Page 38 of Breaking the Rules
“How’d you get her to go back to sleep so quickly?” he asked, putting the vehicle into drive and pulling out of the parking lot.
“I hummed ‘Jesus Loves Me’. My grandmother used to do it for me and it still works,” she shared, still holding Areli warmly.
Noble watched her in the rearview mirror. The softness and tenderness she held. Even the night he met her, he could see it in her. It was who she was. The sassiness she showed the world was a shield to protect herself. He knew that shield all too well. His was falling for her and her only.
The ride was silent, Areli sleeping soundly in Savanhi’s arms, Savanhi’s head resting atop hers, sleeping as well. Almost forty-five minutes later, Noble pulled up at the rental home and turned the engine off. The soft lull from the engine soothed her to sleep. Without it, she was pulling her eyes open and taking in her surroundings.
“Question.”
“Answer,” he rumbled, getting out of the car.
“How long are you keeping me?”
“How long do you want to be kept?” Noble asked, and the question was loaded. All Savanhi could do was peer at him before blinking away.
“I have classes all week, the club this weekend. I need my car, or I’ll just slip out of here tonight and JoyRide home.”
“You like slipping out in the middle of the night. Don’t you?”
“We made an agreement.”
“Something the last two weeks have taught me is that agreements can be broken. So again, how long do you want to be kept?”
“I’ve never been kept, and I won’t be in the position to depend on a man. So I’d like to be released as soon as possible, and I’ll figure out a way to pay you back for the repairs.”
Noble smirked, saying nothing. Her doing her dance classes, no problem, her going back to the club, off the table, and he was about to throw his logic in the wind and make sure she understood that.
“Aight,” he buzzed, taking Areli out of her arms. “Come on, Sassy.”
“I got a feeling you’re about to make this difficult for me.”
“Nah, try the opposite,” Noble assured, holding his hand out for her to take.
She took it, almost pulling back at the electricity that shot through them. He clasped her hand tighter, not letting her pull away. Savanhi gave in and followed his lead. Inside the rental home, she stood behind him and took in how spacious it was and how childproofed it was.
“There’s a bedroom down the hall to the right. Towels and everything there.”
“And clothes?”
“I got sweats and t-shirts they might swallow you up but it’s something. Make yourself at home.”
“I won’t,” Savanhi sassed, walking away from him. He stood panting with Areli in his arms, watching her ass switch from side to side. He knew it wasn’t on purpose. That was just a natural walk he enjoyed taking in.
He grunted softly to himself and proceeded to get Areli undressed, cleaned, and in bed. Ensuring her bonnet was on just right and she was tucked under her Pinky Princess covers, he kissed her face.
“Unc-Unc loves you more, babygirl.”
Noble eased out of the room and across the hall to his room, his eyes and feet twitching with the want to move further down the hall. He governed himself, placed a t-shirt and shorts in front of the guest room door, showered, and ambled to the kitchen in need of some water, hoping to unwind. Now fully in the swing of his new season with a new team, weed and liquor would have to wait until the off-season. But he could take the edge off with his branded protein ice cream.
He groaned at the simple pleasures of life. The stillness for a moment, perched on the counter eating ice cream without his phone ringing or anyone needing him. Moments later, Savanhi rounded the corner, wandering into the kitchen. His oversized t-shirt hung off her shoulders, and her bare legs poked from underneath. The Royals t-shirt stopped mid-thigh. Her hair was in its signature wild state, and her eyes were focused on her phone. The sound of his spoon scraping the side of the pint stopped her in her tracks.
“I thought you were sleep. I’m not trying to intrude on your space.”
“My space is your space. You good. You need something?” he questioned, readying himself to hop off the counter and tend to her needs.
Savanhi swayed her head. “Not to be your captive.”
“Sassy, relax. You ain’t no damn captive. If you want to leave, you can. But you won’t,” Noble confidently stated. “Have a seat, you been on your feet all day.”
