors with gold frame mirrors hung throughout the space.
The place was quaint with vintage furniture and sconces.
Noble stepped into a booth that was positioned in the corner of the room.
It was intimate with velvet curtains draped on the sides.
“You always take me to the places I’ve never been. I feel like a loser not knowing this place existed,” she joked, scooting into the booth.
“Why don’t you explore the city?”
“Well, for one, I never thought to come out here to Emerald Village. My stepping grounds is St. Parklynn.”
“You gotta get out more, Pumpkin. It’s probably so much shit you haven’t seen.”
Noble’s words evoked her reverie to surface. Irish thought about all the sacrifices she had made and now that he had come into her life, she felt as if she had missed out on so much.
“Hey, Noble,” a woman greeted, showing all her teeth. She was dressed in a white shirt that revealed her bust and a short skirt that left little to the imagination. “How you been, baby?”
He smirked. “Straight. You been alright, Jazz?”
“Oh, I’m good now.” She winked at him.
Irish rolled her eyes, hating how Noble’s spell not only affected her but every bitch in the city too.
“Do you want your usual?”
Oh, he comes here often…
“Yeah, and you can get my lady a French 75.”
The waitress looked at Irish, forcing a smile on her face. As a woman, she knew when a bitch was sizing her up and ol’ girl was doing just that.
“I’ll have that for you two right away.”
She walked away, switching her hips as Noble pulled Irish close to him.
“You're so popular, Noble. All the hoes just melt when you give them attention.”
“Not really.” He brushed it off.
“Oh, please.” Irish scoffed. “I had to sit through one BBL girl and another hoe flirting with you all night. Oh, yeah, you even got one of their numbers, too. What’s up with that?”
Somehow, he thought her rant was humorous. “You jealous?”
“Yes, now what?” she challenged him, arching her ginger brow. “What you gon’ do about that?”
Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he kissed her cheek. She shuddered from his touch, trying her best not to melt into the booth.
“You don't need to be jealous. You the only woman on my radar. Besides, you and that nigga was real touchy feely tonight, so consider it payback.”
“Whatever,” Irish countered, not having a solid comeback. “Oh, and don't think I didn’t catch you calling me your lady. Are you trying to tell me something?” she teased him.
Noble’s smile was pure perfection as he shook his head. “I was being polite and letting her ass know to chill with that flirting shit.”
“Mm-hmm,” she hummed. “Let me find out you done caught feelings for me.”
“What if I did?” he challenged.
Irish faced Noble, giving him her undivided attention. “Do you remember when you asked me if I knew what I was doing?”
He nodded.
“Well, I thought I did but I don't know now…” Irish didn’t know how to tell Noble that she had caught feelings so deep that she felt like she had a disease. For the time being, it was incurable and the only way to treat it was more of him.
“You do know,” he stated. “You can tell me.”
She chuckled, suddenly avoiding his eye contact until he grabbed her chin and turned her face toward him.
“You a big girl, Irish. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Okay,” she relented. “I’ve caught feelings for you, and I don't know what to do with them… Like, I think of a future with you, but it’s cut short when I realize the position I’m in.”
Licking his lips, Noble nodded. “Same.”
“Really?” she asked, surprised that his feelings reflected hers.
Before he could respond, the waitress sat their drinks on the table. He slid her drink in front of her then took a sip of his. Irish couldn’t drink right away because she desperately wanted to sip on the words he was preparing to say.
“So, I was saying that, I feel the same. I’m even conflicted because I know this shit ain't right, but the feeling is. Pumpkin, I don't know what it is about you, but you got a nigga tuned in. Shit, I’m frustrated because I need to walk away, but I keep betraying myself, and I don't move that way.”
Irish’s gaze fell on the table, wishing she had a remedy for both of their problems. They were facing so many obstacles ahead but neither one wanted to make the move to distance themselves. She interlocked her fingers with his tattooed ones.
“So, what do we do?”
He shrugged. “I don't know and to be honest, I don't care right now. I’m locked in.”
Irish was content with that. If Noble wasn’t concerned, neither should she be.
For the first time, she wanted to be selfish.
She had raised her sister, been present for her mother, and been an anchor for Jovanis.
Irish wanted something just for her. A piece of rapture that she could indulge in when life got rough.
Noble represented that. Life was always on pause when she was in his presence.
He was an escape from her regular programming.
A first-class getaway that was wrapped in a milk chocolate covering.
Irish linked her arm into his while he held her hand. A woman stepped on the stage, serenading them with the sweetest vocals Irish had ever heard. Her tone was jazzy, reminding her of Lalah Hathaway. They talked, drank, and drowned in each other’s presence.
How could something so forbidden fill me with so much joy?
That question hadn’t left Irish’s mind yet. Hours had passed before they made their exit out the club. Noble helped her inside the car, and he got in.
“I wanna keep you for the night. You cool with that?”
He could’ve asked for her entire month and Irish would’ve gladly obliged.
“Yes, I’m good with that.”
Starting the engine, Noble drove for fifteen minutes until he pulled into a driveway of a contemporary-style home.
The couple got out and walked hand in hand to the door.
Noble unlocked it and they entered. Once the foyer was illuminated, Irish took in the shiny wooden floors and dazzling chandelier that sparkled against the matte black walls.
“Can I look around?” she asked politely.
Glancing at her, he answered, “Yeah, go ‘head.”
While Noble thumbed through his mail, Irish took it upon herself to explore the lower level which consisted of a living room, dining room, open-concept kitchen, and a sunroom. She met him back in the foyer just as he tossed the opened letters on the entry table.
“I’m assuming this is your other home?” she asked, looking at the painting on the wall.
Noble stepped behind her, swarming Irish with his scent. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed the side of her neck.
“Yeah, it is.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“So are you.”
Irish turned around, resting her arms on his shoulders. “I want you, Papa.”
He grinned, squeezing her ass through her skirt. “Let’s go upstairs so you can give me some pumpkin spice.”
Hours later…
Irish peered out the rain-slicked windows, watching the streak of lightning strike through the sky.
The thunder pounded through the atmosphere, making sure she was awake for its performance.
Next to her was Noble who slept soundly on his back.
They had a fun night of exploring the depths of their bodies.
It was battle of the orgasms with Noble coming out as the winner.
She’d lost count how many times he had turned her into puddy from his lethal tongue and accurate stroke.