AJ

Here Smoke stood in Mississippi after being gone for 7 years. Standing in front of his wife. The sun hitting her dark skin with a shine. She stood in front him, head tilted to the side ,hand perched onto her hip. He couldn't look into her eyes. Because every time he did - he remembered one day in Chicago . Where he felt weak ,and gave in to temptation after being away from his Annie for a year.

“Nigga you need some pussy, you sitting around here mopping and shit”, Stack said as he rolled up a blunt.

“ I told you I don't want anyone, but Annie. Yet you keep bringing women in here like that's going to change". Smoke was agitated, which was nothing new. He did want and probably needed some pussy , but he ain't want anyone else's but his wife's.

“You say that now , until you see this girl I found”. Stack didn't wait for a reply, just handed Smoke the tray full of rolled up blunts , and said he'll be back.

Smoke didn't know what to do. He didn't know if he could hold out longer. He wanted to be back with his wife ,but he had to watch out for Stack.

Hours had passed, and Smoke was laying flat on the hotel bed. Wondering what his brother got into. He heard the door click open, reaching for his gun, until he saw Stack walk through the door. He was about to speak ,until he saw the woman that walked behind him.

6 inch heels adorning her feet, white polish on her nails. Thick thighs covered buy a mini skirt that would show everything, if she barely bent down. The bottom of her soft belly poking out the light baby blue crop top.Heavy breasts sitting high on her chest Her afro framing her round face. Dark skin gleaming as the moonlight hit it behind her.

Stack smirked already knowing his brother couldn't resist. “Smoke this Candy-Candy my brother Smoke”. She walked forward, a red lollipop sucked in by her glossy lips. Candy stood in between Smoke's opened legs ,running her hand over his shoulder,”So how you want me”? She wasn't ashamed by what she did, and Smoke looked like he could be a good fuck . So whatever he wanted-he could have.

The first words Smoke spoke were ,”Stack get the fuck out”. Stack didn't even need him to say that, he was already on the way out.

“Just let me do what I need , and let me call you Annie”, Smoke said , dragging his hands up and down her waist. “Whatever you want”, Candy said as she straddle his lap, lollipop in her hand long forgotten.

His hands went to her ass , imagining it was Annie's instead. “Strip out ya clothes , then face down ass up”, Smoke said through clenched teeth. He couldn't believe he was doing this ,but it was too late to back down.

As Candy stripped out her clothes, so did he. There she stood in all her natural beauty. She was moving to the bed to bend over when Smoke stopped her. “Let me taste you first”,lust dripping from his tone. Candy was in shock he was the first man to want to eat her out. So she laid back down, legs open. Slick liquid on the inside of her thighs, as her clit shined in the dimly lit room .

Smoke never thought he'd get on his knees for another woman besides his Annie. But here he was , hands gripping her meaty thighs, tongue deep inside her. The taste of her didn't compare to Annie ,but it would do.

Candy didn't stop moaning, the way his mouth sucked in her clit . The way his fingers Fucked her through her first orgasm. He didn't stop, just kept going, until she closed her legs onto his head.

Smoke hadn't uttered a word. Just got up, face wet, beard soaked with her fluids. He walked around the bed picking up one of the many condoms Stack left out. Sliding it on , he walked back over to where he left Candy .

Clit swollen, white cream seeping out of her onto the bed. Afro now frizzy, face glistening from sweat . She let out a loud yelp,as Smoke grabbed her waist, flipping her over . Yanking her ass up.

Not giving her time to prepare as he rammed his dick inside of her. “Fuck”, Candy let out feeling him in her guts. He didn't let up. Eyes closed, head back. In his head he was fucking Annie.

Her ass slapped back on him every time he thrust into her. Pushing the arch in her back ,every time she lost form. Reaching forward ,gripping her hanging breast into his hands. Forcing her against his chest. Twisting her nipples between his fingers. Leaving kisses up and down her neck.

Tasting the sweat that dripped down her neck.”fuck baby you gripping my shit hard”

Bringing his hand down to her clit. Pinching, twisting,pulling it, pushing it, whatever to make her scream his name . He felt her squeeze even tighter around him,”You about to cum baby”,Smoke whispered into her ear. Turning her face he smashed his lips against hers. Bitting her lip as she slipped out her mouth .

Pushing her back down on the bed , fucking her harder, reaching his climax. He felt a wet liquid splatter down his dick and thighs. “Shit Annie”,Smoke screamed out as he came into the condom.

He stumbles backwards, pulling the condoms off of him. Eyes open,finally looking up. What he wished was Annie laying there it was Candy. Just like that the high of his orgasm washed away.

Smoke brought out his thoughts as Annie started talking, “what you want with me Smoke”?

“You, I want us back”

Annie couldn't believe it ,after 7 years this negro showed up to her door step. Not a call,text,shit even a carrier pigeon. Asking for them back, like he didn't abandon her and their daughter.

Annie stood there in disbelief; she didn't even notice Terrance step out the door behind her.

“Who this nigga”,Smoke said ,anger written on his face and through his tone. Said like a man who had a claim on his woman. And that's what Fucked Annie up , cause how could a man be gone that long and think she still belonged to him.

“You don't get to question me about who is in my house, but since I was raised right ,this a friend of mine , he is fixing up some things in the house”, Annie said, blocking Smoke's gaze to Terrance.

“Well you don't need him anymore you got me”

That was comical, cause she thought she had him 7 years ago ,only to find out only Stack had that claim.

She ignored him , thanking Terrance for his work. He stepped down the steps completely ignoring Smoke. Annie didn't have the energy for Smoke anymore, so she turned and walked into her house. Smoke walked in behind her , looking around. Jars of herbs littering her shelves, lit candles sat onto her table .

“So how long you plan on staying “,Annie says sitting down at her kitchen table . “We here to stay ,plan on opening up a juke joint”.

“One of Stack ideas”?

“Something like that, I was wondering if you could cook for us,opening night “.

“Yeah I could do that, if you look me in the eyes and tell me the real reason you here”

Smoke wanted so badly,but every time he looked into her eyes, guilt clouded his senses. He knew if she knew about that night ,she wouldn't take him back. He also knew she could read his like a book, so he put on his best face.

Inside, it smelled like strong coffee, lemon oil, and the faintest hint of Egyptian musk from his cologne still hanging in the air from when he’d showered and dressed. The soft voice of Sade record Kiss of life play spun low in the background, the scratch of vinyl threading through the silence.

Smoke leaned against the counter, fully dressed but still unsure.

His hand rested on his keys, but his mind was somewhere else.

Annie.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her. That look she gave him last night. It was measured, cautious, but open. The way her voice dropped when she said “Just one date.” It had stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt in years.

Hope.

It terrified him.

It thrilled him.

He hadn’t been nervous like this since he was a teenager. Sneaking with her to the greenhouse just to hold her hand and listen to her talk about dreams too big for their little town. However, wasn’t that boy anymore. He was a man now. One with his own house, his own business, and a love still lodged deep in his chest like it never left.

He was going to show her that.

He just had to get past his nerves and his damn brother.

BAM BAM BAM!

The sound of hard knocks rattled through the old screen door like somebody was tryin’ to break in or deliver a package with attitude.

Smoke, still nursing the last few swigs of his black coffee, squinted at the front door through the living room archway. The sunlight was barely warming the porch steps, and already somebody was testing his patience.

He opened the door slowly, eyebrow already cocked.

“Stack, what the hell you doin’ on my porch this early?”

His twin brother stood there grinning wide like he had fresh gossip and nowhere else to be.

“Don’t start nigga” Stack said, brushing past him like he paid rent. “I told you last night. I’m helpin’ you get ready. It’s date day, and this is a full-service brother situation.”

Smoke looked down at his watch.

“It’s not until six.”

“And it’s 9:45,” Stack countered, sliding off his sunglasses. “You act like we ain’t got a whole man overhaul to do.”

Smoke blinked. “You sayin’ I need an overhaul?”

“I’m sayin’ Annie deserves a man that dresses like he ain’t just rolled out a jazz club in '1945.”

Before Smoke could clap back, Stack was already halfway up the stairs like a man on a mission. “Let’s see what tragic collection you’ve been hiding in your closet, Mr. Comfortable.”

Smoke muttered under his breath, shutting the door. “This nigga gon’ make me smoke two packs before noon.”

He took his time climbing the stairs, his cigarette already perched between his fingers as he entered his bedroom. The morning light poured in soft through the window blinds, hitting the room in golden slices.

Stack was knee-deep in his closet, already tossing shirts on the bed with surgical disgust.

“No. No. Hell no. Smoke—what is this?” Stack held up a faded brown shirt like it had personally offended him.

“That’s vintage.”

“That’s dusty.”

Smoke leaned against the doorframe, watching the chaos. He took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling through his nose.

“You know,” he said coolly, “most brothers bring coffee when they show up early. Maybe some eggs. You brought judgment and shade.”

“Nigga I brought style,” Stack shot back, pulling a pair of slacks off a hanger and holding them up like a tailor in disbelief. “These pleats? This what you wear when you give up.”

Smoke chuckled, finally stepping into the room and sitting down in the old leather desk chair near the dresser. “You actin’ like I’m goin’ to prom. It’s just a date.”

“With Annie, bruh. Ain’t no just about it.”

Stack tossed a shirt onto the growing “no” pile and kept digging. “You only get one shot at a second chance. You need to show up lookin’ like the man she’s been tryin’ not to think about.”

Smoke smirked and shook his head, watching his twin tear through his clothes like he was building an altar. “You flashy as hell. Always been.”

“Nigga. Damn right!” Stack said proudly. “I’m the sparkle. You the smolder. Together, we unstoppable.”

Smoke laughed and leaned back, eyes on the ceiling. “I swear, you missed your calling. Should’ve been a stylist for them R&B videos.”

“Still got time,” Stack said, holding up a sleek black shirt and nodding in approval. “Now this… this could work. Clean. Fitted. Smooth.”

Smoke leaned forward, tapping ash into the tray. “I told you, man—I ain’t worried about no fits. I just wanna show her who I am now. That I ain’t that scared, foolish boy who left.”

Stack turned, a rare seriousness on his face. “And you will. But listen...don’t underestimate the power of a first look. Let her see what she been missin’. Inside and out.”

There was a beat of silence, soft Motown still playing faintly from the stereo downstairs. Smoke nodded slowly.

“Aight then,” he said. “Show me how to look like the man she’s been missin’.”

Stack grinned. “Thought you’d never ask. Now take that shirt off nigga. We startin’ fresh.”

Smoke laughed again and flicked his cigarette into the tray. “If I end up lookin’ like a backup dancer for Ginuwine, I’m blamin’ you.”

Stack winked. “You wish you had my glow.”

Stack turned from the closet, holding up a pair of pants he’d finally approved of, and narrowed his eyes.

“Alright,” he said, tone already suspicious, “so where you takin’ her?”

Smoke, now pulling off the black shirt he had on, paused for half a second, just long enough to raise suspicion. “Horseback ridin’.”

Silence.

Thick, judgmental silence.

Then Stack dropped the pants onto the bed like they’d betrayed him. “Nigga! Hell no! What the hell is wrong with you?”

Smoke turned slowly, one brow lifted. “What’s wrong with that?”

Stack looked at him like he’d grown a third ear. “Horseback ridin’? On a first date? Elijah, this ain’t no cowboy movie. And Annie? She ain’t wearin’ no boots with spurs and a ten-gallon hat. Lord…”

Unbothered, Smoke grabbed two bottles of cologne off the dresser and began sniffing between them, cool as ever.

“I ain’t tellin’ you the whole plan,” he said, a smug little smirk curling the corner of his mouth. “Horseback’s just one part.”

Stack clutched his chest like he needed a fan. “Oh, so now nigga got a whole itinerary? What’s next, huh? Y’all throwin’ clay together like them people in that ‘Ghost’ movie?"

Smoke chuckled low, spraying a light mist of cologne onto his neck. “ Nigga.You done?”

“I ain’t even started,” Stack snapped, flopping onto the bed like a judgmental auntie at a family reunion. “What if she allergic to horses? What if she fall and bust her ass? What if her wig fly off in the wind?”

“She don’t wear a wig, Stack.”

“I’m just sayin’!”

Smoke shook his head, amusement glittering in his eyes. “Look. Jericho, that cat from the lounge last night? He owns that big ol’ farm off Old Highway 12. Acres of land, real peaceful. He opens it up to the public sometimes, but I called in a favor. Got it all to ourselves today.”

Stack blinked. The jokes paused. He sat up a little straighter. “Wait. You got a private farm reserved? For y’all to ride horses on?”

Smoke nodded once, solid. “Just me and her. No crowds, no chaos. Just peace, nature, and a whole lot of time to show her I ain’t the same man who let her go.”

Stack stared a beat longer, then gave a low whistle. “Damn. You really pulled out the grown man playbook.”

“Told you. I ain’t playin’ this time,” Smoke said, smoothing his beard with a fresh stroke of the comb. “She mean too much.”

A grin broke across Stack’s face, more proud than playful now. “Okay. Okay. I take it back. You got this. I mean..barely, but you got this.”

Smoke smirked in the mirror. “Keep doubtin’ me nigga, and I’ll make you ride the horse in my place.”

“Oh, hell no! Ain’t enough cowboy hats in Mississippi to make that okay.”

They both laughed, the room warming with a rare and unfiltered brotherhood. Years of pain, silence, and struggle hadn’t stolen this from them. Not completely. And right now, the lightness felt good. Easy.

But beneath it, Smoke’s heart thumped wild.

Not from nerves.

Not from fear.

From hope.

Tonight, he planned to give Annie a piece of his heart wrapped in something real. Something soft but certain. And he was going to show her exactly why she should believe in them again.

The Mississippi sun was melting into the trees, streaking the sky with gold and fire as the Moore twins walked the gravel path leading to the town park. The kind of humid, heavy evening where everything felt slower.

Elijah, fourteen and nervous, tugged at the stiff white collar of his button-up. It was his only nice shirt he own. The one they usually saved for church or funerals. His hands were clammy, his stomach doing flips like he was about to step in front of a judge instead of a girl.

Beside him, Stack walked like he didn’t have a care in the world. Same age, same face, but everything about him was louder, bolder, slicker.

“You gon’ strangle yourself with that collar,” Stack said, slapping Smoke’s hand away. “Quit fidgetin’. You actin’ like you meetin’ her daddy, not Annie.”

Smoke sighed. “You sure this don’t look stupid?”

“It looks fine. You clean, you don’t stink, and your breath smells like peppermint. That’s all you need at.” Stack glanced over with a grin. “Well… that and game. Which is why you got me.”

“Oh Lord,” Smoke muttered, already regretting bringing him along.

“Rule number one,” Stack said, raising a finger dramatically, “you gotta hit her with a compliment right out the gate. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Soon as she step out the car, hit her with it.”

Smoke looked skeptical. “What I’m supposed to say? ‘You look nice’?”

“Hell no,” Stack said, appalled. “You tell her, ‘Annie, the sun mad tonight… ‘cause Naomi Campbell just walked up in the park.’ Boom. Done.”

Smoke frowned. “That don’t even make sense.”

“Don’t matter,” Stack said, tossing a Jolly Rancher into his mouth. “It ain’t about logic. It’s about confidence. You say it like you mean it, and she’ll be blushin’ all over them pretty cheeks.”

Smoke gave a nervous laugh, shaking his head. “You sound like you rehearsed that in the mirror.”

“Maybe I did,” Stack said with a smirk. “Point is, you got this. Annie like you. Anybody with eyes can see that. And you might walk around all quiet like Daddy when he sober, but when you talk to her? You light up.”

Smoke’s smile faded just a little at the mention of their father, but he didn’t say anything.

They crossed the corner where the street met the edge of the park. The sound of summer surrounded them. The kids laughing, grills sizzling, the buzz of the projector being tested at the drive-in screen set up across the grass. It was movie night, and half the town had come out with lawn chairs and coolers.

“I’m meetin’ Keisha over by the bleachers,” Stack said, adjusting his collar like he was about to walk into a photoshoot. “She said she saved me a spot on the blanket. Brought Twizzlers and everything.”

“You look like you brought too much ego,” Smoke said, eyes scanning for Annie.

“I’m just tryin’ to make a memory,” Stack said with a wink. “You should too. The first date’s important. It sticks with you.”

Smoke was about to respond when he heard the familiar growl of an old pickup rolling up. His pulse skipped.

The beat-up green truck pulled into the dirt lot by the basketball courts. He knew that truck. Everyone did.

Annie’s daddy.

Stack elbowed him. “Game time, Romeo.”

The passenger door opened, and there she was. Annie Baptiste, in a soft blue sundress with little white flowers and white sandals that showed off her painted toes. Her curls framed her face perfectly, catching the last of the sun. She stepped out with that calm grace she always had, like nothing ever rushed her.

Smoke’s breath caught.

Stack leaned in again. “Say it.”

“What?”

“The line, man. Naomi Campbell!”

But Smoke ignored him, taking a step forward as Annie turned toward them.

Her eyes found his almost immediately, and she smiled soft, bright, and just for him.

That smile made Smoke feel like maybe he didn’t need to say anything at all.

And just like that, everything else faded in the background. The sound of the crowd, the buzz of the projector, even Stack’s teasing.

At that moment, there was only her.

And the beginning of something he knew would stay with him for a long, long time.

The soft clink of a belt buckle brought Smoke back to the present. He blinked, realizing he’d been staring into the mirror, his fingers frozen mid-loop. His mind had drifted back to that summer evening, that yellow sundress, and the way Annie smiled like he was the only boy in the world.

It had been years, but the memory sat fresh on his chest like it happened just last night.

He finished buckling his belt, his movements slower now, a little more thoughtful.

Funny, how one smile could follow a man for most of his life.

Stack, now stretched out on the bed with his phone in one hand and a bottle of cologne in the other, didn’t notice the shift in his brother’s mood.

Smoke pulled on his tan boots, clean and rugged while let out a soft breath.

“She was somethin’ else back then,” he said quietly.

Stack glanced up. “Annie?”

Smoke nodded, still tying his laces. “First date, I was nervous as hell. You remember that night?”

Stack smirked. “Do I? I gave you all the lines. You still ain’t use ‘em.”

“Didn’t need ‘em,” Smoke muttered with a crooked grin. “She smiled at me and I forgot the whole damn speech.”

Stack chuckled. “Yeah, she always had that power over you. You was walkin’ ‘round like a baby deer for a week after.”

Smoke didn’t deny it. He stood and grabbed his favorite watch from the dresser. The worn leather band hugged the edge of his snake tattoo, inked and curling down his forearm like it had always belonged there.

“That’s more like it,” Stack said, standing up and brushing imaginary lint off Smoke’s shoulder. “Now don’t forget this—”

He reached over to the nightstand and clipped the thin diamond chain around Smoke’s neck. It caught the light just right, subtle but sharp. “That necklace still hits, especially with that clean white trim shirt I picked.”

Smoke glanced at himself in the mirror. Stack had styled him casual, but polished. Crisp white short-sleeved button-up trimmed at the collar, dark Levi denim that fit just right, and those tan boots that made him look like he walked straight out of a GQ spread… if GQ featured Mississippi men who could build a deck and break a heart in the same day.

Stack grinned proudly. “You look good, bruh. Like a man who’s about to get his woman back.”

“You sure I don’t look like I’m trying to hard?”

“Nah,” Stack laughed. “You look like Elijah Moore. The grown version. Rugged and fine. Annie gon’ be speechless.”

Smoke straightened the collar slightly. “Long as she don’t laugh, I’ll take it.”

They both chuckled, and the air warmed with that rare, easy joy that only came from years of surviving hard times together.

But under it all, Smoke’s heart was pounding and not with fear this time, but something heavier. Hope.

He glanced at the clock.

“This time,” he murmured, more to himself than his brother, “I’m doing it right.” Tonight, he planned to show Annie just how serious he was.

Stack gave Smoke one final approving nod. “Alright, Mr. GQ. You ready.”

Smoke adjusted the collar on his white shirt once more, then reached for his wallet and keys on the dresser. “Almost. Gotta run a few errands, with final touches and whatnot.”

Stack raised a brow. “Final touches? Man, this date soundin’ like a proposal the way you plannin’ it.”

Smoke shot him a dry look. “It ain’t a proposal, but I ain’t leavin’ nothin’ to chance. I got somethin’ to prove.”

Stack folded his arms, his tone teasing but sincere. “She gon’ see it, bruh. She already do.”

Smoke looked over, paused a beat, then gave a nod of appreciation. “Thanks.”

Then he clapped his brother on the back. “That said… as much as I love you, Elias, you gotta get the hell up outta my house.”

Stack burst into laughter. “Damn nigga, I can’t even ride with you? Be your date’s stylist in case her earrings clash?”

“Hell no nigga!” Smoke said, already moving toward the stairs. “This is solo mission territory. You done your part. Now go home, change your own damn clothes, and stop tryna live vicariously through me.”

“Whatever,” Stack grinned, grabbing his phone and sliding it in his back pocket. “I’ll expect a full report by midnight.”

“Don't wait up,” Smoke called behind him. “I’m tryna make her forget what time it is.”

Stack shook his head, laughing to himself as he followed his brother out. “Lord have mercy. This man tryna bring romance back.”

Smoke stopped by the door, keys in hand, a crooked grin spreading on his lips. “Nah. I’m tryna bring me back.”

He stepped outside into the sun, heart beating fast, ready to spend the rest of the day making damn sure Annie Baptiste remembered exactly who Elijah Moore was and what he was worth.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

The house creaked soft beneath the weight of the Delta heat. Outside, cicadas whined like power lines and the air was thick with the scent of honeysuckle and clay. Inside, a ceiling fan ticked lazy overhead while sunlight poured through the kitchen window in golden streaks.

Annie dragged herself in, bonnet crooked, eyes still puffy with sleep. She was barefoot in an old Jackson State T-shirt, moving like someone who got in just a little too late.

At the kitchen table, her mother sipped sweet tea from a cloudy Mason jar, a thin brow arched without saying a word. Her reading glasses sat low on her nose, and a worn copy of Essence Magazine lay folded beside her plate of toast and peach preserves.

"Bout time you came out that room," her mother said without looking up. "Sun been out so long I thought it gave up on you."

Annie yawned, grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge. "Good afternoon, Mama."

"Mmhm," her mama hummed. "So... how was it?"

Annie turned, cautious. "How was what?"

Her mama lowered her glasses and gave her a pointed look. "Don't act brand new, Annie. You went out to the Cypress Lounge last night, didn’t you?"

Annie blinked, lips twitching into a guilty smile. "I did."

Her mother smirked slightly. "Mmhm. With Pearline, right? You told me. Said you were just going to catch up."

"And that’s what we did," Annie replied quickly. "Hung out at the bar, saw Cornbread still bouncing folks at the door, danced with a couple fellas, watched Lil Sammie tear that stage up. That boy can sing."

"What about Stack? How is he doing?"

Annie chuckled. "Caught up with him too. He’s doing good. Looks like he got it all together now."

"Uh huh. And Elijah?" her mother asked, too casual.

Annie hesitated. Took a long sip of water. "What about him?"

"Don’t play with me. You know damn well what I mean."

"We talked," Annie admitted.

"Just talked?"

"And he asked me out," Annie added with a sigh, bracing herself.

Her mother straightened in her seat. "Oh? And when is this date happening?"

"Today at six."

Her mother leaned back, eyes studying her like an x-ray. "Lord. And you said yes?"

"I said one date," Annie clarified, holding up a finger. "One."

Now her mama leaned back in the chair, crossing her arms, lips curling into something amused and knowing. “And you know where he takin’ you?”

“Nope,” Annie said, popping the ‘p’ with a sigh. “Didn’t get that far in the conversation. Just told him to pick me up by six.”

Annie took a slow breath, shoulders lifting slightly. “I don’t know what I still feel, Mama. But I figured… if I said no without even tryin’, I’d regret it.”

Her mother stared at her for a moment, then smiled soft. “Fair enough. Just be careful with that heart of yours. It’s strong, but it’s still yours to protect.”

“I will.”

“And put some lotion on them knees before you go anywhere. Looking like you been wrestling in flour.”

“Mama!”

Now freshly shower and all lotion up, Annie stood in front of her open suitcase, arms folded under her chest, eyes narrowed like she was staring down a personal enemy.

Clothes were everywhere draped over the chair, hanging halfway out the drawer, even tossed across the little fan box she brought from Chicago.

“Okay,” she mumbled, pulling out a lilac sundress and holding it up to her body, “this says church picnic… not first date with the man who broke your teenage heart.”

She tossed it onto the bed and sighed, reaching back into the chaos.

“Do I go casual-cute? Or prim and proper? Or... grown and sexy?”

She stopped mid-rummage, narrowing her eyes.“No. Not sexy. He ain’t gettin’ the wrong idea. This ain’t that kind of party.”

She yanked out a short white romper with gold buttons and studied it in the mirror. “Mmm... This says I’m a walking daydream, but also says please touch me, and he don't need that kind of encouragement.”

Toss.

She bent over and found a baby blue halter top. Simple. Clean. Then she saw the light denim shorts tucked underneath it like they'd been waiting on her to remember who she was.

She held them both up.

“Now see... this says, you missed this. It says, I been doing just fine without you, but also you might wanna try again just to be sure.”

She smirked and stepped into the shorts, adjusting the waistband so they hit just right. She slipped into the halter top and turned to the mirror.

Her short curls, freshly set in rollers all morning, bounced free around her face like polished springs. She leaned closer and fluffed the sides.

“Annie,” she told her reflection, “you better not fall for a damn word he say. But you will look good while you ignore him.”

She clipped on her silver hoops, smoothed the hem of her halter, and opened her jewelry pouch. Her fingers lingered on the soft velvet box containing her diamond tennis bracelet.

“Daddy ain’t spend no thousands for it to collect dust.”

She fastened it to her wrist, then slipped on her white strappy sandals. Not too high. Not too flat. Just enough to show off the fresh white polish on her toes.

With one last look in the mirror, she gave a quick twirl, then stopped herself.

“Okay, girl. That’s enough. We ain’t tryna give him a reason to breathe heavy.”

A glance at her phone showed 5:42 p.m.

Her stomach did a little nervous flip.

“Alright, Lord. Be a breeze and a boundary.”

Annie had just finished adjusting her silver hoops when her phone buzzed on the nightstand, screen flashing: Pearline

She smirked, picking it up and sliding her finger across.

“You don’t miss a beat, do you?”

Pearline’s voice came through loud and nosey.

“Girl! I been waitin’ all day to call. You ready for your little secret date?”

Annie walked over to the mirror, fluffing her curls one last time.

“First of all, it ain’t secret. Second of all… it ain’t that deep.”

Pearline laughed.

“Oh, so we lyin’ today? Okay. Cool. Let me lie too. I'm not eatin’ peach cobbler right now straight from the dish.”

Annie laughed despite herself. “You a mess.”

“Mmhm, and you lookin’ cute, ain’t you?” Pearline said, all knowing. “I know you ain’t letting that man pick you up lookin’ regular.”

Annie looked at her reflection and shrugged, though her smile gave her away.

“Just threw something on.”

“Lies. I bet you in them little shorts with your legs out, skin glistenin’, bracelet sparklin’—lemme find out you out here tryna ruin that man.”

Annie grinned wide, looking down at the bracelet on her wrist.

“I just wanted to remind him who he lost, that’s all.”

Pearline sucked her teeth. “Oop! She got her foot on his neck already.”

“I ain’t doin’ nothin’,” Annie said with faux innocence. “I’m just goin’ on a date.”

“With the same man you said you wasn’t even checkin’ for last night. Now look at you—heart racin’, tryin’ to act cool, talkin’ ‘bout it ‘ain’t that deep.’ Girl, please.”

Annie flopped onto the bed, the sound of her laugh soft and breathy.

“You right. I’m a little nervous,” she admitted quietly.

Pearline’s tone gentled. “Aww. You got butterflies?”

“Not butterflies,” Annie muttered, fiddling with the hem of her halter top. “Maybe just… a breeze.”

Pearline laughed again. “Whatever it is, I hope it go how you want it to. And if he act up, just call me and I’ll pull up with a belt.”

Annie giggled. “Please don’t. I already got enough pressure just tryna look like I didn’t spend all day gettin’ ready.”

“Well, mission accomplished. You ready.”

Before Annie could respond, she heard tires crunching in the gravel outside.

She stood up slow and walked to the window, peeking through the blinds. Her heart did that annoying flutter again.

“He here?” Pearline asked.

Annie took a breath.

“He here.”

Pearline’s voice brightened.

“Alright then. Go be cute. Call me after. I wanna know everything from the appetizer to the kiss goodnight.”

“Girl, goodbye!” Annie laughed and hung up, her stomach now officially dancing.

She slipped her phone into her purse, glanced at herself one last time, and whispered: “You got this.”

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

The Mississippi sun was just beginning to dip when Smoke’s truck rumbled into Annie’s gravel driveway. The heat of the day had softened, casting the sky in a warm haze of gold and blush. Smoke rested his arm against the open window, tapping the steering wheel slowly, eyes trained on the front porch.

Everything was set. He had double-checked the details of the date before leaving the house. Jericho had everything in place, the horses were saddled, and the spread for dinner was chilling on ice. All that was left was her.

He climbed out the truck and started up the porch steps. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open.

There she stood.

Annie.

She wore a light blue denim short set that hugged her hips just right, with a blue halter top tied behind her neck. Her short curls framed her face, bouncing softly as she moved. Silver hoops glinted beneath the porch light, and her diamond tennis bracelet shimmered on her wrist. The white sandals wrapped around her feet like silk.

Smoke felt the air leave his lungs.

"Evenin'," she said casually, arms folded under her chest.

He took a slow glance, eyes lingering on the curve of her thighs, the slope of her waist. Goddamn. She was always fine, but tonight? She looked like a memory wrapped in something dangerous.

"Evenin'," he returned, his voice lower than he meant it to be.

Annie arched a brow. "You just gon’ stare or you wanna tell me where we headed?"

Smoke smirked, leaning against the porch rail. "Nah. You’ll see when we get there."

She rolled her eyes but followed him down the steps toward the truck.

He opened the passenger door for her, stepping back as she climbed in. As she passed him, his gaze couldn’t help but drop to the curve of her behind, the way her skin glowed in the falling light. He caught himself and looked away, but not before the image settled deep in his chest.

Annie noticed. Of course she did.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, they sat in silence for a minute. The tension was thick, not hostile, but heavy. The kind that sizzled.

"So," Annie said, adjusting her bracelet, "this whole thing… you been planning it a while?"

Smoke kept his eyes on the road. "Not long. Just wanted to do it right."

She nodded, eyes forward, then turned to glance at him. “You really think a date gon’ fix all that old mess between us?”

Smoke didn’t answer right away. He shifted in his seat, flexing his hand on the wheel.

“Nope.” he said finally. “I don’t think one date will fix anything. But I do think one night can remind you of what’s worth fixing.”

That shut her up for a second.

He glanced over at her. She was biting the corner of her lip.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said.

“Like what?”

“Like you know me.”

Smoke grinned. “I do know you. Better than you think. And I remember the look you give when you tryin’ not to fall.”

Annie scoffed, looking out the window. “Boy, please.”

But her voice lacked the bite she probably intended.

And Smoke felt something stir in his chest.

Tonight wasn’t about perfection. It wasn’t even about forgiveness. It was about possibility. About standing in front of the only woman who ever truly saw him and trying, just once more, to be enough.

And maybe, just maybe… to breathe again.

The soft hum of the truck’s engine filled the space between them, and windows rolled halfway down to let in the thick Mississippi breeze. Cicadas buzzed lazily outside, and in the background, a low crackle played through the truck’s stereo as the opening piano chords of “Breathe Again” by Toni Braxton drifting in the air.

Annie sat with one leg crossed over the other, her short curls bouncing just slightly with the motion of the road. Her scent—something sweet and warm, like vanilla and coconut—was driving Smoke half mad. He kept his eyes on the road, but he could feel her watching him from the corner of her eye.

“You not gon’ tell me where we goin’?” she asked, her voice light, but with that familiar edge.

Smoke grinned. “Nope.”

Annie raised a brow. “You know, I don’t usually get in cars with men who won’t tell me where they takin’ me.”

“Well, good thing I ain’t just any man.”

That earned him a soft chuckle. “Still got that mouth, I see.”

Smoke glanced her way, just long enough to drink her in—those bare shoulders catching sunlight, her skin glowing, her legs looking like temptation incarnate under those light blue denim shorts. He gripped the wheel a little tighter.

“You know you wrong for wearin’ that,” he muttered.

Annie smirked. “Wearing what?”

“That whole outfit. Lookin’ like a sin and a half before sundown.”

She laughed, turning her face to the window to hide the faint blush rising in her cheeks. “I just threw somethin’ on.”

“Uh huh. You threw it on just right.”

A moment of quiet passed between them. The pine trees blurred by outside, the road stretching on, humming beneath the tires. Smoke drummed his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.

“You look good, though. Real good,” he said after a beat.

Annie turned back to him, her expression unreadable. “You always were good at compliments, Elijah.”

“I ain’t complimentin’. I’m speakin’ facts.”

She didn’t answer right away. Then:

“This don’t change anything, you know,” she said. “One date don’t mean I’m forgettin’ everything that happened before.”

“I don’t want you to forget,” Smoke said calmly. “I want you to remember. Then I want to show you who I am now.”

Annie went quiet again, the weight of his words settling in the air like dust.

After a moment, she looked over at him. “So what happens if I don’t feel nothin’ after this?”

Smoke gave her a slow, side glance and smiled. “Then I’ll let you go. But you’ll feel somethin’. I promise you that.”

Annie rolled her eyes, but there was a slight curve to her lips now. “Cocky.”

“Confident,” he corrected, easing the truck around a bend. “Big difference.”

The wooden sign for Jericho’s farm came into view up ahead, partially hidden by the trees. Smoke slowed down, his heart picking up speed.

Annie squinted through the windshield. “This ain’t no restaurant…”

“Nope,” he said.

“You takin’ me to a damn farm, Elijah?”

“Maybe,” he said with a smirk, turning down the gravel path.

Annie shook her head, but he could hear the smile in her voice. “This better not be no foolishness.”

He chuckled. “It’s not. You trust me?”

Annie looked over at him again. The pause that followed was long and loaded.

“…I’m tryin’.”

Smoke nodded, the gravel crunching under the tires as they pulled closer to the open pasture. The sun had dipped just enough to cast a golden glow over the field, and two saddled horses stood waiting by the fence, along with a small table under a tree draped in white linen and a vintage record player sitting beside it.

Annie blinked. “Elijah…”

He put the truck in park and turned to her fully now. “Just wanted to give you somethin’ you’d remember. Even if this is the last time I get to.”

For a second, Annie didn’t say a word. She just stared out the window at the quiet setup completely caught off guard.

She turned to him slowly, arms crossed. “You planned all this?”

“I told you I wasn’t playin’.”

Annie opened her door slowly, sandals crunching against the gravel. Smoke came around to her side. He tried not to look, but he did. His eyes tracing the curve of her behind as she walked ahead of him. It made his mouth go dry.

She turned around with a raised brow, clearly catching him.

“Mmhm,” she said. “Better stop starin’ before your retinas burn out.”

Smoke smiled. “Too late. You blinded me years ago.”

“You cheesy.”

“You like it.”

She didn’t answer that, just stood there, watching as he stepped ahead and nodded toward the horses. “Come on. Let’s ride.”

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

TAGLIST:

“ Everything is finalized. You’re officially a single woman. Congratulations Y/N! “ Your lawyer texted making you smile before locking your phone up and sliding it in your pocket.

After a long year, your divorce from your husband of 4 years was finalized. The divorce took a toll on you but thankfully you had Annie and Smoke in your life. You met Annie 3 years ago when moved to Chicago and started working at a law firm she was currently working for. When you first met her, you couldn’t get over how breathtaking and intelligent she was. Everyday she made sure her outfit outshined others and she outshined 10x more in the court room.

She was fierce and never backed down from a fight. Over time, you and Annie became close and you eventually met her husband Smoke. Annie was already intimidating enough but when you met Smoke, he was on another level. Smoke is the leader of his own tactical unit in the Army. Every room he stepped in, he grabbed everyone’s attention. He exuded dominance that made you feel small and submissive to him.

Whenever you would see Annie or Smoke, your heart would start thumping through your chest. Sometimes you could barely think straight whenever you’re around them. You didn’t know you could be attracted to a couple until you met them. Annie’s bright smile and eyes filled your heart and her beautiful brown skin and thick figure made your body turn warm. Smoke didn’t make it any better with the way he carried himself. In all your years being married, your ex never had this effect on you, not this strong.

When you learned they were opening their relationship a year ago, you were in shock. You always imagined yourself being their 3rd and while you never said anything, your eyes said it all. There have been many instances where Annie or Smoke caught you eyeing them without you realizing it. They knew for awhile how you felt about them and they were waiting for you to say something but as time went on, they knew you were going to be too shy to speak up.

Currently, you’re in your office typing away on your computer when you heard 3 light knocks on your door.

“ Come in! “ You yelled. You looked up to see Annie walking in wearing This and smiling.

“ Goodmorning. Wait, why am I noticing a different vibe with you this morning? Is the divorce finalized? “ Annie asked while reading your body language.

“ Yes! I got a message this morning from my lawyer. I’m officially a single woman! “ You smiled as she smiled in excitement while making her way around your desk.

“ Congratulations! I’m so happy this is finally over and you can move on. Come here. “ Annie smiled while extending her arms. You stood up and hugged her in a warm embrace.

You didn’t know how long you both were hugging but it felt so right. You felt her hands rubbing towards your lower back and nearly melted into her. You cleared your throat and pulled back while trying not to appear flustered.

“ So now that that’s over with, now I only have to worry about this crazy murder trial. Today is closing statements. “ You sighed while sitting back down.

“ How do you feel about it? “ Annie asked while leaning against your desk.

“ Good. It’s pretty straightforward. His defense team is doing their best to drag this out but it’s done. This has been stressful but today is the last day. “ You sighed while sitting back in your chair.

“ Well I already know you’re going to win. With your divorce being finalized and this case being finished, I think we should celebrate. Smoke is off today so we could have a little fun tonight. I’ll have him cook for us while we drink. “ Annie says making you giggle.

“ Sounds like a plan. “

“ Good. Wear that yellow sundress. We love seeing it on you.“ Annie says before walking out and leaving you surprised.

While you were left with your thoughts, Annie went into her office while calling Smoke on FaceTime.

“ Hey baby. I’m surprised you’re calling right now, it must be slow at the office? “ He answered.

“ Hey babe, not really. I wanted to call and tell you that Y/N is coming over tonight and I thought tonight would be the perfect time to tell her how we feel. “ Annie suggested.

“ Oh yeah? Her divorce must be finalized. “

“ It was just finalized today and her trial ended today as well. She agreed to come by and I told her to wear that dress we like. She always looks good in everything but this dress is different. “ Annie says while starting to look off and fantasize.

“ She always looks sexy in that dress. I bet you’re thinking about taking her out of that dress right now. “ Smoke chuckled while looking at her facial expression.

“ Shutup. She’s just beautiful. She really is the missing piece to our relationship and we can treat her how she deserves to be treated. “ Annie smiled.

“ I agree. I can start working on breaking that shyness off of her. She always act so shy around me. “ Smoke chuckled.

“ You make her nervous. You have that effect on a lot of people but she’s nervous because she likes you and you’re very intimidating. “

“ I know. I’ll start getting the food prepared for tonight. I love you. “ Smoke says.

“ I love you more. “ Annie smiles before hanging up.

The only thing Annie could think about was tonight. She was excited and anxious to finally tell you the truth. It was hard being with you everyday without telling you how she felt. From the moment Smoke and Annie met you, they knew you were the one. Since you were still married, they kept their feelings hidden.

As the day went past, the night skies came rolling in and you were pulling into Annie and Smoke’s driveway. You sat in the car for a few minutes with your heart pounding through your chest in nervousness. You took a deep breath before getting out in your dress. After walking to the front door and knocking, Smoke opens up the door wearing plain black tshirt that hugged his biceps just right and black pants.

“ The woman of the hour finally made it. You look beautiful in this dress. Come in “ Smoke smiled while eyeing you up down and making you blush. Smoke stood to the side as you walked in

“ Thank you. It smells amazing in here. “ You say while hugging him. He wrapped his arms around you in a warm tight embrace that made you want to melt into him.

“ Thank you. Annie is upstairs finishing up but the steaks just got done, come try and piece and tell me what you think. “ Smoke says while guiding you into the kitchen with his hand on your lower back.

His hand placement had your heart pounding in nervousness and excitement. He walked you to kitchen island and cut you a piece before feeding it to you while holding eye contact. It felt like your heart was through your chest at this point. Unknowingly, Annie was standing behind a wall and watching with a smirk on her face.

You ate the piece and quickly looked away while blushing. Smoke smirked and wiped his thumb on the side of your mouth to clean up the juices from the steak and sucked his thumb clean leaving you in shock.

“ So tell me what you think? “ He asks while ignoring what just happened.

“ Uhh.. It’s perfect. I can’t wait to have the full dish. “ You cleared your throat as your body started to get hot.

“ Good. When Annie told me earlier that your big case was ending and your divorce was finalized, I knew we had to celebrate. “

“ Thank you for doing this. It’s been a long road. “

“ It sure has and for that, we gotta bring out the good bottles tonight. “ Annie says while making her presence known as she walked in the kitchen.

When she came into your view, you couldn’t take your eyes off her. She wore a black off shoulder dress that hugged her thick and curvy figure just right. She walked over to her wine rack and slightly bent over to grab a bottle. Smoke watched with a smirk on his face as you eyed her down in hunger.

“ How’s this? “ Annie asked while holding the bottle up and snapping you out of your trance.

“ Perfect. I really love that dress on you. “ You complimented.

“ Thank you love. I only wear this for special occasions and special people. “ She smiled while grabbing 3 glasses before pouring the wine.

You smiled and blushed before grabbing the glass she handed to you. After eating together in the kitchen, you all went into the living room and sat on the couch. You and Annie sat on the couch together while Smoke sat in the reclining chair that was beside the couch.

“ So hows the search for your 3rd companion been going? “ You asked before sipping your glass.

“ We actually have our eye on someone but we want to make sure we make the right approach and we also want to make sure that she’s ready. “ Annie responded.

“ Really? Tell me about her. “

“ She’s absolutely stunning. I love hearing her laugh and seeing her smile. Her brilliance, sense of humor, and just her as a whole is amazing. I see her daily but she’s always busy with her cases. I think she likes me and Smoke too but she’s too shy. “ Annie says while looking at you as she sipped her drink. Smoke got up and sat on the other side of you making your heart pound in your chest.

“ She’s right. I don’t think I have a better way to describe her. The only question is, does she feel the same? “ Smoke asked as Annie sat hers and your glass on the table before bringing her attention back to you.

“ Yeah Y/N, do you? “ Annie asked while sitting facing you. When you felt her finger tips come in contact with your exposed thigh, you gasped softly before looking at her.

“ For a while now, we always knew you were our missing piece. We always wanted to tell you but you were going through so much and we wanted you to have a clear head. “ Annie continued.

“ We know you feel the same. You were always too shy to admit it. Now we just need to hear you say it. “ Smoke spoke up.

“ I do feel the same. “ You say in relief while looking at him before turning towards Annie.

When your eyes laid on hers, she leaned in and kissed you by surprise. You moaned and kissed back while feeling them bring each of your legs back over their lap before rubbing your slit through your panties.

“ I can feel how wet you are already. I know you taste as good as you look. “ Annie says while looking into your eyes before moving your leg and sliding down to the floor.

She reached up your dress to pull down your panties while you turned your attention to Smoke and he kisses you. Feeling his grope and rub your chest for electrifying. He pushed down the straps of your dress and pulled down the top of your dress to expose your chest. While being distracted by Smoke, Annie held your legs back before burying her lips in your pussy and sucking between your lips while moving her head in a circular motion.

You moaned into Smoke’s mouth as he slid in his tongue. When his fingers came in contact with your nipple, your back arched off the couch while moaning. Smoke pulls away and starts kissing up your jawline. You threw your head back and enjoyed them pleasing you.

“ Oh my God this feels so good.. “ You moaned with your eyes closed and with your hand on Annie’s head.

Annie exposed your clit before lapping her tongue against it while moaning. She felt your legs tense up and kept them pinned back while your taste coated her tongue. Smoke brought one of your legs back over his lap and held it back to give Annie more access.

“ Don’t close up on her, she’s not done. “ Smoke says into your ear making you whimper.

Annie wasn’t letting up on your clit. She sucked and slurped you repeatedly making your legs tremble. You held the back of your head and started to grind your pussy against her tongue while she looked up at you with lust filled in her eyes.

“ Oh fuck! “ You moaned out with your head thrown back.

“ Good girl.. use my wife’s tongue to make you cum.. cum all in her mouth so we can taste it…“ He says into your ear making you melt.

When his fingers came in contact with your erect nipple, you were nearly sent over the edge. As you continued to fuck her face, your body froze and started to twitch as your orgasm hit you hard.

“ Shit! “ You moaned out before lying there trying to catch your breath. Annie licked you clean before getting up and tongue kissing Smoke beside you.

“ She tastes so good doesn’t she? “ Annie asks after pulling away.

“ So damn good. We gotta take this upstairs. “

Smoke stood you and him up before he threw you over his shoulder. You giggled and held onto his back as he carried you upstairs with Annie following. After being laid on the bed, Smoke pulled your dress off of you leaving you bare on the bed. Annie stripped out of her dress revealing her thick figure and heavy breasts. Your mouth watered as you eyed her down. Annie got down on her knees in front of Smoke and started to undo his pants.

You sat up and watched as his pants fell to his ankles and his 9 inches was free. Your eyes widened at the size of him and Annie giggled at your expression.

“ He’s so big isn’t he? “ Annie asked while jerking him off slowly and making you nod.

Annie chuckled before spitting on his tip and sucking on him slowly while taking him in inch by inch. Smoke hissed while closing his eyes. You got down on your knees beside her and started to suck on his balls.

“ Oh shit.. “ Smoke groaned as chills were sent up his spine.

As you popped them out of your mouth, Annie started to deep throat him leaving you in shock and awe. She pulled him out of her mouth with spit trailing along and moved you in front of Smoke. She held your hair back as you sucked in his tip slowly while looking up at him.

“ Fuck yes.. “ Annie moaned while watching you as your mouth got filled.

When you felt his tip enter your throat, you started to gag around him and begin to pull back but only for Annie to hold the back of your head and keep you there. Smoke groaned as you gagged and lather spit around him. He started to thrust into your mouth slowly while looking into your watery eyes.

“ Look at that pretty face filled with my dick.. You’re so perfect.. “ Smoke says before biting his lip.

“ Yes she is.. “ Annie agreed before positioning herself behind you and rubbing all over your ass and breasts.

You placed your hands around his length and started to suck while jerking him off simultaneously.

“ Fuck.. Good girl.. “ Smoke moaned before closing his eyes to listen to the wet sounds of your mouth. He tasted so good, you didn’t want to stop. As you continued sucking, Annie watched while rubbing her pussy and moaning.

“ You’re sucking him so good.. how does it feel baby? “ Annie asks Smoke while looking up at him.

“ She’s gonna make me cum in her mouth sucking me like this.. “ Smoke groaned while holding the back of your head.

He moved your hands and buried himself in your throat before pulling out. Annie wasted no time licking up the trail of spit from his tip to your lips and tongue kissing you sloppily while holding your neck. Annie guided you to the bed and laid back before spreading her legs and allowing you to crawl between them. With your back arched, you kissed Annie while she rubbed your body.Smoke took off the rest of his clothes and stood behind you before slowly slipping in from behind.

“ Oh shit! “ You moaned out after breaking the kiss. He slid in slowly while groaning from your walls gripping him tightly.

“ Damn, you’re so tight. I’m stretching you real good tonight. “ He chuckled while you moaned and whimpered.

“ You’re so big.. fuck! “

“ You can handle him baby. “ Annie says in a reassuring tone while holding the side of your face.

As he started to thrust steadily with his hands on your waist, your mouth dropped as your eyebrows scrunched together. He felt so big and full inside you. You could barely moan completely as he took you from behind.

“ Damn baby.. you’re gripping daddy real good. “ Smoke groaned before smacking your ass.

Annie scooted up from under you until her pussy was in your face. You licked her slit before sucking on her flesh while moaning from Smoke’s consistent thrusts. Annie moaned while groping her breast and keeping her legs spread eagle. Your tongue found her clit and her legs tensed up.

“ Shit.. Eat that pussy mama.. Make mommy cum all in your mouth.. “ Annie moaned with her head thrown back.

You swirled your tongue and slurped around her clit at the same time making Annie moan louder. Smoke bit his lip watching you make her cum. After swallowing every drop, Smoke wrapped your hair in his fist and pulled it before resuming his deep thrusts. Your mouth dropped and your eyes fell to the back of your head from his powerful thrusts.

“ Ooo look at that face.. he’s hitting it real good isn’t he? “ Annie asks while she cupped your face while you were still between her legs. You couldn’t speak but your face said it all.

“ Make her cum hard daddy.. “ Annie moaned while looking into his eyes.

Smoke lifted his leg up and started digging deeper and hitting your spot harder making your moans become trapped in your throat. Smoke groaned loudly feeling you grip him tightly as he continued to pumping his length.

“ Oh shit! “ You finally moaned out as your strong orgasm finally passed.

Smoke released your hair and pulled you up by the front of your neck before turning your face towards him and kissing you sloppily. Smoke pulls away and lays back on the bed before pulling you up to sit on his face. Annie straddled his lap and sank down on his length while hissing and moaning. As she started to ride him, Smoke hooked his arms around your thighs and started to feast on you.

You and Annie were both moaning uncontrollably. Smoke enjoyed every moment of being used. He reached and pulled your hood back from over your clit before flicking his tongue over it and sucking it repeatedly. Your legs immediately tensed up and your moans grew louder.

“ Daddy! Fuck you’re going make me cum again.. “ You whimpered as your body trembled from the intense pleasure.

You and Annie were moaning so loudly, you wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbors heard. After cumming in Smoke’s mouth, you got off his face and kissed him before turning your attention to Annie. While still in top, Annie held herself up with her hands behind her and started to bounce the bottom half of her body. You sat on your knees beside her and started rubbing her hard clit and sucking on her erect nipples.

“ Yes! Oh my God yes! “ Annie moaned with her head thrown back.

“ Mhmm.. keep bouncing on that pussy on me baby.. “ Smoke groaned while watching you both in awe.

He pictured this moment many times and now that it’s reality, he couldn’t be happier. As she continued on, Smoke started to feel that familiar feeling in her lower stomach making him breathe heavily while groaning.

“ Fuck.. you both are about to cum.. make that mess so I can clean it up.. “ You moaned sending them both over the edge, as their orgasms came crashing down, you pulled Smoke’s dick out of her and started to suck slowly while moaning at their taste on his length.

Smoke groaned and his body twitched from you sucking on his sensitive tip. You popped him out of your mouth and licked up his seed that was spilling out of Annie. She moaned while biting her lip before you leaned up and tongue kissed her sloppily while Smoke watched.

“ Damn.. I see Y/N wasn’t so shy after all. She just needed some push to come out. “ Smoke asked making you both giggle and lay on each side of him while cuddling in his arms.

“ I did. I think we’re going to be great together. “ You smiled.

“ We do too. “ Annie smiled in return.

Reaching their daughter's grave, he placed the flowers down by it and traced the small hand print on the stone. His fingers tingled remembering the small hand that had held his finger years ago. "Papa's here" He calmed her cries that remained in his mind. From his crouched position on the ground, he looked over his shoulder at the shack's back door and saw it was shut. Either she didn't notice him or she's ignoring him. Smoke raised to his feet and walked up to the door, knocking twice.

No response.

He peered through the screen door and a gap within the main door behind it, seeing her movements at the main table in the center winding up a root. The screen door covered up many details of her but his heart pounded against his chest from laying eyes on her. He needed to see her clearly.

She definitely heard the knock.

He knocked again though, watching her.

"I don't open the door to haints" Her rich, homely voice sent a shiver down his spine. He missed hearing her so much that her words took a second to register.

"You told me haints don't come out until nightfall" He never forgot the many things she taught him, including the make-believe hoodoo. He didn't really care about it but it was her livelihood, and he believed in her. His right hand ghosted over his jacket above where her mojo bag rested on his chest.

She didn't answer and Smoke watched her leave into the room connected to the main area of her shop. Where her stock was usually kept. He sucked his teeth and stepped back down the stairs towards his daughter again. Crouched down by her, he pondered in silence for a while before his thoughts began tangling in his head.

"Your mother won't let me in" He tapped the hand print stone "Send help". The babbling of his daughter echoing in his memories. "She'll listen to you" He continued talking to her.

He knew he took too long to come back. The plan in Chicago went sideways a few times and Stack and him had to reign it in to bring it back on track. He thought about Annie every day, every night, nearly drove all the way back to her one night. Stack kept him grounded in reality of their plan. Being here now, pockets full, he wasn't sure if it was worth it.

But the juke-joint will pay off somehow. They'll make it work. He can provide for his family then.

"Maybe I can-" The sound of her back door opening made him pause his conversation with his daughter and whip his head around, turning on his feet as he stood up straight.

There she stood, holding the door handle on the inside, his view of her clear as the sky. Blue patchwork dress hugging her body sculpted by God. The dreams he had of every part of her kept him going and also made him more insane than he already was before he met her. His feet brought him closer without thinking much of it until he reached the bottom of the steps and she spoke.

"Don't come any closer" She looked down to him with her piercing eyes.

He halted. It hurt but he wasn't going to disobey her.

"You come alone?" Her hand was still on the door, holding on to it as if ready to shut him out for good if he messes up.

"Yeah, Stack is on the other side of town" He held his hands together in front of him, looking up to her. There was silence that hung between their conversation, just staring.

"What you come back for?"

"We bought that ol' saw mill, gonna patch it up, make it into a juke-joint" He kept his composure under her discerning stare, and his fast beating heart. The adrenaline at shoot outs didn't compare to the rush of seeing his wife, let alone talking to her.

A smile played on her face and Smoke tried his best to hold it together.

"A juke-joint" She tilted her head down a little, a habit she has that always flattered her features. "This one of Stack's ideas?"

"Yeah, he figured tonight gonna be grand opening"

Annie chewed the corner of her mouth and rested her free hand on the door frame. "Thought you was done with the Delta, given how you never replied to my letters" Her smile disappearing, replaced by a serious one. "Through with me"

Smoke's mouth parted as his heart leaped to his throat. What the hell did she mea-. "You wrote to me baby?" His voice weaker than he meant to sound.

"Course I did, I was careful, with your plan and all, but I did."

"I didn't get any....We moved around a lot." He looked back and forth between her eyes. "I wanted to write to you but I couldn't risk the trouble we were in, heading back to you"

Her brows furrowed as she kept his eye contact. "You're lying"

That made him mad that she would say that. He placed a foot onto the first step to try and reason with her, get close so he can reassure her but she stood back. So he waited again. "Have I ever lied to you?!" His voice didn't raise but it started off strained. "It was one of my vows, that I never would lie to you"

He could tell she was getting worked up, her chest rising and falling faster and her mouth pursing her lips. It was the sound of kids walking in her front door that brought them both out of their stand-off, she let the screen door hang open and walked towards them. He climed higher and stood just outside the door frame.

"Just this Miss Annie" A small girl held up a jar. "And a pinch of High John". The other girl next to her stared at Smoke.

"Now, don't sell this on the way home, I don't want your mama coming at me crazy later" Annie's voice softened for the two children, gathering some of the High John into a small paper pouch and traded it for money that he clicked wasn't the money that'd work anywhere else.  The wad of real cash sitting fat in his pocket, ready to spend on his wife.

He glanced around the shop while they were discussing a few questions the girls had and realised the place didn't change much from how he remembered. New shelves were added in and Smoke wondered who nailed them to the wall for her. He watched Annie take out the blade from her dress pocket to slice open a packet she pulled from the drawer. Same blade she always carried.

He realised the other girl was still staring at him.

"Miss Annie, who's that man?" She pointed a finger to him.

Annie looked over her shoulder at him, brows raised and he slightly raised a brow back to her, wondering what she'll answer with. "Just someone I know, he means no harm, you can call him Mr Smoke Moore"

The girl with the jar whispered to the other in her ear and the same girl who asked about him had gasped, pointing again to him. "Momma told me you shot Mr Terry and that other guy in the town today!" She blurted out and the other girl smacked her arm shushing her.

Smoke almost laughed if it wasn't for Annie glaring at him, kids always made him laugh. He shrugged his shoulders. "Bo's patching them up" He reasoned and she shook her head, hurrying the children out the shop. On the way out he heard them gossip.

"Momma said Miss Annie was married"

"Mr Moore must of been her husband"

"Momma said the SmokeStack twins rob people"

The corner of his mouth tugged barely into a smile listening to them. First the girl outside of the Chow Family's shop and now these two. All three made him picture what his daughter would of grown up into if she had the chance. The hint of his smile wiped away when Annie approached him again, now more level in their eye contact and closer that he could smell the freshness from her body. Her soaps always had a citrus smell to them.

She gripped the inside door handle again. "Why you here Smoke? What you want with me?"

"We want you to come down to the opening, cook for us" He didn't lie. It was the truth. He just didn't say what was in his heart. She already looked like she wanted to kill him. He'd let her.

"Elijah"

He suppressed a groan of desire at hearing her voice with his real name. His emotions were all mixed up. So much of him is tied to her and he wouldn't have it any other way but it wasn't the time to be horny. Well...if she wanted to....

"It still hurts coming back here, but I told you I'd make so much money we wouldn't have to worry, and I did." His thumb ran over the knuckles of his other hand, maintaining eye contact. "I love you, and I miss you"

Her eyes shake in the eye contact until it breaks and she looks to the floorboards, between where they stood.

One of Smoke's fears before he left her was what if he took too long to come back that she fell out of love with him. When they initially spoke, the fear festered in his mind. But the longer they continued to talk, he knew it, could see it, that she was battling her mind and her heart. She loved him still, but she was hurt. His fault. He took too long.

She raised her head, eyes set firm. "I'll be there" She confirmed.

Smoke lost control a little and leaned towards her but she took a large step back and shut the screen door. "For that crazy brother of yours" She concluded.

She folded her arms under her chest and her hips tilted to the side. They stared at each other again for a moment until Smoke remembered how to speak. "I'll drive you down"

She turned away from him and walked back to the center table. "I don't need your help, I'll ask Grace"

He checked his watch and cursed under his breath at time slipping away from him. If he didn't leave now, it'll postpone the Juke's opening and they were already short on time due to that cracker Hogwood being late. He took one last look at her and turned, walking back down. "I'll see you there Annie, thank you"

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

"So she didn't kill you!" Stack wrapped his arms around Smoke's, squeezing him in a bear hug and Smoke grunted from the force. He held him back by his shoulders and looked over him. "What happened? Is she coming down?" His wide grin glinted with the gold outlining one of his teeth. Smoke shrugged his hands off his shoulders and moved into the barn, glancing around at what needed fixing and where everything would be.

"Why didn't you offer to drive her down?" Stack hovered behind him with his hands on his shoulders again, kneading the muscles. "Did she say no? She isn't coming?"

"She didn't want me to, said she'll go with Grace" Smoke mumbled.

"I'm going by to pick them up soon, dropped Grace off at Annie's house" Bo appeared by their side, staring up at a hole in the ceiling that Smoke was checking out.

Stack cheered at seeing their old friend, Bo pulling him in for a hug "Good man!". He stood back and turned to Smoke again.

"I knew she couldn't resist, I dressed you well so she wouldn't!" He hit Smoke's back and Smoke couldn't help the glare that surfaced, aiming it to him.

"She's coming down to help you, not me" Smoke rubbed the side of his head.

"Really? Her words?" Stack and Bo glanced to each other and then both waited for Smoke to continue but he had enough of the interrogation.

"I'm not doing this, shut up" Smoke marched on forward, figuring out where to go and get away from the two but they trailed behind. He found Cornbread out the back of the barn loading up crates of beer they had smuggled down from Chicago. He greeted his old friend, the taller man happy to see him and asking how he was. They chatted more, helping him carry the crates in to the kitchen area when Stack spoke again.

"Cornbread, how's Annie been? My brother went to see her"

The taller man turned around slowly, eyes wide and watching Smoke. "You-you went to her workplace?" He asked quietly.

Confusion settled on Smoke's face. Why the hell would Cornbread be worried about him visiting his own wife?

"Sure did, what about it?" Smoke stared him down.

"I didn't mean nothing by it Smoke, just that uh..."

"Annie has a rifle" Bo chimed in and Smoke turned to him so fast he nearly lost balance. "Cornbread's thinking why you didn't get shot at".

At that explanation, Stack doubled over and hollered so loud, one hand clutching his stomach and the other smacking the counter top.

~~~~~~~

Stack was leaning against the archway, a little too relaxed, wine already heavy in his hand.

“I’m always civil,” he grinned. “I’m a delight.”

Smoke didn’t say anything at first. Just sat back at the table, stiff as iron, nursing a glass of whisky like medicine. He’d need it tonight. They both would.

“I ain’t lying to nobody,” he muttered, low.

Annie sighed. Not because she disagreed — but because she understood.

They weren’t happy about this. Never had been. Melody had a way of turning Annie into someone else — smaller, unsure. And the boys hated that. Hated watching the bold, beautiful woman they loved contort herself to keep the peace. To keep her peace.

So when Annie told them that Melody was gonna be in town and wanted to visit, the news wasn’t met with enthusiasm.  When they protested she had shut them down, said that special word — family — and the boys knew they didn’t have a chance at dissuading her. 

She laid down the final plate and crossed the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel that didn’t need cleaning. Her shoulders were tight. Her smile too practiced.

Melody was Annie’s half-sister. Same father, different everything else. Product of an affair that tore Annie’s whole world sideways and maybe even took her mother to the grave.

She was pretty, and soft-spoken when it served her. But she had a way of reaching back into Annie’s life like she had a claim to it. Like their shared blood gave her a right to rewrite things. Rewrite her.

Melody said things like they’d grown up hand-in-hand. Like Annie hadn’t spent her real childhood alone, and Melody hadn’t moved in only after her world fell apart. 

She touched too casually. Said too much. Knew too little.

And yet… Annie kept trying. Trying to stitch something together out of all the scraps they’d been handed. Trying to make a family out of splinters.

There was a knock at the door.

The roast was carved. Greens passed. Biscuits buttered and cooling fast.

On the surface, everything looked like a proper supper. But Smoke hadn’t touched much of his food, and Stack had started drinking like the only way through the night was to float on top of it.

Melody leaned back in her chair, swirling her glass like she had something wise to say. Her gaze landed on the cornbread.

“Reminds me of when Mama used to burn the bottoms,” she said with a giggle. “She’d scrape off the black parts with a knife and pretend it was on purpose. Said it ‘kept you humble.’”

Annie’s fork paused mid-air.

Stack didn’t look up, but his mouth twitched.

“You remember that, don’t you?” Melody added, too quick. “That little yellow-handled knife she used for everything?”

Annie swallowed. Set her fork down quiet.

“She wasn’t my mama.”

Melody blinked, like she hadn’t expected that to sting.

“Well—no, obviously,” she said, waving a hand like it was silly to be so exact. “I just meant… your most recent mama. I mean, she was in the house.”

“She was in the house,” Annie said evenly. 

Melody laughed, high and a little breathless, like she could laugh her way out of what just happened.

“Well,” she said, putting her glass down, “family’s funny like that, huh?” She added before placing a hand on Annie’s forearm.

Smoke’s eyes followed the movement with precision.

“So,” Melody said brightly, trying to start a conversation “y’all ever thought about kids?”

The question hung there, syrupy sweet with expectation.

Annie blinked. “We— We’ll know when we’re ready.”

Melody’s husband Frank leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the show.

The man chuckled, low and grating. “Ain’t it about time though? Clock don’t wait forever. ‘Specially for women.”

Smoke’s knuckles tightened around his fork.

“I gotta admit,” he said, folding his arms over his chest, “I didn’t know what to expect, comin’ out here. Lotta stories floatin’ ‘round town.”

Stack’s eyes flicked up from his plate. Smoke didn’t move.

“Oh yeah?” Annie said, keeping her voice polite. “And what kinda stories are those?”

The man shrugged, like he was being reasonable.

“Just… folks wondering how something like this works. Three people under one roof. Two men sharin’ a woman —brothers at that. Sounds more like trouble than a marriage.”

Smoke still didn’t look up. But Annie could feel the shift. Like pressure building under floorboards.

“I mean, hell. Where I’m from, we call that a love triangle, not a household.”

Annie opened her mouth, but Stack beat her to it — voice easy, even playful.

“Well lucky for us, you ain’t from here.”

Melody gave her husband a look — the kind that meant you’re doin’ too much — but he didn’t seem to notice.

“I just think kids need structure,” he said, “Two fathers under one roof? That’s confusion, not discipline.”

Now Smoke looked up. Real slow.

“You do a lot of childrearing yourself?” he asked.

The man blinked. “Beg your pardon?”

“You talkin’ like you got a full house somewhere. How many you got?” the man had a menacing smile plastered on his face.

“…None yet.”

“Then hush.”

The man frowned. Then Frank reached across the table — not for the biscuits, not for the salt. For the gravy boat.

But instead of asking, he leaned in close, placing a steadying hand on Annie’s shoulder as he reached.

His thumb brushed against the strap of her dress.

Too familiar. Too firm.

“’Scuse me, darlin’,” he said, casual like he did it all the time.

It wasn’t the touch — it was the way he didn’t rush to remove it.

Smoke saw it. So did Stack.

And Annie flinched — just slightly — but enough to be noticed.

That should’ve been enough. But Melody’s hand went out — again — brushing Annie’s arm like they were girls sharing secrets instead of strangers dressed in matching last names.

"Mama used to say, ‘Ain’t no shame in wantin’ a real man.’ Guess you took that to heart, huh, sis? You went and got yourself two!"

Annie winced once more. It was soft, but Smoke saw it. And that was the last straw.

Smoke set his glass down. Quiet. Too quiet.

“You need to stop touchin’ her so casually.” he said pointing at the woman.

Melody’s hand stilled against Annie’s arm. Her smile wavered.

“Excuse me?”

“Smoke,” Annie said quickly, trying to smile, trying to control the room. “It’s fine.”

He didn’t blink. “It ain’t.”

Stack leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowed but not joking anymore. “He’s right. You don’t know her like that. You ain’t earned the right.”

Melody’s brows arched, scandalized.

Annie stepped in faster this time, voice low but firm.

“Enough.”

She turned toward Smoke, hand light on his shoulder. His muscles were rigid beneath her palm.

“She’s family,” she said softly. “Let’s not do this right now.”

Stack leaned back, sucked his teeth, clearly biting something back. Smoke didn’t move at all.

“She ain’t family to me,” Smoke muttered.

“She is to me,” Annie snapped. “And that should be enough.”

That silenced the table — just long enough for Melody’s husband to break it again.

“Well,” he said, with a smirk, “nice to see someone wearing the pants in this house.”

Stack’s jaw tightened.

“Stack,” Annie warned, before he could speak.

He didn’t. But the damage was done.

Melody giggled, smoothing her napkin on her lap like nothing had happened.

Annie went to gather the plates.

“Dinner’s done,” she said. “Why don’t we move to the sitting room? I’ll bring coffee.”

She didn’t look at Smoke. Didn’t look at Stack either. She just carried the dishes to the kitchen, heart pounding, wishing it all felt less like a lie.

_

The front door clicked shut.

Silence.

Not the quiet kind, but the loaded kind. The kind that rattled inside your chest and made your ears ring.

Annie stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed tight, like she was bracing for impact.

Smoke’s jaw flexed. Stack didn’t move.

For a beat, nobody breathed.

Annie exhaled, hard. “Don’t start.”

“I ain’t startin’. I’m finishin’. The hell was that?” Smoke’s voice cut through the kitchen.

She turned, dish towel clenched tight in her hands. “What was what, Smoke?”

“You told me to stand down. You just about told Stack to shut up. While they sat at our table, runnin’ they mouths and touchin’ you like they know you.”

“They’re family.”

“No,” he snapped. “They’re not. That man disrespected you. And her? She touched you like she’s the one that tucks you in at night.”

“Stop it.”

Stack stepped in carefully, voice low. “She made you flinch, baby. We saw it. You don’t flinch with us.”

Annie bit her lip. Hard.

“I just wanted one peaceful night. I didn’t want a scene.”

“You wanted peace—so you offered us up like sacrificial lambs,” Smoke said, voice growing sharp.

“That ain’t fair.”

“No? You let her talk like y’all shared a childhood. Let that man spit on our marriage with a smile. Then told me to hush?”

“You think I don’t know who she is?” Annie’s voice cracked “I lived with her. She slept in my mama’s bed two weeks after she was buried. She was Daddy’s second chance and my reminder that I’d already lost.”

Her eyes glistened, but she didn’t cry.

“I was just trying to keep the damn evening from fallin’ apart. You think I liked it? You think I didn’t hear every little dig, every look, every word?”

“Then why the hell ain’t you say somethin’?” Stack asked. 

“Because I’m tired!” she shouted. “Tired of everything bein’ a fight. Tired of defendin’ my choices, my house, my men. I just wanted a quiet dinner!”

Smoke’s voice dropped cold. “Then don’t invite people who only show up to remind you that you alone.”

Annie’s shoulders pulled back like he’d struck her. 

“Alone?”

“You got us. But when they’re here, you act like you don’t.”

The room felt smaller. Angrier. Like the walls were listening.

“I ain’t the one you should be mad at, Annie,” Smoke said.

“No. You’re just the one who wants to be mad for me.” Annie didn’t look at him.

He leaned back. Only slightly. But Stack caught it. Smoke prided himself on taking care of his family. He’d be the bad guy if it meant that they were ok. So for Annie to throw that in his face? It was low. 

Annie turned on him. “What? Go on then. Call me out my name. You been waitin’ all night.”

“I been waitin’ for you to stop pretendin’ you owe that woman somethin’. Stop shrinkin’ yourself so she can feel taller.”

“And I been waitin’ for you to realize the world don’t revolve around your damn temper!”

“Y’all—” Stack tried.

“Elias, stay out of it.” She pointed at him.

That did it. Stack’s hands dropped. He stepped back, mouth flat.

Smoke’s voice turned dangerously soft. “You tellin’ him to stay out, but you let them strangers walk right in and put hands on what’s mine?”

Annie’s nostrils flared. She stepped in close.

“Don’t talk to me about ownership. I’m not some bitch you can pull by the leash when I embarrass you.”

Stacks head whipped around. Shock coloured his face. 

“Annie. Don’t,” Stack warned softly — they didn’t talk like this to each other. 

Smoke’s voice dropped low and clipped. “You gon’ wanna be real careful with me right now, woman.”

“Or what?” Annie challenged. “You gon’ bark louder? Show me why everybody outside scared of you?”

He stepped forward. Stack moved fast, blocking him.

“Enough.” Stack said. “We don’t do this shit. This ain’t us.”

“No,” Annie said. “This is exactly who we are. Pretendin’ this ain’t built on shaky ground.”

Looked like Frank’s words had planted a seed. 

Stack moved like she’d slapped him.

“You think it’s shaky?” Smoke’s voice shook. “You think we ain’t holdin’ you up every day? Lovin’ you, buildin’ you back from the goddamn inside?”

His voice cracked — just slightly.

“I would burn this house down to protect you,” he said, softer now. “And you out here handin’ matches to people who never cared whether you froze.”

“She disrespected you, Annie,” Stack said, voice stiff. “Right to your face. And you smiled through it. Made us smile through it too.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Annie laughed bitterly. “Was I supposed to let y’all growl and swing your dicks like dogs markin’ a tree?”

“Watch your mouth,” Smoke said slowly.

“No—you watch yours. I let you bark, posture. The minute I asked you to sit like a man, you sulked like a whipped boy.”

There it was. The heat. The disrespect.

“Annie…” Stack said, quiet, alarmed. 

“I’ll beat the breaks off a nigga for touchin’ you,” Smoke said. “You lucky I didn’t.”

“Elijah—they’re family.” she tried to plead.

“So you gotta put up with disrespect?”

Annie threw her hands up, all syrup and sass. “The Moores got morals tonight!”

Stack cursed under his breath. Smoke went still as death.

“Fix them lips to say somethin’ crazy again, Annie,” Smoke warned. “See if I don’t remind you why you call me daddy.”

She tilted her head. “You sassin’?”

“C’mon now y’all…” Stack said half-terrified.

Smoke stepped closer, his voice dropping into something dark and dangerous. “It’s gon’ be real hard to take you serious if you got my seed drippin’ from your hole. Test me.”

Annie’s throat bobbed. She was gonna take that bait.

“Do not,” Stack said, sharp and urgent.

Too late.

“Annie’s sorry — ain’t ya, baby?” he tried, reaching for a lifeline.

“The hell I am,” she snapped.

“Don’t be a hero,” Stack warned, tension threading through his voice. “He gon’ turn you out, and I’ma join him.”

Annie looked at him, eyes glittering. Daring them both.

Smoke started up once more, “We’ll paint your insides white just how you like it. Remind you you the property of the Moores — no one else’s.”

“Property? That’s what I am to you?” she shot back. “A place to plant your damn flag?”

He shrugged. “You said it, not me.”

“I ain’t land. You don’t own me.”

“You act like disrespectin’ us is rent you pay,” he shot back, voice cold. 

That line came from somewhere deep — deeper than Smoke usually let show.

“If I’m so damn disrespectful,” Annie stepped in close, venom curling her words, “why you still crawlin’ back to this disrespectful pussy every night?”

Stack looked away. Smoke didn’t blink.

“That’s right,” she pressed. “You talk all this mine mine mine shit, but you only feel like a man when I’m on my knees, beggin’ for it.”

“Fix them lips, woman,” he said, low and mean.

“What? You don’t like it when I talk back? Only like me with your dick down my throat?”

“It make a fine picture.” Stack muttered from the side. 

“I like it when you remember who’s keepin’ you safe. Lovin’ you every goddamn day while you spit in our faces.” Smoke reasoned.

“I’m done talking to you.” she spoke lowly. 

“C’mon now,” Smoke said, voice soft and twisted. “Say somethin’ real filthy. You good at that when your jaw’s slack and your legs spread.”

“Smoke,” Stack snapped. “You know what you doin’. Stop provokin’ her.”

“Nah,” Smoke said without even looking at him. “She a big girl. She can take whatever daddy dish out, right?”

Stack stepped in. “It ain’t fair, Smoke. You know it ain’t fair.”

Smoke paused. Just a second. There were two of them. One of her. It was unbalanced. Always would be.

He sighed, started to lift a hand — maybe to apologize.

But he didn’t get the chance.

Annie spat in his face.

It hit his cheek and stuck.

For one sharp breath, nobody moved.

Annie stood perfectly still, chest rising hard. Her jaw clenched, eyes shining—not with tears, but with fury. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away.

Then Smoke cracked.

Stack caught him hard at the chest, shoving him back.

“Don’t.”

Smoke went still.

The spit clung to his cheek, hot and humiliating. He didn’t wipe it. Just stared — right at her.

Annie’s hands curled into fists at her sides. Her spine was stiff, posture defiant. But there was something flickering in her eyes now. 

“I wanna fuck that disrespect right outta her,” he muttered, voice low and rough.

He stepped toward her — not to strike, but to claim, to punish her with the only kind of control he knew wouldn’t break her.

Annie’s breath caught. Just barely.

Stack stepped in fast — arm out, body angled between them.

“And we don’t do things that way,” he snapped, sharp and firm.

Their eyes locked. For a long, brittle second, it felt like something might break.

“You want her like that? Broken?” Stack asked his brother. 

The picture he painted with that statement stung. 

He didn’t want her like that. Giving in because she didn’t have a choice. Because he “bested” her. 

He wanted it offered to him, because she felt like he deserved it. He didn’t wanna take it. 

“You keep pushin’, you gon’ scare her,” Stack said, quieter now. “And she don’t deserve that from you.”

That stopped him.

Smoke’s jaw ticked hard, and he deflated. 

Behind Stack, Annie was still frozen in place—arms locked at her sides, as if afraid any movement might shatter the silence.

“Take a walk,” Stack added. “Right now. Before you say somethin’ you can’t unsay.”

Smoke didn’t move.

“I got her,” Stack said, gentler now. “You… go cool off.”

Finally, Smoke blinked. Swallowed. His eyes never left Annie.

“You make sure she’s okay,” he said, hoarse.

“I got her.”

Then he turned and walked out — quiet, controlled, like a storm bottled in a man.

Annie stood frozen.

Then sat — slow and stiff — like someone letting herself fall without a net.

Stack stayed standing, chest heaving like he’d just run a race.

“You alright?” he asked quietly.

She didn’t answer.

He dropped to a knee beside her.

“He lost his temper. He shouldn’t’ve. You know that.”

She nodded — barely.

“I made him,” she said.

“No,” Stack replied. “You matched him. That’s different.”

A beat passed. He reached for her hand.

“You still ours,” he said. “Ain’t nothin’ shifted in that.”

She squeezed once. 

“He didn’t even flinch,” she whispered. “But his eyes… they changed.”

Stack squeezed her hand. “He was mad. That don’t mean he stopped carin’.”

“He’s scared. Same as you,” Stack said. “That’s what it is—fear dressed up as fire.”

She exhaled hard, like she’d been holding her breath for hours.

“I didn’t mean to—”

“You meant it,” he cut in gently but firm. “Don’t lie to me.”

That shut her up. Her mouth pressed into a hard line.

“You meant it,” Stack said again, softer this time, “and that’s what’s eatin’ him up.”

Silence fell between them. Heavy. Thick with things they couldn’t take back.

She looked toward the door, then back at Stack.

“You mad at me too?”

He sighed. “Don’t matter what I’m feelin’. You’re my wife. My family. I stand with you—even when I don’t like how it went down.”

“I’m sorry, Stack,” she whispered.

He gave a small shrug. “Don’t be sorry. Be sure.”

Then he stood and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch.

“I'm gon’ fix my plate again,” he murmured. “If I don’t eat, I get mean.”

That earned him the smallest laugh. But it was what he needed to hear. Enough to know she was still with him.

“I set aside your favourite,” she murmured, voice rough but soft. “Kept it warm in the oven… in that little dish with the blue trim. Knew you’d want a snack later.”

He paused, and his eyes flicked to hers — just for a second. That did something to him.

“Always lookin’ out,” he said, almost to himself.

Then, quieter: “Love you, baby.”

One more kiss to her head. Then he turned for the kitchen, shoulders squared a little taller than before.

__

The door creaked open.

Smoke stood in the threshold like he wasn’t sure he had the right to come back in. Smoke looked different. Not unraveled — not quite. But quieted. Like whatever storm had rolled through him had lost its bite, leaving behind a man instead of a tempest.

Annie didn’t turn. She sat curled on the couch, knees tucked beneath her, her hand still in Stack’s. The fire had burned low, its glow casting soft shadows across the room. Silence pressed in like fog.

Smoke stepped inside, slow and cautious, like a man testing floorboards for landmines. His eyes found her first. She didn’t flinch. But she didn’t look up, either.

“I scared you,” he said, voice low.

No one answered.

He stood there a beat longer, hat in hand, shoulders heavy.

“I talked about ownin’ you. Fuckin’ the disrespect outta you,” he went on, his voice thick. “That ain’t love talk. That’s not somethin’ you say to the woman you love.”

Annie shifted slightly. Stack’s thumb moved gently over her knuckles.

“I ain’t proud of it,” Smoke murmured. “I’m sorry.”

Still, neither of them spoke.

Smoke let out a breath through his nose, rough around the edges.

“I was mad you shut us down,” he said. “Mad you didn’t let us defend you. But I didn’t come at you like a husband. I came at you like a man who forgot what kind of woman he had.”

That made her look up.

Her eyes were still red, but she met his gaze steady.

“You did scare me,” she said softly.

Stack’s jaw ticked, but Annie gave his hand a squeeze—like she was okay.

“And I hurt y’all too,” she added. “Shut you down in your own home. Made you feel unheard. That wasn’t right.”

She stood, slow and deliberate. Smoke didn’t move.

“You and Stack… you’re my peace,” she said. “My anchor. And tonight I treated you like a storm. All ‘cause I let my past talk louder than the two men who actually built something with me.”

She stepped toward Smoke now, close enough her chest brushed his.

“I’m sorry I spit,” she said, quieter still. “That was… uncalled for. And beneath me.”

Smoke’s brow furrowed, something soft and pained flickering in his eyes. His hand came up, cradling her jaw.

“You still ours?” he asked.

She nodded once.

“Yours. Always.”

Behind them, Stack smiled to himself. 

Then Annie turned to Stack.

The man looked caught off guard—his brows lifted, lips parting like he wasn’t expecting the spotlight.

“I’m sorry I made you feel secondary today, baby,” she said. “Like your opinion didn’t matter. Like you were less than.”

“Whoa, now—I ain’t say all that,” Stack replied, lifting a hand.

“You didn’t have to,” she murmured. “I see now what I was doing. And it was wrong. You’re every bit a part of this, and I treated you like a bystander. I’m sorry, Elias. Truly.”

Stack blinked. For a second, he didn’t know what to say.

Smoke chimed in, voice low. “And thank you.”

Stack looked over.

“I was losin’ my head in here,” Smoke said. “And you got me right. You always do.”

“Well,” Stack drawled, clearing his throat and smoothing down his collar. “Now that y’all mention it… you right. I am the star of today’s show. Glad that’s been properly acknowledged.”

That earned him a chuckle from both Annie and Smoke.

He folded his arms and leaned back, cocky as ever. He thrusted his chin at Annie “You can show me your gratitude in peach cobbler.”

Annie arched a brow. “Peach cobbler?”

“Yes ma’am. And don’t cheap out it either. I need hella peaches in there.” he said dead serious. 

“And you—” he looked at Smoke, “you can take stock at the juke for the next week.”

“Three days,” Smoke countered.

“Five.”

“Deal.”

They shook on it, solemn as preachers. 

Annie laughed—quiet, but real—and turned to glance over her shoulder.

“Well,” Stack said, breaking the lingering tension with a dry drawl, “now that everyone’s sorry… can we go back to actin’ like Melody’s husband don’t eat with his damn mouth open and ask questions like ‘what y’all do for money’ like he ain’t got food crumbs in his mustache?”

Annie barked a laugh. Smoke cracked a grin despite himself.

“Mm,” Annie said, eyes dancing, “maybe I’ll go spit on him next time.”

Smoke raised a brow. “You better not. I’m the only one gettin’ that kind of disrespect.”

She smirked. “So… the ‘fuckin’ the disrespect outta me’ thing… that still on the table, or?”

Stack groaned, loud and dramatic, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m leavin’ the room.”

“No, no,” Annie said quickly, reaching out to stop him. Her voice softened. “I want all my boys,” she murmured. “My family. With me tonight.”

Stack froze.

Smoke looked up at her—really looked.

Smoke’s lips brushed her temple. Stack kissed her shoulder.

The house, so loud just an hour ago, fell to hush.

Just heartbeats.

Just them.

And the slow, quiet burn of still belonging to one another.

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A/N Thought I'd give ya'll a variation of some angst for the trio but I'd actually end it off so I don't leave you in perpetual pain like I did in Touch of a Woman 🤪 For those curious about what fic in this AU would come after this... you'd enjoy Signed in Crayon, Sealed in Cash 💰

Always eager to hear your thoughts and encouragement it keeps me writing. Can't wait to hear what ya'll think 🥰

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My other works can be found in My Masterlist. Thanks for reading!

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