Chapter 17
Seventeen
Noble studied every movement of Irish as she gasped at the Great White Shark that glided past them.
Like a kid at an amusement park, she had been in awe ever since he brought her to Blue Depths.
It was an underwater restaurant that was built off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
They were surrounded by a thick glass tunnel that showcased an in-depth view of the ocean and its aquatic animals.
It was so exclusive that not everyone could patron the establishment.
It was referral based which meant someone had to invite a person before they were able to attend.
“Okay, you got me with this. I have never seen anything like it,” Irish gushed, recording the fish that surrounded her.
She looked so beautiful that Noble had been taking pictures of her most of the night.
That’s what he did when she was in his presence—appreciate her unique beauty and turn into her photographer.
Irish’s auburn hair was in a layered silk press.
Her face glowed from the touches of gold makeup along with her toasted brown skin.
Irish was clad in an emerald, green dress that hugged her curves perfectly.
The sweetheart neckline provided a beautiful visual of her perky breasts.
Irish was flawless, and Noble couldn’t peel his eyes away from her.
“I told you, you ain't never been here before,” he bragged.
Grinning, she placed her phone on the table. “Well, thank you. You keep giving me new places to experience. I love that about you.”
Irish was unaware that Noble wanted to give her the universe if he could fit it in her hands.
Whatever her heart desired, he wanted to be the man that helped her get there.
There was so much desire for this woman before him.
It should’ve been forbidden for him to be so engrossed with her, considering their circumstances.
Noble had self-control in every area of his life but somehow, this ginger-haired woman had turned into his kryptonite.
“I’ve been thinking about you heavily these last two weeks.”
“Why? Because I blocked you?” She snickered.
He cut his eyes at her, causing her to laugh harder. “Don’t remind me of that shit. You liable to make me re-mad.”
“I’m sorry,” she said between chuckles. “I didn’t mean to bring up such a sore subject. You can continue.”
“Like I was saying.” he licked his lips. “I’ve been thinking about you and me and wondering where this thing between us will go…”
Getting in bed with a woman who was legally taken would’ve been frowned upon before Noble met Irish.
She disturbed his character. Made him break rules that had been in place for decades.
What kind of magic did this girl have over him?
Was it her sweet nature? Her loyalty? Or that warm pussy that he had been addicted to ever since the first hit.
It could’ve been a cocktail of all the above.
Noble was obsessed with this woman, and he selfishly wanted more of her.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” she confessed as her shoulders relaxed. “When we weren’t speaking, my yearning for you grew crazy. I wanted you but was being stubborn. It made me realize that our situation is getting deeper and I’m not sure how to feel about that.”
Noble stretched his forearms on the table. “What do you mean by that?”
“What I mean is that this is cool for right now, but will it sustain us? I’m not sure about you but I don't see myself breaking away from you anytime soon. Often, I ask myself what will we do when it’s time to make a decision?”
Noble mulled over that rhetorical possibility. Everything was at stake for him; his reputation and his character. When he thought of how he felt for Irish or how she genuinely lit a spark that had yet to cease, he knew she was worth the hassle.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Do you love me?”
Irish’s mouth parted before she chortled and covered her face with her hands. She was embarrassed, and Noble found it to be the cutest thing ever. Bashfully, she looked around before she leaned over the table.
“How could you ask me that?”
“‘Cause I wanna know.”
“Do you love me?” she countered.
“No, answer my question first.”
Irish chuckled once more as her gaze drifted to her lap. Noble waited patiently for her to answer him. Finally, she gave him direct eye contact.
“You know, I’ve been wrestling with a lot of things lately. Some of them you're aware of and some you're not.” She sighed and continued, “This feels like love, but I didn’t want to put that title on it.”
“Why not?”
“Because it feels so… wrong. I’m not supposed to fall in love with anyone, especially you. But the proof is there, well at least for me it is.” She gazed at him. “How you feel about that, Noble?”
He squared his shoulders and cleared his throat. “I feel the same way. You really came into my life and complicated shit.”
Normally, Noble’s life didn’t have any gray areas.
Everything was in black in white but Irish added color.
She brought life into areas that were deemed dormant.
He wanted her. In fact, he needed her in his existence.
Yet there were obstacles before them that made it difficult for them to make that happen.
“I want you, Pumpkin. Like real bad. I’m willing to face the fire as long as you're on the side of me.”
Her eyes widened, surprised by his statement. Noble was up against a lot. There would probably be bloodshed and respect lost.
“You mean that?”
“Yeah, I’ve given it some thought, and I know shit will get ugly, but I don't give a fuck. A man like me done been through a lot of storms, and I still came out on top. At least now, I’ll have you holding me down.”
“Wow,” she whispered, stunned. “I always avoided asking how you felt about me because in some delusional way, I wanted to remain oblivious just in case our feelings didn’t reflect each other. But hearing you confirm how you feel, and it be the same as me makes me really happy.”
Noble grabbed both of her hands and kissed the back of them. “Like I said, this shit ain't surface. I’m with you if you with me.”
Irish’s deep brown eyes could penetrate any man’s heart. “I’m with you, Noble.”
She didn’t know how much relief swept over him. Simply put, Noble wanted her and was willing to start a war about her.
“I got you something.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. Noble sat it on the table and watched her reach for it.
“What’s this?” She smirked, giving him a sexy glance.
“Open it and see.”
She did as he said and gasped when she saw what was inside.
“Papa, this is so cute.” She gushed, taking the necklace out of the box. “You really got me an iced-out pumpkin.” She laughed.
“Yeah, you like it?”
“Are you serious? I love it. Can you help me put it on?”
Noble stood and walked around the table. Grabbing the necklace from her, he secured it around her neck before lightly kissing her exposed shoulder. Irish craned her head so that their lips could meet.
“I appreciate you,” she gushed in a low tone.
Noble responded with one more kiss before he resumed sitting.
“Maybe I should block you more often,” she kidded, touching the necklace. “You seem to act right when I do.”
“Try it and see how I fuck you up.”
“Whatever.”
Noble’s phone buzzed inside his pocket. Grabbing it, he noticed Kenji calling.
He rose from his seat. “Aye, let me talk to my son before he goes to bed. I’ll be back.”
“Okay.”
Noble headed for the hallway as he answered the call. “What’s up, G. You miss me?”
Irish couldn’t stop touching the diamond pumpkin that dazzled under the dim lights.
Noble had made her feel like a rare gem the entire night.
Before their date, he sent a Laquan Smith dress and gold platform heels for her.
She was pleased to see that they were her size and fit perfectly.
Afterward, a car awaited her in the driveway.
Ivory asked so many questions that Irish could barely get out the door.
To avoid further interrogation, she lied and said that it was date night for her and Jovanis.
Once she got inside the car, she was driven to this restaurant that had her in awe as soon as she stepped inside.
Irish wasn’t just pleased with his gifts, but the effort Noble had put into her was so inspiring.
She had never been pursued to this magnitude.
Most dates were the standard dinner and maybe ice cream after.
However, Noble had blown any remnants of her past men out of her mind.
He set the standard, showing that he was all man and nothing less.
This was the kind of energy Irish needed.
A king, who would put in the effort to make her his queen.
“Girl, I thought that was you.”
Irish turned to her right and immediately simpered. “Hey, Shay. What you doing here?”
“Just having dinner, girl. You look good. Give me a hug.”
The two hugged and Irish pulled back, checking her out. “I see you got those pretty legs out.”
Shay stuck her tongue out. “You know I gotta give the niggas something to see. Who you here with?”
“Oh, just catching up with a friend.” She flicked her hand. “Who are you here with?”
Shay turned a bit and pointed toward the bar. “With that dude over there.”
There were several men at the bar so Irish quizzed, “Which one?”
“The one with…”
Shay’s words trailed off as Noble approached the table. Her darkened brows wrinkled immediately as her nostrils slightly flared.
“This is the friend you were catching up with?” she snarled then cut her eyes at Irish.
Noble angled his head. “What you doing here, Daysha?”
Irish’s head swiveled, peering back and forth between the two. “How do you two know each other?”
Daysha kissed her teeth. “This is my son’s father but what I’m trying to figure out is why you two are together?”
“This is the baby daddy that you’ve been doggin’ all this time?”