Page 35 of His Noble Heart

“Noelani, the appropriate response to at least two of those texts was good morning. How hard is that?”

“Harder than you think.”

This conversation was going in circles and starting to annoy the fuck out of me. Noelani had done everything but answer my damn question.

“If it’s that hard, don’t expect to hear from me when I leave here tonight.”

While we lay quietly for a while, I pondered why she never responded to my messages, as I’d been doing all week. We had a connection and vibed from the beginning, so I wasn’t expecting her to ignore me.

“I’m not interested in a fuck buddy, and that’s all most men are interested in these days.”

“What makes you think I’m one of those men?”

“We met at 3:30 and were fucking by 10:30. That’s not exactly how most long-lasting relationships start.”

“Says who?”

“I don’t know . . . statistics.”

“C’mere,” I said, pulling her on top of me. “You forgot one little thing in your premature conclusion.”

“What’s that?”

“You stole my heart by 3:31.”

She smacked her lips. “You play too much.”

When she tried to get up, I held her in place, forcing her to look at me.

“I don’t play when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“Maybe not, but I know I didn’t steal your heart after one minute.”

“Fine. I may be exaggerating a little, but . . . I like you. I want to know everything about you. After spending one night with you, I want to be in your space as often as you’ll allow me. I might look sane on the outside, but I want you to carefully consider my mental state the next time you decide to ignore my texts or calls. I let you slide this time because you weren’t mine, but don’t do that shit again, or you might see a different side of me.”

“Interesting. I don’t know if I should be scared or turned on.”

“A little bit of both.”

“It sounds like you’re claiming me.”

“Your comprehension skills are top-notch because that’s exactly what I’m doing. You cool with that?”

“As long as I’m the only one you’re claiming, and the only one who can claim you.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

“Let me nut in your mouth, so I know it’s real.”

“Challenge accepted,” she said before disappearing under the sheet.

“If this place is fancy, I’m turning my ass back around,” I told Noelani as I parked in a space at Onyx City Grill.

“It’s not fancy, and nobody knows you had those clothes on yesterday. At least you washed your ass and brushed your teeth.”

“True, but don’t be in here trying to seduce me because I ain’t wearing draws. My dick has nothing to restrain it.”