Honestly I am not a writer but was thinking about the paternal side of smoke when he taught the little girl about negotiating! It was an epic part of the film that I think shows so much of his character as a father figure.. so what if his baby girl would’ve lived. I think that scene showed parallels to if she would’ve lived, how he would have been in a way. Idk my first ever anything !
“ Papa!! Papa look what I got “ the young girl shrilled excitedly as she ran into the front yard. Smoke had turned to quickly see his baby girl barreling towards him. He snatched her up before she could run face front into his lower half.
“ whoa slow down baby girl, you nearly knocked papa off his feet” he said with a chuckle. “ awe papa nobody can knock YOU down, not even uncle stack!“ his little girls faced twisted in a sly grin that mirrored his twin as she looked at him & said “cept mama.” she beamed at her papa and he looked at her bashfully knowing she was telling the truth.
“ what’s got you so in a hurry ? “ he asked his beautiful little girl. She slowly opened her tiny hand to show him the nickel that lay upon it. Smoke raised his eyebrows and scrunched his face in mild confusion. Not that he didn’t know what a nickel was, but because he didn’t understand the cats meow about a nickel. He had always given his baby girl the world. She never knew what it felt like to wake up before God to go and pick cotton, she never had to feel the burn of the Mississippi sun beating down on her back and she didn’t have to feel the blood drip from her hands because of the hard dried pericarp of cotton. And as long as he lived and breathed she would never know that life, sharecropper was another word for slave, and she would never know the feeling of being either. She was down right spoiled, let her mama tell it. “ she’ont know the meaning of the word no when it comes to you Elijah” he could hear Annie telling him when he brought her home a new doll or teddy. This was his purpose though, when he found out Annie was pregnant it grounded him.
She and the baby stabilized him. He realized he could no longer be the man who cared about nothing except protecting his brother, he had to protect himself so he could be there to protect his wife & little one. He had decided he was done with robbing and scheming and the money he had saved up he opened a shop, a shop by day servicing the black folk of the community and a juke joint by night, giving freedom to hard day and week they put in. It was so successful stack even had to invest in the business. So it puzzled him because his baby girl had plenty of nickels in the jar her mama gave her as a piggy bank, what was so special about this one?
“You got a nickel from ya bank ?” Smoke asked his little girl. She shook her head and said “ no papa, I got it from cousin Sammie” “Sammie ?” Smoke question raising his right eyebrow, what Sammie give you a nickel for ? “
“ he tried to give me a wooden nickel, said he needed me to watch out for uncle Jed while he go walk a lady down the road.” Smokes brows raised high to meet the lining of his hair he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “ he wanted you to do what now ?” “ but I told him I’m not watchin less he give me a real nickel, then he said he give me two wooden nickels.” She raised her index and her middle fingers to emphasize the number two. Smoke stared in disbelief as his daughter recounted the story. “I said 1 nickel or I’m not watching for you. He aint want too but he gave me the nickel see papa” Alisha ( Ali for short) held the nickel in between her and her papa eyeing it with pride. He couldn’t help but smile a big wide grin. Both of their deep dimples showing while he held her as she looked at the nickel and he looked at her. His heart burst with love. Ever since she could talk, which was the age of 3 , he started teaching her the ways to negotiate and stand up for herself. He would always be there, but he knew he carried a lot of sins from his past and one day that might catch up. So he wanted to teach her everything he knew so she wouldn’t be vulnerable to the ways of man. Negotiating was the first lesson. Knowing your worth and what you have to offer. He beamed with pride as he kissed her little dimple and held her close and said “ that’s papas baby girl”
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cw: sexual content, fake social media
summary: rumors have always spread about michael. he's endured comments on his dating preference, his latest fling of the week, and which costar he would date. groupies flock to him and celebrities make jokes about being with him. people see him as a sex symbol...the holy grail. but what nobody saw coming, especially after such a historic win, is a leak that only makes them want him more.
notes: fuck all that radio shit! you don't like, don't read...simple. anyways something to give the people since sinners is "over" and we had a beautiful awards season run. also this is inspired by real tweets.
March 15, 2026
Michael noticed how quiet it was when he opened his eyes. The kind of silence that let his thoughts run wherever they wanted. And his mind had been running all night.
He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, all these thoughts crept in. What if he didn’t win, what if he did, what was he supposed to say, how was he supposed to act, how would this change things, how it wouldn’t. It all blurred together until sleep felt pointless.
By the time the sun started coming up, he had given up on trying. So he decided to move around. That had always been his thing. When his head got loud, his body had to get louder.
He lifted weights first, thinking that the hard and fast reps would help exhaust the thoughts out of him. When that didn’t do it, he went for a run. The cold morning air hit his chest and his breathing evened out just enough to trick himself into thinking he was calming down.
And when that didn’t last, he came back, wrapped his hands, and hit the bag for a while. The steady rhythm of fists against leather echoed through the room, grounding him for a second, then it didn't. Because nothing stuck long enough.
Somehow he ended up in the kitchen when he wasn’t even hungry. He cooked something simple to keep his hands busy. He barely touched it once it was done.
Now he stood in his bathroom, the space warm from the steam he’d already started, staring at himself in the mirror. His jaw flexed slightly. His eyes looked far more tired than he wanted to admit. He exhaled, dragging a hand down his face.
This was supposed to be a good day. And it was going to be. He knew that. It was his first nomination and everything he had worked for lined up for this one night. People would kill to be in his position. So why did it feel like this?
His gaze dropped to the counter, where his phone sat. He stared at it for a second longer than he needed to. Then he reached for it.
It wasn’t even a real thought process. It was instinct at this point. When his head got like this, he went to her.
His thumb moved quickly over the screen, pulling up her name. He hesitated for half a second, then typed.
what you doing?
He tossed the phone back onto the counter like it didn’t matter, like he wasn’t about to sit there waiting for it to light up. He turned slightly, reaching to adjust the water, letting the heat build.
It didn’t even take that long for the screen to light up.
He glanced at it immediately.
I just woke up. Why?
He huffed out a quiet breath through his nose, a slight smile pulling at his mouth despite himself. Of course she was just waking up.
His fingers moved again.
how long will it take you to get ready today?
This time he didn’t put the phone down right away. He leaned back against the counter, arms folding loosely as he waited. Her response came a minute later.
3 hours at least. Why?
He nodded to himself. Three hours sounded about right. His thumb hovered over the screen for a second before he typed again.
what time you starting?
He knew he was asking a lot of questions. He knew she knew he was asking a lot of questions.
10:30. Again…why?
That made him let out a small breath that almost turned into a laugh. He could hear her saying it in that tone. And the side-eye that would’ve come with it if she were standing in front of him.
He rubbed his thumb along the edge of the phone, thinking for a second.
you eating before?
This time, the response didn’t come right away.
He pushed off the counter starting to pace a little as the restless energy still sat under his skin. The water kept running behind him, steam starting to fill the room more fully now. His phone buzzed again. He picked it up.
Are you okay?
His shoulders stilled, his pacing cut off mid-step as he looked down at the screen, reading it again like maybe it would say something different the second time. It was a simple four words, but they felt heavy.
His jaw tightened slightly, his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as he looked away from the phone for a second.
Was he okay? He exhaled slowly, running a hand over the back of his neck. Everything said he should’ve been, but his chest felt tight. His mind still wouldn’t slow down. There was this pressure sitting on him, not unbearable, but constant.
And of course she knew.
That was the thing about Wunmi. He could try to play it cool and keep it light, but she read right through it every time. It didn’t matter if they hadn’t seen each other in weeks or if they’d been in the same room all day. She saw through him.
He looked back down at his phone. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a second longer this time. He thought about telling the truth. Actually saying; yeah, I’m nervous and my head’s all over the place. With her, he could. But something in him instinctively pulled back, instinctively.
So instead, he typed:
i’m good.
He stared at the message for a second before hitting send. Even as it went through, he knew it wasn’t all the way true.
The restlessness came back twice as strong and texting wasn’t enough for him. Before he could overthink it, he hit her name and brought the phone up to his ear. He started pacing the bathroom again as it rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer.
He pulled the phone away, frowning slightly at the screen. He knew she had just been up. She had literally just texted him back. So what was she doing?
He waited a few seconds, like that would make a difference, then hit video call. It rang longer this time, but still nothing.
His jaw flexed, impatience began to mix with that anxious energy he had sitting in his chest. He exhaled sharply and dropped his head back for a second before looking at the phone again.
“C’mon,” he muttered under his breath.
He shot off another text.
answer the phone please.
The second it sent, he hit video call again, not even giving her time to respond. He stood there, watching it ring, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, free hand resting on the counter.
It rang and rang and just when he was about to hang up, the screen connected.
The lighting was low and her room still dark. She was laid up in bed with her hair wrapped, face soft with sleep, and eyes barely open as she adjusted the phone slightly.
Michael’s whole demeanor changed immediately. He propped his phone up against the counter, angling it so she could see him clearly. A small smile pulled at his mouth.
“There you go,” he said, voice lighter.
She didn’t say anything she just blinked slowly at the screen, clearly still waking up. Her expression was a mix between confusion and mild annoyance.
He shook his head a little amused, then reached for the hem of his shirt.
“What time you tryna get to the hotel?” he asked casually.
She let out a quiet sigh, shifting slightly under the covers. “Around ten,” she murmured, voice rough with sleep.
He hummed in response, lifting his shirt over his head and tossing it off to the side.
“You know, I been up for a few hours,” he added, almost like an afterthought.
Her brows pulled together slightly, eyes opening a bit more as she focused on the screen. “Why?” she asked, squinting like she was trying to read him.
He shrugged one shoulder, reaching for the waistband of his shorts. “I think I’m a little anxious,” he admitted, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
He pushed his shorts down his legs, stepping out of them, then glanced back at the screen. There was a small shift in his expression as a smirk creeped in.
“I can’t wait to see what you wearing tonight though,” he said.
She didn’t even entertain it.
“You can wait,” she shot back, barely lifting her head up but choosing to sink it deeper into the pillow.
That made him laugh, the sound filling the bathroom as he stood there now in just his boxer briefs and socks.
He straightened slightly, flexing his arms without even thinking about it, turning just enough toward the camera.
“You like what you see?” he asked, playful, knowing exactly what he was doing.
She let out a tired little laugh, not even opening her eyes fully this time. “Michael, please…” she mumbled, dragging his name out before letting her head turn slightly on the pillow.
He watched her for a second and shook his head. She looked like she was about to fall back asleep.
“Aye, wake up,” he called, reaching down to pull his socks off, then hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his briefs.
She rolled her eyes, opening them again just in time to catch him stepping out of them.
“Really?” she muttered, not even sounding surprised.
He grinned, completely unbothered, then grabbed his phone off the counter.
“Don’t go back to sleep,” he said as he walked toward the shower with steam thick in the air.
He stepped inside, adjusting the angle of the phone carefully. He set it somewhere stable where he could still see her and she could still see him.
Water hit his skin, and he let out a quiet breath, tipping his head back for a second before looking back at the screen. She was watching him with her half-closed eyes. And at the sight of her, his chest felt a little less tight.
He tried to keep her up with him. As the water ran over him, Michael kept glancing back at the phone, checking to make sure she was still looking at him.
“Aye,” he called lightly over the sound of the water, running a hand over his face. “You up?”
There was a pause.
“…mhm,” she murmured, barely audible, her voice heavy, like she was falling back asleep even as she spoke.
He smiled to himself, shaking his head a little as he reached for the body wash. “You not even up for real,” he said, amused.
She didn’t argue or respond that time.
He decided to talk about random things, making little comments about the day like how long it was about to be and how he already knew he was going to be tired of people before the night even really started.
She’d hum here and there, giving him a quiet “yeah” or “mm” to let him know she heard him. Until she stopped completely. It took him a minute to notice.
He rinsed off, pushing the water out of his face before blinking it away and looking toward the phone again. She hadn’t moved at all. Her head was turned slightly into the pillow, and her breathing had evened out. She was asleep for real now.
Michael’s expression softened as he realized it.
He leaned a little closer to the phone, resting his hand against the tile as he looked at her. A small smile pulled at his mouth. He didn’t want to hang up, so he didn't. He liked having her there, even if they weren't talking. It settled something in him.
He finished up, turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and dried himself off slowly, still glancing back at the phone every now and then because he didn’t want to lose sight of her.
But now with her asleep, his mind started back up again. Thinking about how the night would go and the expectations that would come because of it. He cleared his throat, like he could shake the thoughts loose, then wrapped the towel around his waist and walked back into the bedroom.
He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and pulled them on, letting them sit low on his hips, not bothering with a shirt yet. He wasn’t going anywhere for a while.
Most of the cast had gotten rooms at the same hotel that was closer to the venue. It was easier this way because it meant less running around.
He still had a lot time. A little too much time, honestly. Which meant he had more room for thinking.
So he got back to moving again.
He went to the kitchen and set the phone up against something on the counter, angling it just enough so he could see her. Then he started pulling small and quick things out.
He wanted to make something that wasn't going to be too complicated and was practically a snack. Especially after he cooked and didn't much of it earlier. He cooked on autopilot, the quiet clink of utensils filling the space. Every now and then he’d glance over to check on her.
Once everything was done, he plated it. Then leaned his hip against the counter as he ate a few bites, eyes flicking between his food and the screen. When he checked the time, his brows pulled together slightly. She needed to be up now. He wiped his hands off, stepping closer to the phone, picking it up carefully.
“Aye,” he called softly.
No response.
He tilted his head a little, watching her.
“Wunmi,” he tried again, voice gentle. “Wake up, Mama.”
She barely shifted, a soft sound leaving her like she was fighting it.
“You said you gotta get there by 10:00,” he reminded her quietly. “C’mon, you gotta get up. It's almost 9.”
It took her a minute, but Wunmi finally came to. Her face shifted, brows pulling slightly as she blinked herself fully awake. She adjusted the phone in her hand as she pushed herself up against the headboard.
“Okay, I’m up,” she muttered.
Michael leaned back against the counter, his plate long forgotten.
“Yeah, I see,” he said while smiling.
From that point on, they continued staying on the phone. He moved around his place while she moved around hers. She propped her phone up while she brushed her teeth and went back and forth between her closet and bathroom. She was pulling things out and putting things back. She spent most of the time talking to herself about her choices, and he listened.
She didn't have much to pack herself as most of her outfits were picked by her stylist. Michael made comments about what she picked, and teased her when she held up different options.
Made comments here and there. Teased her when she held up two options and clearly already knew which one she was going to pick.
“You not wearing that,” he said, squinting at the screen.
She sucked her teeth lightly, already turning back to the mirror. “Good thing I didn’t ask you.”
He laughed under his breath, shaking his head, but he didn’t miss the small smile that pulled at her lips in the reflection.
By the time she was fully dressed, the room around her was brighter and the energy was completely different from when she first answered. Michael had shifted from the kitchen to his living area. She moved with purpose now, grabbing her things and checking herself one last time before stepping away from the mirror.
She looked down when her phone buzzed.
“My car’s here.”
Michael nodded slightly, watching as she started gathering her bags. His eyes narrowed just a little as he noticed a particular bag in the group.
“What you doing with that?” he asked.
She didn’t even look at him, she just picked it up like it was any other bag.
“I needed something to put my stuff in,” she said, casually.
His smirk deepened.
“Why you taking that bag, though,” he replied. She knew exactly what he was talking about.
He had gotten her that bag as a gift. He saw it and knew she would like it, so he bought it. It had turned into her overnight bag for when she came to visit him.
She finally looked at the phone then, rolling her eyes as she grabbed it.
“It’s just a bag, Michael,” she said, sounding annoyed. “Relax.”
He just watched her with that same knowing look sitting on his face.
“Mm,” he hummed deciding not to push it further.
She shook her head slightly while heading toward the door, balancing her things as she moved.
“I’ll see you later. I'm about to get in the car,” she said, adjusting the phone in her hand as she stepped out.
There was a small pause on his end like he wanted to say something else, maybe stop her, but instead he just kept quiet.
“Okay,” he said softly.
It almost sounded like he didn’t want to hang up and she caught it immediately. Her expression softened as she stepped outside, the daylight hitting her beautifully.
“Everything’s gonna be okay,” she told him steadily and sure.
He looked at her for a second. Then nodded, a hesitant smile coming through.
“Yeah, you're right,” he said.
“Bye,” he added after a beat.
“Bye,” she replied.
The call ended and the screen went dark. And just like that, the quiet came back, it didn’t feel nearly as heavy as it had earlier.
She slid into the car, pulling the door shut behind her, her bag settling beside her as the driver pulled off.
Wunmi's hotel room was filled with controlled chaos. Racks were being rolled in and out while people moved with a purpose.
Now, a few hours later, she was settled in her chair, a silk robe wrapped around her, legs crossed comfortably as her team moved around her.
Her hairstylist stood behind her, hands working steadily as they parted and smoothed her hair. She was working on getting the hair slicked down before starting the braids. They were going for two long, thick braided ponytails stacked vertically, one above the other. Big gold hoops and medallions covered the length of the braids. It was going to be perfect with the dress.
Her eyes flicked over to it hanging on the rack across the room, untouched. Just looking at it made something flutter in her chest.
She looked away just as quickly.
“You're starting to overthink again,” her stylist teased lightly.
Wunmi let out a soft laugh. “I can't help it,” she admitted, shaking her head slightly.
“Mm-hmm, I can tell,” her makeup artist chimed in, stepping closer. “We not doing that today though.”
“Exactly. This is your moment,” someone else added from across the room.
Wunmi smiled at that, her hands resting loosely in her lap as she let them work.
The room instantly filled with random conversation. She added her own comments here and there, her voice soft and her accent slipping through naturally with every word.
On the outside, she looked calm, but underneath it all she was a ball of nerves. Because in truth, she never expected this.
Awards season was a whirlwind of interviews, screenings, and conversations that she never thought she’d be part of. Rooms filled with people she’d admired for years now speaking to her like she was one of them. And tonight was the absolute peak of it.
She was truly taking it all in, because more than anything, she felt grateful. Grateful to be there. Grateful for the film and the way it had been received. She was grateful for the doors it had opened without her even realizing they were there to begin with. And she felt proud of not just herself, but of him.
Her lips pressed together for a second, a small smile forming before she could stop it.
She had watched it all happen. From being on set where they worked long days and he worked overtime to figure things out to the press tour where she learned so much about how much work he actually put in to now.
She’d said it publicly more times than she could count about how proud she was of him, how much she believed in him, and how none of this surprised her. But she’d said it privately too. Far too many times to count.
Her hairstylist stepped back, checking the braids before continuing to add more gold pieces to the already heavy style.
“You excited?” someone asked from the corner of the room.
Wunmi blinked, coming back fully, then smiled.
“Yeah, I think so,” she said, softly but sure.
Time kept moving and her hair was finally finished. Her hairstylist moved her fingers down each braid, making sure that everything secure and was placed just right. Wunmi sat still, occasionally tilting her head when asked.
At the same time, her makeup artist had started working. Every now and then, she’d glance at the mirror to see her face coming together.
Her hair had taken a little over an hour. Her makeup had taken a bit longer, closer to another hour and a half.
“Okay, look at me,” her makeup artist said softly, stepping back.
Wunmi opened her eyes fully, looking at herself in the mirror.
Her hairstylist let out a quiet “yeah,” while reaching for her phone. “We need content, right now.”
The makeup artist laughed, grabbing her phone too.
Wunmi shook her head, smiling as they both circled her, snapping pictures, taking short videos, telling her to turn her head, look up, look down.
She let them have it, before standing up slowly from the chair. The weight of her hair became more noticeable as the two braids fell down her back, brushing against the top of her butt when she straightened fully.
She adjusted her robe only to feel her phone buzz in her hand. She glanced down at it absentmindedly at first, but the second look made her focus in. It was Michael.
can I come by before I get ready?
Her brows lifted as she stared at the message.
No. I don’t want to be late for the carpet.
Her phone started ringing almost immediately. She sighed under her breath, stepping away from the group.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, slipping toward the bathroom.
She closed the door behind her and answered the video call. The camera connected, and there he was sitting in the back of a car, dressed down, sunlight cutting through the window beside him.
Wunmi didn’t give him much to look at. She set the phone down on the counter, angled just enough so the ceiling was in frame, but not her.
Michael frowned instantly.
“The hell? Why I can't see you,” he said, leaning forward slightly.
“I’m not ready yet.”
He sucked his teeth, shaking his head. “I need to see your face.”
She didn’t even look at the phone. “No.”
“Wunmi—”
“No means no, Michael,” she repeated, a little firmer.
There was a pause on his end.
“Yeah, whatever,” he muttered, leaning back in his seat.
She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see it.
“You’re going to be late if you don’t go get dressed,” she said, glancing at the time.
“I’ll be alright,” he replied like it wasn’t a concern at all.
She shook her head slightly, already moving toward the door. “I really gotta go.”
Another short pause.
“Okay,” he said.
And then, a soft “I love you.” slipped out without him thinking too much about it.
They didn’t say it all the time, but it was never a surprise when one of them did say it.
She leaned her hip against the counter, letting out a small breath before responding.
“I love you too.”
It came out easy for her too. Even though she knew what this really was. She knew there were other women and other situations, but something about what they had was so honest yet complicated. They coudln't help but to love each other.
“I’ll see you later,” she said quietly.
“Yeah,” he replied.
The call ended.
Wunmi looked at the phone before picking it up, unlocking the door, and stepping back into the room. When she stepped back in, all eyes were on her.
“There she is,” her stylist said, moving toward the rack where the dress hung.
Carefully, they took it down and out of the bag. It was a gorgeous black and gold, kaftan-inspired dress that was tailore to perfection. There was enough structure to give it form while still allowing it to flow. The fabric moved when they lifted it the light caught on the gold detailing that was threaded throughout.
Wunmi stepped forward, letting them carefully guide her into it, trying to be mindful of her hair and makeup. Once the dress was on, it settled on her beautifully.
There was a deep V in the front dipped so low, it showed a good amount of her large chest. The gold detailing that traced along the neckline, drew attention exactly where it needed to. The back mirrored the front with another deep cut that exposed the smooth skin of her back.
Her stylist walked up to her with a small bottle of shimmering body oil in her hand. Hands began to lightly oil her down in all of her exposed areas. The oil caught the light, giving her skin a soft glow like she was lit from within.
Then she put on her signature fragrance, spraying just enough that everyone around her could smell her.
Her stylist helped her step into her heels, adjusting the straps. They made her walk a few steps in them to see is the dress moved how it was supposed to. And it did.
Everyone immediately began to take pictures and videos of her in her complete look. They gathered her things quickly after that.
“The car’s here,” someone called out.
Wunmi grabbed what she needed, adjusting the front of her dress once more before heading toward the door, her team close behind her.
They guided her carefully with one person slightly ahead and another behind, making sure the dress didn’t drag and that nothing caught.
When they got outside, the car was waiting by the curb.
“Watch your step,” someone said softly, opening the door for her.
She reached out, placing her hand in theirs as she lifted the dress slightly, preparing to step in, and that’s when she saw him.
Michael's team was surrounding him, trying to get him inside so he could start getting ready, but he wasn't paying them any attention. His eyes had found Wunmi in the small bustle of moving people and it felt like time stood still.
“Mike, come on,” someone from his team said, trying to usher him forward.
He barely reacted. His gaze dragged over her slowly taking in the hair and the way the dress fell on her. His brows lifted slightly in surprise and appreciation.
“Damn…” he muttered under his breath.
Wunmi caught the look on his face. And as she fully stepped into the car, their eyes met. Her smile turned into more of a playful smirk. She gave him a quick wink, then slid into her seat and the door closed behind her.
Michael stood there for a second longer than he needed to, the moment lingering even after the car pulled off.
“You good?” someone nudged him.
He blinked, like he was snapping back into his body.
“Yeah,” he said, but his tone was distracted.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he reached for it like he already knew. When he opened the message, he couldn’t help the smirk that spread across his face.
Good luck babe 😉❤️.
He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. He locked his phone and slid it back into his pocket, the smirk still sitting there as he finally let his team guide him inside. He didn’t text back.
He followed, but there was a sharpness in his energy like he was completely restless.
They got to his room and instantly got to work. Garment bags were opened, his shoes were set out, his jewelry laid across the table. Someone yelled for time checks so they would all be aware. He could barely sit down good before hands were on him.
Wunmi leaned back into the seat of the car, one hand resting lightly against her lap to keep the dress in place while the other held her phone loosely.
There was a bit of traffic ahead of them. It made everything stretched out and take more time than it should. The car would move, stop, move again, then stop.
Every now and then, her thumb tapped her phone screen awake to check the time…and once or twice to see if he had responded.
He hadn’t, but she didn't take it a certain way. She knew he was getting ready and people were probably rushing him along.
By the time they pulled up to the venue, it was close to 2:30.
The door opened, and there was a lot of noise and camera flashes. It was a mix of voices yelling names, shouting directions, and moving people out of the way.
Her team moved quickly, stepping out first, then helping her from the car.
“Watch your step… okay. Beautiful.”
The second her heels hit the ground, she turned it on. Her posture straightened and a genuine sweet smile graced her face. She adjusted the front of her dress before stepping forward onto the carpet. The cameras immediately lit up at her entrance.
“Wunmi! Over here!”
“This way! Right here!”
She moved naturally, like she’d done this before, even though part of her still felt like she didn't fit.
With every turn, the gold in her hair caught the light exactly how it was setup to. The dress flowed when she stepped, the sheer of the fabric catching just as much.
“Can we get a turn?”
She angled slightly, letting them get the back, the deep cut showing her skin, the shimmer on her skin glowing under the flashes.
After a few more stops, her team gently guided her toward the end where the interviews were set up.
“Wunmi, how are you feeling tonight?” one interviewer asked.
She smiled, grounding herself before answering.
“Good. Really good,” she said with her accent slipping through. “I’m just taking it all in, honestly.”
“What does it mean to be here?”
She let out a small breath, glancing down for a second before looking back up.
“It means everything,” she admitted. “I didn’t expect all of this. So I’m just really grateful.”
They asked about the film and her castmates. And every time his name came up, she looked proud.
“Michael's worked really hard for this. I'm really proud of him,” she said at one point.
They wrapped her up after a few minutes and let her move along. From stepping onto the carpet to finishing interviews, it had only taken about twenty minutes. But it didn’t feel like it. Time seemed to blur together at this point.
Inside the theater the lights were soft as people were finding their seats and greeting each other. Wunmi was guided to her seat, adjusting her dress as she sat.
There was still about an hour before the show would actually start.
She crossed her legs slightly, hands resting in her lap before reaching for her phone again. The screen lit up and still no new messages, so she checked time.
She was quietly hoping that he wouldn't be late.
Michael had been in his suite long enough that he should be dressed and ready to go.
He sat on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on his knees, phone in his hands, staring at nothing in particular. The TV was on low in the background, but he wasn’t really listening.
“Mike, we gotta get you ready,” one of his stylists called from across the room.
“I know,” he said automatically, but he didn’t get up.
His chest felt tight again. His face was calm and posture relaxed, but internally, it felt like he was holding his breath and couldn’t fully let it out. He rubbed his hands together once, slow, then stood up.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
They unzipped his garment bag, and pulled his suit out. His team laid out his David Yurman jewelry pieces that he had to shoot content for.
“We still got to do that video while you change,” someone reminded him while setting up a phone on a tripod.
He nodded, rolling his shoulders back. “Yeah, let’s get it.”
He spent the video putting on jewelry, making everything looked right on his skin. He was basically going through the motions at this point. His mind kept drifting back to Wunmi. He couldn't wait to see her up close. He really wanted to call her because his thoughts were running wild, and her voice would just soothe him. It had worked well that morning.
Now, the closer it got to showtime, the worse that feeling in his chest got. And he knew she’d calm it. His hand twitched slightly, like he might reach for his phone right then, but he didn’t.
“Alright, we got everything. You can change,” someone said, stepping back.
He exhaled quietly, nodding, then moved toward the suit. He put everything on piece by piece. His hands fixed things as he moved, smoothing out anything that didn't sit right on him.
His family moved around the room too, getting themselves together.
“You look good, baby,” his mom said, stepping closer to adjust something near his collar.
He gave her a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You ready to go?” someone else asked.
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t fully true, but he was as ready as he was going to be.
“Car’s downstairs,” his team called out.
They grabbed what they needed, did one last check, then started heading out of the suite.
In the hallway it felt like everything was closing in as they moved toward the elevator. Michael stayed mostly quiet while conversations happened around him. His mind wouldn't stop moving.
They got downstairs to the sprinter that was waiting on the curb. His family piled in first, then him, then his tea. He slid into his seat, leaning back slightly as the door shut behind them.
He let his head rest back against the seat as the van took off, eyes drifting closed for just a moment before opening again.
The sprinter pulled up to the theater, and everything was loud and chaotic. Cameras were flashing nonstop and people were moving around like crazy.
Michael straightened in his seat, running his hands down the front of his suit to ground himself before stepping out.
The door slid open and he stepped out to a wave of people yelling and screaming for him. From paparazzi to interviewers to fans. It was a competition of who could get his attention first.
His team moved him toward the carpet, keeping things tight. They didn’t have time to waste.
He hit his marks quickly. He did a few solo shots. The rapid flashes hit him from every angle possible. For the next few shots, his family joined him. Everyone had warm and excited smiles on their faces. The moment stretched on until they were being ushered further down.
“Alright, we gotta go,” someone from his team reminded him.
He nodded and stepped forward.
As they got closer to the section where press and fans blurred together, the volume went up to another level. People were yelling his nameincredibly loud now. Fans were leaning over the barricade with their phones out, trying to catch a glimpse of him.
He briefly lifted his hand to acknowledge them, but he didn’t slow down much. He couldn't, he was already pushing for time. His team tightened around him, trying to firmly get him inside.
“Michael!”
The voice cut through just enough to catch his attention.
He instinctively glanced over to see one of the interviewers beckoning him over. She was someone he'd interviewed with a few times before. He actually liked her, and she always remained respectful and professional while keeping things fun. She was waving to him to catch him before he passed her by completely.
He hesitated for half a second, then broke away from the group around him.
“Hey,” he said quickly, stepping over to her and pulling her into a brief hug.
“Hi! You look amazing,” she said while smiling.
“Thank you,” he replied, already starting to step back.
But before he could fully pull away, she lifted the mic slightly.
“How are you feeling tonight?”
“I'm just grateful and happy to here,” he said simply.
And then he was gone. His team was pulling him back in, steering him in the direction of the doors.
When he got inside, he instantly started to scan the room. People were buzzing around him, barely able to sit still, but he wasn't really seeing any of that. He was looking for her. And it didn't take long. Once they got closer to his section, he was able to spot her almost immediately.
She was seated a few rows behind where he was supposed to sit.
His steps slowed at the sight of her.
He sat down and started fidgeting with things on his body out of habit more than anything else. His mom settled in next to him.
“You okay?”
“I’m good,” he said automatically.
She looked at him, then smiled to herself like she knew better.
“Mhm,” she hummed while turning her attention forward.
Michael leaned back into his seat, letting out a breath through his nose.
And he got that feeling you get when someone's looking at you. He could feel her staring through the back of his head.
His shoulders tightened as his hands rested against his thighs while he stared straight ahead. Michael didn’t trust himself to turn around right now.
His phone buzzed softly in his lap. He glanced down.
Breathe.
He inhaled, then exhaled slowly. His shoulders dropped his shoulders the tension in him easing. He rubbed his thumb lightly along the edge of his phone before locking it again and setting it face down against his leg.
The lights dimmed in the room as a signal that the show was about to start.
His leg bounced once before he caught that he was doing it. He pressed his foot flat against the ground to still it.
In all of everything that had been building in him all night, he hadn’t even really thought about how she might be feeling. He hadn't thought beyond how she helped to calm him down and be his anchor. But this was her night too. It was her first nomination as well and the first time that she had been in this room.
He quickly glanced back at her, but she was looking forward past him. She was smiling, taking everything in.
He cleared his throat softly, and her eyes flicked to him almost immediately. Her expression melted just a touch when she saw him. There were no real words or gestures between them, but they knew what the other was saying. He turned back around giving himself a small nod, because what they just did would be enough for now.
The lights dimmed further and the room quieted. Conan O'Brien, the host for the night, walked out on stage to a round of applause.
Michael sat up a little straighter, hands resting on his legs, eyes forward.
The night had officially started.
Conan’s monologue rolled on, filling the room with easy laughter. It was the kind of opening that loosened the tension. Michael laughed where he was supposed to and smiled when the cameras were set on him.
The music cue started and the room subtly reset.
“And now, let's get into the the first award of the night. Introducing…” Conan started.
On stage, the presenters walked out, smiling and playing their part as the room applauded again. Michael barely registered who they were and what they were saying. His focus had shifted to behind him.
“For the incredible performances that moved us, challenged us, and stayed with us…”
The clips started rolling, one by one. Each of the nominees' names were called and their performances highlighted.
“Wunmi Mosaku. Sinners.”
Her face lit up the screen. It was a short clip of one of her lines from the shack scene. Michael felt pride and hope go through him because he knew what she gave to play Annie. And the. energy she put into it.
The room clapped as the clips ended, the camera cutting back to the presenters as one of them opened the envelope.
Michael’s breathing slowed, then stalled. He didn’t realize he’d stopped until it was too late.
“And the Oscar goes to…”
That pause went on longer than it probably was.
“…Amy Madigan. Weapons.”
Applause filled the room instantly. People stood, clapped, and celebrated.
Michael felt his heart sank straight into his chest, but not for himself, for her. His hands came together automatically, clapping like everyone else, but there was no rhythm to it. He had to force it.
He didn’t turn around to look at Wunmi. He didn't trust what might show on his face if he did. He swallowed, jaw tightening as he kept clapping. His eyes fixed were on the stage where Amy was walking up, smiling and emotional.
Michael nodded slightly to himself, trying to stay present. His hands slowed, then stopped as the applause settled. He leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose, but it didn’t ease anything. If anything, it made that anxiety creep back in.
His fingers tapped once against his leg before he stilled them, forcing himself to sit still and to breathe like she told him to earlier.
The second they cut to commercial, people stood up to stretch and talk. Michael stayed in his seat trying to collect himself. He barely looked around, but it didn't take long for him to feel a presence right next to him. He looked up and there she was.
Wunmi stood angled toward him, one hand resting behind him on the back of his seat, the other relaxed at her side. She was smiling down at him.
He looked at her like he needed to make sure she was actually okay.
Then his eyes checked around quickly, to make sure cameras or phones or people weren't paying too much attention to them. And when it he saw the it was as clear as it was going to get, he reached up, took her hand without hesitation, and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
He stood up while holding onto her and pulled her in close before she could even say anything. His arms wrapped firmly around her.
"You good?" He leaned in slightly, his voice low against her ear.
Wunmi pulled back just enough to look at him. She nodded.
“I’m fine. I already expected it,” she said, calmly. There was no bitterness in her tone.
His gaze softened slightly, eyes moving over her face again like he was seeing her for the first time all over again.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
She smiled at that.
“Thank you,” she replied, her hand coming up to his chest, smoothing lightly over his buttoned jacket.
Her eyes moved past him, her body angling slightly as she leaned just enough to look around him.
“I really came over to see your mom,” she said her tone far more playful now.
Michael blinked once, caught off guard, before letting out a quiet breath that almost turned into a laugh.
“Yeah, okay,” he muttered.
She slipped past him, the fabric of her dress brushing lightly against him as she went.
“Ms. Donna!” she squealed softly. Her voice lifted in a way it hadn’t with him.
Michael’s mom lit up instantly.
“Hey baby!” she said, standing up without hesitation, pulling Wunmi into a warm hug.
Michael watched them with a small smile settling on his face.
His family had taken such a liking to her. His mom loved her, she loved them. From the first time she saw them together and noticed how they interacted with each other, she had been on him about getting with her ever since.
He shook his head slightly to himself, watching as they pulled apart, his mom held onto Wunmi’s hands for a second longer as they talked.
“You look so gorgeous,” his mom said, looking her over.
“Thank you. You look amazing,” Wunmi smiled.
They talked for a minute, giving each other small updates on things. Then Wunmi glanced toward the stage briefly, noticing things were about to pick back up.
“I’m gonna go sit before they start again,” she said.
“Alright, baby,” his mom replied, giving her hands one last squeeze. “I’ll see you after.”
Wunmi nodded, then turned slightly, her eyes glancing back to Michael for just a second, then she was gone.
The night went on and what started out as feeling like minutes, slowly turned into hours. Anxiety webbed it's way through the rhythm of the show.
Michael tried to track everything happening, and for some of it he was able to.
When Ryan’s name was called, the entire room lit up. Michael was on his feet before he fully registered it, clapping hard with pride written all over his face as Ryan made his way to the stage. His speech was moving as he thanked the cast, the crew, talked about the story and the intention behind it.
Then Miles' performance got people up and moving. His voice filled the room, and the recreation of the juke joint brought Michael back.
Autumn’s win followed later, and that one felt just as big. Michael clapped, looking toward her with genuine respect as she stood at that podium, speaking directly to the women in the room. You could feel it ripple through the audience.
By the time they got to the final stretch of the night, Michael felt twisted up. The closer it got to his category, the more everything else started to blur. Conversations around him dulled. Applause felt distant. His body was there, but his mind kept circling.
His mom’s hand found his. She didn’t say anything, she just held it.
“And now the presenters for best actor,” Conan’s voice carried through the room again.
Everything in him shut down. Michael swallowed, his throat dry, his hand slightly tightening around his mom’s without meaning to. He exhaled.
Then the presenter walked out. Words he barely processed as they started introducing the nominees. The clips rolled.
“Michael B. Jordan. Sinners.”
The screen filled with his face. It was a clip of the scene of the twins getting into their cars to split off. The reaction in the room was more than he expected. It startled him just a little, his brows pulling together slightly as he watched it play out. Then it moved on to the rest of the nominees.
Michael’s breathing went shallow. He didn’t even realize he had stopped inhaling properly until the clips ended.
The presenter held the envelope and it felt like time slowed down.
“And the Oscar goes to…”
That pause felt longer than anything else that night.
Michael’s fingers curled slightly against his mom’s hand.
“…Michael B. Jordan.”
The room erupted in loud applause. People rose to their feet giving him a standing ovation. But his brain hadn’t caught up to what his ears had just heard.
His mom’s grip tightened instantly, her face lighting up, smiling wide as she turned toward him.
“Baby!” she said, her voice breaking through everything.
Michael exhaled hard. A breath he didn’t even know he’d been holding for the last…who knew how long. His shoulders dropped slightly, his head dipping as it finally hit him. He won.
Delroy's hands hit his shoulder, clapping him firmly, pride clear on his face.
Behind him, Wunmi was up on her feet, clapping and smiling. Her cheering carried through the noise, excitement written all over her.
Ryan practically jogging up the aisle before Michael even fully stood up. They met halfway, pulling each other into a tight hug.
“Let’s go,” Ryan said into his ear, gripping him hard.
Michael nodded, but he still looked dazed like he was trying to catch up. He turned to hug Delroy next. And while his arms were wrapped around the older man, his eyes found hers.
Wunmi stood with a wide smile while their eyes locked. She looked not only proud, but happy and relieved. She reached her hand out toward him as he naturally moved closer to her.
But Michael didn’t want to just have that. As soon as he let go of Delroy he moved a bit so the seats weren't a problem. He pulled Wunmi into him, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He needed something real to hold on to so that he knew this was real. And she was as real as he would get.
He tucked his face slightly into her shoulder, and for a moment everything else faded away. He breathed her in and all that was left was her…his lifeline.
“Go,” she murmured softly near his ear.
He pulled back slowly and that’s when they could see that glisten in his eyes. He was holding back all his emotions. He nodded, trying to pull himself together.
Michael started toward the stage, the walk feeling like a blur of time. He didn't know if it was too long or too short. He barely registered the steps, the lights, the applause. It all just mixed together. The standing ovation hadn't died down, and every eye was on him.
He shook the presenter’s hand, accepted the Oscar, and the second it was placed in his hands he looked down at it. The weight of the solid gold sitting in his hand felt surreal. He just stared at it like he was trying to process how it even got in his hand.
The audience was still on their feet, clapping and celebrating him.
He stepped up to the mic, and cleared his throat as his grip tightened around the Oscar.
“Man,” he breathed out, a small, disbelieving smile was on his face.
A few soft laughs echoed through the audience.
He shook his head lightly, eyes dropping for a second before he looked back up.
“God is good.”
The room responded with applause and agreement.
Michael gave a longer pause this time. He was trying to gather anything that felt right to say, because he hadn't planned for this at all. He was too busy being in his head about to really think about what he would actually do when he won.
He glanced out into the crowd, scanning until he found his mom front and center. She was smiling at him with that smile she gave when she was incredibly proud of him. His eyes softened when they made eye contact.
“Mama, what’s up,” he said, voice lighter now, a real smile breaking through.
The room reacted warmly as the camera cut to her.
He nodded like he needed that connection before he could keep going.
“My dad came all the way from Ghana to be here tonight,” he continued. “My brother, my sister…I love y’all. Thank you.”
He swallowed, shifting his weight, still holding onto the Oscar like it might disappear if he loosened his grip.
“I gotta thank Warner Brothers for betting on original ideas, on culture, on stories like this.”
His eyes flicked toward Ryan.
“And Ryan…” he exhaled, shaking his head a little. “Man. Thank you for being more than a collaborator. For being a friend. For trusting me and giving me the space to be seen. I don’t take that lightly.”
His voice caught at the end of that. He took a breath.
“My incredible cast…” His eyes moved until they landed on her.
“…Wunmi,” he said, her name coming out so soft. “Thank you so much for giving Smoke the opportunity to be him.”
The camera cut to her briefly. She was smiling wide, glowing in a way that felt just as loud as the applause around her.
“And Hailee, thank you for giving Stack the space to shine.”
He nodded, almost to himself, like he was checking things off, trying not to lose his place.
“I’m—” he started, then stopped, letting out a breath that almost turned into a laugh. “I didn’t…I didn’t think I’d be up here, I’m not even gonna lie.”
The audience chuckled softly.
He shook his head, blinking a few times, the emotion sitting right there in his eyes now.
“Thank you to everybody who saw something in me, who bet on me, who believed in me when I was still figuring it out,” his voice was stronger now. “And to the ones who still do, I just wanna keep making you proud. And to the fans, thank you for showing up once, twice, three, four, five times,” he added, a small smile pulling at his face again. “Thank you. You made this movie what it is. I love you.”
He looked down at the Oscar one more time, then back up. He stepped back from the mic, still looking slightly dazed, eyes glassy, a breath leaving him like he was finally coming back into his body.
The applause swelled again as he walked off stage, gripping the Oscar tightly, his expression a battle of disbelief and relief.
As he disappeared behind the curtain, the show cut to commercial, but the energy in the room didn’t drop.
The second he stepped off stage, hands were on him, pulling him in different directions all at once. Someone from production was saying something in his ear, but he barely caught it. His focus kept dropping back down to the Oscar in his hand.
It was real. This was all real.
“Right this way,” someone said, gently steering him through the side area and back toward the seating.
When they got close, people were standing, leaning into the aisle, reaching for him.
He barely had time to sit before he was surrounded giving out hug after hug. A smile stretched across his face so naturally it almost hurt.
“I’m so proud of you,” His mom tugged him in for a tight hug, her voice emotional.
“I love you,” he replied, holding onto her just a second longer before someone else was pulling him in.
It didn’t stop, but through all of it, he just kept smiling so big and real.
Every now and then, he’d glance down at the Oscar, almost like he needed to double check that it was still there, still his. His thumb brushed over the engraved plate area that was still blank for now, a small shake of his head following like he still couldn’t wrap his mind around it.
The rest of the show moved quickly. He clapped. He laughed. He stayed present in a way he hadn’t been able to earlier all the way until the end.
Once it was over, he was led out of the main room and into another area for the press conference. When that wrapped, he was moved to the larger reception room where everyone else was. People were mingling, and conversations flowed easier now that the pressure was off. Michael stepped into the room with his family close by, still holding onto the Oscar.
The group moved together through the space until they reached the engraving station. He handed the award over carefully and watched in disbelief as it was engraved. The room around him faded and he swallowed, blinking a few times as he watched the letters take shape. His sister rubbed his back to help ease him back into reality. When they handed it back, he held onto it tighter.
He moved through the room after that, greeting people, accepting more congratulations as the night continued.
But even in the midst of that, he was searching until he saw her across the room. Wunmi stood tucked into a quieter corner with her team. Her posture relaxed. She was talking and similing with them.
Michael’s gaze lingered, then he turned back to his family.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
They followed his line of sight immediately.
“Yeah, we know where you going,” his brother added.
He shook his head, trying to brush it off, but the small smile on his face gave him away. He turned around and walked off.
When he got close enough, he reached out. His hand found the warm bare skin of her back, and he pressed there gently enough to pull her attention without interrupting too much.
Wunmi turned almost instantly. She had a small portable fan in her hand, angled up toward her face. A few loose pieces of her braids shifted slightly from the airflow, the gold catching the light every time she moved. Her expression brightened as soon as she saw him.
“Hey,” she said, smiling as she stepped into him.
He didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her, pulling her close to him, Oscar still in one hand. He didn't let the award stop him from holding her they he needed to.
Her arms slid around him just as easily, one hand still holding the fan loosely at her side as the other came up along his back.
And then he dropped his head right into her neck on instinct. Even though he had his family, she was the only place that he truly needed at the moment.
Wunmi felt a small shift in his breathing the longer he stayed there. His body settled heavier into hers. A quiet sniffle came out. Her expression softened even more as her hand moved slowly up and down his back to comfort him. She let him have that moment to feel it all.
“I’m so happy for you,” she murmured softly, her voice low enough for it to stay between them. “I’m so proud of you. You deserve it.”
His grip tightened, because he needed to anchor himself. Then he pressed a kiss against her neck. He pulled back after that, just enough to look at her. His eyes were glossy, the emotion still sitting right there on the surface.
“Thank you, baby,” he said quietly.
Her smile widened as she really looked at him.
He kept one hand on her. His fingers rested lightly against her waist now, thumb brushing just slightly against the fabric of her dress feeling the need to stay connected.
And then he just looked at her. His eyes said everything he couldn't quite say in a room this public. Wunmi saw everything that had built up over all of this time. She held his gaze with her own knowing one.
His eyes dropped down to her lips, and he licked his own while staring at them.
A small smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. She lifted her hand, patting lightly against his chest, leaning in just enough so her voice didn’t travel.
“Later, baby,” she whispered.
He exhaled softly, a small smile breaking through as he nodded, pulling himself back into the moment.
“Okay,” he said under his breath. “You going out after?”
“Yeah. I have to go back to the hotel to change.”
“Okay, me too. It might take me a minute, though,” he said.
“That’s fine,” she replied easily.
Michael noticed the fan in her hand and how she angled it toward herself while talking to him.
“You hot?” he asked. His face scrunched slightly, concern slipping through his voice.
She nodded once. “It’s a lot in here.”
He looked around briefly as if he could fix it somehow.
Then back at her.
“Go back to the hotel and get some rest,” he murmured, pulling her into another hug, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She nodded. “Okay.”
But when he pulled back, he caught the reluctant look in her eyes. He held her gaze, his hand coming up to pat her back lightly.
“Go,” he said softly.
She stepped back and he let her go, even though he clearly didn't really want to.
Wunmi didn’t linger for long. Her team gathered around her, gently ushering her through the room, keeping things moving before she could get pulled into more conversations and congratulations that weren’t even hers to carry tonight.
“The car’s ready when you are,” her publicist said softly, leaning in so she could hear over the noise.
Wunmi nodded, adjusting the fan so it was angled toward her neck this time. The room really had gotten too warm with the combination of bodies and lights, it was just too much.
The second she got outside though, the cool night air was a welcome refresh.
She let out a small breath as someone opened the car door for her. Her team helped her into the car, carefully holding the fabric of her dress. Once she was settled into the seat she let out a heavy exhale and leaned back against the seat.
“Jesus, it was hot in there,” she chuckled under her breath.
With her head leaned back, she closed her eyes as the car pulled off.
The ride wasn’t long, but it was enough to settle her body and calm her down.
When they got back to the hotel, they moved quickly so they would have some time. It didn't take but a few short minutes to get her to her suite. The second the door closed behind them, she slipped her heels off with a quiet groan, flexing her toes against the floor.
“Thank God,” she muttered, earning a few soft laughs from her team.
“Alright, let’s get you out of this,” her stylist said while moving toward her.
Wunmi stood in the center of the room as they helped her take everything off. They started with her hair by removing each of the gold pieces and setting them on the table nearby. They kept her braids in, so she could have a style for the rest of the night. Then they carefully helped her out of her dress and hung it up.
Wunmi reached for the robe draped over the chair nearby, slipped it on, and tied it loosely around her waist.
She rolled her shoulders back once, then twice, letting her body settle fully now that she wasn’t being held up by structure and styling.
“You want to start getting ready now or?” her stylist asked.
Wunmi shook her head gently.
“Give me a second. I just need a quick nap,” she said.
“Alright,” her publicist said. “Forty-five minutes?”
“Yeah,” Wunmi nodded, moving toward the bed.
She picked up her phone, setting an alarm before placing it on the nightstand. Then she climbed into the bed, pulling the covers over herself. Her body sank into the mattress almost immediately, exhaustion finally catching up now that she had allowed it to.
The car pulled up to the In-N-Out not too far from the venue, and there were already dozens of people outside. He stepped out of the sprinter with the Oscar still in his hand and there was an immediate reaction. Cheers broke out from inside and outside almost at the same time.
He smiled so easily it was like he was made for this life. He lifted the Oscar slightly as he walked in, almost as a silent acknowledgment, and the place got louder.
“Appreciate y’all,” he said as he moved through the crowd.
People were reaching out wanting to touch him and get a picture with him.
When he got to the counter, the staff was just as excited.
“Congratulations!” someone behind the register said, already smiling wide.
“Thank you,” he replied, leaning slightly on the counter.
He ordered quickly and nothing about it seemed as normal as it should. While he waited, he leaned back against the counter, glancing around the restaurant. People were watching him, whispering, taking pictures and videos from a distance.
When his number was called, he stepped forward, grabbing the tray carefully, balancing it in one hand while the other still held onto the Oscar. They found a table tucked off just enough to give him a little space, but not completely. He sat down, setting the tray in front of him, placing the Oscar right beside it on the table.
His photographer stepped in with his camera ready.
“Mike, you ready?”
He nodded, shifting slightly in his seat, resting his forearms on the table. One hand lightly gripping the Oscar, angling it just enough. He smirked slightly, shaking his head as the camera kept going. He couldn’t believe he was part of the tradition now.
“Aight, we gotta head out so you can change,” someone said.
Michael nodded, taking one last sip of his drink before standing up, grabbing the Oscar. He gave one last look around the place, smiling and waving to a few more people as they called out to him.
“Congrats again!”
“Appreciate it!” he called back.
Michael arrived to the Vanity Fair party in a brown suit that fit him perfectly, and a pair of retro orange shades to top the look off. And of course, the Oscar never left his hand. It was practically an extension of his body now.
He moved through the room with confidence, starting conversations and accepting congratulations from his peers. Hugs and compliments came from all directions.
Across the room, Wunmi was pushing through the crowd as well. She was pulling a different kind of attention. Her and her dress caught everyone's eyes. The dress was a beautiful deep orange silk with a slit in her leg that revealed just enough when she walked.
She greeted people with ease, dipping into soft conversation. Her presence was calmer than his, but just as magnetic.
When their paths crossed, they stood close together, hoping not to draw too much attention to themselves.
“You good?” his voice was low as his eyes took her in.
She smiled. “I’m good.”
His eyes dropped briefly to her dress and the way it fit on.
“Yeah, you look good,” he muttered, almost like he was talking to himself.
“Thank you,” she smirked giving him a playful side-eye.
They stayed close for a while, but they soon got pulled into separate conversations. Going back to that routine of talking and conversing with those around them. But after a while, it got old. There were too many boring, reptitive conversations, and too much standing around.
When they met back up, Michael was quick to try to remedy their situation.
“You tryna stay here?” he asked.
Wunmi didn’t even hesitate. She shook her head lightly, a small laugh escaping her.
“No.”
He smirked, knowing the answer before he asked.
“Me neither. I think people are headed to the Gold party. You wanna head there?”
“Sure.”
They left just as they had arrived…separate. Michael left first, doing his round quicly and getting a few last minute picture. Wunmi stayed a few minutes longer as she had gotten pulled into getting updates on people she hadn't seen in a while.
When the two actually got to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Gold Party, the vibe was just what they had been looking for. The space itself felt more exclusive and actually protected. For the first time all day, they could actually breathe.
Michael spotted her not too long after arriving.
Of course, he had to go through a few people first to get to her, but once he saw that flash of orange across the room, that was it. His attention stayed locked.
“You having fun?” he asked after getting the chance to walk across the room.
She smiled, swaying a little to the music. “Now I am.”
For the next couple hours, they stayed in their own pocket of the night. They danced with drinks in their hands, not too close, but not out of reach either. Their bodies brushed and his hands found her waist. They were practically flirting with their bodies, testing the space between them.
As the night kept going, the energy between them kept building.
Every time she laughed, every time she moved, every time she brushed past him, it got harder to ignore. The adrenaline from the win hadn’t gone anywhere. If anything, it intensified everything. He needed to be near her. Touch her. Talk to her. Be in her…
Eventually, they drifted away from the main crowd to a smaller corner that was tucked off to the side. It was much darker, and quieter. The music was still there, but it was more of a murmur in the background.
Michael was closer to her than he had been all night. Wunmi's back was against the wall as she looked at him. He didn't say anything, just stared at her eyes, her lips, the way her chest rose and fell so gently.
Wunmi let out a soft giggle, her head tilting just a little. “What?” she asked, amused by the intensity of his stare.
He didn't say anything, he just leaned in and kissed her. And he kissed her like he'd been holding back all night. And he had been.
After a minute of their mouths moving like nobody was watching. Wunmi pressed a light hand to his chest.
“Michael…” she exhaled, pulling back just enough to breathe. Her skin felt warm, her body reacting just as much as his was.
She leaned in again, pressing a quick kiss to his lips, but when his arm wrapped around her waist to pull her back in, she stopped him again.
“Mm-mm,” she murmured, shaking her head slightly, though she was smiling.
He exhaled, trying to steady himself.
“We should go,” she said softly. “We can finish this at the hotel.”
He nodded once. “Yeah.”
His hand found hers without thinking, fingers closing around it as he started to pull back like he was ready to leave right then.
“Come on—”
“Wait, baby.” Her grip tightened just enough on his wrist to stop him.
He looked back at her.
“You go around, say your goodbyes, and I'll leave first,” she said.
He held her gaze for a second. But he knew she was right to do it like this, even if he didn't like it.
“Fine,” he muttered.
She gave him a small smile, squeezing his wrist once before letting go. Then she stepped away from him, and walked off.
Michael tried to play it cool. He really did. But the second Wunmi slipped out of that corner and disappeared into the crowd, he became incredibly impatient.
He only stayed because he truly had to. People had started to come up to him again now that he wasn't occupied. But with every conversation his attention grew shorter and shorter. Every second felt longer than it really was. He kept checking his watch, then his phone.
He tried to be respectful and not rush people, but it was getting harder because all he could think about was her. He was too focused on her dress and how she felt against him.
After thirty agonizing minutes, he finally found his chance to break away.
“Aight, I’m finna head out,” he said quickly to the people closest to him, stepping back.
“Already?” someone asked.
“Yeah, I’ll catch y’all,” he replied, not even slowing down.
And then he was gone. Moving faster than he had all night.
“Take me back to the hotel,” he said as soon as he got inside of the car.
The car pulled off and it was silent. He was left with just his thoughts. His leg started bouncing in anticipation and adrenaline.
He pulled his phone out, unlocking it quickly and going straight to her messages.
what room you in?
He stared at the screen, expecting for her to answer right away. But she didn't. Minute after minute passed and she still hadn't even so much as read the message.
He was trying his hardest not to overthink what could've happened. Because he didn't know what he would do if she was asleep.
He exhaled sharply, leaning forward slightly in his seat before forcing himself back so he could relax. But in reality he couldn’t.
The car ride to the hotel felt impossibly long felt longer than it actually was. So when they pulled up to the hotel, he reached for the handle before the driver could fully stop.
By the time they pulled up to the hotel, he was already reaching for the door before the driver could even fully stop. He quickly stepped out and moved over to the side, refreshing his screen hoping that would make her respond faster. And as soon as he got ready to send her a text after almost fifteen minutes of no response, his phone buzzed.
1016. Come on up 😉
He slid the phone back into his pocket, tightening his grip on the Oscar in his hand as he turned and headed inside.
He walked as fast as possible through the lobby and past the front desk. He didn't slow down as he walked straight to the elevators. Luckily the doors opened as soon as he pressed the button, so he rushed inside and waited for the doors to close. Every floor it passed felt slower than the last, the quiet hum of it doing nothing to settle him. His reflection stared back at him in the mirrored walls, his suit slightly loosened now, shades covering his lowered eyes.
The elevator doors opened and he practically jogged out. His eyes scanned the doors as he passed, trying to find her suite as quickly as possible. And as soon as he found it, he knocked on her door immediately.
Then he waited. And waited. And waited. His chest rose and fell heavily in anticipation. He shifted his weight, about to knock again when the door opened. And whatever he was about to say was completely gone.
Wunmi stood there, framed in the doorway as if she had been waiting hours for him. She was wearing a wine red robe that was tied loosely around her. It hid just enough.
His eyes roamed her body carefully or hat he could take everything in. When he made it back up to her face she had a knowing smile on her face.
Her hand held the door open, body angled just slightly like she was about to step back, probably about to say something, but he didn’t give her the chance. His mouth was on hers before she could get a word out.
His arm wrapped around her waist—Oscar still firm in his grip—pulling her into him as he stepped forward, guiding them both inside without breaking the kiss. The door shut behind them with a firm click. He didn’t even look back to see it close.
Wunmi let out a soft sound against his mouth, her hands coming up to grip his upper arms as he pressed into her.
The kiss was passionate and level as it was filled with everything that had been building up for the night. Her body gave into it for a moment, leaning into him, matching his energy just enough before she pulled back a little so she could breathe. Her chest rising and falling as she tapped lightly against his arms. She tried to step away, but his grip around her waist didn’t loosen, it actually tightened.
“Where you going?” he murmured roughly.
She swallowed, clearing her throat as her eyes flicked away from his for a second.
“I was about to order room service,” her voice was a little breathy. “I’m hungry and I haven’t eaten in a while.” Her accent slipped through more when she said it, wrapping around her words in a way that made his gaze sharpen just a bit.
He didn’t respond right away, but very reluctantly his grip eased just enough.
She slipped out from his hold, turning away before she could get pulled back in again, walking toward the small table where the room phone sat. She picked it up, dialing quickly, pressing it to her ear.
“Hi, yes—room service please…” She heard movment behind her, but she didn't pay it much attention at the time.
He stepped close behind her, both hands free now as he had set the Oscar on the coffee table. His arms slid around her waist from behind, pulling her back into him.
She inhaled softly but didn’t stop talking.
“Yes, can I get the—”
His lips began to brush lightly against her neck. Her words faltered for half a second. Then he did it again and her grip on the phone tightened as she tried to stay focused.
“And…um also the—”
His mouth moved along her skin, from her neck to her shoulder, not caring much about what she was doing.
“—and a side of fries, please…”
He shifted, pressing a kiss just beneath her ear this time, and she closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself.
“Thank you,” she finished quickly, almost rushing the last part of the order before hanging up.
The second the phone clicked back into place, a soft moan escaped her mouth out of impulse. Michael had found a spot on her neck that made her shoulders drop instantly, her head tilting just slightly to the side as he lingered there.
“Michael…” she murmured, barely above a whisper.
He didn’t answer.
She turned in his arms, her hands coming up to rest around his neck. His hands shifted naturally to her lower back.
“They said it would be about thirty minutes,” she said softly, searching his face.
He hummed low in response, but it didn't matter.
His mouth claimed hers again, his tongue slipped past her lips, tasting her until she melted against him. His hands stayed firm on her lower back, one sliding up to grip the nape of her neck, angling her head just right to deepen the kiss even more.
She matched him, her fingers grasping his shoulders, pulling lightly as the heat built between them. But he controlled it all, the pace, the pressure, pulling back only when he chose to.
His lips left hers with a soft, wet sound, trailing down to her neck. He sucked there, marking the skin with a pull that made her gasp. Then lighter kisses followed, right on that sensitive spot beneath her ear.
His hands wandered lower, slipping down the curve of her hips to cup her robe-covered ass. He squeezed firmly, palming the soft flesh through the thin fabric, kneading it like he couldn't get enough.
A breathy and needy moan escaped her, her body arching into his touch. "Michael..."
He simply kept sucking and kissing that spot, his breath hot against her skin, hands working her ass with steady pressure.
"Michael," she said again, sharper this time, her voice laced with urgency.
She pulled back forcefully, breaking the contact, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Her eyes locked on his. Without a word, she grabbed his hand, her fingers wrapping around his firmly.
"Come on," she said softly, her voice steady despite the flush on her cheeks. "Let's go to the bedroom."
She led him there, her steps quick but sure, guiding him through the suite to the open doorway of the bedroom. The king-sized bed waited in the center, looking so inviting under the low lamp light. She stopped just in front of it, turning to face him, still holding his hand.
His eyes were dilated, pupils blown wide, fixed entirely on her like nothing else existed.
"Take off your clothes," she told him while releasing his hand.
Michael didn't hesitate. His fingers moved to his suit jacket first, shrugging it off his broad shoulders and letting it drop to the floor. The white shirt came next, buttons undone one by one, revealing the hard lines of his chest and abs, skin still glowing from the night's adrenaline. He kicked off his shoes, then his pants, stepping out of them until he stood there in just his black boxer briefs.
She smiled at him, closing the distance until her body rubbed his. Her palms pressed flat against his chest, firm enough to push him backward step by step. Michael's legs hit the edge of the bed, and he sat down, the mattress dipping under his weight.
His hands instantly shot out, reaching for her waist to tug her onto his lap, but she caught his arms mid-motion, gripping them tight and pinned them in place so he couldn't.
"Not yet," she whispered, leaning down instead. Her lips pecked his quick and teasingly, leaving him wanting more.
He exhaled roughly, his hands slipping free from her hold only to slide down her sides to find the bare skin of her thighs peeking from beneath the robe. His fingers rubbed there, tracing the smooth curves, thumbs pressing in with gentle circles that made her skin hot.
She smiled wider, then sank slowly to her knees between his spread legs. The carpet was soft against her skin as she settled in. Her hands settled on his muscled thighs. She rubbed up and down them, feeling the tension in him.
Michael's hand came to her head being mindful of the two long braids in the back of her head. He stroked gently, watching her every move.
Wunmi's eyes flicked up to meet his, then down to the waistband of his underwear. She hooked her fingers in it, tugging lightly. "Lift up," she low and steady.
He did, raising his hips just enough. She slid the fabric down his legs and tossed it aside. His thick and heavy dick sprang out, curving slightly upward. She stared at it with wide eyes, lips parting just a bit. She always loved looking at it. It looked almost too much for her sometimes, but so pretty.
A soft moan slipped from her lips as she took it in, eyes still locked on his. Her hands wrapped around the base gently, both needed to fit around him. She scooted closer on her knees. Michael groaned at the feeling of her hands.
Her mouth closed over the tip, lips stretching around it. She pushed forward enough to take him in, then swirled her tongue, sucking lightly with a wet pull that made his hips twitch.
"Shit," he moaned, his hand moving to the back of her head, fingers wrapping around the two long braids. "Can I pull these?"
She nodded without pulling off, eyes watering just a touch.
He got a firm grip, twisting them a little in his palm. Michael pushed her head down further, guiding her onto more of his length.
She gagged a little, throat tightening around him, but she didn't wait for him. Her hands gripped his thighs, nails digging in as she took control of the pace, tongue swirling along the underside with every bob. She slid up and down slowly at first, then built a rhythm. Saliva coated him as she worked deeper, hollowing her cheeks.
Each time she sank down, she pushed a little further, throat relaxing to take more and gagging softly around him. She hummed from the fullness.
Michael moaned, his eyes fighting to stay locked on hers. "Fuck, Wunmi..."
She moaned around him in response, the vibration buzzing through his shaft. Heat pooled between her legs, she was aching and wet. She pressed her thighs together subtly, needing some relief, but it only made it stronger.
It didn't take long. His thighs tensed under her grip, breath hitching. "I'm— fuck—"
A deep groan tore from him as he came, thick ropes hit the back of her throat, and she swallowed it all.
A little escaped from the corner of her mouth. She pulled him out and wiped it with one finger, then slid that finger between her lips, sucking it clean before swallowing. Her eyes never left his. She rose to her feet, a smile on.
"Scoot back," she told him.
Michael shifted, sliding toward the headboard, propping himself up on the pillows as he watched her.
Wunmi's fingers found the tie of her robe, deliberately loosening it slowly. The fabric parted, falling open to reveal a deep wine red lace lingerie set. The bra cupped her full breasts, matching panties, and lace garters stretching down to mid-thigh. She shrugged the robe off her shoulders, letting it fall to her feet before kicking it aside.
Michael's eyes widened, taking her in. If this wasn't the perfect way to celebrate his win, nothing was. His tongue came out to lick his lips, hand extending toward her.
She climbed onto the bed, crawling her way up to him, then swung a leg over, straddling his hips. She leaned down, capturing his mouth in a deep kiss.
His hands went straight to her large, plush ass, cheeks spilling over his palms. He gripped it hard, kneading the flesh through the lace, pulling her tighter against him as the kiss turned heated and messy.
She moaned into his mouth, the sound vibrating between them, arching into his touch as he palmed her roughly.
Above him, she looked stunning, and his mind raced with only one thought: he needed to capture this moment. He broke the kiss, but she just dipped lower, lips finding his neck, sucking lightly along his throat.
"Wunmi," he said, clearing his throat.
She hummed against his skin, not stopping, nipping gently.
He hesitated, heart pounding. "Can I...record us?"
That made her freeze. She pulled back fully, lifting her head to search his eyes, surprise flickering there. "What?"
He cleared his throat again, holding her gaze, voice even as possible. "Can I record us? Please."
Wunmi's eyebrows furrowed, confusion sharpening her features. "No. Why would you even want that?"
Something in him tensed, a knot pulling tight in his chest. He needed this, so he could have something to relive this night and everything it would come with. And what better way than a video to pull out later, just for him. So he decided to beg. His hands slid up her thighs, thumbs brushing the lace garters, then higher to trace her hips. He gave her those pleading, wanting eyes that she could never resist.
"Come on, baby," he murmured, voice dropping low, fingers kneading her skin. "Just this one time, for me."
She huffed, staring down at him, shifting on his lap as his touch worked its magic. Sitting up straighter, she crossed her arms under her chest, listening while he kept begging.
After a long pause, she sighed heavy, rolling her eyes but despite everything in her telling her not to, she gave in. "Fine. You can record. us But on my phone. I don't want it anywhere it could get in the wrong hands."
His face lit up in excitement. "Okay. When will I get it?"
"You get it when I decide to give it to you," she said firmly, arching a brow.
"Okay, okay," he agreed quick, tapping her thigh lightly. "Let me grab it."
She slid off him, kneeling back on the bed as he got off the bed and stood up. He padded across the room naked, strong back flexing, then he snatched her phone from the nightstand. He handled it quickly, pulling up the camera, and propped it so it fully captured the bed.
Wunmi watched him from the bed, knees tucked under her, a flicker of unease in her eyes. She wasn't fully sold on this idea, but for him and because of what tonight was, she'd do it.
Michael climbed back on the bed, crawling toward her on hands and knees. He grabbed her waist, yanking her into him. Their mouths crashed together, tongues hot and urgent.
He pushed forward, guiding her down until her back hit the sheets. He hovered over her, one knee between her thighs, kissing her deeper as the mattress shifted under their weight.
Wunmi moaned into his mouth when his hips rolled down into her, his hard length pressing right against the damp lace of her panties.
His hand slipped between them, fingers hooking the waistband of her panties, tugging them down.
"We gotta take these off," he whispered against her lips.
She moaned louder, arching up as his fingers grazed the fabric over her folds.
They worked together with her lifting her hips and him pulling the lace down her thighs. He tossed them aside and kissed her again.
Without much thought, he teased himself at her entrance, before easing in, the thick tip parting her wetness. They both moaned at the stretch, her walls gripping him tight, trying to pull him deeper.
Michael pecked her lips, then dropped his forehead to hers. She let out another moan as he slipped further, inch by inch, filling her completely. His hips adjusted, tilting to hit that perfect angle deep inside, the one that made her entire body melt, legs trembling around him. He knew her every spot, and he wanted that reaction he knew it would bring.
Her hands cradled the back of his head, holding him steady as he started slow, deep thrusts, pushing to the base each time. She moaned loud, but it got lost in his mouth as he kissed her again, swallowing the sounds.
He pulled back just enough to stare into her eyes, voice rough with emotion. "You're so fucking beautiful, baby. I love you so much."
"Thank you, baby. I love you too." Wunmi moaned, walls clenching around him.
His thrusts picked up, pushing deeper, hitting that line where pleasure tipped into almost too much. Wunmi gasped, her hands sliding down to press flat on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under her palms.
Michael's eyes were locked on her face, watching her moan. She clenched around him on each stroke, pulling him in like she couldn't get enough.
Her eyes fluttered, starting to close from being overwhelmed, so he murmured low, "Does it feel good, baby?"
She nodded quickly, rocking her hips up to meet him. "It's just so much."
He glanced down between them, seeing how her slick folds stretched around his thickness as he disappeared inside her with every push.
"I know, I know," he soothed gently.
But he didn't ease up. Instead, he dug deeper, hips rolling, chasing those raw sounds she made.
Wunmi gasped louder, hands flying to his biceps, gripping hard. "Hold me," she pleaded, voice breaking. She needed him close, skin to skin.
He let her pull him down on top of her. Her arms wrapped tight around his head, squeezing him close. He kissed her neck soft, lips brushing sweat-damp skin. "I got you, baby. It's okay. I'm holding you."
He picked up speed just a touch. His long, powerful strokes had them both moaning into each other's ears.
Wunmi's hands gripped his arms tight, fingers holding on for dear life, but she shied from wrapping around him fully.
As if reading her mind, Michael caught her wrists gentle, guiding her hands to his back. "Put 'em right here," he murmured, pressing them flat against his skin. "Good girl."
She moaned louder at the praise. Each thrust exploded through her, her stomach tightened, pushing her quickly toward the edge.
"I'm goin—" Her warning broke into a sharp moan, words lost as pleasure overtook. Her nails scraped his back lightly, gripping hard.
"You can scratch it, baby," he urged, pushing their lips together for a deep kiss.
Their lips locked, her moans muffled against him, until she released, coming hard around him.
He pecked her lips, then leaned back slowly, moving to kneel between her trembling legs. He was still buried deep inside her as he watched her chest heave.
He gathered her soft legs in his large hands and eased them wider apart. Then he thrust back in, picking up where they left off.
Wunmi moaned, fingers twisting into the sheets, back arching off the bed as he filled her again.
Michael kept the pace, hands roaming up her curves until one palm gripped a full breast through the lace bra, thumb circling the hard nipple.
"You're taking it so well," he praised her.
She whimpered, "Please..." She was already close to another edge, body completely overwhelmed. She tried to close her legs, thighs pressing together to slow it down.
He shook his head. "Uhn-uhn. Open those legs for me."
She hesitated, then parted them. Michael hooked his hands into the soft crease behind her knees, pinning her thighs wide open, knees bent toward her chest. With her open like that, he went to town, thrusts turning harder and faster, pounding deep inside with wet slaps echoing in the room. And Wunmi could do nothing but take it. Her body rocking with every slam, completely at his mercy.
One hand flew to his chest, the other pressed his lower stomach, yet neither slowed him down.
"What's my name, baby?" he demanded.
She could barely form words, eyes unfocused, mind melted, but she managed to get out, "Daddy..."
He groaned in approval. "And what did Daddy win, huh?"
"An Oscar," she moaned.
A cuss slipped from her lips as he drove her deeper into the mattress, holding her legs even wider, folding her nearly in half.
"I'm so proud of you, baby," he rasped, thrusting even with her clenching tight around him. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said instantly, almost like it was on autopilot.
He felt his own release building up with her pulsing around him with no protection. She was the only one he ever went raw with, the only one he wanted to with.
He kept driving deep, careful nudges against the top of her ceiling, teasing that spot until she squealed, clenching tight around him every time.
Groans poured from him continuously, as his release came fast. He buried himself deep, tip kissing that sensitive spot, and came, filling her up.
Her legs shook violently under his hands, another orgasm unexpectedly ripping through her.
"Please…" she begged, body seizing as pleasure overwhelmed her.
She reached for any part of him. He caught her hand, lacing their fingers together as they rode it out.
They were so lost in each other, they forgot about the phone and room service entirely.
Earlier, a soft knock came from the suite door, but was ignored. The staff woman waited longer than protocol, with the hot food starting to cool on the cart. There was no "Do Not Disturb" sign hung, so she swiped her keycard and rolled the cart inside.
Her eyes caught the Oscar. She'd heard whispers from the other staff that Michael B. Jordan was in the hotel tonight. But she didn't think she would be serving him.
Muffled sounds came from the open bedroom door. And of course she felt the need to be nosy. She parked the cart by the table and creeped toward the doorway. And there he was, with his bare back flexed, hips moving forward as he held a woman's legs open.
Then, very clearly, she heard "I love you."
A muffled response followed.
The woman's eyes widened and she left quickly not wanting to interrupt what she could only imagine was a celebration.
Michael released Wunmi's legs, letting them fall to the sheets. Her chest heaved with each inhale, skin flushed and glistening. His eyes were fixed on her breasts that were still trapped by her lace bra.
She whimpered when he slipped out, the sudden emptiness making her clench around nothing.
He pecked her lips a few times, before trailing kisses from her lip to her cheek, neck, collarbone, and down to her chest. His lips kissed each breast, then his hand cupped one while his mouth latched onto the other. He tugged the bra down, exposing her dark nipples. He licked slow circles, then he sucked, pulling delicious moans from her throat.
Her hand found the back of his head to hold him there as he showed her some attention.
"They're so perfect, baby," he praised against her skin, voice muffled
He switched sides, mouth leaving a wet trail across her chest, sucking the other nipple with the same intensity. He kept going until he was satisfied, before leaning back on his heels. He licked his lips, eyes taking her ruined look in. His gaze dropped lower, to her swollen, leaking pussy. A low groan came from him.
"Turn over for me."
Wunmi swallowed hard. Doggy always felt iffy because Michael could get rough when he was lost in it. And tonight she was sure she'd have to brace herself with him still being high from his win.
She took a deep breath and rolled over, then pushed up onto all fours, back arched slightly.
Michael slid off the bed to stand behind her. He always loved his view from the back. "Come back toward me."
She inched backward on her knees, until she felt close enough. His hands firmly gripped her ankles and yanked her to the edge in one pull. Her body moved easily against the hotel sheets, ass now only inches away from him.
He pressed her upper body down into the bed, making her arch exactly how he wanted it, and her ass lifted up to him. His palm cracked against one cheek, then the other which made the flesh jiggle. She gasped, but he saw her subtly push back as if sshe wanted more.
Michael gripped his dick, rubbing the thick length up and down her slick folds, teasing her entrance until she moaned, ass wiggling eagerly against him.
Wunmi pushed back easing just the tip and another inch or two inside. A deep moan escaped as she stretched around him. Then she rocked forward, nearly pulling off, before sliding back those same few inches.
He bit his lip hard, watching as her body worked him over.
She kept it up, her pace not nearly fast enough for him, but her soft moans told him that she was enjoying every shallow push. His hand went the top of her ass to guide her back with each rock.
"Shit..." he moaned, the grip helping her meet him halfway.
Her fingers twisted tight into the sheets.
They rocked like that, pace gradually building.
"I love this dick," Wunmi gasped between moans, voice breathy. "It feels so good, baby."
Michael kept his hands on her hips, but he sharply pulled her further back on him, making most of his length sink in deep in her. She moaned loud.
His palm smack her ass again, the sting burning. "You can take more, right?"
"Daddy, please," she moaned, going forward automatically.
He just chased her, inching more in slowly. "C'mon, baby."
Her arm shot back, but he snatched her wrist up, letting her hand grip his solid arm. Using it as leverage, he pulled her onto him further, watching her take it.
"It's too much," she whined, but her moan sounded too needy, and her body clenched around the fullness.
He let go of her arm, hands going for her waist instead. Then he pulled her back slamming into her faster, deeper, and harder than before.
Moans spilled from her consistently now. Sounding so soft and sweet to his ears, it was like music. She gripped the sheets so tight as her body jolted with each thrust.
"You can take it," he urged. "Talk to me."
"Baby, I can't," she stuttered, eyes squeezing shut tight, overwhelmed.
Another moan ripped from her. He groaned as she fluttered around him.
"Yes, you can," he growled. "Tell Daddy what he wants to hear."
Wunmi's cries of "Daddy, please" kept going with every thrust as he pounded into her without mercy.
Her stomach tightened hard, legs trembling under the onslaught. "Baby, I'm about to come," she gasped, voice squealing.
He grunted low, hips never slowing. "Come for Daddy."
Quick, he sucked until his thumb was wet and then pressed it against her back hole then eased it in.
"Micha— Daddy!" She gasped out.
His thumb stayed buried knuckle-deep, while his other fingers gripped her ass cheek firmly to keep the momentum going.
Her release hit her so intensely that she unintentionally clenched around him. A string of moans spilled out—"Oh fuck—Daddy…"—as he fucked her through it. She creamed heavy, coating his whole dick white and dripping down.
Michael pushed her waist down, arching her deeper, then leaned forward over her back to hold her down as he continued thrusting.
It was far too much, it felt too good and yet too overwhelming. Wunmi reached back, palm pushing weakly at his thigh to slow him down.
Michael snatched her hand up, leaning down to kiss her knuckles. He pressed their intertwined fingers to her lower back.
"Baby, it's too big," she called out, voice wrecked. "And you're giving it all to me."
"I got to. So you know how proud of you I am. You proud of me too, baby?"
She whimpered with every slam. "Yes…congratulations, Daddy."
"Say it again."
"Congratulations, Daddy," she gasped louder.
"Fuck this pussy good," he groaned.
Then in a much softer voice, he asked, "Do you love me, baby?"
"I love you so much. Fuck—" She moaned, face shoved into the bed, muffling the words.
"I love you too."
He pushed through until his own release came close. "Fuck, I'm about to nut all in this good shit."
One more deep thrust, and he came filling her with hot ropes. He pulled out slowly, their cream leaking from her, then dropped down behind her, diving in without giving her a break.
Moans tore from her as he ate her from the back. He gripped her thighs to still her squirming and spread her open.
His tongue licked her entrance hungrily, sucking their mixed release, then went lower to her clit. He sucked and pulled making her moans so loud he figured they could hear her in the next room.
Her hand desperately shot between her legs, trying to nudge his head away as overstimulation hit. "W-wait, baby—I—I can't…fuck!" she cried between moans, thighs shaking.
He didn't let up, tongue flicking quickly even as she tried to crawl forward to escape. Michael climbed onto the bed, grip tightening on her thighs to hold her steady. He ate her until another orgasm had her body tensing. He slurped her up greedily, not wasting a drop.
He stood up and slapped her ass one more time, watching it jiggle as she collapsed forward onto the bed. Her whole body trembling violently.
Michael slid in beside her, gathering her body close, pulling her into his chest. Their lips came together in slow kiss, and his hands kneaded her ass lazily.
Her eyes fluttered shut eventually, exhaustion claiming her. He kissed her forehead, then slipped from the bed to grab the still recording phone from off the table. He hit stop and set it back on the nightstand before climbing back under the sheets.
Two days later, Michael was stretched out across his bed. One arm tucked behind his head, the other resting on his chest as he stared blankly at the wall. The room was quiet and it gave his mind too much space to wander. And all he could think about was Sunday night.
He let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down his face before letting it fall back onto the bed.
Everything about it had been a perfect night. From the win to the celebration. The way she looked, the way she sounded, the way she felt, and the way she tasted. It played back so vividly.
It didn’t help that she wasn’t even in the city anymore. She’d left the next day for work. She said she would only be gone for a few days, but a few days felt like a long time right now.
He shifted slightly on the bed, exhaling again, his jaw tightening as he tried to push the thoughts away. It didn’t work. If anything, it made it worse.
His mind went right back to the details like how she squeezed his dick so good, or how her mouth sucked him up so deliciously. He could picture it all, but some things were starting to get cloudy. Then he remembered that she had sent him the audio. It wasn't the actual video, but he knew better than to push for more.
He reached for his phone almost immediately, unlocking it and scrolling through his messages until he found it. His thumb hovered over it for half a second, then he pressed play.
He grabbed his headphones from the nightstand, slipping them on as he leaned back again, eyes closing as the sound filled his ears. And he was pulled right back there.
He exhaled slowly, his head tipping back against the headboard, letting it play out without interruption. His hand dragged down his body until he got to the band of his shorts.
The memory mixing with the sound in his ears, pulling him deeper into it. He slipped his hand underneath, grabbing himself. He slowly started stroking his dick at the breathy mixed sound of them both. His current breathing became heavier each time he went from base to tip. He got completely lost in it.
Until his phone rang.
His eyes snapped open, brows furrowing as he pulled one side of the headphones off, the moment broken.
“…man,” he exhaled, reaching for his phone, irritation clear as he glanced at the screen.
When he looked at the screen, he let out a quiet curse under his breath at what he forgot. It was one of the girls he had hit up earlier, because he needed a quick release.
“Yeah?”
“I’m outside,” she said, her tone a little playful.
“Aight, I got you,” he replied trying to hide his annoyance, before hanging up.
The headphones came off and he tossed those and his phone onto the bed. They landed somewhere near the pillows as he pushed himself up and headed out of the room. When he opened the door, she was standing there smiling, looking him up and down the second she saw him.
“Hey,” she said, stepping in and wrapping her arms around him.
He quickly hugged her back.
“Congratulations,” she added.
“Thank you,” he said, pulling back slightly.
Her expression shifted as if she had remembered something. A small pout formed on her face.
“But why you ain’t invite me over?” she asked, dragging the words out just a little. “We could’ve had fun…”
He looked at her for a second. Then looked away.
“C’mon,” he said instead, stepping to the side as he gestured for her to come in.
She gave him a look like she noticed what he did, but didn’t push it. Not yet at least.
He led her upstairs without saying much else, his energy more direct and less patient. The second they got into his room, she dropped her bag near the chair, turning back toward him just in time for him to close the distance.
He jumped straight into it by kissing her. She responded instantly, arms coming up around his shoulders as they moved together, but there was a subtly difference now. His focus wasn’t fully on her.
He guided her backwards toward the bed, and when the backs of her legs hit the mattress, she let herself fall back with a small laugh. He followed right after, crowding over her. His movements were quick, almost impatient. Almost as if he wanted to be done before they had even started.
Afterwards, they laid in a too quiet room. Michael was on his back, one arm resting behind his head again, chest rising and falling slower now as he came down from it. His eyes weren’t really focused on anything but the ceiling.
She was on her side, propped slightly up on her elbow, watching him, and thinking. She had seen a tweet earlier, and she couldn't shake the thought of it. And now with him so distant, she felt there was some truth to it. At first, she tried to brush it off because people said anything online. It came with who he was as a celebrity. But this one really stuck with her.
She hadn’t seen or heard from him that night. And now, laying here next to him, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts take her to a place beyond concern. She didn’t usually get like this with anyone, but he was different. He treated her well, and he respected her. And maybe somewhere along the way, she started wanting more. Or at least wanting to feel like she could be more.
Her eyes moved over him, studying his face, the calmness there that didn’t quite match how her mind was moving. She needed to know.
“Hey,” she said softly to catch his attention.
He glanced over at her. “What’s up?”
She gave him a small look, batting her lashes. “Can you get me something to eat? And a drink?”
He paused, then nodded. “Yeah, I got you.”
He pushed the covers back and got out of bed, grabbing a pair of sweats from the chair as he walked out of the room. The door clicked shut behind him. And the second it did, she moved fast.
The softness dropped from her face completely as she turned, reaching straight for his phone on the bed. For a second, she hesitated, but it all went out the window when she remembered how he was so caught up. Then she unlocked it. She remembered it from a time he forgot that she was laying next to him watching.
The second she got into his phone, she didn’t waste time, she went straight to his messages. Her thumb scrolled past names and numbers she didn’t care about. She wasn’t trying to read everything, but she was looking for something that felt different.
And it didn’t take long. There was a thread with nothing but an iCloud email.
Her brows pulled together slightly as she clicked it. There wasn’t a conversation. Just one message. An audio file. She tapped it and lifted the phone to her ear. And the second the audio started, her face went still. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to it for a few more seconds. She didn’t need long to understand exactly what she was hearing.
Her hand dropped slightly from her ear, but she didn’t stop the audio right away. It kept playing faintly, just enough for her to catch pieces of it and confirm what she already knew.
“Wow…” she whispered under her breath, though there was no real surprise, only irritation.
She stopped the audio and quickly sent the file to herself, fingers steady despite everything running through her head. Once it went through, she deleted the sent file from his side, so he wouldn't have a clue. Then she locked the phone and placed it back where it had been.
Her face was blank as she pulled the sheet slightly over herself.
By the time Michael came back into the room, she had put her act back on. Or tried to at least.
He walked in with a sandwich and a drink, completely unaware.
“Here,” he said, handing them over as he moved back toward the bed.
“Thank you,” she replied, her voice a little quieter than before.
She didn’t stay much longer after that. She finished her food, making light conversation when he spoke and let him touch her like he always did. If anything, she leaned into it a little more, playing the role just enough so he wouldn’t question it.
But her mind wasn’t present anymore. All she could think about was the intimacy she heard, and how he sounded so different with her. And the fact that it wasn’t her.
She finally decided to slip out of his bed, then put her clothes back on piece by piece.
“I’ll text you,” she said, smoothing her hands down her outfit as she grabbed her bag.
“Okay,” he replied, barely looking up from his phone.
She paused for half a second, looking at him. Then smiled.
“Congratulations again,” she added.
“Appreciate it,” he said, glancing up just long enough to give her a small nod.
And that was it, so she left.
end notes: no tags for this because people been wanting to tussle for this! but if you would like to be tagged lmk because there will be a part 2 and 3. they're already being worked on actually.
Yes we are !! And yes please finish the savor series !! That was the series that got me into sinners fanfiction fandom !! Savor series and the Vine between us !!
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The gifs of Smoke & Annie’s chemistry test doesn’t do it justice.
listening to Ryan Coogler instructing them and then randomly stopping to allow their chemistry to flow led to the necklace / clothing adjustments
There is something special here, creatively and energetically. I love the idea of their rl friendship and their acting chemistry. I’ll be stuck here until these two meet again ✨
Yessss I couldn’t have said it better I’ll be stuck here literally until they meet again ! It’s crazy ion wanna see her with anybody else and I don’t want to see him with anybody else their chemistry was amazing !!
summary: all his life, smoke had heard that two is company but three is a crowd; and never had it made as much sense as it did now.
cw: smut, toxic smoke x annie, possesive!smoke, obsessed!smoke, obsessed!annie, public!sex, unprotected!sex (everyone say thank you to @brownskincheyenne), light choking, cheating, use of alcohol, use of the nword
a/n: here's the final part and a very annie centered chapterrrr. we been focused on smoke, but now it's her time to shine! this is much longer that part one and two combined, so please enjoy! requested here and inspired by @librababe7
part one; part two.
masterlist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her new nigga wasn’t someone she was serious about. Yes—he was sexy as hell, and yes—and he did whatever she told him to, but he wasn’t Smoke.
Annie had promised herself after that first time that she wouldn’t become addicted to the man. It was easy enough to say but too hard to make reality, and whenever she found her mind drifting to Smoke, all she could think about was the sight, smell, and taste of him. All she could feel was his hands roaming her body, throwing her around—handling her. It had been a long time since she was this engrossed in another person, so when he texted, she responded. When he begged to come over, she let him.
Her new nigga was an attempt to stop this obsession from spreading. He was something to offset her need for Smoke. It worked—at first—but every time she got a taste of Smoke again, she was ready to throw in the towel and run to her friend in confession.
She knew why the woman had put an end to the threesome shit just as soon as it had started. Annie and the man had went wild, and when you get completely lost the way they did, you have to nip that shit in the bud expeditiously. Her friend could see where it was heading, could tell that if they continued she would end up with no man at all—but she didn’t move quick enough.
Annie had snatched her nigga up, and if Smoke was intrigued by her before, he was damn near obsessed now.
When he yelled at her about her new man, the audacity made her laugh and boil with anger. You would think he'd focus on the more pressing matter first: they had a double date to be worried about, and there he was focused about some stupid shit. But Annie couldn’t deny that Smoke’s possessive side made her tingle. There was something about the raising of his voice, the crazy look in his eye, the way he gritted his teeth at her.
She wanted to tell him that she was all his and that she wasn’t serious about dude, but then she’d have no cards to play and nobody to fall back on.
She wasn’t that stupid.
~~~~~
Annie stared down at her phone. Smoke was blowing her up like he had been all week, but she had nothing to say to him; Nothing worthwhile, and nothing that would soothe the insane way he was behaving. She rolled her eyes as a litany of messages came through.
So you ain't gon answer my fuckin messages?
You got me textin and callin yo ass and I know you see it
I told yo ass I was serious, Annie
Im serious bout you
Bout us
Answer yo damn phone, woman
Aight
Keep playin
Just wait til I see yo lil boyfriend at this dinner then
“You ready for our double date on friday,” her friend asked, bumping her shoulder as she passed her to look at the wall of shoes in front of them. Startled, Annie immediately stuffed her phone in her purse, swiveling around with a flushed look as her surroundings came back into the forefront.
The mall was loud even though it was a week day, but her mind was still oscillating between Smoke's messages and maintaining this lie.
“Sure,” she hummed, picking up a pair of heels. “I been wantin’ to try that restaurant for a while, too.”
“Mhm,” her friend responded distractedly. Annie had stooped to try on the shoe, giving her the chance to watch her without being interrupted. Her eyes drifted over her—hot and greedy—but when Annie stood up straight, she diverted her gaze. “I’m ready to meet yo’ new man,” she lied, huffing softly. “Tryna see who takin’ all your time away like this.” And with that, the friend laughed—boastful and haughty—but Annie could tell what was underneath it.
She had suspected for a while now that her friend still felt a way about their little rendezvous. Since then, she looked at Annie with the memory of her naked body still roaming around her mind, and when Annie began to spend less time with her and more time with her new man (and Smoke), she continuously demanded to know who was taking her away from her. She played it off as a joke, but Annie could sense her true feelings.
This stupid double date was set up for her friend to finally meet her "competition", as she had put it. And while Annie hated the whole idea of it, she couldn’t fight the irony of Smoke being the real reason for her lack of free time.
She was split between three people who couldn’t get enough Annie, and she didn’t know what to do. She had a friend who was obsessed with her and secretly pining for something she had put an end to herself. She had a new man who was supposed to be a fun distraction from the bullshit, but the more things progressed with him, the more enraptured he became, too. And she had Smoke—a man as addicted to her as she was him.
It was a hot ass mess of her own making, but there seemed to be no turning back now.
"What you wearin' to dinner," her friend questioned, biting her bottom lip. She was back to looking her up and down and clearly envisioning Annie being put through the mattress.
"Girl," Annie cackled, rolling her eyes as they walked into another store. "Stop lookin' at me like that before I tell yo' man on you."
"Oh, please," she grumbled, moving to a rack of dresses. Rolling her shoulders back, her voice leveled to a tone Annie couldn't fully decipher. "Smoke be lookin' at you, too."
~~~~~
When she made it to the restaurant, Annie felt like she was walking into the lion's den. With her new nigga at her side, she only felt worse, like she was subjecting him to a violence he had no possible understanding of.
Before now, she'd felt no reason to explain the intricacies of her relationship with Smoke and her friend to him. He didn’t know about the threesome or her and Smoke’s relationship or how her friend still wanted her. It was none of his business, and they weren't serious enough for her to start divulging secrets with the man.
But it didn't make her feel any better about bringing him into the environment because she knew her guilt would only grow with time.
“Hey, sexy,” Annie’s friend shouted in greeting, standing from her seat to welcome the woman and her guest. Her arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tight as the two men beside them sized each other up. Smoke rose from his chair slowly, eyes remaining in the unfamiliar face. He disregarded the nickname, disregarded Annie’s attire. There was nothing more important than figuring out what made this nigga good enough for his Annie.
Greeting her friend back with a firm hug, the woman introduced her guest—and immediately the air turned cold.
Smoke, his girlfriend, and Annie’s man all traded looks between each other, each of them full of competition and jealousy.
“Have you all ordered anything,” Annie laughed off nervously, trepidation blanketing her emotions. She took a seat at the table, right between Smoke and her friend—across from her man. The other woman cleared her throat to speak, but Annie could only focus on how Smoke had yet to acknowledge her.
“Just a bottle of wine,” her friend offered blankly.
“Well,” Annie breathed emptily. She didn’t know what to say or how to proceed. Never once had she been in a situation such as this, but she promised herself that she’d make it out alive. Noticing that her dress had ridden up, Annie fought the fabric to bring it down to an appropriate length, but that was entirely the wrong move.
Smoke’s eyes were on her in an instant, burning holes into her body because who did she think she was wearing something that short outside the house? Who did she think she was showing off what was his? He swallowed a thick gulp of wine, gritting his teeth when it hit the back of his throat.
He’d been too distracted earlier, but Annie had Smoke’s full attention now.
Seated at the square dining table in the middle of an overly loud restaurant, the man found himself placed between Annie and her new nigga. It disgusted him to see her making eyes at the man across from her while he was completely unconcerned with his own girl. They’d had a fight before arriving. Something stupid about him being distant and not showing much affection, something about how he hadn’t initiated sex in ages; But he was really cool off all that. He wanted Annie. Needed Annie.
The past week or so without the woman made him feel like he was going to die, but now that he could see her again, he’d been restored.
Between flagged down waiters and their food finally arriving from the backed up kitchen, little words had left his mouth. Smoke watched with angered eyes as Annie talked with everyone but him. She hardly looked in his direction, but it gave him plenty of time to analyze everything else. Both his and Annie’s dates were looking at the woman as if she’d hung the stars, severely infatuated by every word coming out of her mouth.
He understood that feeling. Annie was reverent, a fucking sight to behold.
“So, how serious you and Annie is,” he interrupted, bringing tension back to the table. The other man scoffed, working his jaw, and the two women refused to meet each other’s gazes. They were both embarrassed for a multitude of reasons.
“Serious enough,” Annie’s date countered with attitude. His eyebrows were scrunched, leaning into Smoke’s personal space. “You cool wit’ that?”
The question was unnecessary because everyone could tell his answer was a resounding no. Heat rose in his body. Jealousy dripped off of him. Smoke blew from his nostrils.
“Nigga, who the fuck you thin—”
“We’re just enjoyin’ ourselves,” Annie swallowed, unafraid of interrupting Smoke’s speech, uncaring of the glare he sent into the side of her head. She knew she needed to intervene quickly because no one at this table needed to believe that she and this man were anywhere near serious. Smoke was irate. Her friend was envious. And her nigga was ready to fight the whole table ‘bout her—and she wasn’t ready to see him end up on his ass. “We just gettin’ to know each other,” she explained further, shrugging to show indifference. “Learnin’ each other. Havin’ fun.”
“Don’t sound serious to me,” her friend whispered into her glass. And Smoke grunted in agreement. He eyed the way his girl rolled her eyes at the other man, how she clearly viewed him as some sort of intruder when she sent this all up. They didn't have to be here, but now they all pissed.
Smoke chuckled when Annie’s date shrunk into his seat.
Unable to hold back from touching her any longer, the man grabbed her near bare thigh beneath the table. He needed the stability. Needed it to keep him from doing something he would soon regret because Annie’s man was on the verge of saying more slick shit and his girl had turned her eyes to him, suspicious of his behavior as if she wasn't acting just as questionable.
“You good, Smoke,” she questioned from across the table, eyes low and jaw set. Her gaze communicated a million words, and he simply wasn’t ready to deal with that tonight.
“I’m fine,” but as he spoke shortly, his grip tightened on Annie, and he felt her gasp before her fingers joined his atop her thigh.
Annie was losing her mind.
The room was suffocating her, and Smoke's hands on her body—and beginning to tighten every second—only made her want him more. She felt stupid for spending the last week not talking to him, but she needed to make him sweat. In her attempts to have him unnerved, things had backfired, and all she wanted was to be alone with the man she had been avoiding for days.
“I think I need some air,” the woman exasperated, shooting a heated glance in his direction.
Before she could even stand, both men had moved to help her from her seat, and even her friend had extended a hand in assistance as well. It was awkward. Embarrassingly, Annie declined the help, finding the nearest exit to the restaurant's private courtyard.
It was much quieter outside, and the night air had a cooling note to it that instantly calmed her body. The dress she wore clung to her in the best way, ridding up with each step she made toward the fountain in the middle of the space. She was most surprised at the fact that no one was out here, and her mind cleansed itself at that realization.
“I can’t believe you brought that nigga,” she heard from behind her, the words hot as they punctuated the air. She could feel his body nearing hers, and as she rolled her shoulders to stand up straight, she could feel the hard plains of his chest.
“What you expect me to do, Smoke,” Annie questioned, exhaustion and need in her tone. “Just show up alone?”
“Hell yeah,” he grumbled. With a hand moving to her waist, he pulled her ass to lay flush with his crotch. He laughed at the shiver down her spine. “You mine, Annie, and both of them up in there lookin’ at you like they got the right to.”
“Smoke,” the woman groaned, slowly grinding into him. She was listening, or at least trying to, but Smoke was addictive. All it took was a few short words and that damn grumble to get her going. She didn’t know how she’d survive the rest of the night.
“Told ‘em I was headed to make a phone call, so we ain’t got much time, baby girl,” he whispered headily. “What you want?”
“I need to cum,” she cried, turning around in his arms. She fisted his shirt and gave him the softest eyes she could muster. “It’s been too long.”
“And who’s fault is that,” Smoke growled. He walked her into a corner where one wall of the building met another; where dense plants created enough shadows for him to do what needed to be done; where the world could become their own.
His lips landed on her neck first; Her purse was still sitting at the table, and they didn’t need the added drama of smudged makeup to ruin tonight anymore than they were about to. He nipped at her skin with care as his fingers glided down her thighs and back up again. Smoke would never get enough of the feel of her—the softness, the solidity beneath it all.
“You out of yo' mind comin' wit' that nigga,” he argued yet again. “Even crazier for wearin' this little ass dress, but I'm gon' let you slide for now.”
Her dress hem was thrown up over her hips before she could process everything, and his hands were inside her panties just as she had demanded. Annie loved that Smoke was a man on a mission in everything that he did. If there was a task to complete, he was diligent in seeing it through. Currently, she was his task, so when his thick fingers found her wet heat, she allowed her body to settle, knowing she would be taken care of.
It felt as if she were being engulfed—by him, by her emotions, by the entire date night from Hell. All she wanted was Smoke, but as his fingers stroked her, she just couldn’t stay focused on the moment.
“Breathe, baby,” the man reminded her, slowing his hand between her legs. The pace was teasing, shallower than he knew Annie needed. Her warmth surrounded him, and her arousal dripped down his fingers with each dragging thrust.
“Please,” Annie choked out, clawing at his shoulders. Her mind was still swirling, imagining both of their dates waiting at the table, hopeful for their return. Guilt settled into her skin, but she needed this. Staring into the man’s eyes, she attempted to ground herself, slowly beginning to work her hips into his palm.
“There you go,” Smoke encouraged, increasing his speed as she rutted against him. Heat flushed his face when she grabbed his throat and held him there, but he couldn’t lie about how good it felt. The choking—along with her moans—made him feel lightheaded in the best way, urging him to bring her to her climax. But his arousal was thumping in the seat of his own pants, and every few seconds, he thrusted his clothed length against her thigh.
“Put it in,” Annie lulled into his left ear.
And how could he resist that?
Looking out over his shoulder and finding the courtyard still empty, Smoke quickly unbuckled his belt. He’d have to do a whole lot of lying when he made it back to the table after this, but all of that was a distant concern that he refused to let take precedence.
“I ain’t got no condom,” he breathed heavily, but he was quick to realize that Annie didn’t mind when her leg wrapped around his hip and her hand dragged his dick closer to her entrance.
“I’m surprised you even came tonight,” the woman at the table grinned like a Cheshire cat. Her voice was teetering on the edge of something smug, but the man beside her didn’t pick up on it.
“Why are you surprised,” he questioned in response.
“I just thought you’d have a problem with it after Annie told you,” she chuckled.
“Told me what,” he asked once more, and the woman knew she was about to be triumphant.
“Oh, you don’t know, do you,” she feigned innocence. Her eyes got big and round as if she hadn’t meant to spill the beans and saw no way out but through. “You know Annie’s like my best friend and all, and we’re so close,” she began, voice lilting. “I thought she would have told you about me, her, and Smoke since y'all are so serious and everything.”
“Y’all—”
“Fucked? Yeah,” she answered with indifference, shrugging as she beckoned a waiter over for another bottle of wine. She refilled her glass and tried her best to stuff down her grin. She so badly needed this nigga to move on—because in her mind, if she had to compete for Annie’s attention against Smoke only, she’d double her chances at winning.
Oh, how wrong she was.
But nevertheless, the man beside her only added to her overconfidence when sadness washed over his body. She watched him look down at his watch and back toward the two empty chairs at their table.
“Fuck this pussy, baby,” Annie demanded, smacking the side of Smoke’s ass as he folded her up into the corner. She adored the heat of the moment, how they were doing this in public when they had people waiting for them. She loved the seclusion of it, how it was dark in their corner, and with the plants blocking the view no one would see them anyway.
It felt right no matter how wrong it was, and with Smoke finally fucking her raw like this, she was ready to give him what he wanted. What she had been denying herself, too.
“You mine,” she slurred, drunk off of the feeling of his thrusts.
“Huh, baby,” he grunted, sweat near his hairline.
“You my only nigga,” she confirmed, moaning lightly at him faltering in shock. She grabbed his face, nails crescenting his skin. “You mine, and I’m yours. But you need to put an end to yo’ relationship. Can you do that for me, baby?”
The words were sealed with a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Smoke nodded his head profusely before doubling his efforts.
“I swear it’s over wit’ her,” he damn near cried, throat cracking around a moan.
He’d do whatever she asked because Annie was his priority. Annie was what he’d always needed.
He continued to fuck her as he felt his body beginning to succumb to their combined efforts. Annie was clenching around his length and swearing softly against his lips. She couldn’t take it anymore, the guilt turning into something that nudged at her desire. Neither of them cared about the consequences or repercussions of their cheating because they had this: each other.
As they walked back to the table, they did it together—side by side instead of hiding behind a lie any longer.
Each step sent fear through Annie's body, but as Smoke's shoulder brushed against hers, her heart rate leveled out. What they hadn't expected upon returning was for the table to be missing one of their guests. The closer they got, Smoke's girl became clearer in their view, and when her head turned in their direction, a near evil smirk lit her face.
"Where ole dude at," Smoke puzzled distantly, knowing that whenever he turned up it would be time to come clean. He sat in his seat, Annie to one side and his girl in front of him. The laugh she let out told him everything he needed to know.
"He left," she muttered, already taking in Annie's appearance: the wrinkles in her dress, the slant of her hem, the dampness along her edges.
"Why'd he go," Annie uttered worriedly, causing both of the people at the table to roll their eyes. It's not that she cared about him that much, but when she left the table, everything was fine except for her need for Smoke.
"Y'all was out there together, weren't y'all," the other woman questioned instead, completely disregarding what she'd been asked. Her gaze had moved to Smoke, and his eyes told it all. He could never lie too well when confronted with something outright. His leg was bouncing beneath the table, and his brows were furrowed in a way that said he couldn't wait for tonight to be over with. But those damn eyes lit up every time he looked over at Annie, and the way he wanted her made the other woman's heart hurt.
"I asked you a question," Annie insisted, huffing and crossing her arms beneath her chest. "What did you say to him?" Because she knew the woman had done something. Her friend had set this all up for a reason, and she never liked the idea of Annie entertaining another person. Never liked that she didn't have all of Annie's attention.
"He somehow found out about our li'l threesome," she admitted with a casualness that irked Annie to her core.
"Why would you tell him that," she groaned. "You know I hadn't told him yet."
"I guess it slipped my mind," but as she said the words, she looked at Smoke. The darkness in his eyes. The irritation building in his bones. "What were y'all doin' outside?"
And although Smoke wanted to allow Annie the opportunity to speak her mind, he needed to put an end to this.
"We was fuckin'," he exasperated, already feeling Annie's eyes on him due to his bluntness. He continued to look at the woman he had arrived with tonight, watching the emotions pass over her face. He remembered the fight from earlier about him not being present. He remembered the days she'd come home after hanging out with Annie and how all she wanted was to fuck him with the thought of the other woman fresh in her mind. He thought back to when she had first admitted to wanting a threesome with her friend—the betrayal of it.
The look on her face now had nothing to do with her being cheated on and everything to do with the fact that it was with Annie—the woman that she wanted more than anything else. But she was his now, and that thought settled him.
"We through," he huffed, standing from his seat. He pulled out some cash, throwing it on the table. "You ain't wanted me for a long time, and I apologize for lyin' but that's all I got for you." He wanted to scoff when she looked up at him because she looked pathetic. Shoulders hunched and eyes wet, he could tell she knew this was the end of whatever fantasy she had created for her and the other woman. As much as he wanted to bring it up, it wasn't worth it.
Annie stood when his hand extended toward her.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, standing over the other woman with an honest look. "But it was never gonna work between us."
And with a promise to move out within the week and to pay his half of the rent for the remainder of their lease, Smoke and Annie departed from the double date from hell—hand in hand and with a weight lifted off of their shoulders.
This was soooo good !! It’s always gone be smoke & Annie idk why they even thought it would ever be them !!! This was sooo good !! Frennnnnn you snapped !!!
and if you fw @ebonymuse/michaelmuse stay off my blog, im not fw that pretending to be black bc you want clout or whatever tf ! there should be no reason why i wanna check ppls pages now to see if their black writers or not bc mfs dont wanna be themselves!!! + if ur gonna turn the blind eye to this situation and keep reading her fics do not interact with me, block me.
it makes no sense why people are still supporting this weird ass bitch n this weird shit like im disappointed if u are black and still choosing to read, support, or reblog her shit where she writes to portray blk ppl (allegedly) either way that shit is very mf coon and there are better black writers than her that dont have to cosplay to have readers/fans
and no idgaf about no mf apology my people have went thru centuries of oppression, micro aggression, racism, + more just for a lil white bitch to cosplay as us bc what she thought ts was aesthetic??? wrong bitch, not fw it!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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I’m not sure what I liked to make my algorithm have so many Michael Jackson and family smut stories but please make it stop 🙏🏾🙏🏾… I love MJ but never in a million years did I want to come encounter with him deep stroking Y/N 😭😭!! This man is like a father to me 🧐😭
This is why we create black spaces. It’s not to be weird or shady; it’s because we genuinely don’t know who’s in our corner or rather taking advantage of our creativity and profiting from it.
This is my very important reminder to PLEASE support our black writers. We’ve been marginalized enough. We love to share with the world, but it’s hard when writers like these take from us without giving any kind of consideration and recognition.
She remains unmarried. With a list of betrothals broken off due to her being a "difficult" woman to deal with by past suitors, her council, desperate to find her a husband hatch a plan to host a tournament for men across the land to fight for her hand in marriage. Two Mercenary twin brother's, down on their luck, see it as their moment to strike big. The biggest they've ever went to bat for.
Content: enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, violence, peer pressure, manipulation, misogyny, sexual tension, slow burn, political intrigue, eventual smut
Cw: explicit language (not the healthiest coping mechanisms), sexual situations, *light* manhandling, voyuerism... shit idk, Its alot going on.
A/n: Soooo uhmm.... I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I dont write, and I surely dont write stuff like this so be easy on a girl, cuz Idk what the fuck Im doing😩😭
Just know Im doing my best, lol
And if your a minor... Dont read this shit bruh.😭
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As soon as the door to the library closed behind her she moved swiftly through the darkened corridors like the devil was on her heels. Her night robe gently swayed every which way at the speed of her gate. She clutched the robe tighter to her body.
She felt off balance. Like her skin was too tight for the body it was wrapped around. She felt hot everywhere despite the chill of the night. A prickle of moisture just beneath the surface of her skin was lying in wait to eventually perspire down her body was ever lingering. Her heart was racing, and it wasnt just from the speed at which she walked.
Damn him, she cursed in her mind.
Most of the staff had gone to bed by this time. The only people occupying the halls were a sparse few royal gaurds, as most of them were concentrated on the outskirts of the property. They gave small bows to her as she passed by, she gave a brief curtsy and bid them goodnight.
She finally reached her chambers after what felt like hours, eventhough at max it was closer to five minutes. Somehow heading back from the library to her room felt longer than heading to the library to find her frustrating husband.
Despite her erratic movements from before, she closed the door slowly with a quiet click careful to not wake anyone nearby. As soon as the door closed behind her she leaned her back against its cool surface, letting out the longest sigh into the empty room. The cool wood, juxtaposed to the heat emitting off her frame had a small calming affect on her.
It didnt last long.
An irritation of two kinds bubbled to the surface. She clenched her jaw, "The fuckin' nerve on that man." Annie could hardly recall any man doing something like that to her.
But what pissed her off even more, was the fact that he had her in such a vulnerable position so easily and she didnt put up any fight. How docile she got just from a little handling from him. She just let herself land in the palm of his hand, and the things he was saying to her-
She covered her face with her hands letting out a bemused groan. Sitting right beside the anger she was feeling, was embarrassment.
The way I just asked that man to tell me what he'd do to me. That was way out of character for her. Even if it wasnt- it cut too close to begging for her comfort. It was even worse knowing that if he pushed just a little more she would've shamelessly let him do whatever he wanted to her right there in that library. Propriety be damned.
Made her almost forget herself. Something he seemed to have the knack for doing. It was getting out of control, even worse now that he now knew that she wasnt nearly as against his advances as previously let on.
He did all that, put her in a vulnerable position, leaving her wanting, just to pull away suddenly? Make demands? Talkin' 'bout how he'll keep doin' her like this 'till she confesses that she wants him as much as he wants her. If she was in her right mind she would've cussed his ass out- 'cause how dare he?
But instead she fled.
A man never made her run as much as he did. He was just so... intense when he's ready. Far from the men she was used to dealing with.
She placed a hand to her chest. Her heart was still beating rapidly, and she could feel every trecherous pulse of it beating right between her thighs. Like a constant reminder of the affect he had on her body... On her.
She grunted, pushing herself stiffly off the door and went straight to her bed, rearranging the pillows in the way she liked for sleep. She put the rest of the decorative pillows onto the ottoman that sat at the foot of her bed.
Once it was set to her liking, she grabbed her silk bonnet, turned off the singular light in the room that casted a warm glow across the room, and eased her way under the silk sheets. She shimmied her body around until she found a position that felt just right, and closed her eyes.
It seemed that the position she chose didnt sit quiet right with her. She didnt feel her body sink into the feeling of sleep like she wanted so she switched positions again, facing the curtained glass doors that led outside to their shared balcony, trying to melt into the bed and relax her body.
It didnt feel right again, her neck and chest still felt hot.
That incessant heat that settled low in her belly had not cooled down.
She was restless. She turned on her stomach, which became equally as uncomfortable after a while, her chest was pressing a bit into her ribs. She flipped over to her side again, hand tucked under her head as she stared into space in her darkened room, letting out a frustrated breath.
She flipped on to her back, eyes to the ceiling. Sleep was struggling to find her, a buzzing energy settled underneath her skin. That consistent pulse that she felt between her thighs was not going away, refusing to allow sleep to find her. The heat in her belly had not cooled down, every change of position, every movement of her legs added pressure exactly to where she was starting to ache. A temptation to touch was steady growing-
No. She refused.
He dont deserve my pleasure.
It seemed like her refusal made the throbbing worse. A budding wetness made its self known, she clenched her legs in hopes that it would stop it from getting any worse.
It didnt.
Her mind kept buzzing with the words he said, the way he touched her, wrapped his strong arms around her soft waist, how easily he maneuvered her around as she was by no means a petite woman. The feel of her body pressed against his. How for a second of insanity she purposefully brushed her hips against his when he spun her around to get an Idea of what he was carrying in those undergarments of his.
She was not disappointed... far from it as a matter of fact.
Those thick, full lips of his- She briefly imagined what they would look like between her legs- his wide callous hands wrapped around her thick thighs as he took his fill of her...
She clenched, her legs crossed between eachother tightened the slightest bit more.
A trecherous need to quench the fire that was building was steady growing. Her fingers twitched.
But once again she refused.
Like if she touched herself off the back of what just happened she would be admitting defeat of some nonsensical game they were playing with eachother. 'Cause thats exactly what it was, and thats what he was playing at. For her to give in to him. Her ego couldnt allow something like that, for some reason a paranoid, unreasonable part of her mind believed that if she touched herself to the thoughts of him, he would know in some way.
Knowing him, he would never let her have peace if he ever knew and with the last words he left her with he clearly had no intentions of coming up off from her.
She scoffed into the empty room, he has enough audacity drippin' off him to drown the whole kingdom with his annoyin' ass.
She resolved herself to simply refuse thinking about him. Veering into thoughts of duties that she had to take care of as a distraction, old wrinkled faces of the elders . In a way it did work... almost immediately dosing the fire building in her to just embers.
Her sleep was very fitful.
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Annie was not in a good mood.
Her lips seemingly stuck in a twisted in a frown as she rubbed at her puffy eyelids.
She didnt get nearly as much sleep as she would've wanted and it made her feel highly irritable. All thanks to Smoke.
The thought of his name crossing her mind made her grimace, but as always, a quiet knock at the door shifted her attention. She already had an idea of who it was before the door was cracked open.
"Goodmorning my Queen." Ruth piped cheerfully as she fluttered about the royal chambers, followed closely by Pearline, her smooth voice wafting across the room, "I hope you got yourself some good rest."
The queen kissed her teeth.
There was no way in hell she was gonna tell Pearline the reasoning behind her lack of sleep. Still, not wanting to be rude she answered anyways, prim, proper, and formal, "It was fine. Thank you for asking." Short and sweet.
The response made her friend lift a curious brow, but Pearline knowing Annie as well as she did made the choice to leave it for now. As stubborn as the queen was, trying to wrestle out what was troubling her was like pulling teeth.
She'll tell me when she's ready... Atleast I hope she does...
She made a beeline towards Anisa's closet, looking for a gown of the day.
Annie moved to her vanity and Ruth started on getting her hair in order, as the, usually, timid girl quietly rattled off about what kind of new braidstyles were in at the moment and if Annie wanted to try any. Annie let her choose what style the queen would wear for the day, " I trust that you wont have me out here lookin' crazy Ruth, go on an' choose a style for me." Lending the young girl a soft smile.
She figured giving the girl some freedom would aid in building up her confidence, make her feel more sure of herself. She could tell it was working little by little as the young girls footsteps no longer sounded like she didnt want to be heard, sounding more sure of herself, like she belonged here.
Annie turned her eyes toward Pearline sorting through her clothes and noticed the pointed absence of Mary... Once again. The last conversation she shared with her other friend crossing her mind " Why Mary aint with yall today?"
Pearline paused, before letting out an irritable huff "I dont know what's up with her, she all sulky an' she refuse to tell me whats wrong- oh, what color you feelin' today Ann'?", she added, still focused on the task at hand.
"Im feelin' red, -You know what got her down enough that she dont feel the need to show her face round here an' shirk her responsibilities?" Annie raised a manicured brow, her dormant irritation threatening to breach the surface.
"Girl, she aint tell me a thing-but judgin' by how she look at me with enough heat to set me on fire since her twin kissed my hand? I can think up a thing or two." Pearline finally wrenched out a warm red gown, just shy of looking almost orange. "How you feel 'bout this color. Its not a solid red, but I think it'll look real nice against your skin."
"Looks nice Pearl, I like it..." the queen trailed off, there was a thought plaguing her mind and she was deliberating on how much she wanted to divulge, if she wanted to say anything at all. From how things were looking there was already a simmering tension between Pearl and Mary, she decided against it for now. But she will most certainly have a conversation with Mary.
Cause clearly what I told her aint go through that thick skull of hers.
After Pearline and Ruth made their final touches on her outfit, Annie had an urge to take a stroll outside the estate walls before taking on the stress of the day.
She looked at the clock and knew forsure she'd have enough time to.
Just before the two ladies were about to excuse themselves for the rest of the morning, Annie spoke up,
"Before yall leave... would yall like to... Go on a walk with me?"
While she was met with enthusiasm with Ruth giving an immediate yes, Pearline paused for a second, face wrought with subdued suprise because, when was the last time the queen, her friend, offered to hangout outside of obligated times?
Annie's anxiety starting to bleed into her nerves as each second ticked by without a response from Pearline. She contemplated taking back the offer. She didnt want to make her long time friend feel as if she was obligated to just because she was monarch.
She didnt have to wait much longer because soon her worries were calmed when a warm smile slowly spread Pearlines lips, one that could be heard in her voice when she spoke."Which route you wanna take?"
"Let's go to some of the walkways just outside the estate, someplace I can exhale without my breath feelin' restricted. Its too stuffy up in here." Annie fidgeted around, unconsciously proving her own point.
"Girl, I thought you'd never ask- c'mon Ruth!" Pearline motioned excitedly.
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"Im not gone lie Anisa, I dont know how you do it. Even me bein' here a few days back Im already startin' to feel stale. Like some old bread. Them few weeks I spent visitin' family- even with my ancient husband, was such a nice change of pace... You need a vacation or somethin' that takes you outta here for a little while, take a little edge off."
"I already had a vacation. I had a honey moon." Annie supplied confidently, brushing off the suggestion.
"-Which was still spent here and knowing you? A majority of that time was spent actin' like that man you married aint exist..." Pearline turned to Annie, her gaze expectant.
"I... It wasnt that bad, I allowed him to help me with my garden." The queen crossed her arms, and if Pearline was in her right mind she could've sworn it looked like the queen was pouting.
"You 'allowed' him?"
"Yeah, after I discovered he wouldnt stop pesturing me. I figured I might as well have given him somethin' to do."
"Anisa. Theres no way in hell you both felt refreshed from somethin' like that. An' seein' the way you two loom around eachother in all that loaded silence yall both walk around here with? You two carry enough tension to set this whole place on fire."
Annie stiffened, was it that obvious?
Almost as if Pearline read her mind, she Annie patted her on the back with a delicate hand, "Dont worry, aint nothin' obvious when it come to you an' that husband of yours. But I know you Anisa..." she trailed off.
A tension of a different sort say between them. One of a disconnection and a friends past unsuccessful efforts to be close once more.
Ruth, sensing a shift in the atmosphere between the two women slowed her steps giving them some space, before wandering off the trail into the long grass fields, a small movement between the blades caught her attention.
"Dont go too far now!" Anisa called, before she quieted down again, looking somewhere into the distance. She heard Ruth's response back, but didnt fully registered what the girl said.
Pearline didnt speak for a moment, panic in her mind started to set in. Feeling like she ruined what could've been a simple nice one on one outting with her closest friend that she hadnt had the chance to have in God knows how long. She should've been satisfied with just that... she shouldve-
"Hhm..." Annie breathed with introspection. "When you put it that way... I guess you gotta point. Might have to plan a vacation sometime. By myself." She asserted.
"You aint takin' Smoke with you?"
"His ass can stay here an build a damn castle from the ground up for all I care, since he got his nose stuck in all them damn architect books. He irritatin'."
Pearline chuckled, taking note of her friends stiff, closed off posture. While Anisa has been mostly herself, she could feel a buzzing energy of irritation surrounding her. She always had one, as she was having to constantly deal with egos and incompetency at times, she was always good at hiding it for the most part.
But today, she could tell Annie needed to get something off her chest, wether it was steam or something else entirely. Clearly as far as Pearline could tell, the source of her deepened ire was quiet obviously directed towards the king.
"He done anything wrong by you?" Pearline question seriously.
"No... maybe.." the previous annoyance on the queens face morphed between a strange mix of irritation and bashfulness. Her lips twinge.
Interesting
Though Anisa didnt say anything, Pearline had an idea of what it was that was bothering the queen.
"Anisa."
The weight in which Pearline uttered her name immediately drew Annies attention, she turned her eyes towards her friend.
"If this comes off as oversteppin', Im sorry but... have yall been intimate?"
"..."
"-Not that you gotta answer or anything. I just- well... I know what its like to feel a bit frustrated from the lack of, ehm..." Pearline looked towards Ruth wanting to know if she was within ear shot. Not because she felt it was a subject too grown for her ears, she was almost a woman grown and should be aware of these kinds of conversations, but because she didnt want to broach a personal subject of the Queen while others could be with in earshot.
"Hmph!" Annie let out a derisive snort, a scowl twisted her glossed lips.
Pearline stopped in her tracks, eyes widened. "Wait!... Annie" she said in disbelief. Her mind working into over drive. It wasnt an answer, but it was an answer.
Annie turned around, confused by the sudden outburst. "Huh... Girl what's wrong with you? Whatchu doin' all that for?"
"Annie... Anisa."
"Yes Pearl? You better start sayin' somethin' 'cause you 'bout to piss me off."
"Oh hush Anne, like you dont walk 'round here on the edge of cussin' somebody out all the time... as a matter of fact its only gotten worse since that Smoke of yours came along..." she stiffled a fit of laughter trying to escape.
"He aint my Smoke" she huffed, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well you sure is his Annie though..." Pearline teased cheekily, a chesire grin spread across her mouth.
That caught the queens attention, her eyes squinted, "What makes you think that?" She said it in such a blasé way, it was like she was asking about the time. She did made an effort to quiet the eagerness trying to bleed through her voice with the question... She was still pissed with him.
"Now Annie. Even if you wasnt my friend, anyone with eyes can see how that man dont play when it come to you... Now I aint seen much, but from all the whisperin' them servants do when they aint got nothin' better to do, and from what little Ive seen of that man? C'mon now."
"What you hear 'bout him from the servants? What they whisperin' about me an' him?" Annie was curious but on gaurd. Of course people talk, she didnt feel any sort of way about that, it was apart of being royalty.
"Well, when it comes to him, he's a more reserved man but he's been nothin' but kind to 'em..." she trailed off.
The queen hummed, but she could tell there was something Pearline was holding back.
"Go on" Annie prompted, "I aint gon' bite your head off or nothin', I can tell theres somethin' on the tip of your tongue you wanna spill."
"Well, I heard ol' boy came back not too long ago, Brandon. Went as soon as he came. Some said he was flyin' like a bat outta hell."
Annie tampered the smile threatening to break across her face when Pearline mentioned the speed at which Brandon got the hell on back to wherever he came from.
Pearline continued, leaning in conspiratorily, "Heard your husband had his ass cornered, bit the barrel of a gun right to his head. Scarin' the piss outta 'em. Don't help that some of the house keepers were talkin' 'bout how they could smell it off him when he left."
"Oh really?" She played, fake suprised.
"Nah, dont play me Anne. You was my friend longer than you been my queen, you been known about this."
"Yeah, I knew, he told me what he did that same night..."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Im not too suprised. He almost too upfront. Not that I mind really."
"Ah... I see." Pearline nodded in some understanding.
Annie cocked her head to the side quizzically, "I know you mentioned some of the housekeepers and servants gossipin', but Im curious... How you know them kinda details? He never mentioned usin' any kinda weapon. Though I wouldnt put it pass 'em.." Her mind floated back to the time he told her about his background as a mercenary with his twin.
Pearline sneered slightly, "Well, before that 'lil heffa decided to be all weird to me all 'cause she aint gotta leash on her twin, she told me a bit that she heard a bit from Stack, probly pillow talkin' or somethin'."
"Huh..." the queen muttered a knowing look on her face. Her mind was churning,
Smoke made no mentions of his brother bein' involved... Mary steady runnin' her mouth... Stack stirrin' things up...
She kissed her teeth, I aint got the patience for this shit...
Seeing her friend visibly getting worked up over the info she just gave her Pearline tried to soothe it over. " Im sorry, -I aint meant for this to upset you-"
Annie held a hand up to stop her mid sentence. "No Pearl... You didnt upset me, Im just thinkin', I... Thanks for lettin' me know." A smile returned to her face, honestly this little walk she's had with Pearline unfurled some of the tension she didnt realize she was carrying, her shoulders loosened slightly.
Maybe Pearline wasnt someone she had to keep at arms length... Maybe she could let her in just a little mor-
"Queen Anisa!"
Ugh
She knew that shrill voice anywhere. Pearline and Annie turned towards the direction it came from, Ruth a little deeper into the field doing the same.
Councilwoman Maevis, with her ever present scowl etched upon her face made her way to the three women, with two royal gaurds in toe.
"Looks like our little walk is comin' to an end early..." Pearline sighed.
Annie snorted, "Was only a matter of time. Things were too calm...", she turned to her friend, quiet for a moment. Hesitant in what she wanted to say to her.
"Thanks for takin' a walk with me." She let out a loose chuckle, " I didnt realize how much I needed this. How much I missed this..." Annie felt her eyes unexpectedly get heavy with emotion, a tell tale sign of her eyes feeling a bit misty, just before she steeled herself from getting too emotional.
Pearline grabbed a hold of both her hands, "Anisa... Im just happy you wanted me to come with you, I know things haven't been easy. Our friendship can't be what it used to- I mean, we aint kids anymore obviously, but..." she squeezed her hand a bit firmer, Annie felt the warmth of Pearlines hands seeping into her own, a stark contrast from the cool, crisp morning air. "Thank you."
"What you thankin' me for? I didnt do much-"
"Oh girl hush all that nonsense that's bout to leave that mouth a your's an' just listen." She said sternly. Surprisingly, Annie didnt argue, patiently waiting for what she had to say.
"I just wanted to thank you for trustin' me. For lettin' me in even for a little bit, even if its just this one time."
Annie wordlessly pulled Pearline into a long warm hug, slightly rocking eachother side to side, pouring into her what words could not suffice. "It wont be a one time thing Pearline... not if I have any say in it." She could feel her friend melt into at her words, releasing a quiet exhale like a weight was lifted off of her, the both of them really.
Looks like she needs this just as much as I did...
She could tell how sad it made Pearline to see Anisa pull away as she took on her duties over the years. At the time Annie thought it was the right thing to do. The paranoia was just too high to go from having a family one moment to both taken away from her for reasons that remained unknown to having the highest seat in the kingdom. To dealing with men and women alike always looking for an angle...
But maybe... just maybe she could let people get close again...
"Your highness!" The voice got closer.
"Alright", Annie started to pull away, not before rubbing her friends forearms soothingly before she let go of her. " Time to find out what this woman wants." She turned towards the field, seeing Ruth inspecting a black fuzzy caterpillar inching away along a blade a grass. "C'mon Ruth we headin' back now!", waving her over.
Maevis finally reached the pair at the same time Ruth scrambled her way to them aswell. The older woman face forever in that permanent scowl she carries, spoke, her voice slightly out of breath "Did you not here me calling for you?"
"Mhm" Anisa hummed noncommittedly as she began to make her trek back to the estate, her long gait caused the shorter woman to pick up the pace to remain next to her. "And you're all the way out here with no security. Why didnt you respond bac-"
"-Cause last time I checked you weren't in my schedule for today." She cut in sternly, making sure that Maevis could hear that she was not in the mood for any of her nonsense today. "So now Im here wondering what has you walkin' all this way to come and bother me while Im out here enjoying nature with my ladies?"
Maevis was quiet for a moment, taken aback by how biting the Queen was being this early in the day. Today was a day for her to tread lightly, as it seemed that Anisa's fuse was shorter than it normally was.
"I- uhm, well." Maevis cleared her throat, she felt her face warm with embarrassment from her sputtering, "Councilman Cyrus called for another meeting."
"What for?"
"He wanted to check the temperature on the king, see how he's doing with the blueprints for that Youth Center."
"Didnt we just give him those yesterday? How has there been enough time to check for his progression?" A frown already taking over Annie's lips.
"Its not a check for progression, he just wants to know where the king is at with it."
Like that aint vague as hell, Annie quipped in her mind, she already knew it was some bullshit from the get go. It didnt help that she didnt want to see Smoke's ass either.
"So what do I have to do with this? Why not just meet with him yourself?"
"We figured it would be good for you to just have an ear in it, just so your up to date."
Annie sighed, If yall were competent and did good on what you said, you wouldnt need me to be around all the damn time to listen to every little ass detail.
"Alright."
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Annie stiffly took her seat next to Smoke, agitation radiating off her in waves. He already looked heavily uninterested in this last minute meeting that he most likely thought was bullshit too.
The only good thing to thos was the fact that Maevis and Obidiah were more subdued in their demeanor this go 'round. No doubt they could feel that she was not in a very patient mood today like she normally was.
All that ire she was carrying in her chest; Mary, Stack, the Council, the whispers, Elijah without allowing much to spillover thanks to that much needed outting with Pearline was beginning to ramp back up. Especially now that she was right between two of the culprits that were part of the reason.
She spared no greeting, no aknowlgment whatsoever of her husband. He had the nerve to look put off by her restricted demeanor.
He needa fix his damn face, lookin' at me like I done him wrong or somethin'
Luckily her thoughts didnt show up on her face which remained neutral and stoic.
No one spoke, they all were looking to her to say something to get the ball rolling.
Already on a short fuse, Anisa broke the silence, voice low and clipped, "Well Im hear now. You dont need to wait on me to start."
All but Smoke fidgetted uncomfortably in their seats, the jingle of jewelry chiming together with each stilted movement with some quiet grumbling from the council.
It was a very clear sign to the elders that she was not having it with them today. Hell, she'd probly fire them on the spot if they said one wrong thing trying to push their luck like they would any other day.
Cyrus, sensing some of the mounting tension lightly coughed in his hand to add a break into an ever mounting tension. "Ehm- first I want to say thank you your majesty's for coming to this meeting on such a short notice... It is greatly appreciated. I assume Maevis explained the nature of this meeting my queen?"
She hummed in agreeance. It was the most aknowlegment he was going to get out of her today, so he went straight into the order of business.
"So... My King, how are you finding the planning for that youth center? I take it you been hard at work?"
Smoke gave a distracted hum, he had not taken his eyes off the Anisa from the moment she entered the councul meeting room all while she was pointedly not meeting his eyes. "Seein' as I only got the blueprints yesterday there aint much to report on, but its been goin', kinda wanted to rework the orginal build so Its been keepin' me busy."
"I bet it has" Anisa muttered under her breath. Smoke no doubt could detect the sarcastic haughtiness in her tone.
"Yeah. The library damn near became my second room right behind my bedroom." He grunted.
She stiffened a bit at the mention of the library, but her face gave nothing away. She hummed, choosing to ignore his goading, "Is that enough of an update for you? Councilman Cyrus?".
The older man seemed caught up in trying to piece together what was being said between the royal spouses and what wasnt said at the same time. "Cyrus-" Her stern voice cut through his wondering.
"Oh- uhm, yes my queen?" He sputtered, unsure and a little embarrassed to be caught not paying attention while simultaneously being the one to call this impromptu meeting in the first place.
"I believe, as you can see Cyrus, the king has everything under control, Im sure he'll ask for your aid should he he need it immediately." And with that, as far as Annie was concerned her part of the meeting was over, she shifted in her seat, ready to make her exit as soon as possible.
Luckily, for once in their old incompetent lives the elders got the hint and swiftly and quietly exited the room.
'Cause what she was not gonna do is play along with what Smoke was trying to get at. Tryna be lowkey slick mentionin that damn library. Let alone at a council meeting infront of company. Granted it was such a subtle comment, given the nature of the discussion, that no one would piece together an idea of what he was implying underneath, but still. It was already taking all of her patience to hang onto (barely) some form of politeness with everyone. That was not reserved for the man that was the aided in her being this prickly in the first place.
Once everyone left, Anisa fixed her skirts before getting up. As she did Elijah wrapped his strong fingers around her wrist, her bangles jingling at the motion. "You aint gotta be all snippy with me, the day just started and it look like you startin'."
This man-
She roughly wrenching her hand out of his firm hold. "Dont go on touchin' on me. I told you before already, you been lost your damn mind." She was out the door before he could get another word in. The skirt of her dress fluttering about with the speed she exited the room with.
It was like being brought back to the beginning, with the queen having this seemingly magical ability to dissappear from him again.
.
.
.
She didnt make an appearance at their shared balcony that evening, what had steadily become their ritual spot of quietly sitting with eachother before going to bed. Whether in shared silence or small talk.
Oh she real mad.
Elijah folded his hands behind his head staring up into the night sky. Watching the thin string of smoke from his cig curl amongst the numerous stars.
He let out a long exhale.
Maybe I pushed too much... He could feel something almost close to regret lightly hold around his chest. Not quiet a squeeze.
No... He immediately shut the thought down. With a woman like that, he'd have to draw it out of her, 'cause if he left it up to Annie, her stubborness wouldnt allow shit to happen whatsoever even if she herself wanted to. She'd just run all over him.
As fucked up as it was he couldnt find himself to fully feel bad about it. Not like she hadnt been teasing him all this time to get a reaction out of him.
And seeing how she reacted when he wrapped his arms around her... Elijah closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. That glimpse of her showing how she desired him- He shook his head, softly chuckling to himself before putting out the cigarette and heading to his bed.
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_________________
The next day didnt prove much difference.
Anisa was still holding out on him, avoiding him when she could, and when she couldnt she was being snippy with him, appearing to always have something to say whenever he spoke. She mostly did that when there weren't other people around, keeping things tense but still respectful infront of company.
It was amusing at first, but after a while Elijah was starting to get annoyed, already over the attitude that she was constantly, unrelentingly, giving him.
.
.
.
He managed to catch her walking down one of the outside corridors where there was always a pleasant breeze blowing through its columns.
He walked up next to her, discreetly folding his hand in hers. She must've been deep in thought because she jumped in suprise at the unexpected touch and proximity from him.
On realizing who had a hold on her arm he saw her face makeup almost instantly, she tried to pull her hand from his, but this time he was prepared for her to do something like that. He firmed his grasp on her hanf preventing her from leaving, "What are you?-",
"Just what do you think you doin'?" He grunted, eyebrows furrowed.
"Huh? What I think Im doin'? Tryna stay the hell away from you is what. Which you like to make impossible for me the way you chasin' me around like you some unruly dog with nothin' better to do."
"You better watch yourself woman." He warned.
"Or what?" She stopped and turn towards him, pushing into his space, puffing her chest out against his. "Whatchu gon' do Smoke? Huh?... Run your mouth some more? Talk about how you mean whatchu say? Drone on 'bout how you not like them "other" men?"
"Nah, you dont get to do me like that."
"Boy if you dont leave me 'lone-"
He firmed his grip on her arm and pulled her right back to him, "Uh-uh, Now what you not gon' do is start sayin' shit that aint true. You know what kinda things Im willin' to do for you. Things Ive already done. I even left that lame ass friend of yours live instead of just killin' his ass 'cause he made you upset in your house."
She paused, he saw her eyes flutter, she faltered slightly.
"Oh so you quiet now? Seemed like you couldnt run outta shit to say to me these past days."
That quickly broke her out of her little quiet spell she just had. At first she looked angry for a split second, before it quickly dissipated, replaced by a cool expression.
She hummed thoughfully, though the silence she held was charged.
"You know... not too long before I came to get you again from that meeting. The one where Cyrus first gave you those blue prints, I talked with Mary."
"..."
"She havin' some problems with that crazy twin of yours. Think he cheatin'."
"Hm." Smoke felt himself increasingly become more apprehensive, unsure of where she was going with this.
"Mhm. Said she wanted to switch twins cause he givin' her a headache... Maybe she's right."
She felt Smoke stiffen next to her
"The fuck you mean by that." His anger flared.
"I mean exactly what I say."
He kissed his teeth, " If you were in your right mind, you wouldnt take half the words that girl says out her mouth."
"And what? Im supposed to take your word over her's?"
"If you know whats good for you"
"If I know whats good for me?" She reiterated, incredulous. "You think just 'cause you been here a lil while as King and I give you some projects means you must know everything then huh?"
"That aint what Im sayin'. You need to watch that friend of yours."
"Mary? The woman thats been one of my closest friends since I was a child?" Her eyes turned to slits. "You gettin' way too comfortable to be sayin' shit thats not your place to say."
"Not my place? Im your husband, the one you married an' said all them vows to, so- I'd say its definitely my place to say that. You need to get rid of her ass."
"Why?"
"Cause she aint no good to you."
"How?"
Elijah paused, mulling over whether he wanted to tell her about the fact that she'd nearly slept with every past suitors of hers. Shit for all he knew those could've aided in her broken betrothals.
"She been sneakin' behind your back."
"Sneakin' doin" what exactly?" She folded her arms across her chest. Still agitated, but holding enough space to hear him out.
"All them past suitors of yours? The broken betrothals? She slept with a good amount of those men behind your back."
She froze as if she was put on pause, air didnt even stir from her. She held her breath altogether at the new information, digesting the bomb he dropped on her. She was quiet for what felt like hours before she finally spoke again, her voice quivered slightly but otherwise remained even.
"How do you know this? Where'd you hear that from?"
"Stack."
Her eye twitched. "Stack." She deadpanned.
"Mhm."
"An' Im just supposed to believe that? Comin' from the twin that like to stir up trouble?"
Elijah felt a flare of defensiveness over his younger twin but he kept his voice even, "You aint gotta believe it for it to be true, you cant keep someone around that moves like that. Its bad for business."
"Just bad for business?"
"Nah, it aint just that. She a shitty friend too."
Annie stared at him blankly, face unreadable, completely shut down from him. The change took him aback, loosening his hold on her. Her anger he was used to, her passion he was used to, and in small little pockets her joy as well, but this? The complete lack of reaction took him off gaurd.
His lax hold on her gave her room to slowly turn around and leave. Leaving him alone with nothing but an empty hall way and the gentle wind brushing against his clothes, and the ever growing distant clicking of her heels against the pavement.
.
.
.
She puts him on ice for several days after that. It wasnt like the previous times when she avoided him because he got on her nerves. This was pointed, overtly so.
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________________
Smoke ventured out the estate again, but instead of his usual trek around the perimeter he took a detour. Walking through the dense, thick foliage-covered narrow path. The path he first walked through when he came here.
Damn, havent even left this place since I won that tournament...
Annie. His wife was the reason he was walking around in the middle of the forest.
He would never admit it, but her silent treatment was getting to him.
Regret that had been hiding in the shadows of his mind were trying to make itself known, and not for the first or second time either. His earlier bravado and confidence he carried was starting to flag and doubts started to seep through.
He took a deep inhale of his cig, head tilted up towards the sky, watching the dappled rays of sunlight flash through the thick canopy of trees overhead. The air here was thick and humid with the type of warmth that sits and doesnt move. He'd only been walking a few minutes and there was beads of sweat cascading down the sides of his temple.
He exhaled, watching the smoke dissipate into the air, mind in deep thought.
Maybe... I should just leave her be... Give her space...
It was obviously the best thing to do.
The sane thing to do in a situation like this...
But Smoke was anything but sane when it came to Annie. The very idea of accepting her distance made his stomach churn, as if his body rejected the very thought of doing something like that despite his wife's very obvious attempts at keeping things like that between them.
"Shit dont even sound right." He said outloud to nobody but himself.
He knew that speaking on Mary would only drive a further wedge between them but he couldnt bring himself to regret that either. She needed to be aware of some one that moved with that kind of specificity in her circles.
The way Mary moved was pointed, a pattern...
Elijahs mind started thinking of all the possible motivations for Mary doing what she did, what for?
Did she want to be Queen? Was there hidden animosity on Mary's side? Is she just plain stupid? An adrenaline junkie that gets off on the idea of doing things she wasnt supposed to be doing?
After watching how Mary moved for a while he was inclined to believe that the girl was plain stupid and just loved trouble... Maybe she did want to be queen, but as far as he knew and what Stack ran his mouth about her, he didnt pick up on her making moves that could lead to that kind of conclusion.
Didnt hear about or see Mary communicate with the councilmembers or show any initiative in taking on responsibilities, quiet the opposite actually. She seemed to like to lounge around with nothing much to do and just enjoy the lavish lifestyle of the uppercrust. Then again, maybe she wanted to be queen from the little power trips she seem to like having, as small as they seem to be.
But she made no moves to network, or make friends or acquaintances with any of the staff and servants. Not even visiting lords or ladies...
Unless she tryin' to sleep with they asses too...
She seemed to isolate herself in all aspects except between herself and the Queen, and their friend Pearline. But even that is getting shakey now, seeing how Stack's interaction with the woman pretty easily drove a wedge between the two, judging how she was huffing and puffing and ready to blow the whole damn house down, when his twin kissed her hand.
Either way it didnt matter. If it was up to him, he'd get rid of her ass in anyway he could just cause. He knew Annie would hate him for it... Probly Stack too. Lord knows what the fuck they got goin' on 'tween them two...
He had no idea what the hell was the nature of the relationship between his twin and that girl. Either way he was gonna have to have a serious talk with Stack eventually. He could sense all the moving parts leading up to something. Whether it was good or bad was anybodies guess.
Smoke hummed, "Man... you really know how to pick 'em Elias..." He said sarcastically to no one in particular, it was just him and the trees and their roots there to offer him a listening ear.
"Damn..." His cigarette was already finished. His mind must have drifted longer than he thought. He couldnt help but laugh at himself, the irony of it all. One of the first things he told Stack before going through this crazy plan of his was that he wasnt going any Politicking. And now look at him, tryning to piece something together.
He knew the reason behind this change of heart. It was that frustrating woman he couldnt get enough of, the one currently driving him insane with the way she snatched her presence away from him, and how determined she was in keeping it that way. "Tch." He crushed the butt of his cigarrette before flicking it into the brush. He turned around, heading back to the compound, whatever was happening the fuse had been lit a long time ago. It was only a matter of time before things would blow up. It was anyone's guess as to exactly what that would look like.
Soon as he reached the front gate he saw his brother waiting for him, gesturing at him with his hands animatedly. "Man what the hell? You know I been lookin' for you? Where you been?"
"Took a walk, needed to clear my mind."
"An you just left by yourself? Don't no gaurd come witchu or some shit? Whatchu need to clear your mind for?"
"They seen how I fight, I dont need no gaurdin' I tell 'em when their needed an' when their not, and in this case Im still in the front yard of the property." He grumbled impatiently, his own fuse was getting shorter each day. Not like he had a long one to begin with.
"I aint never seen you walk off that far, what had you runnin up an' down the jungle cause it was botherin' you that much?..."
Smoke didnt answer. Something Stack noticed he was starting to do more and more these days. He didnt like it. This new found distance that he was starting to feel grow between them.
Stack stopped talking for a moment. There was only one other person on earth that he knew would have Smoke moping around like this.
"Damn, you walkin' around tense as fuck. Got your shoulders damn near scrunched up to your ears and walk all stiff like you got a stick up your ass or somethin'. If you dont go an' put it on her good, all this bickerin' you two be doin' might be the end of all of us". Despite light hearted manner in which he spoke, he couldnt help the slight frustration he was starting to feel with his older brother leak through.
Smoke breeze right on past him without another word.
.
.
.
He set out looking for her.
He checked the gardens, she wasnt there.
The council room?
Not there either.
The kitchens?
Nope.
Library?
Hell no.
He chanced their shared balcony, thinking maybe she retired early in her efforts in avoiding him the whole damn time.
He was tempted to ask one of the servants on her whereabouts. Maybe Nina? Probly not, she was damn near like a daughter to Annie the way she worries about her. Maybe Damian? He was damn near becoming a mini Smoke the way the young boy would shadow him at times. It didnt help that Elijah always seem to have his favorite sweets with him whenever Damian scampered about, most likely doing what he wasnt supposed to. The boy stayed getting in trouble with the head maid.
Nah...
Not only would word of him looking for her reach Anisa before he could ever find her with the way word travels fast through the halls, (probly why shes been so good at avoiding him so far.) he didnt really want to involve anyone in their petty little spat they were having, let alone the younger ones.
Pearline and Mary were out of the question.
Smoke left the balcony, then his chambers. Once again found himself wandering the the hallways until he walked past the central courtyard again, irritated and somewhat aimless. The rush of the garden waterfalls did nothing to calm his agitated nerves.
Until he heard the sounds of footsteps approaching him from behind at an increasing pace. His body tensed immediately. The feeling of being snuck up on made his body pull tight, ready to spring into action at a moments notice, but he had to remind himself that he shares a space with multiple people, and he wasnt in the mercenary business anymore.
A feminine voice, one that most definitely was not Annie, obnoxiously cleared her throat behind him. An indication that the owner of the voice was expecting a response from him.
He turned, a scowl firmly fixed to his face, to see who it was. He was met by the pissed off form of the very last person he wanted to see right now.
Mary.
In another slim pink gown, brunette hair perfectly curled, and the incessantly tapping of her foot echoing across the expansive corridor. She was close to wearing her heel down to the sole at the rate she was going.
"Now, I don't remember exchangin' any kinda of words with you, but just who do you think your clearin' your throat at?" He rasped warningly, low and quiet
Mary looked slightly taken a back. His tone sounded different, but she quickly gathered herself, eyes narrowed. "Just who you think your talkin' to Stack? I been lookin' all over for you-"
"Who do you think your talkin to?" He cut in, "For how you stay up under his ass you should be able to tell the difference 'tween us."
"Smoke?..."
"Mary"
Her previous bravado deflated almost instantly, realising she was addressing the wrong twin. Drawing into herself, becoming almost meek.
"Well- um... have you seen 'em? Your brother I mean."
"Yeah, just passed him at the front gate." He tileted his head in its direction. "That's where you'll find 'em if he aint move from now."
"Oh- ok..."
She stayed rooted to the spot.
Smoke turned to continue his search, but he felt Mary's hand grab his wrist before he could fully walk away, "wait!-". He turned towards her, and she let go of his wrist just as quickly, as if she unkowingly put her hand on a hot stove top and burned herself.
"Whatchu want girl, I aint got all day."
"You lookin' for Annie?"
His ears perked, but he had his reservations still, especially with this woman right here... But it had been several days since he last talked or seen Annie. Still he didnt respond. Not that he needed to anyways, as Mary continued talking even though he didnt say anything back, just stared at her with the same scowl he carried everywhere with him.
"She always dissappearin' it seems..." she trailed off.
Hm...
Smoke wasnt a stupid man, running the streets as long as he and Stack have. He had an inkling of where this was going, but he needed confirmation of something. 'Cause if there was one thing Annie pointed out that he couldnt blame her for being suspicious of, is the fact that the info he got from Mary primarily came through Stack.
A man that at this very moment, the queen trusted as far as she could throw him, which wasnt much at all.
And all Smoke had besides that were assumptions and suspicions. Nothing concrete.
Shit- this was more of Stacks area of expertise, but as far as he was concerned Mary was a liability to Anisa, to his brother. And for that simple reason he wanted her ass out of here.
"Is that right?..." he didnt like the idea of having to seem intrigued by this kind of gossip, but he needed to give her rope, and if his assumptions were right, it would be just enough for her to hang herself with...
"Yeah. You aint gotta say nothin' shes my friend, known her since we was kids and could barely string words together." Mary breathed out a light chuckle, filling in the uncomfortable stretch of silence, as Smoke remained stone still. His unwavering eye contact made her feel slightly uneasy, but she pushed on. "I know she aint always the easiest woman to deal with. Seein' whats been goin' on between you two its not hard to assume that it's somethin' your already aware of."
"What makes you say that? What's a 'lil bickerin' gon' do to me? That shit dont bother me none. I like a woman with a 'lil bite." He shrugged.
"Yeah, but all the time though? I cant recall a long enough period where yall two went without there bein' an issue. You dont crave a 'lil peace?..."
Oh she bold.
"An' whatchu know 'bout peace?" He grunted, like you dont do shit but carry trouble an' cause problems. His patience for this was already ticking with each second he was spent hold up by her and hearing how Mary was speaking of Annie was not helping.
He saw a flash of movement from the corner of his eyes. His sight briefly flitted to a shadowed hallway.
"Oh I know plenty 'bout it... Know enough to see that, that aint what you gettin' from her-"
"You betta watch that loose mouth a your's, talkin' bout my wife like that." He stepped to the woman, his presence looming over her slight form. Her eyes widened for a split second, her stance faltered.
Smoke didnt let up, "Dont think I dont know whatchu tryna do. What you've done already- goin' 'round behind her back, fuckin' the scraps she wouldnt give the time of day to."
She was taken aback, her body jerked as if he'd just slapped her. Her face heated with embarrassment, a ruddy pink marring her cheeks as she began to sputter, " I- wha? Where you hear that from?!" She hissed.
Not a denial. Not a defense. An accusation that carried venom and a silent vow to poison whoever leaked such info and allowed such a thing to spread.
"Dont matter." He gruffed, his words final.
"You tell anyone this?"
He remained silent, it was the loudest silence Mary ever heard in her life, her body language screamed of agitation. The way her fingers started fidgeting. That mouth of her's that always put on gentle smile contorted into a deep sneer. Until suddenly she stopped fidgetinf, he could see in real time the gears turning in her head as she was caught red handed.
Her light unbothered tone contrasted the twisted look on her face. "I find out anyone else know about this... find out if they heard it from you? If I Annie hear about this, Imma bury you. Ruin this shit for you an' your brother quicker than you can reach the end of this damn hallway, your asses will be gone 'fore the sun even get a chance to set the same day..."
He leaned away, a cool mask of indifference took over his expression, folding his arms across his wide chest. He cocked his head to the side, looked her up and down and it wasnt in a suggestive manner. He was analyzing her, deliberating.
"Im gone' tell you somethin', an' Im only gon' say this once. You can go head an' do whatever it is you do, just know this... You out here threatin' me... Threatenin' my baby brother, sneakin' my wife. Ill make sure your ass is buried 'fore the night ends whether they send my ass away or not. Shoot, I might even put your body beneath them pretty flowers beds by the fountain or maybe Annie's 'lil herb garden. 'Least that way you'd be some use to her, returning her kindness to you by bein' fertilizer for her lemongrass or her ginger root that she put in them little healin' remedies of hers..." the casual tone of his would've fooled someone into thinking he was discussing something as inoffensive as what the time was.
He scoffed, "Only thing savin' you from me gettin' rid of your 'lil pasty ass is that Annie would hate me for it." And with that he breeze past her unfazed, his path took a detour, fillowing the hallways where he could've sworn he detected movement.
Leaving a behind a speechless Mary rooted to the spot, her heart in her throat. A part of her wanted to retaliate, call his bluff but...Something about the older twin made her stop herself. If even half of the things Stack said to her were true about what he and Smoke did to make Brandon tuck tail and scurry on outta here... Then he wasnt a man that made empty threats, he made promises.
A shiver went up her spine. The chill that came over the intimidating man when she threatened him was unlike anything she experienced.
Mary resumed walking, her movements stilted and akward, as if in a daze. Her mind was a maelstrom with this new revelation that he knew of some of her escapades with the queens ex suitors which meant there were more than a couple of people were privy to the "rumor".
She was determined to find out how he found out. She had an inkling of who it might be...
_________________
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.
.
Smoke walked towards the hallways were he swore he could sense movement. He didnt know why but something in him told him to follow. He thought he was going crazy cause there was no noise to accompany the idea that someone was there, until he reached the open mouth entrance that led into an interior of the main building. A flash of a deep Azure hemline skirt disappeared around a corner before he could fully catch whoever it was.
He followed, his feet picking up the pace to catch up to them. Clearly the person heard him trailing because he could hear the click of their footsteps quicken, aware of the fact that they were being followed.
He bent another corner, almost crashing into Nina, "-Oh! Greetings your highness is there something going on? You look to be in as much of a rush as-"
"''Scuse me, sorry Nina- cant talk right now. I'll get back witcha'." Manuervering around the young lady without a hitch, just in time enough to catch more of the skirt of a royal blue dress dissappear around the corner.
The closer he got, he could hear the soft chimes of delicate jewelry brushing against one another. There was only one person that it could be walking around with that distinct noise.
He was increasingly closing the distance following through the maze of hallways, each turn getting closer and closer. Until one final turn had him able to see her fully before she turned another corner. The swiftness in which she moved was starting to make him dizzy and the constant evasion was starting to piss him off.
"Annie"
He heard her footsteps falter at the mention of her name... Right before she picked up the pace again.
Luckily for Elijah, that slight falter she made allowed him time to close the distance she was keeping between them just a bit more. When he his the next turn he was able to fully see the back of her. Her deep blue gown fluttering just above the ground, making it look as if she was floating across the stone floors. Her smooth, deep brown skin looked radiant even in the diffused lighting of the windowless hallways of the interior. Even now the glint of her ever present golden jewelry caught in the low-light like a beacon.
He drank the image of her in, like a parched man stumbling upon an oasis after wandering the desert for many days.
"Anisa."
She ignored him.
"Annie! I know you hear me callin' you-" he grunted.
She walked up some steps, the light of the sun coming back in full force. His eyes squinting against sun light peaking through the pillars of the second floor of the estate walkways.
He knew exactly where she was headed, as it was mostly royalty and their guests were stationed on the second floor of the main compound. She was heading to her chambers. No doubt to lock him out. Literally.
Just as he passed the door to his own room, Annie had her hand firmly wrapped around the door handle to her Royal chamber ready to twist.
"-You better come an' talk to me. I know you heard all that."
She opened the door with a little more force than necessary. He expected an immediate slamming of the door in his face as she physically communicated how much she did NOT want to talk with him.
She stormed past him but unexpectedly left her door completely opened. A silent invitation, albeit a tenuous one.
He slowly walked in, realizing in all this time he never been in her room before. It felt cozy, the warm, spiced scent washed over him like a phantom's touch. Cinnamon? Her room was an array of earth tones. He could see it having a calming effect on anyone embraced by the space. But at the very moment, it felt as unwelcoming as the woman who it belonged to.
"Well?..."
A dry, humorless laugh escaped her. She shook her head, her back still facing him. "Boy you... you REALLY got alot of nerve."
"Then tell me. Tell me how I got a lot of nerve then." For as deceptively calm they both sounded, there was an ocean of unresolved tension, things left unsaid, and an undercurrent of emotions in its depths threatening to spill over, like a fractured dam whose faults only grew bigger, and deeper overtime.
Annie let out a tired, frustrated sigh. "You... you just-" she turned, facing him. Her brows furrowed, face full of displeasure, her full lips turned up in a frown. None of it took away from how beautiful she was.
"You know what? Nevermind, I dont know what I was thinkin'. Leave." She waved him off.
"No."
"What?"
"I said no. I aint leavin' this here room." He said with an edge of stubborness, promising to be just as difficult as her in this moment.
"If you dont leave I'll-"
"You'll what? You been avoidin' for almost a while week now without another word. Were going to talk."
"There aint much to talk about."
"The fuck you mean there aint much to talk about?"
"Well, there aint. You proved your point. Heard it straight from the horses mouth that my friend I've known for almost my whole life been on some back doorin' shit. You happy now?"
When He didnt respond immediately Annie continued,
"For all I know she might be part of the reason for my reputation being known as being "difficult" to be betrothed to. The reason my council came up with makin' a whole fiasco of a tournament just to get someone to marry me, like Im some unruly, desperate woman whose unfit to be a wife. Shit- they probly makin' me look like Im unfit to be a damn ruler." Her breathing became slightly elevated, she was getting worked up.
"After all the things I gone through..." she locked eyes with Smoke. "She was right along with me, seein' all the moments where I started feelin' like I was inadequate. As a woman... As a potential wife..." her voice becoming uncharacteristically small, a crack in her vulnerability.
"An here I was, isolatin' myself from her an' Pearline, thinkin' it was the right thing to do. Maybe somethin' in me felt that things were off. I was just too distracted." She brought her hands to her face, covering it as she took a deep breath.
"Now Im here feelin' like a damn fool after you told me what she was about. An' I refused to listen...Is that what you wanted huh? To prove a point?" Her temper flaring back up.
"No thats not-"
"Maybe you shouldnt have turned her down. Since she seems to know so much about bein' a mans peace, seems like its worked for her so far, I aint built for that shit."
"You aint even makin' no damn sense right now woman. How much you heard?"
"I heard enough. I aint gotta make sense to you, you stay talkin' bout how you not like them other bums I dealt with before and you know what? You right. You way worse then any man I had to deal with, you just wanna prove a point, thats all you wanna do." She hissed at him, pushing at his sturdy chest.
"Now get the fuck outta my room Smoke, I dont know what the hell you thought you was gon' accomplish followin' me all the way up here." She turned her back, pointed letting him know that the conversation was over and she would ignore him beyond this point.
Wordlessly, and not for the first time either, Elijah grabbed a hold of her arm, spinning her around to face him, his eyes so heavy on her, she swore she could feel the weight of his gaze. "How many times you gon' grab me?!-"
His voice came quiet, low and raspy, " As many times until you remember that, that aint the name you call me." He walked her backwards, firm but not forcefully, his grip loose enough that if she wanted to escape she always could.
She never did.
The back of her knees met the side of her bed and he continued to press until her back met her bed. Her soft body jostled slightly off the springy mattress.
A sharp breath escaped her, completely caught off gaurd as Elijah loomed over her, strong hands still wrapped around her wrists. Her eyebrows creased together, nose widened in anger, preparing to curse him out or slap the hell out him, maybe both. "If you dont get your sorry ass-", he grabbed her face, pulling towards him, searing her lips with an almost bruising pressure. Teeth almost clacking together in the heat of it. As if he was trying to pour out every once of anger and irritation he was building towards her in that one kiss.
Disappointingly she feels her own body yield slightly. Feeling her shift in demeanor, he softened, with her now able to feel the plushness of his own lips fully as he switched to lightly nipping her own, before he pulled his face away from hers. His breath newly labored from him kissing her, his face showing only mild irritation. "You dont know what you do to me? You piss me off like nobody else." He moved his face to the side of her neck, she could feel the vibration of his voice rumble against her own chest. The warmth of his breath ghosted across the nape of her neck, " An' nobody put a fire in me like you do." He lightly kissed her neck. She instinctively moved her head to the side to give him more access letting out a soft sigh, before he started to travel a little lower. "If you aint have a heart for her ass, I woulda done her the same way I did your other "childhood friend, 'cept I would've finished the job" His voice rough and gravely, juxtaposed to how he softly nipped at her collar bone.
"Dont say them kinda things. You dont mean that 'Lijah", she groaned. Her jewelry chimed with every slight squirm she made.
There it was, the way her rich soft tone wrapped around her little nickname for him. He pulled back, "when you gon' learn woman? How many times imma have to tell you I say what I mean..."
His hands that rested at her wrists started to move. Gently grazing across her smooth skin with the delicate lightness of a feather, a sharp contrast to his earlier handling of her. Wherever he touched he left a trail of heat and goosebumps in its wake. Distractingly making her hyper aware of the position they were in now. That intensity in his eyes never changed, as his hand settled on her waist briefly.
"I know what gotchu more upset, you bein' more vicious than usual... Its my fault aint it?" He cooed softly.
His warm callous fingers lightly fanned across her body. His hands traveled up, brushing over her sides, chest, barely grazing her peaked nipples as he brought both hands to either side of her neck. Leaving a trail of heat in their wake wherever he touched, before he seared his lips across her own once more, this time much more gentler than before. Her breathing deepened and her body became restless.
He didnt linger too long, she felt his warm hands start to travel lower and could feel her body start to heat up in anticipation, her body kept the score from when he last touched her. When he set a fire in her so deep it refused to cool down since. Distance just made the ache worse.
She was so keenly aware of his touch as one of his hands traveled lower, brushing past her hips, Annie could've sworn she could feel every ridge of his fingertips prints through her dress.
She held her breath, body taut, wordlessly shifting her legs, slightly parting them. A silent invitation. One he took graciously.
His hand traveled up one of her plush thighs, before reaching its destination at its apex. He cupped her, resting his hand against her panties. Feeling of soft, warm, and undeniably wet she was, if the dampness he could feel there was any indication, before shifting it to the side, feeling the heat of her flesh underneath. Only a slight hitch of her breath was the only sound she made giving away how much his touch was affecting her.
"Looks like 'lil miss down her got more sense than you" he murmured. He held his hand still, barely applying any of the pressure Annie really needed as she'd been incessantly aching.
She shifts her hips, attempting to push herself onto his hand, but feels him pull back again. She let's out a sound of pure frustration mixed in with desperation, she was starting to ache just shy of being uncomfortable.
Elijah's voice roughly cut through, "I already told you what I wanted to hear from you Annie. I need to hear it straight from your lips-" she lifts herself up from her lying position, her elbows digging into the mattress. She was already at her wits end with want, and he just set her off with his demands of her.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Your dick dont work or somethin?" She hissed.
"Whatchu just say?"
"You heard me." She responded, defiant.
As defiantly as one could look with his hand beneath her skirt. He froze, his face blank aside from his blown out pupils, eyes almost black against the diffused sunlight that flitered through the sheer curtains against the windows of her room.
She almost regretted what she said until he felt his hand move, applying morr pressure to where she was silently begging the most. She lets out a light puff of breath at the change, becoming very still as she leaned back down.
"You angry with me baby?..." His hands start to gently caress her folds, fingers grazing her clit with lightness of a feather, more pressure than he applied before, but not nearly enough as she needed.
"Smoke-" she gritted her teeth, the feeling of desperation was slowly starting to rear its ugly head.
"That aint my name- and I asked you a question." He berated roughly.
"Yes! Im angry with you" She hissed, but there was an unmistakable whine saturated along the edges of her tone. She turned her head to the side, as if she wanted to bury herself away somewhere. The admittance making her oddly feel vulnerable. A small part of her wanting to escape the unwavering focus of Elijah's dark eyes. Until she faced him again, her doe eyes boring into his before allowing herself to release her unfiltered frustrations.
"You comin' and tellin' me that my friend that I've known for almost all my life, been sneakin' behind my back with men that were courtin' me, just for me to come and see her try that with you- and then you-." She stops herself mid rant, letting out a harsh exhale as Elijah started to add more pressure, circling her clit gently before sliding his hand further down to where her she was yearning for the most. He slightly pushed one of his fingers into her wet opening, not enough to penetrate, but enough to feel its promise.
"Elijah..." she quietly groaned, it wasnt enough.
"I dont give a shit 'bout that lil heffa you call friend, an' whatever the fuck she up to. Im talkin' to you, about you." He grunted, "Its a part. But that aint all why you angry with me." He rasped, he grabbed one of her legs, lifting it slightly and pulling it to the side, spreading her open a bit wider to give him some more room for his fingers to work, one of them inserting itself deeper into her
"Ah- I-", Annie turned her head to the side, eyebrows scrunched together, eyes screwed shut. She felt more wetness pool out from her, her kneejerk instinct to close her legs were blocked by his body being in the way, leaving her open at his mercy.
"That dont sound like nothing to me, use your words woman. You aint have no problems usin' em' when you was lashin' out on me. Like Im some aint shit bum on the street that you can talk any which way to, like I aint your husband. What else are you angry with me about?" He pushed, his smokey voice wrapped around her like his namesake.
She was soaking so much so from all the pent up sexual frustration she was feeling that she could hear how much noise her pussy was making. Even the intrusion from his finger had her walls fluttering, desperate to pull him in further, hungry for more
"Im mad at how... how you left me." She rasped. Anticipation was starting to kill her.
"How I leave you?"
"You already know how you left me-"
"Nah Annie, I already told you. You better start usin' them words or I swear 'fore God Imma stop right now."
Annie felt her temper flare "how 'bout you leave me the fuck alone then If you aint gon' do shit"
He pulled away taking her undergarment with him, the heat of his hand leaving her where she craved most had her ready to properly cuss him out.
"You-"
"Hush up all that damn noise" He barked, "You sittin' here yellin' at me, talkin' to me any sorta way- all while you leakin' like a faucet up under me, messin' up these nice 'lil expensive sheets of yours an' I barely even touched you yet."
He roughly grabbed her hips pulled her towards his. Resting her now bare pussy onto his clothed manhood. She unashamedly tried to grind herself onto him, just to seek some kind of release, any. But the infernal man firmed his strong grip on her hips, restricting her movement. She almost let out a sob, biting her lip to prevent such a pathetic sound from escaping.
At this point she didnt even understand her stubborness, her refusal to give him what he wanted, but he was really starting to wear her down. Little cracks were beginning to form in her previously iron clad resolve. She wanted him. Bad.
As bad as he wanted her.
Just as she was about to throw caution into the wind and take pleasure for herself she felt him starting pull back slightly again, to deny her again. Her thick thighs that were previously laid out to either side wrapped around him, preventing him from fully leaving.
"You talkin' 'bout how Im crazy an' you over here makin' no kind of sense. You tell me to leave you alone and then you got your legs wrapped round me like you aint ever want me to leave. Which is it huh? You want me gone, or you want me to stay? I already told you what I want from you."
"..."
"You better say somethin' Anisa or I'll leave you as is." He warned.
"I-...", She fell silent giving no answer.
Smokes patience was wearing thin, unexpectedly he grabbed Annies hips, tilting her pelvis slightly upward with her legs spread. She let out a startled grunt. He grabbed one of the pillows that was strewn about the bed in all the rustling they were doing and placed it under her hips. He leaned back slightly drinking her in, eyes half-lidded.
The skirt of her dress had ridden up past her hips, fully exposing her lower half. Her upper half was askewed, no thanks to his earlier ministrations. One of the sleeves of her dress hung off the sides of her shoulder, her generous chest threatened to spill out of her top, her body completely lax, her hands splayed to her sides. Her beautiful piercing eyes almost arrested him on the spot,
Fuck. There aint no one on Gods green earth that deserves to see such a sight. Hell, he didnt even know what good he did in his fucked up life to deserve to see such a thing...
He quickly regrouped himself, focusing on the task at hand. He hadnt said a word.
Eventhough just moments ago Annie wrapped her legs around him to keep him here this new position felt deeply vulnerable and exposing as from where he situated her, he was looking directly at her fluttering pussy.
Oddly enough, the need to cover herself never came, the new position allowed her to melt into the soft mattress, even with the intense scrutiny Elijahs hooded eyes were giving her. A quiet, maybe equally insane part of her loved when all of his focus was directed towards her. However intense it was, she consumed it all like an addiction.
His raspy graveled tone cut through the breathing silence between them,"You dont wanna tell me? Fine... but you better show me."
"Show you?" Her voice breathless.
"Mhm..." His voice low, eyes lowered.
She didnt know what possessed her, but she reached down between her spread legs, parting her lower lips and started touching herself.
Circling her stiff nub, before flicking it side to side, she needed more. She released a sharp exhale, not realizing how long she was holding her breath.
Elijah locked in on her hand, watching as it gradually became more and more covered in her own arousal, the glide of her fingers becoming smoother as she continued to play with herself.
"When's..." he trailed off at a loss of words. He was in a trance. "When's the last time you touched yourself?" The words came out uncharacteristically strained.
"I- It's been a while... I almost did..."
"When"
He watched her hand intensely as she moved it lower, cirling her entrance but never penetrating, not only could he see how wet she was getting, he heard it. Everytime she brushed her opening it was as if he could hear her pussy trying to suck her own fingers in.
He was impossibly hard, he was almost suprise his dick didnt just burst open through his trousers.
"T-that night after the library... When I left you." Her breath hitched, she fucking herself with her fingers slowly.
"Why didnt you?"
"I- ah, I didnt think you deserved it." She whined.
"Didnt deserve what? Your pleasure? Your pussy? You?" He asked, stern, but an edge of desperation. His control was wearing thin, fraying at the edges.
He grabbed one of her legs in an almost vice-like grip, lifting it up resting it against his shoulder, parting them wider, just shy of uncomfortable.
"Ahn-" The unexpected shift made her fingers plunge deeper than she anticipated.
"Im waitin' Annie."
"Yesss..."
He hummed.
"You didnt..." she paused, "you aint made no good on your promises. You left me..."
"How I leave you?" He mummured softly against the skin of her ankle, restrained but anxious to hear what truth would leave her trembling lips.
"You left me aching... I-" she sped up her pace, fingers working furiously, her thumb brushing back up against her clit as she fucked herself with her fingers. Her head tipped back, exposing the line of her neck, necklaces sliding against each other at the action, no longer nestled between her breasts as they pooled against her neck and collar bone. "Ugh..." she groaned, low in her throat.
Elijah felt the muscles in her legs tense up, her hips twitched, simultaneously lifting and pulling away, as if they were unsure whether they wanted to move away or towards the release she was chasing.
Elijah quietly watched her, watched as her fingers moved in and out of her pussy, the closer she got to her peaked the wetter she got. The wet, squelching noises emanating from between her legs were down right filthy. It was music to his ears.
Her whines reached a fever pitch. He watched as her walls clenched around her digits then released. Then clench again, then release. She was close, her face twisted in a grimace, biting the bottom of her full lips. Breathing heavily, concentrated on reaching her peak.
Just as she felt her release coming, Elijah grabbed her wrist, stilling her movements.
A sob escaped her lips, "Lijah please-!" She almost thrashed herself around the bed. He lowered himself, pressing chest to chest watching as she squirmed. Her eyes were wet with desperation, she looked close to crying.
"Annie... look at me." he cooed quietly, calm in a way that commanded her attention. "You let me take care of you. Ya' hear me?"
She nodded her head so slightly, he wouldve almost not registered it. "Elijah please... I want more... I want you, please... take care of me. 'Lijah." She begged quietly, she couldnt take anymore, she felt like she was about to explode.
He kissed her softly, before pulling back "Thank you mama. Thats my good girl..." he spoke softly against her lips.
He knew how much weight those words carried for her. It was more than just to satisfy her, he wanted her to let him take care of her in anyway he could. If she allowed.
He gently pulled her hand from between her legs, making her whine softly at the loss. "Shh... Dont worry, Imma make it all better. I know you achin' baby. I know its my fault." He brought her hand towards his face, her fingers coated in her essence, before he brought them to his lips, getting a taste of her on his tongue. He stiffled a moan that threatened to to make itself known. He needed to taste her, needed it more than anything right now.
He replaced her hand back with his own, she was soaking. It made it easy for him to glide his fingers through her lips before inserting his fingers into her heat, all the way down to the knuckle with almost no resistance. She clenched around him in a vice grip. He couldnt help the groan that escaped his mouth. Her pussy held on to him like she never wanted him to leave her.
The noises coming out of Annie grew in volume, stiffled moans and choked off whines were the only things she was could manage. Her body was vibrating.
He slid against her body, removing his hand while he was lowering himself until she could feel his cool breath ghosted across her heated center. It made her shiver in anticipation, her already elevated heart rate sped up just a bit more. She lifted her legs, wrapping them around his shoulders. In turn he wrapped his strong arms around her thighs, anchoring him to her, leaving no space for her to run if she wanted to.
He didnt let her wait before he went straight to it. Dragging his tongue across her slit, before thrusting it into her opening, licking on her like he was trying to swallow her whole. The sensation coupled with his nose bumping across her clit in tandem had her groaning, long and low.
He felt her fingers card through his curls, her nails scraping across his scalp, just shy of pain. It sent a shiver down his spine. He traveled up, focusing his attention directly on her nub, flicking it side to side. He moved his hands, one thumb sliding across her slit before it crooked, pushing one of her pussy lips to the side, exposing her innerlips to the cool air of the room before he shifted his hands once more putting his fingers back where she needed it most, steadily thrusting in and out in a come hither motion.
He didnt stop his onslaught of him tonguing her down, like he was making love to her pussy. "Ugh... shit, Smoke- 'Lijah, fuck. Dont stop. Please ah-!"
He could her walls rhythmically spasming, she was getting close again. He sped up his efforts. The grip she had on his gair tightened, every part of her body pulled taught like a drawn bowstring ready to snap. Annie' legs started to quiver, until they tightened around his ears, her hips working in tandem with him, grinding back and forth. She was damn near impaling herself on his hand like it was his own dick in her chase for her release that had been denied from her so many times
She let out a low, desperate keen before her body locked up, keeping Smoke in place as he felt her inner walls spasming and tighten, and she damn near drenched his hand with a new wave of wetness as her orgasm finally hit her in waves.
He never stopped stroking and licking her through, riding each wave until she tugged on his hair. Silently letting him know it was almost too much, she was starting to get overstimulated.
He finally eased off, his fingers pulled out of her with a wet pop. Her legs went limp at his sides as she was still catching her breath.
Annie watched him with blown pupils, her mouth slightly agape. Elijah couldnt recall a time she was ever as subdued as she was being now. She moved placing her hands on both sides of his face, one of her thumbs caressed his lips, her eyes half-lidded, looking at them intently before she moved it to his cheek, gently moving her thumb back and forth. She had a look on her face he'd never seen before.
Open... The quietness she carried wasnt one thick with tension, but one that carried a delicate vulnerability she rarely showed. She almost looked like she didnt know what to do with herself in the aftermath of something like this. In the quiet.
Any previous fire from before was snuffed out. He shifted, laying his body next to her on the bed looking at eachother. Elijah's chest felt weird with the way she was looking at him. Warm from the inside out.
He didnt realize that the thought to get himself off didnt cross his mind. Just her pleasure. He wanted her to feel good, in the moment, it was all that mattered.
He saw her eyes droop slightly she was tired. It was more than just the fact that he wrung the pleasure out of her, but relaxed sleepiness that came with a release, sexually, emotionally.
He knew everything was laid out in the open, it was still an unfinished conversation. But looking at her heavy eyes, they could get to that later.
"C'mere go head an' rest some." He pulled her to his warm chest.
"I cant it's only the middle of the day, I got things I have to do..." she trailed off, her voice getting heavy with sleep.
"The kingdom wont fall if you take an afternoon Anne'" he mummured quietly. He felt her body melt into his, her breathing deepened, tickling the skin of his neck
She was already gone.
He tightened his hold on her before settling, her drowsiness contagious and the warmth of her being in his arms was all he needed to follow her. Closing his eyes, the afternoon breeze caressing the room, calming the heat that was once there.
Elijah couldnt recall a moment in his life where he felt this content in someone's presence.
But she wasnt just anyone, she was Annie.
His Annie...
_____________
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A/n: I dont even know... Just a whole lot going on, sorry for the wait🥴
Fuck- I hate being shy, lowkey wanted to blow up writing this and not even post anything.😭
Just fade into obscurity, all dramatic an' shit.
*Im so sorry Annie, I dont know why I had that man torture you like that😭*
Theres still alot of things left unsaid, conversations that need to be had so... Its only gonna get more convoluted from here, just lemme cook, I know where Im tryna land this plane🙃😤✈️
i need a story where elijah stays. i know its canon that when they lost their baby he stayed for a couple of years before stack brings up the idea to go to chicago. but i need a fic where elijah was like nah. annie and elijah was processing grief and was barely talking couldn’t without an argument and at first he thought it would be a good idea even annie tells him to go but he doesnt. and stack returns 7 seven years later to see annie and elijah gotten married and had some kids. and they still open up the juke.
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Chapter Summary: Annie grows curious about the humans, but her grandmother warns her about them. Stack warns Smoke about going back, but they can't stay away from each other.
Disclaimers: Violence
A/N: AGH this took so long!! Thank you for your patience, and I really hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 2
—🗡️—
Annie returned to her grandmother's house that night.
“Annabelle, where have you been!” Her grandmother, Odetta, snapped, but when she saw the other fairy flinch. She let out a sigh. “I'm sorry… I was just worried sick, you don't usually leave for so long.”
“I'm okay, just have been out longer than I anticipated…” Annie said.
“Where were you?” She asked.
Annie always aimed to be honest with her Grandmother.
“...Well, I went towards the village.”
Silence filled the hut.
“You went to the village?” Odetta asked.
“Not past the gate!” Annie exclaimed.
“You think that changes a thing? Did anyone see you? You must be careful!” Odetta guided Annie away from the door and checked out the small window.
Annie watched with a worried expression, but she knew Smoke hadn't followed her. Why would he? She knew to trust him. “But Grandma—”
“No, I haven't told you.” She turned to Annie and walked over to her. “About the village, and their mean ways. How they might kill the things that we sometimes do, but to an excessive level. How they prey even on us. Harmless fairies. View us all as monsters.” She put her hands on Annie's face. “You better not make yourself known, they could hurt you. Kill you, and I… I can't lose you.”
Annie had heard a similar speech and had an idea how serious her grandmother was being. She had been raised isolated away, and she knew it wasn't for no reason.
Odetta took a moment to examine Annie, to scan her for any secret injuries. Any emotional pain. “You understand, child? I have been protecting you.”
Annie deflated in her hold, but nodded. “Yes, I understand, Grandma.”
She knew in her heart she couldn't avoid Smoke. Not at this point, but she’d try to keep her distance. If she could.
She saw her grandmother start to pack a small bag with the jewelry she had from the ogre, some herbs, and food. She then looked at Annie and put the bag aside.
“Where are you going?” Annie asked.
“I have to travel, Annie. I am needed somewhere else, but I will come back. I want you to hold down the hut here. You are old enough for me to help those abroad while you stay here.” She said.
“Yes ma’am…” Annie nodded.
“Don't ma’am me when I gotta go soon, baby…” She then pulled Annie into a big hug. “I love you.”
Annie melted into her grandmother's arms and nodded. Then rubbed her back soothingly. “I love you too, Grandma… I'll be okay.” She assured her.
Odetta nodded, and she moved from the hug and kissed Annie on the forehead. “I won't be gone for long, and I'll leave in the morning. Then return after a short while." She promised.
Annie nodded, “Of course… I’ll be waiting here, Grandma.”
—🗡️—
A week passed, and it was growing colder in the village, and Darius assigned Smoke and Stack only to watch the village's gates. Not moving into the forest, and coming back right before dawn.
Smoke was on strict instructions not to let anything happen to Stack. He knew he would be in deep trouble if he failed to keep him safe. On the contrary, Stack was ready for whatever else came his way. But he wasn't without his own concerns.
“Smoke, we need to be more careful,” Stack said as he gripped the handle of his dagger. “What happened was my fault. And I need to be vigilant.”
His voice was soft, but full of conviction. Smoke couldn't help but believe him. He knew now they both had to prove themselves and make sure their parents didn't feel they had weak sons. They could do it, and they didn't want to leave each other behind. They were two halves of a whole, and did everything together.
It's been a week since he spoke to Annie and held her under the trees. That was the most he ever felt in his life. Other than being discouraged and trapped, she opened a door to other possibilities. He wanted to see her again, and he hoped she was thinking about him too.
He was lost in his mind and didn’t notice that Stack was still talking.
“Smoke, are you okay?” Stack asked, and he put a hand on Smoke's shoulder.
Smoke nodded and cleared his throat. “Yeah, I'm okay,” he grumbled, but then he looked towards the forest. That had both of them looking in the same direction.
“Smoke,” Stack stared, but then walked to the front of his brother. “I know this is going to sound very odd of me to say, because I don't warn you not to do anything. It's mainly the other way around. However…” He looked behind him and heard the wind rustle the leaves and branches. Making them hit against the trees. As if talking back to him, and emphasizing his upcoming words.
“We can't go back there. It's a miracle how either of us even survived. The church said it was God that kept us here, and I believe it.”
He then guided his brother to look away from the tempting darkness that he was convinced drew him in. “We only focus on shit coming out of the forest, what we were taught to kill. I know that now.” He took a deep breath and gripped his healed side. “I should’ve died out there.” He muttered.
Smoke looked with a soft grimace on his face, and he wished he could tell the truth. Yet he didn't know when or even how to. He definitely shouldn't let him wallow by himself like this.
“Stack, we won't go into the forest. Not during nights at the very least, but we are sons of fighters, hunters. We don't back down, you hear me?” He then moved Stack’s hand from his side and moved it to his sword's handle. “You are strong too, don't forget that.” He said. Hoping his words would help his brother. Like Annie’s words did for him.
His brother paused and gripped the handle tighter. “Thank you, brother,” he muttered. His shoulders didn't ease, but the words did echo in his mind.
A snarl was heard in the distance, and both of them turned to the noise. Revealed to them was a small group of goblins that held spears and hatchets. Stack scoffed and looked at Smoke with a ready expression.
“Here's our test, Smoke!” He exclaimed before throwing his sword up. “Let’s take them down!”
Smoke nodded and made sure to charge first. He went to the nearest goblin and knocked the axe out of his hand using his sword. It didn't even have time to swing as he sliced its head off.
Stack went to another and kicked it to the ground before stabbing it through the chest. He retrieved his sword quickly and turned to a goblin approaching him from behind and stabbed that one as well. He gained a fighting style that was quick and would attack the monster head-on. While Smoke kept his guard and body upright, he planned each swing with finesse when the time was right.
Each movement from them was effective, because each goblin. Which ended up only being 5, went down one by one. Their blood stained the grass, and Smoke stabbed the last one through the chest. He even picked up one of the sharpest-looking hatchets.
“We could use this for wood.” He said
Stack chuckled, “You are so resourceful, brother.” He then patted him on the back despite the blood that stained his hands. Smoke grimaced at the touch. “That wasn't so bad, I still got it, huh?”
Smoke couldn't help but perk up at Stack, congratulating himself. “Yes, you still got it.”
—🗡️—
When they went back home, they saw their father look them over and nod. “See that no one is hurt.” He grumbled.
“Yes, Father, we are okay. A successful mission.” Smoke said and put his weapons to the side to clean later. Then removed his armor.
Stack was about to share the mission in detail with his father, but then their uncle appeared from the kitchen. He immediately closed his mouth and greeted him.
“Good evening, sir.” He greeted and even gave a respectful head bow.
The Priest, Jedidiah Moore, Darius’ eldest brother. He had become the head of the church through showing unwavering faith and handed the role years ago before the last Priest had passed.
He held a strict regime; everyone would follow the word of the Lord. Go among their lives as such. He had seen Stack lying on the bed, and in pain. Despite the sudden miracle he experienced. It was the talk of the town on how Stack survived such a barbaric attack.
He knew he had to guide him in the right direction.
“Good evening,” Priest Jedidiah said to Stack and then looked at Smoke. “You ain't gonna say hello?” He said with a stern expression.
Smoke tensed his jaw and gave a small nod. “Hello.” He said, and he heard his father smack his teeth.
Yet he knew he didn't say anything because he saw his own eldest about to speak. The look of an upcoming speech was shining in his eyes.
“You both may be my nephews, but I worry about you as my own,” The Priest began, and he went over to Stack. Feeling his head and nodding. “Good to see you standing and still doing the Lord's work. Fighting the beasts that Satan had brought onto this earth to haunt our forests. Protecting the children of God will forever be what is called upon you. He tried to strike you down, but now realized he missed with a Moore. God placed his hand on you and reminded everyone that our lives are in his hands.”
Stack nodded and closed his eyes as he let his uncle speak over him. His own belief rushed through him as he listened to his words. “A miracle… he made an example of me.”
A miracle it was, and Smoke didn't disagree. Did he believe in God? Enough to know maybe someone is fucking around with them. He found comfort in the protective side of it, though, because why else would Annie appear? Had to be God sending her, too.Yet if he said to his family that a Fairy healed them. Their ignorance would make her demonic, and a thing that was sent to trick them into a grand evil scheme.
The more time went on. The more conflicting this was becoming. Yet he couldn't stop thinking about her and the way they relaxed into each other's arms purely in conversation. She has become an anchor to his existence, and he was beginning to think she awakened a sign of obsession in him. Maybe it was unhealthy, but he couldn't seem to care if she was able to save his brother and himself.
“Let's hope another creature doesn't bring you to where you were ever again. You were blessed with the ability to kill what needs to die. You both kill what is unnatural on God’s green earth. That is meant for the animals, humans, bugs… but not those monsters. They all hold such darkness that can't be contained. Like the serpent waiting to tempt you in the garden of Eve.” Jedidiah spoke and finally let go of Stack's forehead. “I need you both to remember they ain't God’s children. They are Satan’s puppets, and I need regular attendance to service. Let everyone know you haven't forgotten about the church. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” Stack nodded and immediately softly bowed again.
“Too many monsters have been trying to pop up. But we can make it more often.” Darius said.
Elijah was stuck on his he acted like the creature of the forest couldn't condemn. As if they couldn't feel. He knew Annie could, and that made him rethink a lot of what they knew. There had to be more like her. They could think and emphasize. That could heal and bring you a whole new life. A whole new feeling.
He missed her, and he never missed people. He didn't have many people to miss, and his parents always came back. They were in and out. He did not need to miss his brother; he was always beside him.
Regardless of the new plans they were making for him, he knew he'd still be able to go to the forest. He needed to go see Annie; it's been too long now. The many times the sun rose and fell, he thought of how she saw the same one. Maybe thinking of him, because he was thinking of her.
Yes, he was going to go see her tonight. That was decided before he even woke up that day.
“Yes, sir.” He quickly said, to make the Priest feel at ease and walk out of the house.
Yet he lingered; he always did when he visited.
“...Where is Elise?” Jedidiah asked.
“Hanging out with some friends of hers, most likely talking their ears off about wife shit.” Darius shrugged.
“Hm,” He appeared not pleased with the last word, but let it slide. “I guess she needed a break. A lot happened. Speaking of wives, I should get back to mine.” He said.
After that was said, he walked out the door.
—🗡️—
That night, Smoke went back to protect the gates. His mother and father have been watching Stack like hawks. Finally, giving him the true attention they needed from the start. Letting him rest more often.
He pushed that aside and knew his true plans were easy to take alone. He needed to see Annie, check on her after all of this time. He also needed answers.
After walking through the forest for quite some time, he was surprised not to hear any creatures screeching. Nothing disorderly. He wondered why he was taught that the forest remained unruly. However, there seemed to be a sense of peace tonight.
He heard a faint melody and decided to follow it. It was drawing him in, and it sounded familiar. The closer he got, the more he hoped he wasn't being led to danger. Somehow, he knew he wasn’t.
His footsteps were soft on the grass because he didn't want to alarm the peace. The more he walked, the more he saw flowers along the sides of the trees. In all sorts of colors, but mainly pink and white.
He saw a now obvious path, tan and marked to lead his way. He got on it and followed it. It was clear who was singing.
Annie was seated in the front yard of her grandmother's cottage. She was planting some herbs and flying around. A gnome was with her, helping pat the dirt around each plant as she floated to a new area.
She wasn't singing any specific words, but the tune was serene. A repeated melody that strung at the heart. He wondered where it came from, but before he could even make his presence known, it stopped. Her back was turned to him, and her wings still fluttered. Yet she knew someone was there. She quickly turned around and gasped in great surprise.
“S-Smoke?” She stuttered and held a plant to her chest.
The gnome didn't make a noise but scurried away behind some bushes.
“Annie.” He greeted and couldn't keep his eyes off her flowing pink dress. It was long and went to her ankles. For once, he cared about what could be under that and how her legs were crafted.
He never thought of a girl like that before.
“Why are you all the way out here?” She landed on the ground and walked closer to him. Her voice was filled with that usual sweet concern.
That made Smoke realize he didn't have a real excuse. He faltered softly, but then adjusted his vest and cleared his throat.
“...I heard a melody, and I followed it. Realized you were at the end of it.”
Annie never had her voice lead someone to her purely by sound. She was used to animals or creatures rolling by. She wasn't sure how to take it, but seeing him after all of this time was a nice surprise. Her cheeks began to feel warm, and she had a soft, uncontrollable smirk appear on her face. She was trying to hold back a smile, but failed terribly as she stared into his eyes. “Oh… wow…” Annie then giggled.
He watched her waringly, and then looked a bit offended.
“Are you laughing at me?” He asked.
“I’m sorry but I didn't know you'd hear it.” Annie grinned, and gripped his hand. “I am shocked. Was I somehow only calling for you? Isn't that sweet.” She hummed, but truly didn't try to catch his attention. She couldn't ignore how it happened out of chance either. “Do you wanna come inside?” She asked.
He watched her cute eyes flutter and he couldn't help but let her drag him inside. He let the slight offense leave quickly as he followed, and he learned quickly not to be too on guard while around her. She only meant well, and he knew that. Tonight he processed her slightly long but pointy ears. Maybe he already did, but his mind was drawn to them tonight.
As he entered the cottage, his attention was sent to all the decor made of nature. The wooden tables, clothed with white knitted yarn. He saw small pots of plants everywhere as well, and were near windows or along the wooden shelves.
It felt magical on its own, and fit along with what he knew Annie for. Which was comfort, and the ability to heal. He watched as she decided to pot the plant in hand on the floor. He watched it softly unwilt.
His mind floated back to when Annie healed Stack. They didn’t go inside but he realized they were nearby outside. The energy at the time was fueled by the nature around them.
—🗡️—
The night of the incident
Smoke had been following her for a short period of time, and was still recovering from the initial attack. There was fear instilled in his body over the critical condition he saw Stack in, and had to put all of his trust in Annie. A fairy he met tonight, but a part of him knew he had no choice.
She had saved them after all.
She would check up on him even as Stack's body floated along near her. She had emphasized during the walk that he was in a coma, but she had a shield around him. So floating wasn't going to disturb him. He knew nothing of the magic, and the bottom line was that he needed further assistance wherever they were headed.
“We are almost there.” Annie said, and took a left turn.
As he followed they were led into an open space. A smooth piece of rock that was big enough to hold a body was in the middle. The place was naturally protected by trees, and other plants. Annie let Stack's body descend into the platform, and she rushed to his side.
Smoke walked up beside Annie, and watched her continue to heal him, and then she turned to Smoke when she moved her hand away. The glow from her hands diminishing. She felt a little weak, but didn't want to worry him further.
She was done, and the rest was up to natural rest. That's all that mattered.
“He will be safe here…” She said, and then motioned for him to sit at a tree stump nearby. “Relax yourself… maybe you should lay down.” She fluttered her wings and floated to gather some leaves to adjust on the ground. Ignoring how he shook his head. She made sure it was adjusted right near Stack. “Don't even worry, I got you.” She nodded.
She then moved out of his way and guided him to relax on the ground she prepared. At this point of the night he didn't even have the energy to be stubborn. Because he felt a feeling he hasn't in a long time.
Security.
—🗡️—
Present
“Wow…” He muttered, and Annie looked at him and grinned. His eyes drifted to everything along her floors up to the ceiling. It was simple but loud with purpose.
“Wow indeed huh…” She had to hold back the urge to shout out her grandmother's style. So she just fluttered her wings and floated to the kitchen. “Want some tea?” She grinned back.
He nodded, and she went to the kitchen. He watched her and the way she floated away and then turned to sit at a chair. He carefully sat in one, and it reminded him that even if she was a fairy she wasn't tiny as described. It held his weight with ease.
As she went to fix his tea. She had to take a deep breath and her wings fluttered down behind her. She felt bad for already breaking her Grandmother's promise. Yet he knew where she lived, and she had helped him. Helping others was what she was taught to do as well.
He knew more than most and hadn't laid a harmful hand on her. She wasn't going to push him away now. Not only because she couldn't bring herself to. There was no need to.
—🗡️—
When she finished making the tea, she peeked out in the living room and saw Smoke on the singular chair. He seemed at home, and that warmed her heart. She then grabbed their cups and handed him his mug. They were made of ceramic so they could hold the hot liquid.
“Here…” she grinned.
“Thank you…” He sighed, and blew the top softly.
She sat beside him and found herself eyeing him. She tried not to stare at his strong hands, and how precisely he held the cup. A young man who cared about his twin more than anything. A part of her wondered if she could ever reach that level, and if they were friends?
“So does…” She felt her heart flutter as he lifted his head to listen. “...You finding my home means we are friends?” She couldn't help but ask.
He eyed her carefully, and saw how her eyes shifted to not stare back but anticipate his response. “I saw us as friends the moment you saved me and my brother. We are friends Annie, and you don't need to work hard for that.” He leaned forward and kept his eyes on her. They were intense, and she felt everything he was saying run through her blood.
Annie's eyes widened and she got a whiff of his natural scent, the slight musk but tamed by his attention to hygiene. She carefully sat up to seem unaffected by what she was feeling. So she just smiled.
“I'm glad we are friends…” She then sighed in relief. She reflected on how she hasn't had friends. For him to come around as her first really opened up a part of her.
“Me too.” He replied, and motioned at his tea cup “This stuff is really good.” He said and felt safe enough to give her a small smile. He watched as her eyes shined. His heart hammered, and he cleared his throat.
Annie tilted her head, “I'm glad you like it.” She finally took a sip herself, and savored the taste.
They both enjoyed the peaceful silence, and he put the cup down when he was done with the tea. He gained the courage to speak again.
“...I can't stay here long, and I hope I'm not over welcoming myself—”
Annie's wings shot up and fluttered softly behind her. “No way you are over welcoming yourself! You are fine!” She said quickly, because she didn't want him to think that way. Not ever.
Even if her grandmother's words rung through her head.
Smoke was reflecting on his own family's words.
They knew they had to be careful, and it was hard to admit when they were becoming magnetic.
“Annie…” He got up and sat on the couch beside her. He then gripped her hand, and looked into her eyes. “Remember what I say now, I will visit you when I can. But don't come visit me, never go near that gate again. Understand me?” He whispered.
Annie frowned but nodded. She remembered his initial panicked vividly, and gripped his hand back in return. “Yes I understand.” She muttered. “...How often do you think you can visit, I love our tea time.” She asked.
Even if her grandmother promised to be back in a week, maybe she could see this human was genuine. Smoke really cared about her and wasn't muderous as she described the whole village to be.
“I don't want to make promises and not keep them, Annie.” He then sat up. “But I'll aim for all of my solo watches. Which is every other day.” He said.
Annie nodded, and rubbed his hand. Her then she let her hands run along his arm. She was gonna miss him, and even if she was getting handsy. She didn't really notice how much it was affecting him.
“Alright then.” She nodded.
His mind was short circuiting at the feeling of her hand on his arm. He wasn't used to such contact, and didn't want to make her uncomfortable because he enjoyed it.
“I must get going,” He said, and slipped from her touch. Then he put the cup down gently. “You gon’ be okay?” He asked her and looked around the home.
Annie stood up as well and nodded. “Yes I am…” She chuckled, but her body warmed up at his protectiveness.
He relaxed only slightly as he remembered her abilities and he put a hand on her shoulder. “I wish we had a better means of communication if anything did happen.” He mumbled, but Annie only smiled.
“We will be okay. I'll follow your rules. I should be telling you to be safe as well. You humans are fragile.” Annie said.
That made Smoke snort. “You aren't wrong,” He took a moment to take her in before he even moved away. “See you later Annie.” He said and gripped her shoulder again. He then turned to leave.
He couldn't bear it but he had to go. She followed him to the door, and watched as he walked back into the spontaneous forest. He knew it but didn't make a scene about her following him up until she couldn't. The soft flutters of her wings returned to her place.
They would see each other again. They would make sure of it.
—🗡️—
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