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. Shemet 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.
Gently, Irish sat up and rose from the bed. She tiptoed to the bathroom to relieve herself. After washing her hands, she slipped back in bed and laid her head on Noble’s broad chest. He stirred a bit before pushing strands from her ponytail off her bare shoulder.
“You good?”
“Yeah.” She gently traced the curvature of his peck with her finger. “The storm woke me up.”
Noble wrapped his arm around her, unknowingly bringing her comfort that she desperately needed.
“What’s wrong?”
She smirked, wondering how he knew her mind was racing.
Inhaling a deep breath, she revealed, “I gotta go see my mother soon.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“I lowkey hate her,” she confessed just as thunder boomed outside the windows. “But I suppress it because… for a number of reasons. When I used to go to vacation bible school during my teenage years, they taught us to honor our mother and our father so that our days will be long. I guess I’ve hung onto that scripture all these years but I’m living a lie.”
The only people who knew about her tumultuous relationship with Daisy was Ivory and Jovanis. Opening up to Noble was a big deal for her. Irish couldn’t believe she had led him into that part of her life.
“So, when I go to see her,” she continued, “I don't offer any emotional support. I give her a little bit of surface talk then leave her money for bills. She complains about my lack of concern for her, then I leave. That’s my monthly routine with my estranged mother.”
