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The first time Annie ever met Smoke Moore, she was eighteen, and was two weeks done from finishing her schooling. She wanted to celebrate with Pearline, some of her cousins, and Jeanie who was back in town.

After that day spent in Memphis, Big Mama let Annie do more things without her. If Annie wanted to go to town, she had to be dropped off by Marcy, aunt Helen or one of her older cousins and she had to be back at the spot she was dropped at no later than 7pm.

If she went out with her cousins, she had to promise not to leave their sides and she had to be back no later than 9pm. But no matter what time it was, day or night, she always had to carry a switch blade in her garter under her dress. Annie had to make sure a false pocket was in all of her dresses so she could easily access the blade.

Jeanie took her time styling and pinning Annie’s hair wanting to look her best her first night out as an official adult. 

Annie even put on lipstick that their mama bought her in Memphis a few months ago. Sliding into a royal blue dress that hung off her shoulders, she felt as grown as she looked. 

Big Mama and her cousin Tiny from Cleveland, Mississippi drove to Little Rock to see some of their family and wouldn’t be back until late the next day. Though she found it hard to leave Annie behind and she would never admit it to anybody but God, Big Mama figured Marcy was right. She had to let go, a least a little for right now, and let Annie know the world on her terms. The crushing hug she gave to Annie before they left just showed how difficult it was for her to accept this truth.

Marcy walked in to see Annie twirling in front of the full-length mirror and Jeanie cheering her on. “You gone tire yo’self out fo’ you even get down there good.” She chuckled at her daughter and went to zip up her dress in the back. A pang in her chest stopped her short. “I got two grown babies now.” She brushed away a tear and took a seat on the bed. “Fo’ ya know it, y’all gone be jumpin’ the broom. Ya daddy woulda cried seein that, like he cried when y’all was brought into the world.” 

This caused Annie to turn around. Marcy hardly ever spoke about her late husband. She’d tell Annie and Jeanie a few stories here and there but none where it sounded like she missed him too terribly. “I didn’t know daddy cried when we was born. He cry a lot?” Annie wanted to know more about the man who died when she was only two and Jeanie was three.

Shaking her head, Marcy wiped another tear. “Only when it came to his girls. He was crazy ‘bout y’all.” She swiped her sleeve across her eyes and stood up to walk back over to Annie. “You go have fun tonight. Jeanie, you better keep an eye on her! Don’t you be walkin’ off without her.” Even though she didn’t want to admit it, Marcy had picked up Big Mama’s habits of fussing over Annie. She even moved into the big house, not able to stand the silence of her own without Jeanie there.

“Oh, I won’t leave her side, but I cannot be blamed if one of the fellas just snatches her away.” Jeanie tossed a smile to her little sister.

Their older cousins, Mamie and Fran waited for them downstairs and showered Annie with complements as they turned to walk out the door.

Aunt Helen came charging down from her room. “Wait!” She held up four small bags each with a string around them. “Marcy, I can’t believe you lettin’ them go out without these.” She placed a gris gris in each of her nieces hands. “Keep these on ya tonight, okay? Tie it to ya garter, put it in the top of ya dress, pin it in ya hair, I don’t care just don’t drop these.” 

Of Big Mama’s five daughters, Helen was the one that held on to the root and spirit work the most. Marcy was more focused on the more practical side like the treatments and tinctures she created but she was known to burn sage and tend to her alter from time to time. They taught all the girls in their family some of the hoodoo practices they grew up with, but with some of the family moving up north and the pull of the modern world, only Helen really kept up with it in earnest.

They left the house with the promise that they’d be back no later than midnight. Jeanie drove them to the part of town where the Black folk in Clarksdale would go to lay all their burdens down. It was a row of juke joints, bars, and gambling houses where the blues played every which way.

“Okay, we meetin’ Pearly at Jay’s Juke and we’ll spend some time there before goin’ to Mama  Ree’s and then King’s. If we get split up for more than 5 minutes, start walking back to the car. I mean it Annie. Don’t let none of these niggas charm you into they backseat.”

Annie scoffed. “I ain’t stupid, Jean. Ain’t here for no man. Here to enjoy myself.” The peak of Annie’s frustration was how everyone still treated her like a child.

Mamie leaned up from the backseat, “You ain’t gotta be stupid to fall for one’uh they tricks. Don’t even let ‘em give you a drink, Annie. They think ya owe them somethin.”

“Y’all come on, ya just scarin’ the po’ girl,” Fran interjected ready to get the night over with. Loud music and sweating wasn’t Fran’s idea of a good time but she wanted to see that Annie enjoyed herself.

The women exited the car and made their way to Jays Juke. On the way, they endured jeers and whistles from some of the men standing outside. Jeanie was stone faced as she led Annie to Jays. Annie couldn’t help but want to cover up after hearing a comment about how good her breasts looked.

She tapped Jeanie on the shoulder. “Why they sayin’ that stuff? Ain’t they know that ain’t how you talk to a woman?”

Rolling her eyes at her sister’s naivety, Jeanie continued forward. “This how men is, Annie. You been under Big Mama too much and ain’t been out into the world yet. Don’t pay ‘em no mind and if they get too close, cut they ass.”

They arrived at Jays and met Pearline who was leaning against the side of the building talking to a finely dressed man in a red hat. “Stack, you can tell yo story to anybody that’ll listen but Pearly ain’t singin’ for $5 and a couple glasses of whisky.” She ran her fingers along his shoulder. “I know you good for more’n that. Heard y’all made out like thieves in Chicago.”

Stack held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, Pearly, $10 and all the whisky you want.” He leaned in closer to whisper something in her ear.

She giggled and swatted his shoulder. “Mr. Moore, you playin’ with fire right now. I’ll be down in a bit. Let me prepare a little first.”

A cough from Jeanie caught Pearline’s attention causing her to stand up straight and put distance between her and Stack. “Pearly, we here for Annie tonight, not makin’ deals with the devil.” Jeanie eyed Stack suspiciously.

Mischief glowed in Stack’s eyes as he flashed the gold in his mouth. “Well, Jeanie Love! My word! Ya Big Mama ain’t got you locked up readin Bible verses tonight?” He laughed at his own joke. “Wait, it ain’t Bible verses. She got you learnin’ spells and shit.” 

Annie wasn’t keen on violence but she did not like the way he spoke about her Big Mama. “Yea, she learned us how to keep a nigga in his place if ain’t nothin’ come out his mouth but disrespect.” She stepped close to Stack who looked at her in wonder.

He was taken aback by how she stepped to him but a different kind of fire burned in his eyes, one that Annie hadn’t seen since the last time she danced with Horace Jones, Jr. “You must be Princess Annie!” He took off his hat and took her hand in his. “I do apologize for my language. I didn’t know I was in the presence of royalty.” He made a show of bowing low before kissing her hand. Spotting Mamie, he sent a sly smile her way. “Look like it’s a family affair tonight. I’m surprised DeLaurine Love let this many of her princesses out to be with us peasants.”

Mamie rolled her eyes. “It ain’t the peasants she don’t like, it’s the toads pretendin’ to be princes she ain’t too fond of.” She reached over and pulled Annie’s hand from his. “Put ya lips on my cousin again, and I’ll feed ‘em to our hounds at home.”

Stack held up his hands. “Mamie, you know I’on mean no harm. Man can only be surrounded by so much beauty fo’ he forget hisself.”

This caused all of the Love women to groan in annoyance. “We don’t care to remind ya, Stack.” Fran turned her nose up at him.

The playful look left Stack’s face as he started to move closer to Fran almost like he was being pulled by strings.

Annie was about to reach for her blade when a booming voice shook her to her core.

“Stack! Nigga, what you doin?” A man with Stack’s face stomped over to him. The glare on his face seemed permanent like he’d never attempted to smile in his life. “Yo ass forget we tryna run a business? I ain’t come all the way back down here for you to try to fuck everything in a dress that walk by.”

The tips of Annie’s ears burned from hearing such language but she was grateful Smoke came to save his brother. A chuckle escaped her lips gaining the attention of both Smoke and Stack.

Smoke looked her over, narrowing his eyes at her and then at the other women. “Y’all folks know y’all out here talkin to niggas who don’t know when it’s time to handle business?” Everybody in the Delta knew Big Mama Love was not one to let her girls be out like this.

The girls all laughed while Stack seemed to just let his brother’s comments roll off of him, still eying Fran who had made it her business to look everywhere but at Stack.

Annie, feeling bit more brave shrugged. “If they don’t, you won’t tell ‘em, right?” She winked at Smoke having no clue the effect the small gesture had on him. “They jus wanna show me a good time tonight. That all right with you, Mr. Moore?”

Stunned speechless by the way this nameless woman talked to him, Smoke just nodded. He grabbed Stack who had recovered his infamous smirk and led him back to a building on the far end of the street.

Pearline squealed when they were out of earshot. “Annie! You talked to Smoke Moore like that and he ain’t have nothin’ to say! Yo Big Mama must be teachin’ you some spells!”

The five women went into Jays so Annie could have her first glass of liquor and they could dance a little while the live band played.

Annie had drank wine before, not too much to where she’d get anything but a light humming in her head. The whisky burned as it went down her throat, causing her to go into a coughing fit with Jeanie laughing and patting her on the back.

“You’ll get used to it, lil Annie!” Her big sister encouraged. 

They spent some time in Jays dancing, shooing away any man that got too close to Annie. After a bit, Annie started to feel weightless from the whisky. She felt herself being dragged outside where the air was cooler. 

“Annie, you was a hit, girl!” Mamie wrapped her arms around her cousin also feeling the effects of the whisky. “Let’s go to Mama Ree’s.”

“Wait,” Pearline stopped the group. “I told Stack I’d sing at they spot tonight. It won’t take long, just one song.”

Fran scoffed. “Pearly, I can give ya $20 if we ain’t ever gotta set foot near Stack again.” She looked at Pearline’s fallen expression and tilted her head. “Unless you got another reason fa wantin’ to be in there.”

Not meeting Fran’s eyes, Pearline just shrugged. “You had your reasons few years ago.”

“Pearline!” Jeanie slapped her friend’s arm for revealing something she told her in confidence. “Now why you wanna start stuff up tonight?”

Fran seemed unfazed by Pearline’s comment. “Go on then. Imma take Annie to Mama Ree’s.” She grabbed Annie’s arm to help her down the steps.

Annie resisted and pulled her arm back. “I wanna hear Pearly sing, Frannie. We can jus’ go, listen to her and go to Mama Ree’s after.”

In the end, the group decided to split up with Annie, Jeanie, and Pearline going to the twins’ place and Mamie and Fran going to Mama Ree’s and them all planning to meet up in an hour.

Inside the twins’ place, people were packed from wall to wall dancing, drinking, and sweating. A large man with a guitar strapped to him played riffs that stirred the crowd causing them to stomp and clap in rhythm. 

The energy of the room wrapped around Annie and pulled her in. She stepped forward to join the crowd but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She looked up to see a familiar face. “Christopher!” Throwing her arms around her classmate, she had to stand on her tiptoes to speak directly into his ear. “Yo daddy let you in places like this?”

“I can say the same about yo Big Mama. She must not be in town.” Christopher was a head taller than Annie but his boyish grin made something in her flutter. 

Jeanie tapped her sister on the shoulder, seeing now that she had someone to keep her company. “We gone move closer to the stage so Pearly can go up when it’s her time.” She looked at Christopher. “Don’t you take her outta here, now. Y’all dance and enjoy ya’selves but don’t go sneaking out.”

Heat bloomed in Annie’s face at what her sister was implying. “Gone, Jeanie! We jus talkin!” She shoved her laughing sister away from her and turned back to Christopher who was sporting a goofy smile.

“I’d certainly like to do more than just talk, Annie.” He held out his arm for her to grab. “Let’s do some dancin’.” He pulled her to the dance floor once she accepted his invitation. The pair stood close to each other, allowing their bodies to be taken by the rhythm of the music and letting time fall away.

Annie didn’t know if it was the whisky or the blues that made her feel untamed but she could feel herself growing addicted to it. It was different than when she was younger and sneaking out. Now, something stronger coursed through her veins. Something stronger than want. Desire. Without putting too much thought into it, she grabbed Christophers shirt to pull him down and plant a kiss on his lips regretting it almost instantly. His lips were too dry and too stiff.

It took nothing for Christopher to respond in kind and wrap his arms around Annie to pull her closer like she was his to claim.

She pulled back feeling the heat in the room constrict around her. She wasn’t sure how long they had been dancing—maybe a lifetime or more—but her dress was soaked and sweat dripped down her face and chest. “Imma step outside for a little bit, it’s getting a little stuffy.”

Outside, the two caught their breaths and allowed the soft night breeze cool them down as they leaned against the front of the building.

“Annie, I ain’t know you liked me like that.” Christopher moved in front of her placing his hands on either side of her head staring down into her big brown eyes.

The nerves that Annie expected to come stayed buried under the two glasses of alcohol she drank earlier and she looked everywhere but him trying to find some way to escape but he towered over her. 

Christopher leaned down to say something in her ear but was interrupted by the sound of a man crying and pleading. 

The two looked to the source of the noise and saw a bloodied-faced man on his knees with his hands up. Smoke Moore loomed over the man with blood on his right fist. “Please, Smoke! I was just—” A fist to his temple caused him to slump over into the dirt below.

Smoke waved a finger and a group of men picked the sleeping man up to move him away from the front of the building. He turned without a word to go back into the juke wiping the blood off his face in the process.

Something in Annie made her push Christopher away when she noticed it was Smoke’s own blood on his face. The few street lights made it easier to see that it was coming from a cut that stretched from his ear to his chin. She moved towards him, not even thinking about what she was doing or listening to Christopher trying to call her back. “Mr. Moore!”

Smoke looked up and turned towards a voice he heard earlier that night. Annie Love. He could handle drunk men with blades and bad gambling habits just fine. He couldn’t handle whatever DeLaurine Love would do to him and his brother if word got back that her girls were at their place tonight. He held his face and kept walking, content to ignore the woman walking quickly towards him.

“Mr. Moore!” Annie caught him by the shoulder and turned him around like it was nothing. “Let me look at that.” She had no idea why she felt the need to make sure he was okay after seeing him beat that man.

Pulling away from her, Smoke held his face as more blood poured out. “It ain’t nothin.” He looked behind her for her sister and cousins and only saw a confused Christopher standing a few paces behind her like he was ready to snatch her away at any second. That angered Smoke much more than the cut on his face. “Find ya folks and get outta here.” 

Annie rolled her eyes. “Mr. Moore, I done seen men fightin’ before. Just don’t want that to get infected or nothin’.” She pointed to his face. “Let me see how deep it is.” She pulled his hand from his face and studied the cut, holding his chin and tilting his head for an easier view. “I can clean it up for you now and you can come out to the shack tomorrow mornin for some salve to put on it. Keep it from scarrin up too bad.”

Smoke pulled his head back out of her grasp. “I ain’ worried ‘bout no scarrin’ got plenty mo’ where that came from.” And he wasn’t about to catch heat from her grandma about being on their land. DeLaurine told everybody who was anybody that the SmokeStack twins was rotten just like their daddy. Hard to do honest business when everybody thought you were the devil anyway.

Quirking a brow at him, Annie just shrugged. “With a face like yours, Mr. Moore, maybe you should be. Folks get to thinkin’ they can leave their mark on it.” 

It would’ve been best if he walked away. If he pretended he never met Annie Love but something in her big brown eyes told him to trust her. He gave a short nod and walked towards a side door, hearing her footsteps following closely behind him.

“Annie!” Christopher bounded up to her. “You lost yo mind? Where you think you goin with him?” He grabbed Annie’s arm just in time for Smoke to turn around.

Snatching back from Christopher, Annie rubbed her arm. “I’m going to help him with the cut on his face. I’ll be back out in a minute.”

A rage in Smoke almost bubbled to the surface before he felt Annie’s soft hand on his arm and a look pleading with him to let Christopher be. “She’ll be back in a lil bit but you grab her like that again, I’ll give you a cut to match mine.”

Christopher’s mouth gaped like a fish as Smoke and Annie disappeared through the side door.

There wasn’t much lighting in the back of the building so, Annie stuck close to Smoke as he led her upstairs to a dimly-lit office. “You got any clean rags or bandages in here?”

Smoke went to the wooden cabinet that sat on the far side of the room and opened it. He pulled out a medium-sized white tin that was embossed with a red cross. He handed it to Annie. “It should have everything you need for now.”

“I like when a man has what I need,” Annie said without thinking. Those two glasses of whiskey were still controlling her it seemed. “Shoot! I ain’t mean it like that, Mr. Moore.”

Smoke did his best not to crack a smile and feel the sting of the cut. “I know what you mean, Annie.” He sat in his desk chair and watched as Annie pulled what she needed from the first aid kit.

She tore open a foil packet of iodine soaked cotton swabs. “This gone sting. I don’t want you fussin and cussin at me when I put it on this cut.” She tilted his head so that she had a good look at the damage before she swiped over it with a swab and watched it bubble from

Although he was no stranger to pain, the sting of the iodine caught him off-guard and he grabbed Annie’s waist like it was the last thing he’d ever hold on to. “I’m sorry. Ain’t mean to.” He put his hands by his side.

“Ain’t bother me none,” Annie shrugged. “My aunt Helen say if you feel like you gone float away, sometimes you just grab on to whatever is closest.” She continued to clean the wound. “What that man do to make you beat him so?”

It wasn’t a conversation he cared to have but he definitely didn’t want to have it with Annie Love and make her more scared of him than she probably already was. Then her family would have another reason to hate him. “That ain’t somethin you need to concern yo’self with.” It came out a lot harsher than he intended it to but he wasn’t in the business of being soft for folks.

“Well if it get you a blade to the face, I would certainly like to know, Mr. Moore. What if the same thing happen to me?” She wasn’t phased by his tone. If anything it was nice to have somebody not talk soft to her like she was a little kid.

Not knowing if he should take it as a joke or not, he chuckled. “Girl like you shouldn’t be in no gamblin rooms no how. You ain’t gotta worry about it happenin to you.”

“A girl like me, huh? What kinda girl would that be, Mr. Moore?” She dug around in the first aid kit again and pulled out gauze and tape. “You got any petroleum jelly around here? Don’t want the gauze stickin’ to the cut.”

“Yeah. It’s in that far cabinet over there.” He pointed to another wooden cabinet on an opposite wall.

Annie made her way to it. “You gone answer my question? What kinda girl am I?” She retrieved the container and walked back over to Smoke and leaned against the desk.

“You Love women all the same. Prim and snooty.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Smoke regretted them.

Gasping, Annie slammed the petroleum jelly down on the desk. “Now wait a minute. I ain’t ask you to pass judgement on my family. If you feel that way about me, that’s fine. I guess we all feel someway about people we ain’t never met. I heard you was the devil and I ain’t see much tonight that make that untrue.” She resumed her task despite her frustration at him. She coated her finger with the thick grease and rubbed it on the cut.

“Maybe I am the devil. Still don’t change the way you Loves walk around with ya noses turned up at everybody.” Years of his and his daddy’s anger at the Love women had flowed out and he didn’t know how to stop it.

“Mr. Moore, you obviously know nothin about my family. We help a lot of people in the Delta.”

“No you exploit a lot of people in the Delta. Sellin em fake cures and spells and shit. Pigs on your farm doin em any good other than givin them high blood pressure?”

Stopping her work, Annie looked at him stunned. His face was as angry as she’d ever seen anybody be. “And what ya juke joint doin other than turnin good men into drunks and makin ‘em give away everything they work for?”

“I’m survivin’ just like you, princess. Some of us don’t have our great-great-granddaddy’s money to live off of though.”

The switch blade was out of her garter and at his throat faster than he could blink. “You watch yo’self, Mr. Moore. You got lucky with this one on your face, but I know how to empty a pig quicker than the time it would take for you to run out that door to scream for help.”

Even with her knife at his throat, Smoke felt the furthest thing from fear. In fact, he’d prefer to be scared to what he was actually feeling—a rising passion for Annie Love. He simply nodded and waited for her to lower her knife. “Where you learn how to draw a knife like that?” He hated to think she’d have to use it often but was impressed by her quickness.

With her heart threatening to burst through her chest at the realization that she put a knife to Smoke Moore’s throat, she dressed his cut with gauze and stood back to check that it was secure. “My mama taught me a thing or two. Don’t sleep on this side of your face tonight.” She needed to get out of there. “I’ll make up some salve for you to come pick up in the mornin.” With the extra gauze, she wiped her oily finger. “I’ll be up first thing and my Big Mama won’t be there.”

Smoke nodded not knowing what to say. “Thank you, Miss Annie.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Moore.” With that she practically bolted out of the office and down the hall to the door they entered into. Once out, she was met with angry shouts from Jeanie, Mamie, Pearline, and Christopher.

“What the hell you thinkin, Annie, goin in there with that man?” Jeanie’s disgust was evident on her face as she checked her sister over. “I told you not to run off with no man and it was Smoke Moore you followed?”

Her stomach was still in knots from what happened in Smoke’s office, her mind was barely registering what Jeanie was saying. “I was just helpin him. He didn’t do anything to me.”

“That ain’t the point, Annie!” Mamie wagged her finger. “What if the man he beat came back with a gun and you was caught between ‘em, huh? It’s more ways for a man to hurt you than with his own hands. And a man like that don’t mind other folk gettin hurt on his behalf.”

Laughter bubbled in Annie’s throat. “Y’all makin too much of it now. That man ain’t no wild animal don’t know how to restrain hisself.”

Pearline crossed her arms, her hair half down and her skin clammy. “And since when did lil Annie come to know so much about Smoke Moore?”

“Well, he ain’t do nothin’ to me.” Annie held her arms out and did a slow circle so they could all see she was unharmed. “He don’t bite.”

Jeanie gripped her arm and led her away from Club Juke. “You bet not let Big Mama hear you got that close to him. She’ll never let you out again, no matter how old you get.”

They continued to berate her choice to help Smoke but their words went in one ear and out the other. Annie just couldn’t get the look in Smoke’s eyes out of her head. Her blade to his throat didn’t scare him. He didn’t even flinch. There was something else she saw but she couldn’t name it. Or maybe she didn’t want to. 

Her heart was still racing and with folks yelling in her ear and Smoke Moore’s eyes unnerving her, she was at her wits end. “Okay! I heard y’all the first time!” She wanted to pull her hair out. “I only went to help him and I’m here now. You ain’t gotta fuss about it! Now it’s still some time left in the night and I wanna dance some more.” She also needed another drink. Ignoring the calls for her to stop, Annie walked toward Mama Ree’s.

“That girl done lost her damn mind tonight.” Jeanie was ready to snatch her sister up and just go back home and she told her cousins such.

“No, Jeanie. That’s the problem now,” Fran finally spoke up. “Annie been under Big Mama all her life. She ain’t get to sneak out all the time like we did. She ain’t get to make the mistakes we did. If she did, maybe she wouldn’t have disappeared on us like that. She grown now though and we gotta treat her like she is.”

“Thank you, Frannie.” Annie hugged her cousin. 

“Girl, you owe me a dollar for those two drinks since you so grown now.” Fran rolled her eyes and patted Annie on the back.

***********

The next morning, Annie woke to a pounding in her head on the floor of the den covered in a quilt. Her tongue felt like sandpaper against the roof of her mouth and her bladder felt like it was about to explode. She rolled over to the couch were Fran was sprawled out and pulled herself up. She looked around and noticed everybody was still sleep in their clothes with Mamie loudly snoring from her spot next to where Annie laid previously. Jeanie had taken up residence on the love seat with it fitting her height perfectly and Pearline was draped over the armchair.

Making her way to the bathroom, using the wall to keep her upright, Annie groaned at the sunlight that filtered through the windows as she recalled the events from last night. The relief she felt after emptying her bladder almost made her cry. She sat on the commode for a moment thinking back to the drinks she had and the dancing she did and Christopher. The slight flutter in her stomach had returned. 

She had her eye on Christopher for a while but she knew Big Mama would find a way to control the situation. So, Annie kept her feelings to herself hoping to make her feelings known after they finished school and Big Mama could accept that she was an adult. 

It was pure luck that she was able to see him last night because his daddy was like her Big Mama—against all the sin and shame that happened at those blues clubs. He ran a respectable business, a clothing and shoe store for colored folks in Clarksdale, and he wasn’t about to have his kin shaming his name gambling, drinking, and gyrating over everything that moved.

The ache in Annie’s head persisted as she thought about when she’d meet Christopher again. She cleaned up before leaving the bathroom and trudged upstairs to her room to get out of her dress that smelled of cigarette smoke and shame. Smoke. She forgot she told him to come by this morning after seeing that cut on his cheek. What was going through her mind, she’d invite a man like that out to their family home? 

If Big Mama found out, she sure would never see Christopher again because Annie would be locked in her room for the rest of her life. She moved as fast as she could with her body stiff from dancing and sleeping on the hard floor to change and creep back downstairs. 

The morning air assaulted her senses as she closed the front door soft enough where no one could hear. A ball of fur ran up to her sniffing at her legs and whining. Annie looked down at Finny, her hunting beagle she got a few weeks before she graduated high school.

His big ears flopped over his head as he jumped up waiting for Annie to pet him. Annie just scooped him up to silence his whining and took him with her to the herb shack.

“Finny we gone get in a lot of trouble if that man show up here and folk find out so you gotta be quiet and I’ll give you all my breakfast ham for a week.” She looked at the dog in her arms whose tongue lolled out of his mouth at the sound of the word ham. 

They made it to the shack and Annie started pulling ingredients from the shelves that lined the walls to place them on the counter in the middle. She hoped Smoke Moore didn’t show up but she could get rid of him quicker if the balm was already made.

As if the world was against her this morning, she heard the sound of a car pull up in front of the house. She looked up to see a crimson Ford Custom with an unmistakable figure at the wheel. Running to the door of the shack, she waved to get his attention hoping no one in the house heard the car. 

*************************

Smoke cursed to himself the whole way to the Love herb shack. He just knew this would end with a bullet in his ass but, for some reason he couldn’t explain, he got in his car this morning to see Annie Love so she could give him something for the cut on his face. That’s what he told himself at least, but the closer he got to the Love family farm, the stronger the pull he felt. Like something bigger than him was leading him right to her. 

The cut wasn’t too deep, but it was enough to leave a mark and as Annie said, he didn’t want folks thinking they could start marking up his face. Her voice played in his head through the night as he tried to sleep. She barely said much to him, but it was enough to put him in his place each time.

He pulled up to the front of the big house and took in its looming presence. He knew it had been built from decades of the family working the land it stood on and it not only housed the souls in it, but it sheltered them from the cruel lives of folks like him.

Movement from his periphery caught Smoke’s attention. Annie stood in the door of a small shack waving him over. He turned the wheel and drove his car the short distance to the shack before getting out. He flexed his hands to stop them from shaking as he walked up to greet Annie. “Mornin’, Miss Annie.” He took off his hat and joined her inside before his shoes were assaulted by a small dog with gold and black spotting his white fur.

“Go ahead and have a seat right there.” Annie pointed to a wooden stool that sat next to the counter in the middle. “Don’t mind Finny, he ain’t used to company this early but he don’t bite none.” She pointed to an empty corner and ordered Finny over. “I ain’t had much time to fix this up yet. Jus’ woke up.” She placed her palm to her head for a moment before continuing to add things to a small glass bowl.

Her voice was heavy with sleep and less playful than it was last night. “S’alright. You get home okay?” Smoke didn’t know much of what to say to her. It was apparent by the tired look in her eyes and her wild hair that she was still feeling the effects of whatever she got up to after she left their place.

“I’m here, ain’t I?” Annie snapped, vigorously stirring up the mixture. She held her head again and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mr. Moore. I ain’t feelin’ too good this mornin.” It didn’t help that their conversation from the previous night was still ringing in her head.

Smirking at her apparent hangover, Smoke just shrugged. “Seem like you learnin a lesson, same as me.” He pointed to the gauze he taped on his face. “Gotta know when to stop.”

Annie scoffed at the idea that she was anything like Smoke Moore. “I ain’t no drunk, Mr. Moore, jus got a lil carried away.” She stopped mixing and walked over to him to inspect the bandage. “You sleep on this any last night?

Angling his head up so Annie could get a better look, Smoke shrugged and flexed his hands. “I ain’t mean to if I did.” 

“You get cut a lot?” The words left Annie’s mouth before she could stop them. The pounding in her head got worse as she realized what she said. “I ain’t—that ain’t none of my business.”

Instead of taking offense, Smoke smirked easily at the comment. “Mostly in the military during training. Ain’t too many cuts come from other folk’s blades.” He meant to say it casually but it came out like a warning.

Annie’s breathing hitched and she turned away from him, not liking the glint in his eyes or the warning in his tone. “Ever think of doin’ somethin’ other than fightin’ all the time?” Taking out a bottle of iodine and a few cotton balls, she moved closer to him to remove the gauze. 

“Oh, it ain’t all the time. Just when it’s necessary.” He hissed at the gauze being pulled back feeling the sting of the cut.

Annie tried to be gentle as possible as she removed the tape but Smoke’s hiss stopped her. Finny sat up and whined a little. She examined the gauze and saw it was stuck to the cut. “Finny, stop actin’ like you the one hurt over there. Mr. Moore gon be alright.” To Smoke she said, “I gotta wet this so it come off clean.”

Smoke nodded before she went to grab a bottle of clear liquid from one of the shelves. His pulse raced as she moved back in front of him, her sweet scent invading his nostrils. Suddenly he felt water dripping from his face catching him off-guard and causing him to flinch.

“It’s just water, Mr. Moore. Gotta soak this so it ain’t pullin’ at ya skin.” She proceed to peel back the gauze easily. “See? Wasn’t so bad. Sorry, I got ya clothes wet.” She didn’t sound sorry at all. She slid on a pair of latex gloves she had laid out before opening the bottle of iodine solution. Tipping the bottle of iodine on to the cotton ball with one hand, she held Smoke’s arm with the other. “This gone burn and I don’t want you yankin’ away from me.”

The wet cotton against the cut caused a sting that intensified causing Smoke to grab on to the thing closest to him: Annie’s hips. He went to pull back put was stopped by a squeeze on his arm. Finny ran over with a whimper and sat by his leg.

“S’alright,” Annie said calmly as she continued to work wondering if the lightness in her head was from last night’s whiskey or his hands on her. “I’m almost done with this part.” She finished cleaning the cut and dropped the used cotton ball on to the counter top. She blew on the cut to cool the burning sensation she knew Smoke was feeling.

Feeling his head grow light from the burning of the iodine and Annie’s cool breath providing some relief, Smoke held on to her a little tighter to keep himself upright.

“This gone keep it from scarrin up too bad.” Annie held up the glass bowl with whatever mixture she prepared. “It’s a salve with some petroleum jelly and herbs.” She scooped some onto her finger and ran it over the cut. “You wanna put some of this on twice a day before you wrap it.”

The salve tingled but the coolness of it all but erased the pain from the iodine and from the cut itself. Smoke’s shoulders relaxed. “You musta put some of that magic in there. That feel good.”

Annie couldn’t help but giggle at the look of ease on Smoke’s face. “Ain’t got too much magic, Mr. Moore. You’ll have to ask my aunt Helen for some of that.”

“Ask me for what?” Helen’s voice came from the door. She took in the sight of her niece standing close to the notorious Elijah Moore and tending to his wound while he had a grip on her hips.

The pair jumped apart like they had been caught doing something indecent. Annie held her hand to her chest to calm the heart that was threatening to beat out of her chest. “Goodness, Aunt Helen!”

“Goodness to you too, Annie. Elijah.” She looked at his startled face and winked.

Smoke stood up causing Finny to stand with him. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Miss Annie offered to give me somethin’ for this cut. Ain’t lookin to cause no trouble for her.” Or me. He knew this was a bad idea from the jump. He picked up his hat so he could leave but was pushed back down by the force of Annie’s hand.

“You ain’t goin’ out like this, Mr. Moore.” Annie dipped her finger into the salve again. “Only trouble you gone cause is Aunt Helen chasin’ you down to make sure this done right.”

Helen made her way around the counter to the other side of the shack allowing her niece to continue. “Better listen to the girl, Elijah, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

Smoke’s wariness turned into confusion. The Love women hated the Moore men. At least they hated him, his brother, and their daddy. Growing up, Big Eli would always cuss and complain about the “Love witches” and how they had put a curse on him. Smoke knew for a fact that DeLaurine had no warmth in her heart for them especially after the way she held a gun to Stack’s head when he made the mistake of fooling around with Francine Love a few years back. So why did Annie and Helen act like his presence in their home was no big deal?

Annie saw the confusion in his eyes. “Aunt Helen like to help folk that need it, she ain’t one to judge.” She paused and noticed the grin on her aunt’s face. “Well, she ain’t one to judge too much. Unlike the rest of us, she ain’t got her ‘nose stuck up in the air.’” She nudged Smoke playfully.

“I appreciate it,” Smoke breathed in relief but realizing just how out of line he was last night when he judged the Love family. “Know I ain’t really welcome ‘round here.”

It wasn’t something Annie could disagree with. It was best Helen was the one to find them and not Marcy or any of the other women in the house. “You along with a few others, Mr. Moore, but my butt on the line too so you ain’t gotta worry ‘bout it gettin back to my Big Mama.”

Smoke tried to crack a smile but thought better of it when he felt the burn of the cut.

“I know this gone be hard for you, but try not to smile too much in the next few days,” Annie joked feeling more at ease with Aunt Helen present. “Don’t wanna open the cut again.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Smoke said seriously. He couldn’t recall a time when someone took care of him like this without being required to. He knew his reputation preceded him and his face was fixed in a permanent glower that made folks steer clear which he was fine with for the most part. But he had to admit, being fussed over and cared about felt good.

Annie cut the gauze to length and placed it gently on Smoke’s face before putting the roll of tape in his hand. “Pull the tape until I say stop.” He followed her order so she was able to cut off the correct amount of tape to hold the gauze in place. She took the tape back and rolled out the rest of what she needed to cut and place around the rest of the gauze. “There you go, Mr. Moore.” She stood back to examine her work and beckoned Aunt Helen over to take a look.

“Did good, Annie,” Helen approved. “Elijah, you don’t wanna be sleepin’ on this or gettin’ it wet. You gone put some of the salve on—” She was interrupted by Annie’s pleading eyes. “I’ll let Annie tell ya since she made it an’ all.” Helen went back to the corner where she resumed crushing herbs while her niece finished up with Elijah Moore.

Taking a small wooden spoon and an empty palm-sized tin, Annie scooped the rest of the salve into it and placed a lid on top to fit snuggly. “You gone use it twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed but don’t lay on it. If you roll over in ya sleep, put a pillow behind ya so it’ll wake ya up. After a week, you can stop using the gauze and just put the salve on it. If it get sweaty and dirty, you can clean it with iodine.” She placed the bottle she used on top of the tin. “Now I ain’t mind doin’ this for you, Mr. Moore, but don’t make a habit of get ya’self all cut up, ya hear?”

Smoke had to resist another smile but his eyes showed it all the same. “Yes, ma’am, Miss Annie.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a stack of bills.

With wide eyes, Annie grabbed his hand with all the money in it. “You put that away, we don’t work for money in here.” She looked around the shack like the presence of money would cause it to collapse. 

The look of fear in Annie’s eyes had Smoke quickly putting the money away. “I can’t just give you nothin for patchin’ me up.” He stood and grabbed his hat, noticing how Finny stood closer to him.

“You gave me a chance to do my work.” Annie busied herself clearing off the counter. “Just don’t go out there doin’ it again. I know them hands is good for somethin other than fightin. Can’t promise you I’ll be able to help next time anyhow.” If it wasn’t for the glasses of whiskey, maybe she wouldn’t have offered to help him last night. Maybe. But the flutter in her stomach was telling her something different.

“Well, thank ya, Miss Annie.” He turned to Helen who had stopped what she was doing. “Thank you too. Ms. Helen. Y’all won’t see me in here again but I appreciate ya.”

A knowing look crossed Helen’s face. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Elijah, but you better get going fo’ the rest of the ladies in the house come out to ask about the car in the yard.”

He took one last look around the shack before stepping out into the Mississippi morning. Finny tried to follow him but was held back by Annie promising him extra ham. As he drove away, an ache made its home in his chest and wouldn’t leave until the next time he saw Annie Love.

———————-

Clouds streaked the early morning sky, creeping over the sun that peeked over the horizon. The spring air was fragrant with goldenrod and honeydew, and when the sun glared, water could be seen glistening atop blades of grass.

The pair had fallen asleep in Smoke's bed after staying up all night watching movies. They'd gone back and forth, each picking something that was significant to them, inching closer with each laugh or gasp of shock. Annie had wound up in his arms during a scary movie, and he had ended up with his head tucked into her neck while watching a romcom. It was a simple date, but it was special.

Smoke's arms surrounded Annie as she slept. He held her tight, felt for every shift of her breath and tightened his hold when she tried to move. He craved her closeness, and for the past few months—as their relationship flourished—he began to feel the absence of something that needed to be filled.

The earliest he could remember The Feeling was three months ago.

That night, he'd taken her out to some concert she'd been begging to go to, and as he watched her, the emotion budded. Her eyes were bright as she looked toward the stage. And the lights illuminated her face in a way that showed off her excitement perfectly. In that moment, his mind dipped off into thoughts that were far from chaste. He decided then that he'd do anything to make her happy enough to make that face again, to have his reaction to it be just that strong.

The Feeling persisted for weeks after that, blooming when she decided to try on a few options for a party she was going to. She couldn't decide what was best, and he was the only person available to give their opinion. Each outfit got skimpier and skimpier, and as he sat on her bed, watching her twirl for him, a pillow found its way into his lap.

He wasn't naive about his feelings, but Smoke had never actually done anything like that before. In 23 years, he'd done nothing sexual with another person; But with Annie, he was finally ready to go that far. He loved the person she was: her personality, her body, her laugh when he said something stupid about how they were both too damn nervous to give this a try when they were back in high school together. He loved her, and he could no longer resist The Feeling.

His body curled into hers, hands smoothing out his shirt that covered her back. She was beautiful like this—prettiest in the mornin'—he was known to say. Smelling the side of her neck, he jumped when she shuffled.

“Why you lookin' at me like that,” she groaned, stretching her over-exhausted body into his. Her fingers sought him out, pulling his body closer so she could bury her face in him to escape the light.

“‘Cause you sexy in the mornin’,” he drawled. His cadence was slow, the words slurring because he was both tired and turned on. Annie immediately picked up on his state.

“You betta' stop talkin' to me like that,” she chuckled, clutching onto him tighter. One eye peeked out to take a look at him, and her face flushed with heat from the intensity of his gaze. “Ion know if you ready for all this sexiness.” It came out as a joke based on conversations they'd been having for months about The Feeling and how she'd take care of him when he was ready. Recently, he'd been growing bolder. He complimented her body more—how he loved her thighs and her ass and how her titties sat just right. He allowed The Feeling to linger longer, pressing his needy body up against hers for momentary relief. They’d both been wanting it to the point where it took over their thoughts.

“I'm ready for it,” Smoke groaned, arousal strong. “I can handle all of it.”

Immediately following his declaration, his fingers began dragging along her thighs—because he knew just how to get her in a heady mood. His movements were slow and deliberate, and Annie rewarded him with soft moans before her lips met his. Plush lips against plush lips, their bodies fell into a rhythm of give and take.

They took their time, went carefully because it was still too early in the morning to do anything else. Dew still covered the edges of flowers outside, a crispness in the air that aided the moment.

Annie allowed her fingers to explore the man before her. They outlined the plains of his chest. They dipped over the curves of his abs. And when she came to the edge of his boxers, hers fingers toyed with the material, lips leaving his in time to feel the addicting tremble of his breath.

“You trust me,” she whispered into the quiet air, slow and steady. She held onto him, desperately needing the closeness because something about this was making her feel raw. He responded with a shudder, words broken with need.

“Ye-yes,” he breathed, “I'll always trust you.”

Annie, marveling at his honesty and clarity, almost allowed a moan to escape her lips. There was something about the way he'd been vulnerable about being a virgin, something about the way he trusted her to control this moment. He gave her a feeling that restored something in her, like this was her first time all over again, and in a few years, she might actually consider this It.

She rewarded the man was a kiss to the edge of his jaw, and when her hand found its way into his boxers, that same way-too-addictive shuddering breath landed on her cheek. She dragged her fingers down the length of his dick, capturing his arousal on the tip of a finger.

“I ain’t never,” Smoke choked out, groaning at the view of Annie sucking that finger into her mouth. “I ain’t ever been this turned on before.” And instead of responding with words, the woman simply hummed in acknowledgment before shifting her position on the bed. She pressed the man’s back into the mattress and settled atop his thighs. Unceremoniously, Smoke’s shirt that covered her upper body was pulled over her head, leaving her in nothing but a pair of panties, darkened where they sat against her. “Damn,” he commented, reaching out for her.

His face found comfort between her breasts with practiced ease, and Annie laughed as he held himself there and breathed in her scent.

“You always end up there,” she laughed heartily. And it was true. Whenever he’d had a hard day or a good day or a boring day, all he wanted was to lay up in her chest for comfort. Warm breath ghosted her skin.

“It’s my favorite spot,” he grumbled against her, hands somehow on her thighs again, pulling her into him.

Flushing, Annie reached down and dragged his chin up. She looked into his eyes, and when he melted at the sight of her, she dove in. When their lips met this time, it wasn’t soft and slow and careful; It was sharp and fast and greedy. Smoke’s hands found her hips, and his thumbs wedged found themselves in the groove where hip and thigh met. With ease, motion was made and pace was set. Her clothed pussy grinded against his dick, dragging up the length of him and forcing both of their bodies to shudder.

Smoke had never felt this good in his life. He’d never felt so consumed by something, and he never wanted to feel anything other than this. His palms found her ass next, taking up as much flesh as he could and keeping her hips in that tempting roll. He wanted her, craved her, but when he flipped their position and was leaned over her heaving body, he had no idea how to move forward.

“Baby,” Annie whispered, noticing the way his eyes darted away in a mix of shame and fear. He didn’t look at her straight on, and when her hand came up to his cheek, he jumped in shock. “Elijah,” she whispered to gain his full attention. “I told you I’d take care of you. I got you, and if you wanna stop, we can—”

“I don’t want to,” he nearly shouted, frightened that the very thing he wanted, craved, was beginning to slip from his grasp. Annie’s eyebrows were raised and a goofy smirk tilted her lips. “I-I don’t wanna stop,” he tried again, voice cracking. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, baby,” she breathed pulling him down on top of her. Naturally, her mouth found the edge of his jaw because she couldn’t get enough of that tremble when she did something that felt too good for him to contain it. “Take these off,” she whispered in his ear. Her hands pulled at his boxers—the only thing on his body—and when he moved in a rush to obey her, she removed her own panties.

Kneeling between her open legs, Smoke groaned when he saw her arousal, glistening up at him. His mouth watered. His tip flushed. She was the most beautiful sight, and he made sure she knew that. The man whispered about her beauty into her left ear, how he was addicted to her, how he’d love her the length of his life, how he felt so safe and taken care of. He made sure she knew what she did to him and just how much he needed her in his life.

When the tip of his dick nudged itself between her folds, they both needed a second to collect themselves. Their conjoined warmth and wetness was almost too much to bear, and when Smoke began moving his hips to drag himself across her clit and back down to her entrance, they both wept.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he groaned, breath growing heavier. “How you feel so good?” The words were slurred, disbelief dripping off of each syllable, and although he asked the question rhetorically, he was beginning to think maybe he did need some explanation.

“You ain’t even got the tip in yet,” Annie laughed from her chest. She threw her head back when Smoke rubbed her clit back and forth. She was wet enough that she could hear it, and with the way Smoke was looking between her legs, she could only imagine the sight he was being met with. “Make sure you go in at an angle,” she instructed, placing a pillow beneath her lower back. They both needed this to be easy and enjoyable. The longer they waited, the more their arousal clawed through them and the more they grew worried about fucking this up.

What surprised Smoke first was how he slipped inside with such ease, but what surprised him most was how he could feel every shudder, ever shift, every vibration from the inside. With nearly half of his length tucked away inside of her, Annie pulled Smoke down so that their chests were flush, so that their breaths mingled.

“Can I move,” he questioned, voice breaking as he contemplated how long he’d be able to last once she gave him the go ahead. The feeling of her surrounding him was glorious, and the normally unflappable man felt anything but calm.

“Yeah,” she permitted, eyes dazed and dripping with emotion. Annie’s jaw cranked open as she eyed the man above her. They were both perfectly ruined for each other, so gone over the feeling of their bodies becoming one.

His hips moved timidly as he got a feel for the situation. And successfully delivering the man confidence, he stroked her walls in a slow rhythm when her hands landed on his ass in encouragement. Each thrust made them quake. Each drag made them moan. Each breath passed from one to another had them ready to break apart no matter how early in was in their pursuit.

“You doin’ so good, ‘Lijah,” Annie cooed, kissing his temple. His hips sped up, and hers rose to chase him every time he dragged out to the tip.

Breathing shakily, Smoke watched as the sun fell over Annie’s face. It floated through the windows, lighting up her eyes the same way the lights did at that concert—when he first got The Feeling. He decided in that moment, as her brown eyes revealed every fleck of honey in them, that the sun rose just for this. For her.

“You perfect,” he breathed, addicted, and butterflies flooded her body.

Neither of them wanted to tap out just yet. Neither of them wanted to let go. But when Smoke would pull out to the tip, Annie would pulse around him in a way he couldn’t resist. And when he’d bottom out again, a glorious pressure would form in the base of her stomach.

They continued to meet each other in the middle, arms holding on tight, bodies ready to give up the good fight.

And when they came, it was done simultaneously. They couldn’t do anything but surrender together, to each other.

Breaths hot.

Bodies trembling.

Morning dew fading away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

word count: ~2,200

a/n: i'm still accepting requests! i have one more that i really want to get to, but i'm looking for anything interesting. smut, fluff, angst, whatever you got for me!

taglist: comment HERE to be added!

it was her friend's graduation outing and she didn't want to be the only one to not show up when it mattered most. no matter how much she wanted to crawl back in bed and watch reruns of law and order suv.

aneika decided on a black bandage dress and black heels with the gold ysl holding them up. if she was going to go out she might as well put on her good shit. annie just hoped she wouldn't regret this at the end of the night.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

annie's mood was looking up but that was to be expected when your friends are as lit as her's were right now. the feeling that she had prior was melting away by the minute due to the atmosphere her group created. drinks were flowing, the dj was playing hit after hit, and all her girls looked good.

partition by Beyonce was the next song to come on. aneika lost all home training as she and her friends raced to the dance floor. she grinded her hips against her friend, drunk giggles escaping freely. she sighed deeply as she thought about how she always sung this to smoke. but she wouldn't be one of those " i miss my man" bitches, at least not right now. maybe later though..

she continued to dance until she felt her homegirl, asia, stumble into her back. before she could even turn around to ask what was wrong, she heard words that ensured the night was about to take a turn for the worst.

"damn bitches can't say excuse me" asia yelled out to another group of girls pushing their way through the sea of people.

"ian gotta say nothing if ion want to ho" that feeling was back in annie's chest. she knew something was about to pop off.

"girl shut the fuck up" another one of annie's friends said back.

next thing you know a drink flew and a heel came next. annie thought for a few quick seconds. thought about what would happen after the fight. what would happen if smoke found out.

but that was a later annie problem.

she swung on the girl across from her. fists punching harder and harder with each swing. each hit connecting more than the last. in her mind she knew this was crazy but she would always have her friend's back no matter what. she would think of the consequences later.

the girl got one good punch in before what aneika assumed was security snatched her up. legs kicking and body turning trying to make an escape.

the night time air smacked annie in the face as she was sat down on the curb.

"sit down and chill the fuck out" the security guard said as her friends were sat down next to her.

annie bounced her leg fast, adrenaline spreading through her body like a virus. she could not wait to tell her man about this shit. she picked up her phone and hit the only contact pinned in her phone.

elijah saved under the name "jah jah 💋" since he hated when she called him that name.

jah jah 💋

why tf i just get into a

group fight at the club😭

aneika 😐

i'm otw

annie put her phone down and continued to rethink her life decisions. she knew smoke was going to pissed ALL the way off when he came to get her but a part of her didn't really care at the moment. aneika would cross that bridge when she came to it.

"so you hoes think it's okay to put y'all hands on people now" this random man approached the group of women.

annie picked up her phone and began to scroll through instagram because there was no way in hell he thought he was talking to her like that.

" yea you too bitch" the man spat stepping directly in front of annie.

"who tf you talking to???" anieka looked up irritation seeping back into her blood just as quickly as it had left.

"you was the one swinging on my girl so wassup. keep that energy with me!"

"nigga fuck you! grown ass man arguing with women. find you something safe to do for real!!" annie said back to him, accent coming out stronger now that he had took her there.

while they were arguing, smoke turned the corner to the club on one wheel. base booming as he parked on the curb beside the building entrance. he hopped out swiftly when he caught sight of some nigga standing in his girl's face.

the man didn't get a chance to respond as smoke shoulder checked people to move through the crowd forming quickly around them.

"ima tell you one time to back up out her face." he said voice level despite how mad he was.

aneika knew this was the wrong time but seeing her man handle shit does something to her.

"or what" the man said with a fake air of confidence. smoke could see straight past the bravado he was trying to display. elijah was never one to do too much talking.

next thing annie knew, smoke's fist crashed into the dude's jaw. he didn't stop when he heard the cracking noise. eli kept punching even when the dude hit the ground. aneika's man was just like her for real.

"smoke stop and come on. before they call the police on yo crazy ass!!" she said trying to pull smoke off the man who was starting to lose consciousness. he ignored her at first. the man thought it was cool to talk to women any kind of way. especially elijah's. smoke didn't think he had learned his lesson just yet.

the man lay slumped on the concrete. blood staining his cheap white tee when eli let go finally, kicking the man one last time. he just wanted to be a lil extra. he turned around gripping annie's face in his hands.

"you good mama?" his eyes searched her face top to bottom looking for anything out of place.

she giggled still kind of adrenaline high and tipsy from all the lemon drops.

"yea i'm good. this been one crazy night man. " she laughed again.

"what you laughing for? you know damn well you not supposed to be out here fighting and shit" smoke scowled at her. he wasn't really angry at her, more so at the danger that could have took place if he hadn't showed up.

"babyyyyy. they were messing with asia and you know i was not letting that shit slide. that's my bitch. " aneika shrugged her shoulders, she didn't see anything wrong with her actions.

"if asia went to jail were you going too?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"you don't remember freshman year of college babe? been there done that." annie looked up at him goofily.

The first time Annie Love had heard Smoke Moore’s name was when she heard her aunties and older cousins talking about how his daddy went missing and he and his twin brother up and joined the army to fight in the war. 

“They send our boys over there to fight for freedom and they come back here with half they minds and no way to get ahead.” Little Annie listened to her aunt Nadine start to “preachin’ equality” as her grandmama would say. 

At that age, Annie was keen on listening to adults speak but was also keen on not asking questions like why Smoke Moore and his brother didn’t stay to find their daddy who folks said had gone missing. She knew when to stay in a child’s place.

The second time she heard Smoke Moore’s name was when him and his brother, Stack came back to Clarksdale to open a juke joint with a gambling room in it. Soon, it became notorious for gambling, fighting, and drunkards performing on stage. Still, folks packed out the house every Friday and Saturday night allowing the Moore brothers to rack up quick cash or debts owed to them by men who didn’t know when to walk away. And from what Annie heard, they always collected on their debts no matter what.

DeLaurine Love forbade any of her children, their partners, or her grandchildren from stepping foot in it. Especially fifteen-year-old Annie who she tried to keep close to her at all times.

“If ya wanna lose ya money, the river open all day and night for you to toss ya coins in. If ya wanna lose ya soul, you jus gotta forget why the good Lord wake us up everyday. If ya wanna lose both, you step foot in a juke joint.” The words were etched in Annie’s brain as she heard her sister, Jeanie, and her friend, Pearline, talk about sneaking into different joints so Pearline could sing the blues. They’d tell her about everything that happened, sharing jokes and looks that made Annie feel left out.

It didn’t take long before Annie started thinking of ways to get into one. It wasn’t about losing her soul or forgetting the lessons that Big Mama taught her. She just wanted to hear the Blues and maybe spend some time with Horace Jones, Jr. who had been giving her sweets when she was in town to help her mama deliver salves, balms, herbs, and oils to the folks that were too sick to come out to their shack. Horace’s daddy owned a blues lounge not far from her family’s land and she could easily ride her bike through the woods and be there in no time.

Jeanie had the good luck of living with their mama in a small house on their family’s land so she could sneak out through her window and climb back in without any trouble. Annie, however, had to stay in the big house with Big Mama, her aunt Helen, and her cousin Francine and her room was on the second floor. Sneaking out would have to happen when everyone was sleeping deep enough not to hear the creak of the floors or the stairs as she crept to the back door in the kitchen that was hard for her to yank open sometimes because the wood expanded in the Mississippi heat.

So instead of going through the trouble of doing all of that just to feel the sting of Big Mama’s wooden spoon, Annie cried to her mama about how much she wanted to stay with Jeanie. “Ain’ nobody to talk to in the big house, Mama, and Jeanie said she’ll do my hair for the church picnic this weekend. You gone ask Big Mama if I can stay with you tonight?”

There was hardly a time Marceline could remember when she didn’t give in to the pleading brown eyes of her youngest child. “Chiiiiile, them pretty eyes ain’t gone always get you what you want from me.” She winked at Annie while continuing her work of grinding together fresh herbs. “I’ll ask her but you know how she is ‘bout you. Woulda thought she brought you in this world and not me.” There was some resentment from Marceline after her mother decided unilaterally to move Annie to the big house when she was almost hurt at seven-years-old. 

Arguing with DeLaurine often proved futile as her mother controlled everything that went on in their family and a lot of what went on in Clarksdale. In the end, Marcy watched as her baby girl was taken to the big house and missed no opportunity to hold her and sing to her when they had a chance to be together. She at least got her mother to agree to let Annie work with her in the healing shack when she turned twelve.

When she approached Big Mama, Marcy had to gather all her courage and remind herself that she was not a little girl anymore. Though the older woman hardly reached her shoulders, her presence could make grown men cower and Marcy had seen it for herself. 

“Mama, Annie gone stay with me tonight.” She had grown tired of asking her mother’s permission to spend time with her own child. “Jeanie gone do her hair for the church picnic and I’m gone fit her for a new dress I’m makin’ her.” She pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag being sure not to blow the smoke towards her mother.

Big Mama tsked at her eldest daughter. “Ain’ sound like nothin’ y’all can’t do over here, Marcy. You can fit her here and send Jeanie over later.” The silver hair framing her face shifted as if the wind was blowing, but every leaf on the trees around them were at a standstill. Her eyes, the same ones she passed down to Marcy and Annie, narrowed as if she dared her to disagree.

“I wasn’t askin’, Mama. Annie gone stay with me tonight.” She took another puff of her cigarette and watched as the smoke hovered between them with no wind to carry it away.

Big Mama put one fist on her hip and pointed a finger at Marcy. “If my Annie come back to me with one scratch on her, Marcy, it’s gone take everybody in Clarksdale and all up and down the Mississippi to get me off you. You know why I keep her close to me.” She put her finger down and walked away unable to continue with the conversation.

That night, after Marcy had went to sleep, Jeanie and Annie climbed out their bedroom window and rode their bikes through the woods for Annie’s first time in a blues bar and kissing a boy. Horace Jones, Jr. occupied most of Annie’s mental space after that night. They made it home to find that their mother was still asleep. Jeanie curled Annie’s hair and put it in rollers before she woke up.

Though these nights weren’t frequent, they continued as the girls grew older with Pearline joining them. Even after Horace Jones, Jr. went away to study law at Morehouse in Georgia, Annie still loved sneaking to his daddy’s club and feeling the music move through her. 

Once Jeanie graduated high school, she applied for a nursing program at Tuskegee University. “I won’t be gone that long, lil Annie.” Jeanie tried to soothe her little sister who stood taller than her these days. “When I come back, you’ll be old enough and I can take you to a proper juke joint without Big Mama fussin’ so much. And be careful with that sneakin’ out at night. Neither you nor Pearly know them woods enough to be in ‘em too much.” With that Jeanie kissed her forehead and smiled sadly at her.

Watching the buildings of Tuskegee disappear through watery eyes, Annie knew she was experiencing her first heartbreak. Back home, she missed Jeanie so deeply, she hated the thought of listening to the blues without her. She made sure to write her every week but the ache of not being able to run to her sister after she was done with her work for the day made Annie just sit out on the front porch of the big house sewing pieces of fabric together for the quilts her and aunt Helen would make for the winter.

She still had her older cousins, Francine and Mamie, to keep her company sometimes but they were usually working. Fran spent her days in the slaughterhouse, a job delegated to her by Big Mama. Mamie had not too long married the only colored doctor in the Delta and worked as the only nurse in his busy clinic.

“Annie, you done made quick work of these scraps here,” Big Mama stepped out on the porch and joined her favorite grandchild. “You ain’t wanna take a break sometime soon before ya fingers fall off?” Her eyes softened when she noticed Annie’s sullen expression.

Not looking up, Annie continued to push the needle through and pull the thread through the fabric, her movements careful and precise. “Just tryin not to fall behind. Aunt Helen say a lot of folks gone need quilts come October.” 

Something about this moment broke DeLaurine’s heart. She realized the mistakes she made with her own children that led them into the arms of danger and deceit. Nothing was going to stop her from protecting her grandchildren. Fran, Mamie, Jeanie, and Annie were all kept under Big Mama’s watchful eye, never going too far or staying out too long. She could only pray that her other grandkids in Chicago and Detroit wouldn’t be led astray by wayward souls looking to suck the life out of them. 

In a rare moment of reflection, guilt dug at her as she realized that maybe she sheltered them too much. Specifically seventeen-year-old Annie who should be doing a little bit more than sewing quilts. It was safe but it wasn’t life and DeLaurine knew she had to let the girl live and learn a little bit more before she was out in the world with no understanding of how to handle herself.

“I’m gone go to Memphis this weekend. Think it’d be fun if you and Fran join me. We can go get some new dresses. You can’t just sit on this porch ’til Jeanie come back.” 

Annie perked up at the sound of getting away from Clarksdale for a bit. Having only been to Memphis a few times, she could hardly contain her excitement at having a change of view. She threw her sewing down into the basket at her feet before jumping up and doing a little dance. She stopped as a thought came to her. “Can my mama come, please?” If she couldn’t have Jeanie with her, she wanted her mama closer.

The smile on Big Mama’s face faltered but she nodded mutely unable to think of a reason to keep her daughter away.

The trip to Memphis was a success as Annie was spoiled by her grandma to make up for the absence of her sister. In all, Annie didn’t just get one dress, she got three that she felt made her look like a proper woman from the city.

Marcy, never one to hold back about how her mother tried to placate Annie instead of owning up to how she was stunting her development, frowned at the amount of money they were spending. “Now you get her these new dresses and you ain’t gone let her wear ‘em out.”

“Marceline!” Big Mama warned cutting her eyes at her daughter and during her lips. “This ain’t time for all that right now.” Annie was trying on a pair of shoes in the back of the store.

“I’m just sayin, Mama.” Marcy shrugged. “The girl will be grown next year and she ain’t never get to see what life really like wit you spoilin’ her every time she get sad.”

All three of them put on their widest smiles when Annie walked back up front to show them the shoes she wanted. 

The drive home was silent as Annie laid her head in her mama’s lap and drifted off while Marcy massaged her scalp and hummed to her. She dreamed she was running through a smoke-filled wood.

77777777777

A/N: I'm not satisfied with the other fics I'm working on. I keep wanting to change things and I'm just ending up in a circle so I'm revisiting some stuff to see what sticks.

Tagsssss:::

yes they did consummate the marriage annie’s first night in smoke’s home!

they’re both 23

smoke’s definitely not a virgin. and i think since annie’s parents are very hard on her to be perfect, she comes off as a goody goody but she’s done sexual things before

i responded in a comment about this, but annie’s father does win his election, and from there the two of them are just trying to maneuver around the expectations of their parents. they want to be their own people and experience life on their own terms. so smoke starts an repair and modification business in the automotive industry. annie wants to do something smaller, more local and meaningful for the everyday person (she has a lot of guilt surrounding the privilege she had growing up, but she’s working on it). so she spends her time volunteering and supporting her community where she can—very much goody goody lol.

despite their parents (and stack) being on them about having children, they don’t really consider it until they’re 26. smoke kept his word and they bought a home perfect for both of them and the family they wanted.

they had their first baby at age 28, and then annie was poppin em out every couple of years after that lmaoo.

they have five babies~~~

She needed this.

This moment alone after her shitty day at work. This time to herself after putting up with Smoke acting like he could run shit. This was her damn house that she took care of. Fuck it if Elijah fronted a few bills. He only did it because he was a control freak. But this was Annie’s house, her business, and she needed this.

That morning, she realized she was out of coffee creamer after the pot had already been made, and Annie needed a perfect, homemade cup of coffee with her hazelnut creamer to start her day right. Then, her pantyhose ripped on the way out the door, and she hadn’t shaved in weeks, so it was between wearing shitty ass tights to the office or hairy ass legs. Then, she remembered that she was supposed to leave early that day because she needed gas, and since Smoke had been acting like he ran her life, she decided today would be the day she wanted to be an independent woman and pump her own gas. Then, when she showed up to work, inevitably late, her boss was standing near her desk with a stack of folders that took her all damn day to sort through. There’d been no lunch. No break. No chance to call her man.

So how could anyone blame her?

She needed this, damnit.

Over the years, Annie had found that when life was doing her in, the best way to fix it was to either manifest and set some intentions or to orgasm. She’d been doing the first thing often enough, and though the latter half of her day had settled some, there was a lingering frustration that needed to be overcome.

And her man wasn’t there to fix it because he had his own life, and his own house, and his own shit to do.

Reaching over into her side table drawer, she pulled out their vibrator. It was cute and petite and an electric blue because when Smoke had chosen it out of the sea of other toys, he’d commented that it looked “tough” (He meant to say that it would look good settled between her thighs and pussy lips as he used it to tease her later that day—but he was too shy in the environment to admit it). Annie twirled it in her hand, contemplating her next move. Smoke had put rules and regulations on their vibrator like he was the damn FDA, and the most important rule was that she couldn’t use it without him.

When she’d heard it, disbelief had entered her system. Who was he to be demanding shit? Who was he to be calling shots like that? He knew how sexual Annie was and how important an orgasm and pleasure could be. But Smoke saw that electric blue vibrator as theirs. It was theirs to explore with, theirs to use together. So if he wasn’t in her home and on her bed, Annie was not to be permitted access to it.

But this was her damn house. The house she made a home. The house she would have paid every bill for if her man wasn’t such a damn control freak.

When the vibrator hit her clit, a bolt of energy ran through her. All throughout her body, her muscles tightened, and a sharp gasp parted her lips. When Smoke would use it on her, he'd start all slow and shit, dragging it through her folds on the lowest setting just to piss her off. But Annie didn't want to be teased right now. She wanted release and pleasure as quickly and as easily as possible. Knees wide open, feet pressed into the bed, and head thrown back, she felt every ounce of the day begin to wash off of her. She started to forget all about the coffee and the pantyhose and the gas and being late and her boss and all those stupid folders. The only thing she cared about was how good her body felt right now and how quickly she was about to tumble over the edge.

~~~~~

When he stepped foot into her home, nothing seemed too out of place. He placed his keys in the dish and shrugged his jacket off. He removed his shoes and set them right beside the haphazardly-placed heels she had worn to work.

Smoke hadn’t heard from his girlfriend since that morning, but if he knew anything about her, the text saying she was out of her favorite hazelnut creamer was the perfect set up for an awful day. He’d already been at work himself, so he couldn’t save her, but he made sure to buy her a fresh bottle as soon as he could. Settling the creamer in the fridge, Smoke went in search of his girlfriend. He wasn’t the type to call out for her because she was the type to only be in one of two places: the living room or the back patio. And when both of those places came up missing, his attention was sparked.

It was like his body tuned in to find her. His ears perked up at every shuffle and buzz. His feet tingled with every vibration.

“I know she better not,” the man mumbled under his breath, gritting his teeth and already in motion toward her bedroom. He kept his steps light no matter how much he wanted to stomp. He needed to see this. He needed to look upon her wrongdoing.

The closer he got to her open bedroom door, the more her sweet moans filled his ears. He could tell she was exhausted by the whine that accompanied her cries of pleasure, and even though he wanted to halt her when he saw their—his—electric blue vibrator, he refrained. Shoulder pressed into the doorframe, he analyzed the roll of her hips and how her jaw dropped open when she shifted the toy upwards. He marveled at the sheen covering her body and how she went harder than he normally would.

He could tell she was chasing it, and as much as he hated it, he knew she probably needed this. Annie was a woman of order—after his own heart. She had systems. Procedures. Those misplaced heels at the door had been one sign that she was losing it, and her work attire which was tossed in piles on the floor and across a chair was another. He hated how much he knew she needed this, but he kept quiet and sat back watching the show nonetheless.

~~~~~

Her need had turned carnal.

She craved it. That release. That pleasure. That succumbing to her own body and crumbling as the result of her own efforts.

She’d been holding the toy in place, but now she was growing more courageous. She attempted to move and her body thanked her by releasing a tremble up her spine—encouragement that allowed her the peace of mind to circle her clit. She did it quickly, completely uncaring because if she was going to have this, she wanted it now.

Nails piercing the fabric of her sheets and feet grounding her in place, Annie felt herself tipping gloriously over the edge of her desire. Her body trembled. Her thighs ached, but that meant nothing because she was getting what she deserved after a long ass day where nothing went as planned. Bright color filled her eyes and her chest practically lifted into the air as she came with the vibrator between her legs, pressed right up against her clit.

And when she turned it off and the last buzz rang out softly in the dense air, her heart sank.

She was finally able to pay attention to her surroundings again, finally about to care, and the first thing she noticed was his cologne. Strong. Teak. Spice. It was his signature scent, and Annie could pick him out in a line up of men with her eyes closed—and she realized then that her eyes were closed. She was afraid to open them, afraid of the jumpscare that would be an angry Elijah upon seeing their—his—vibrator where it didn’t belong without his permission.

But, shit, this was her house and her bed and her pussy and her bad day. She could do whatever the fuck she wanted. Yeah—so believable.

There he stood: shoulders filling out the doorframe, eyebrows set in a scowl, jaw working in an effort to calm himself down.

As scared as she was, as regretful as she was, Annie could never deny the fact that her man was sexy as fuck. He was all shoulders and unsettling disposition, and that was the biggest turn on for a bitch with a bad day. Where her body had previously calmed down from the height of her orgasm, deciding that the awfulness of today had been rid from her, she was sparked again by greed to be taken care of by her Elijah. This was her bad day, and she should be receiving treatment from all sides.

“Hey, baby,” Annie breathed, shaky and sultry at the same time. She attempted a smile and her best and brightest soft eyes, but he wasn’t giving in.

“Put it down,” Smoke huffed, stepping one foot into the room. He had to gain control quick because Annie thrived off doing the exact opposite of what she was told. Her pout grew deeper and her finger moved back toward the button on the underside of the toy. She needed it. Turning it on and yelping from the vibrations that ran through her oversensitive body, she tried again to get her way.

“But, ‘Lijah—”

“I said put it down, Annie,” he interrupted, reaching for her wrist, but contrary to the response he hoped to gain, Annie moaned. Right in front of his face like she hadn't been properly touched or taken care of in ages. And that's truly how she felt inside her body. She watched her man scrunch his face in confusion and disbelief, rubbing the vibrator against her cunt as the feeling of Smoke's heavy breath brought her to the edge again.

“You in big trouble, baby girl,” he gritted, looking down at her, lust quickly clouding his eyes. His hand reached for her waist, but he didn't make her stop.

Got 'im, Annie thought, throwing her neck back in silent, wicked laughter when he began to kiss her pulse point. Her stomach curled deliciously, and even though she'd just cum, she felt like she could go for the rest of the night.

"Just give me what the fuck I want," she grumbled in his ear. Teeth marked her skin in response, keeping the memory of him on her body, and she laughed lowly from her throat. "Come on, baby," she coaxed, hips rutting against the vibrator and his left thigh. "Take care of what's yours, Daddy." The plea left her mouth raw. Her climax was near, desire at an all-time high. It was just in her reach, and just as her pussy clenched around nothing, Elijah sharply pulled the toy away from her.

Annie trembled against the sheets, orgasm ruined in a way that left her fluttering in disappoint. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, and before she knew it, her head was turning away from her man's face.

"Turn over," Smoke bellowed, wrecked in his own unique way.

"Fuck you," she croaked, too concerned with the view of him putting the toy far out of her reach. She writhed in the sheets, throwing a fit at him ruining this for her. "The fuck you even doin' over here? Don't you got a house or business to tend to or something? Always in my fuckin' face." Every word was laced with annoyance. She was pissed, angry, livid, because her bad day was just getting worse and worse. Now she was in trouble and her orgasm had been stolen and she was having a horrible day.

"I know yo' morning started off bad or whatever," Smoke deadpanned, "but you ain't finna talk to me like you ain't got no fuckin' sense. Now turn that ass over."

Huffing and groaning—like she ain't want it when she really, really did—Annie assumed the position. Smoke enunciated each word to make sure she heard him good and clear, and the woman could tell that even though punishment was coming her way, he was also working to soothe her and alleviate all pain because he understood.

"You know better, baby girl," the man roared, hand coming down to rain hits upon her ass. Gasping, she grabbed ahold of a pillow, stuffing her face in it to hide her moans. "You don't touch my shit when I ain't here," he growled. "This my pussy, and that's my damn toy. But since you had such a bad day and you obviously ain't thinking straight, I'll go easy on you."

"Please, Daddy," she moaned, pressing her ass back into his hand. One spank landed on the back of her thighs far too close to her pussy for her to hold it in any longer. She rattled off every thing she needed done to her. She needed to be put in her place, needed to be reminded that she was his, needed to remember why it was important to listen to what she was told.

~~~~~

When it came to Annie, Smoke grew soft. It was something she had teased him about early on in their relationship because no matter how much she pissed him off, he was always going to give her whatever she wanted. She commanded his attention with ease, and how can you blame him when she pled with such a pretty, whiny voice; when she batted her eyelashes and apologized for doing what she shouldn't have?

They'd end up in this position again—with her not listening and doing something she had no business doing—but for now, he was giving in, letting her have it, and showing her just the type of rough nigga he could be—because she'd asked.

Each thrust of his hips felt like an ambush, stealing her breath, looting her ability to do anything other than cry out his name. He smacked her ass with each stroke, and when she recoiled against his pelvis, he couldn't help what happened next. Leaning into her, he pressed the arch of her back further into the bed, stuffing her face into her emotional support pillow.

His thrusts sped up, and his words came out wet and reckless.

"This my shit," he slurred, sweat dripping from the tip of his nose. "This my damn pussy and you gon' listen to what the fuck I got to say."

"Y-yes, Daddy," Annie stammered, clawing herself up the bed.

"Fuck you think you goin'," Smoke questioned warningly, dragging her impossibly closer to him.

"Nowhere," she avowed. "I swear I-I ain't goin' nowhere!" The woman begged for forgiveness and appealed for mercy, but all she wanted was for him to go harder, stronger, rougher. She needed it to help her forget what had occurred up until this point. The only thing she needed to remember about today is that she had wound up with her face down and ass up with her nigga fucking her into the mattress. The more he tightened his hold on her hips, the closer she got to that glorious restructuring of her brain.

Fucked out of her mind is what Elijah called it, fucked silly and without a single care in the world.

So close.

Almost to the tipping point.

When Smoke reached over to retrieve the vibrator once more, he knew this would be the thing to successfully rid her mind of any thoughts. He pressed it into her folds, rubbed her clit, held it there until she was stuttering all the while making sure that his strokes stayed consistent and that she couldn't possibly want for more.

"Imma cum, Daddy," she thundered. Tears fell down her face, darkening the cloth of the pillow, and the man knew then that she was ready.

"Cum for me baby girl," he permitted, and as she broke apart, he held her through her fall, succumbing soon after.

~~~~~

Sheets changed, bodies clean, and clothed in soft fabric, Annie clung to Smoke's body, seeking refugee in his hardiness. He stroked up and down the length of her back, and she slipped further and further into him.

"I bought you creamer," Elijah admitted softly. His eyes that had been on the ceiling took in the woman's face. A glorious calm had settled into her features but her eyes looked appreciative because he understood. He cared.

"Thank you," she whispered, cuddling closer into his warmth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

word count: ~2,800

a/n: i hope you enjoyeddd

taglist: comment HERE to be added!

📍Emiliano Hotel Rio 📍

Smoke grabbed a water bottle and exited through the glass doors of the serene gym, taking full advantage of being the only person inside of the facility before making his way to the hotel lobby. It was almost noon and the receptionist area was its usual busy.

Filled with people checking out, some unsuccessfully trying to check in early, and the driveway near the front entrance was overloaded with Ubers and chauffeurs. A slim young woman with tanned skin and jet black hair stood proudly behind the large front desk as she held the phone to her ear. She made eye contact with him immediately and gestured for him to come near her. Her name was Alice. She’d started working at the hotel right around the same time that Elijah first became a guest. In fact, he was her very first customer on her first ever solo shift.

She ended her phone call.

“Mr. Moore, good morning and welcome back.” Her English was the best in the entire hotel.

“Mornin’.” he nodded. “Can I get more towels?”

“Of course.” She motioned towards the back office but quickly returned back to the desk. “Or do you prefer someone brings them to you?”

He shook his head. “Naw. I’ll take ‘em now.”

Alice came around the desk to give Smoke damn near all of the clean towels in the hotel. “Oh and Mr. Moore, your guest…. She- uhm. Left. We tried to get her a car but she declined.”

📍JW Marriot Rio📍

Annie attempted to sneak back into her hotel room. If she knew her girls like she thought she did, they’d either be dead asleep until late afternoon or would be out sightseeing. Or at brunch as mentioned to her last night while she laid in Elijah’s bed. There was no in between with them. Or so she thought. The heavy door creaked open to expose each of the women partially clothed as they hurriedly walked back and forth from their shared bedroom to the living area. Their perfumes filled the air as the playlist shuffled to the next song. Cardi.

Tisha was the first to notice Annie’s arrival. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat drug back in here…by her cat.” She snickered.

Before Annie even had the opportunity to respond, her cellphone vibrated in her hand back to back indicating several sporadic messages had been delivered.

She knew exactly who it was.

Back at his suite, Elijah walked into the room like a mad man on a mission, his gait wide. He had to see it for himself-that she lied to his face then left.

Her sandals were gone, the toiletries that she had used had been neatly disposed of in the nearby garbage bin, and her side of his bed was made up with the comforter in place and the pillows fluffed.

As if she hadn’t been there at all.

Elijah: Tell your uber driver to bring you back here to me now.

Elijah: Annie

Elijah: Ya mouth don’t work? If you wanted to leave me I coulda had you brought back myself safe and sound

Annie: I ain’t your child Elijah.

Elijah: You acting like one rn

Annie briefly glossed over his messages before sending a two worded reply.

And even though they barely knew one another outside of the sounds of each other cumming, she knew for sure this would drive him crazy, just as he was driving her crazy right now.

Her stomach nosily gurgled and flipped for the fourth time in an hour accompanied by a bit of nausea. Surely Elijah’s tantrum wasn’t helping one bit.

Annie: I’m busy.

That was it. No emoji. No nothing.

He was doing too much and her annoyance with him threatened to form again. All she wanted was a warm shower and the bed in her room that she barely had the chance to sleep in since her arrival into the country. Tisha and Kym followed Annie into the bedroom in a single file line before plopping themselves onto the wrinkled bed while Annie made her way to the bathroom to turn on the shower.

This bathroom certainly wasn’t anything like the one she was in last night.

“Soooo. How was it?!” They asked impatiently.

She refused to meet their eyes. “It was good.”

Kym sat on the edge of the bed, practically salivating for a crumb of information.

“Good like you need dat’ again or good as in you woulda rather stay here with us?”

Annie slowly padded over to her suitcase to retrieve a new pair of panties and a bed shirt.

Tisha intercepted. “You see that walk? It was good.”

All the of the women laughed and Annie? She didn’t deny it. She hadn’t noticed that she was walking around like a newborn baby giraffe.

The two girls extracted themselves from the bed and made their way to the dining area of the connecting rooms.

“We gone need more details lata’ but we goin’ to get some lunch and to see the statue right now. You comin’?”

Annie declined because the toilet was calling her. “No, thank ya. Not right now.”

She must’ve ate something bad last night and now she was paying for it.

She silently flipped through the tv channels and scrolled her ipad as she tried to get comfortable in the bed. She tried to lay on her side, her back, and then her stomach to no avail.

As a last resort, she sat up with her back against the headboard.

The women on the tv screen giggled in between Portuguese words as they applied makeup to the model’s face.

Both her iphone and ipad rang at the same time indicating another call from Elijah, which Annie declined again but instead opted to reply with a text instead.

Annie: Elijah please. Not right now. I don’t feel well. 🤢

He was standing at the bathroom sink, freshly showered when her response came through. The man’s features softened at that declaration. He wanted nothing more than to hear her voice right now.

Smoke: What you need?

Annie: Sleep…

Smoke: You need me?

He was hoping she’d say yes. He needed her to.

Annie: Yeah.

She dropped her location without any hesitation this time, fully ready for whatever version of Elijah that she’d get this time.

Smoke: Omw

Annie read the message and turned over, hoping to get a quick nap in before his arrival but her stomach had other plans. She barely made it to the toilet this time. Vomit covering the bathroom floor.

To make matters worse, her mom was calling for their evening check in.

Annie knew the woman just as well as she knew Annie. If the phone wasn’t picked up soon, it wouldn’t end well.

With vomit still on her chin, she walked over to the bedroom to text Ms. Josephine that she’d call her back later, providing no further explanation.

Smoke’s phone number appeared on the screen shortly after.

“Yeah?” She sounded groggy and Elijah noticed it immediately. He looked around the dated lobby as if Annie would materialize right in front of him.

“What’s your room number, mama?”

She needed yet another shower.

“712. The door is unlocked. I needa bath.” She hung up the call before he could say anything further.

Unbeknownst to Annie, Smoke had been keeping score. Every lie, every declined call, every time she tried to run and every smart remark. And he had every intent to make her answer for it but today wouldn’t be that day.

He walked into the suite with his hands filled with a ginger ale and a box of Plasil, Brazil’s version of Pepto, and followed the sounds of the shower.

—————————————————————————

Annie lay across the man’s chest with her hand over his heartbeat as she went in and out of consciousness with Smoke almost following in her steps… Until her phone rang again. It was her mother…again.

“Just give it hea’.” Her voice laced with sleep and safety. He handed her the phone.

She asked how Annie and the girls were and reminded her daughter to drink a glass of flour water for her upset stomach as Smoke trailed his hands up and down her back. “Mama, I have to go.”

The woman loosened the reigns for a bit.

“Alright. You be careful out there. Yo’ auntie gone go and check on your house a lil’ later. Where your spare key at?”

Annie cleared her throat. “The spare key is in the mailbox or on top of the door. I don’t really remember right now.”

They said their I love yous and ended the call.

“You shouldn’t leave yo’ spare keys out like that. It’s dangerous.” Elijah said into the darkness of the cold hotel room.

She rolled her eyes before getting impossibly closer to him in which he happily obliged and made more room for her. “Not right now.” She whispered then her light snoring resumed.

————————————————————————-

The morning of their departure was supposed to be smooth. They woke up at 3am to head to nearby Ipanema Beach to watch the sun rise over Rio and had a breakfast picnic in the sand before returning back to the room.

All three women were packed and ready to go home but they were left confused when an error message appeared on the screen of Annie’s iPad when she tried to check them in for their upcoming flight.

Check in must be completed at the airport. Strange. They had no problems checking in on the way here.

A few short knocks strummed against the wooden door. Once receiving permission to enter, two of the bellboys began loading up their luggage.

Annie was doing one more quick sweep of their bedrooms to ensure nothing was forgotten when Tisha came in with Annie’s phone in hand. “Here. It was ringing.”

Three missed calls from Elijah.

She made a mental note to call him back later from the airport once she got settled.

Kym and Tisha headed to the front desk to close out their final bill while Annie walked out with the bellboys and over to the awaiting Mercedes Van that Smoke booked for them.

Inside, they were welcomed with premium bottled waters, champagne, and Brazilian chips. The van was stocked to feed a family of four for days even though the ride to Riogaleão International Airport was a little over thirty minutes.

“I ain’t even gon’ hold ya’ll. It’s been fun but I miss my own bed.” Kym blurted out as she looked out of the window to observe the other cars passing by in traffic. The other two ladies nodded in agreement.

At the airport, the check in lines were long.

Long enough that each woman took a turn being a placeholder in line until they got close enough to the desk.

This is what they hoped to avoid and why they wanted to check in online.

Plus, they weren’t looking forward to the nine hour trek back to Atlanta and then the two hour flight back home to New Orleans in those small ass seats that didn’t feel very “premium economy.”

Annie specifically wasn’t ready because she still wasn’t over her bout of food poisoning.

“Next.” The young man at the desk called out, first in Portuguese and then in English.

Annie approached the counter while the other two ladies stayed behind.

She pulled out her phone and opened up the translation app to speak directly into the mic. “Hello. Good afternoon. Can we have your help checking in?” She handed her phone to him and through the reflection of his glasses, she saw him reading each word.

The agent smiled as he handed her three boarding passes. He took a blue ink pen from his jacket pocket and circled all three seat assignments.

2A, 2C, and 2D. Right next to the listed seat assignments, the class of service also read “Business.”

Annie shook her head in disbelief and tried to tell the man it was a mistake.

An older woman with jet black hair and glossy lips appeared. Her uniform was slightly different than the others around her indicating that she was either from a different department or that she was a manager of some sort.

“Hello, Miss.” Her English was perfect.

She continued. “These are your new seats. Please enjoy your flight.” The manager motioned towards the exit of the line as the other workers began grabbing all of the women’s luggage to tag them before dropping them onto the carousel.

“But we didn’t pay for these seats.”

“Someone did. You were upgraded last night.” She showed the purchase receipt to Annie. $1800 per ticket to upgrade. That’s when it clicked. Elijah.

How?

Kym and Tisha looked over in confusion at what was taking so long. At the very least, they were hoping their flight home wasn’t canceled but they had no idea it’d be this instead.

First Class looked great on the women, with Annie taking the window seat for a bit more privacy and the others grabbing the duo seats in the middle.

As if he’d known exactly when her ass would touch the seat, Smoke called her again but this time she picked up. But he had known when she and the girls would arrive to the airport because he still had her location for now.

“Thank you.” She whispered softly as the flight attendant handed her a warm towel.

She heard the tv in the background mixed in with the sounds of his grunts.

He was working out again. “You’re welcome.” He eased the dumbbells to his side to pause for a sip of water. “How you feelin’?”

“I’ma be okay.” Annie hummed. “How are you?” She shot the question back to him.

“Good. Now that you answered my call.”

The woman sighed. “Don’t do that. Like I don’t answer for you.”

“You don’t.” He confirmed and left no room for her rebuttal.

Annie reached over to plug her phone charger into the port and then bent down to look inside of her duffle bag for a snack. She found a pack of crackers. “So what happens now?”

This is the part she needed to know.

“We continue doing what we do. That’s all there is to it.” He stated plainly.

The American basketball game he had playing on his other phone temporarily grabbed his attention.

“Elijah, you live in another state.”

She heard the gym weights slam down harder than he intended, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

She was running from him again. “The fuck that mean?”

“It means…” She repeated mockingly.

“You far away.”

He resumed his workout while he kept her on speakerphone. “I ain’t that far away.”

If only she knew.

“Ladies and gentlemen. The boarding door is now closed. We will begin takeoff shortly.” The flight attendant announced as the safety video began playing on every screen and the seatbelt sign turned on.

The woman shook her head in uncertainty. Over the last couple of days of getting to know him, she observed that Smoke seemed to be sure about a lot of things and though she didn’t doubt his ability, she didn’t understand how they would make things work almost three hours apart from each other.

“ ‘Lijah, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Tisha waited until the coast was clear. “Girrrlll. He on ya’ bad. Straight pressure. What you gone do?”

“Ion know, Tish. He live in Mississippi. I work a lot and it look like he work a lot, too.” She sighed. “He prolly ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ serious. You know like I know niggas sell dreams on vacation.”

“Annie, nobody sayin’ ya’ll gotta get married tomorrow but Jackson is only two and a half hours away. And yes, these niggas sell dreams but just think about it.”

And that she did. The entire length of the flight.

——————————————————————————

It’s been two weeks since Brazil, three days since the last time she’d picked up one of Smoke’s calls, even though he’d called her just this morning and twelve hours since she stopped sharing her location with him. Now, she sat alone in her empty classroom on her iPad as she scrolled mindlessly. Two gentle knocks appeared on her classroom door. “Come in.” She continued to scroll at her decorated desk. The slim man waltzed into the room as his locs bounced with every step taken.

In walks in Quincy or “Coach Q” as he is more affectionately known amongst their mutual young students. Quincy was thirty one years old from Houston, slim build, dark skin with mid back length locs and the prettiest white teeth. He possessed a soft spot for Annie and everyone knew it… except her.

“You hidin’ in here? They got pizza in the break-room ‘taday.” He grinned down at her under low lashes. She was still occupied so her doe eyes remained on the screen before her. The man tried a different angle. “Hey, my mama tried your praline candy recipe and I need your approval.” That grabbed her attention. “It’s called Pecan Candy, Q.”

A small dry giggle that held no weight escaped her. “Only white folk say praline candy.”

Quincy threw both hands up in a mock surrender. “Ok ok. Pecan candy but I can’t say it in your accent tho.” He continued.

“Maybe I can bring you some.” He let the words linger in the air between them for a bit.

Quincy and Annie were friendly. Friendly and acquainted enough to where she’d be comfortable with him in many settings.

She locked her iPad and proceeded to stand up. Student lunch would be ending soon and she had to go and get her kids.

“I guess you can bring me a few pieces to try when she make ‘em. I’ma send you my address.”

Quincy stepped out of her pathway to grant her more space which allowed her to walk in front of him as he watched her ass move.

“I look forward to it.”

📍Smoke & Go Shell Gas Station 📍

Elijah sat in the luxurious black office chair as he counted the day’s deposit. This was his last stop before driving back to Jackson through the pouring rain tonight. The door chime sounded off as a group of customers walked in one by one. He studied them on the office camera while also watching his employee,

JJ, greet the young family who had an antsy in toddler in tow. Smoke picked up his cracked iPhone to check for one thing and one thing only. Still nothing from her.

Only one text message from Nia whose number was saved as “❌🙅🏽‍♂️” because she couldn’t leave well enough alone. Too messy for his liking. Sloppy.

Elias also texted him asking his whereabouts as if the duo didn’t share locations. After loading up the safe, Smoke looked up to find JJ laughing with more patrons as if he’d known the other younger men for years. He probably did. He knew everyone. A thought crossed his mind.

The chair spun around on his departure. “Jay, lemme talk with ya for a minute.”

The employee walked over to Smoke with a small smirk, ready for any and everything. The two men huddled into the office while keeping a watchful eye on the camera and front doors of the store.

Smoke sat back in his chair attempting to remain uneven. “You know the Celestine family?”

Elijah never spoke about anything other than business. Ever. So JJ’s interest was immediately piqued. He nodded with a familiarity as he scratched his chin.

“Yeahhhh, I know ‘dem but it’s two of ‘em. Celestines from uptown and the others over in Marrero. Who ya lookin’ fa?”

Smoke had already said too much, at least by his standards but the hardheaded woman left him no choice. Just as he pulled his phone back out to show JJ a photo of Annie, his twin brother walked in.

“Fuck ya’ll doin’ in here? Ain’t no one out front?” The admonishment came out harsher than intended and both of the men ignored him.

Smoke reluctantly showed the young employee a photo of Annie that he had sneakily taken of her on the balcony in Brazil. She was beautiful.

Her curls tied up in a white headwrap, large gold hoops, and a matching white maxi dress as she stood comfortably in Smoke’s presence. No one would be able to tell that food poisoning was whooping her ass then. JJ immediately grabbed the phone from Smoke’s large hands “Aw shiiit.” He whistled. “That’s Annie!”

Elijah’s brow furrowed in response but no words left his mouth. “I used to deal with ha friend’s lil sister back in the day. Hold on.” The man whipped out his dark blue iphone and pulled up someone’s instagram. Smoke recognized Kym, Annie’s best friend, immediately. Even saw that her most recent pinned phots were of the ladies on the beach in Brazil. JJ scrolled for a minute before smiling like a Cheshire Cat. He handed his phone to Elijah and right there on it was a post of Annie with a tagged location. The photo was taken last May when she won Teacher of The Year.

Kym’s instagram post read:

Congrats to my bestie @annecelesti3 on ur well deserved accomplishment! 🎈

📍Langston hughes Academy📍

“Ion know where she live, though.” The young man continued. This was all Elijah had needed, he would manage the rest.

“This stay in this office.” Smoke glared at the younger man.

The heavy raindrops bounced off of the windshield glass of the Denali truck. Elias’ car was in the back of him as they both headed to merge onto the highway. With a resounding sigh, he attempted to call Annie again but she didn’t pick up.

Instead, she texted.

Annie: Making me some supper. Long day. I’ll call you tomorrow.

That was it.

The large highlighted green interstate sign advised that the next exit is one mile away. With that in mind, Elijah texted the younger twin.

Elijah: Staying put for a lil’ bit. Four Seasons.Be careful.

The vehicle bounced a few times over the rugged roads and a deep pothole right before Elijah took the next exit to make a u-turn.

Elias: You too. Be back this way tomorrow

Smoke sighed as he entered his hotel suite. The days are longer when you’re the boss and every decision is yours to make. Today was one of those days where he wanted nothing more than to have Annie’s thick legs wrapped around him as he shifted her guts around. But he’d have her soon enough.

The Next Afternoon

1:42pm

Elijah sat in the driver seat of his car in the semi full school parking lot, watching the cartoonishly yellow school buses line up one by one in a procession. He parked near the side doors where he saw other staff and faculty exiting, providing him a great vantage point. Twenty minutes later, little students began walking out of the doors wearing book-bags bigger than their entire bodies. Some were walking with parents and some were being escorted by teachers and crossing guards. Inside of the quiet car, Smoke lit up a blunt with a shaky hand.

“Annie!” Someone yelled her name.

There she was. She was wearing a wide legged cheetah printed romper with a jean jacket and brown sandals. Her braids in a low bun. She looked beautiful. He tracked her as she chatted and hugged two women that he didn’t recognize.

A little girl accompanied one of the women and Elijah noticed the way her eyes never left Annie. Smoke couldn’t blame her. Jazmine had just told Annie that she was pregnant again and that Jordyn was going to be a big sister.

“Congratulations to both of ya’ll.” The high school friends hugged as Jordyn joined in. Her little patch of grey hair shining under the warm sun. After one final goodbye, the group separated with Annie making her way to her SUV and Elijah trailing her.

The tires of her SUV squeaked as they came to a sudden stop at the busy intersection. Smoke was right behind her in his car hidden behind tinted windows. He made one more attempt to call her again and this time she answered.

She was tired and he could tell by the raspiness in her voice, just like in Brazil. “Hey.”

“How you be?” Smoke inquired nonchalantly as if he wasn’t mere feet away from her car.

Annie sighed as she turned on to her street. “Tired. Long day but it’s almost Spring Break fa’ us.”

Elijah turned his vehicle with her. “When can I see you?”

She threw her car into park when she reached her driveway but Smoke kept on driving. “Soon, Elijah.”

They said their goodbyes with Annie promising to call him back tonight after she showered, but she didn’t.

The Next Night.

📍Saint Anthony St. Annie’s home.📍

The blue colored single family home sat perched at the culdesac. Her home fit her. The warm steering wheel vibrated under the man’s large hands as the sound of an incoming text buzzed through the car’s speakers.

“Yeah?” He grunted.

The younger similar voice questioned.

“You over at her house?” Silence filled the truck while his eyes remained fixated on her front porch.

Stack chuckled humoursly. “I know what that mean.” The younger twin continued on. “Fuck you gon’ do if she in there laid up with another nigga? Hm? Yo’ swole ass head think of that shit?”

For once in his life, Elias tried to be the reasonable one out of the duo but he knew Elijah. When he got like this, talking was useless but he still tried. “Nigga, you hear the words coming out of ya mouth to me? And you out there solo?”

“I’ll be aight.” Smoke ended the call.

The small porch steps whined under Elijah’s weight. It’d been hot all day and even hotter tonight. He surveilled the surroundings, specifically watching as a red Dodge Challenger inched down the quiet street. Soon enough, the car’s taillights blurred in the distance and in return, Smoke released some of the tension in his shoulders.His mind quickly flashed back to Brazil and one of the calls that Annie had taken.

“The spare key is on top of my door.” She’d instructed her mom three weeks ago as she lay next to Smoke.

Thick fingertips grazed along the colorful doorframe until he touched his target. The Louisiana heat had metal key hot to the touch before it clattered against the concrete with Smoke wasting no time picking it up. His head shook in slight annoyance because he’d told her this was unsafe, filing this away for later for the many things they’d have to discuss.

The heavy wooded front door creaked open to reveal the woman’s home. It was everything he’d pictured.

A small altar overflowing with candles, a dark brown couch with a leopard printed fleece blanket thrown across the armrest, and a couple of pairs of shoes he recalled her wearing at his hotel.

He moved through the home easily as if he’d been there before, as if he’d been invited in. As if he was just a man looking for his woman after a hard day of work. Annie’s bedroom ceiling fan powered on when Elijah flicked the switch. Her scent from hours ago lingered in the air just as it did back in Brazil and Smoke relaxed in the familiarity of it all. Currently, his attention was drawn to the overstuffed but neat, laundry hamper in the corner of her bedroom. In one fluid motion, the woman’s two day old unwashed black laced panties rested in his pocket next to his car keys.

The legs of the kitchen chair scratched against the surface of the wood flooring as Elijah took a seat. He sat patiently because he truly did have all night. And Annie? She had no idea who or what had followed her back home yet.

The March humid air felt heavier than normal once Annie exited her black Hyuandai Palisade. Slowly, she grabbed her lunch bag, her black Stanley Cup, and her large tote to head towards her front door to unlock it. Only three days. Three more days until they’d be out for Spring Break and she’d be back to lounging around her home in a moomoo with no panties. She was looking forward-

She noticed his scent first. Mahogany and amber. It invaded her space, her home unapologetically. But still… she leaned into it as if it were second nature.

Her thighs involuntarily clenching together. The woman stood frozen in her own doorway with her mind refusing to believe what her body had already confirmed.

“Elijah?” It was said in an almost whisper. Deep down, she had only hoped that her exhaustion was causing her to have an hallucination of some sort but that was hope was quickly killed once she heard movement coming from her kitchen.

Elijah neatly pushed the chair back into its place and responded on his walk out of the kitchen to her. “Yeah?” Within a few short glides, he stood in front of her and Annie just about threw everything to her floor. The man grabbed all of her things and walked over to the couch to sit the items down. She remained in place as if she was imagining all of this but deep down?

She wasn’t that shocked.

But after the week she had at work? She didn’t have that much more fight left in her at the moment. And Elijah had shown that he didn’t care how many times she ran, he’d be right behind her. Literally.

But still… she couldn’t give up that easy, no matter how much she wanted him to fuck her stress away right now.

“What you doin’ here at my house, Smoke?” she hissed, trying to retain some level of control.

Elijah continued on as if Annie had asked him what he ate for lunch. “You here, that’s why I’m here.”

“You can’t be here right now.” She walked further into her home and past Elijah.

“Why not?” He mirrored her movements to the nearby kitchen.

Annie tried to reason but the man didn’t want to hear one bit. Needing to keep busy, she tried to distract herself by digging inside of her stainless steel refrigerator for the defrosted chicken breasts that she put there this morning.

“Because. This too much! We don’t kno’ each other, Elijah.” The refrigerator door slammed shut as she made her way to the kitchen island to grab the decorative cutting board.

Her plump body stood flat against the hard surface while she washed the chicken. Elijah walked over to her and pressed his hardened body flush against her ass. “I know ya’ enough. We would know each other betta’ if you quit running from me.” He whispered into her warm, scented neck as he placed a few damp kisses.

“Eli-“ Her hands slowed down on the seasoning of the meat while she pressed her ass into his lap.

“Mm hmm.” Smoke hummed before wrapping his arm around the lower half of her body. But their moment in the kitchen was interrupted by a knock at Annie’s front door. The woman immediately pulled herself from Smoke’s grip and instructed him to stay in the kitchen because she’d be right back but just like everything else with Smoke, she knew she was wasting her breath. At least she tried and she had to, because she knew exactly who was at the door right now. Quincy. And even though she only knew Elijah for less than thirty days, she knew this wouldn’t go over well. She was right. As she moved through her home, Smoke was right on her heels to the point that she could feel his warm cinnamony breath on the back of her neck under her braids.

Annie swung the heavy door open to find a smiling Quincy on her steps, holding a large Tupperware container of hardened candies. Elijah positioned himself on the side of the doorway and out of view. For now.

“Hey. I bought these over for you. Lemme know what you think.” When Annie reached for the container, Smoke made himself known, startling the football coach who tried to remain neutral though his face said otherwise. He said nothing as he stood at Annie’s left side with his eyes never leaving the stranger on the porch.

The tension was heavy and Annie tried her best to mediate while she watched the two men stare each other down.

Elijah’s hand snaked around her plump waist and tightened once she had the plastic bowl in her hands.

“Thank you. Q. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” She nodded a goodbye and watched as the man smiled and turned away to walk back to his car. He glanced back at Smoke one more time, only once he was further away.

Elijah grabbed the candy from her hands and chucked the container into the nearby grass.

“Are you fuckin’ for real right now, Elijah?” Annie smacked him in the middle of his chest but her assault didn’t shake the man one bit. He simply looked down at Annie’s tight face and grimaced in annoyance.

Certainly, she was pissed but so was he.

His broad arms were folded across his chest. “How come this nigga know where you live? Huh? But you made me hunt you down?” Smoke huffed.

Annie stared at him incredulously.

“We been workin’ togetha’ for years. He’s my co-worker, Elijah. I don’t even know you!” She exasperated but continued.

“Matter of fact, get out.” She hissed and bumped into him on her way back to the kitchen.

Elijah slammed the front door shut. “No.”

And followed her to the next room.

Annie made a u-turn heading back to the front door to grab her car keys.

Smoke stared at her, his eyes wild and his jaw clenched.

“Fine. I’ma leave.” She hit her car alarm twice to unlock her driver side door.

“Annie.” He said evenly. “Unlock this door.”

She quickly backed out of the driveway and took off but Smoke was right behind her. Her week had been long and the day had been even longer. She was overwhelmed. The gas icon on her car’s dashboard lit up to provide a warning.

7 miles Until Empty. Please refuel. Shit.

She looked into her rearview mirror to find Smoke still trailing behind her. When she turned at a red light, so did he. When she made a U-turn, he did too. The woman sighed. Bright lights at the nearby intersection appeared in the reflection of her windshield. It was a Shell gas station about nine minutes away in the opposite direction of her home. She’d never been to this location before because she typically filled up at Chevron. Within seconds, she pulled up to the closest gas pump and stepped out of the car, expecting Elijah to show up shortly.

He did. The man eyed her from head to toe but remained silent. So did she. They sized each other up, both holding on to their last bit of pride.

Annie pulled her debit card out to tap it against the payment processor but Elijah motioned to grab it. This was the second time in an hour that he snatched something from her hands. His thumb brushed against hers when she tried to tug the Visa card back.

Once she concluded that Elijah wasn’t going to let go, she reached into the side door of her car for her blade. She was quick with it. A gash appeared on Smoke’s hand forcing the familiar red liquid substance to pool.

His brows furrowed in disbelief but he was impressed. “Woman!”

He stared down at his hand as Annie looked at the wound with him.

Though she felt bad and had second thoughts, she had to keep a brave face because he needed this lesson. He earned it. Seeing her be unapologetic turned Smoke up. In an instant, his eyes darkened. “Get in my car.” He growled.

“I ain’t goin’ nowhere wit’ you, Lijah.” She motioned to turn her back to him when a large hand tightly gripped her upper arm and began to drag her out of her shoes.

She pinched and grabbed at his fresh injury but Smoke remained locked in.“Elijah! Let me go right now!” They made it to the door of his car.

“You gon’ have to do worse than this to me, baby. I done been in wars.” He whispered near her ear. Annie would be lying to herself if she denied the heat forming in between her thighs.

“Go on. Get in.” His car door was wide open for her entry but she hesitated.

Elijah cocked his head to the side. “You want me to put you in?”

Annie shot him a mock glare. “And what’s gon’ happen to my car?” She questioned.

He smiled as if he’d been waiting for this question and truth is? He had been.

He’d told her over and over that he was much closer to her than she thought but neither of them had known one of his properties would end up less than ten minutes from her home.

“Me and my brother own this station, baby. And a few mo’. Your car gone be safe here.”

Annie looked at him as the pieces began to connect but she still needed that last bit of confirmation. Without her having to ask and to prove his point even further, Smoke used his injured hand to take out his phone and dial the store’s phone number.

JJ answered. “Shell Gas Station.”

“It’s me. Keep your eyes on that black SUV at the pump. Make sure nobody touch it or get near it.” Smoke commanded into the phone.

“You got it.” The young man replied without any further questions before hanging up. Though she kept her chin up in an attempt to remain in control, the woman was dumbfounded.

All of this time, he had been closer than Jackson, he’d found out where her home was located, and now by definition he was holding her hostage.

“What you want wit’ me, Elijah?” Her doe eyes sparkled under the gas station lights.

The man’s eyes softened as he sensed her surrender. “You. I told ya that, woman.” He said quietly.

——————————————————————

The other line rang a few times before a young peppy woman picked up.

“Four Seasons New Orleans Concierge Desk. How may I be of service?”

Elijah adjusted himself in the driver’s seat as he pushed the button on the steering wheel to increase the call volume. They were exiting the parking lot of a Walgreens that Annie forced him to stop at so that she could bandage his hand.

“Evenin’.” He glanced over at the woman who was seemingly asleep now. He didn’t miss how her partially exposed thick thighs rested against the seat of his truck. His grip on the wheel tightened.

“Room 1124. Me and my wife are on the way back and we both had a long day tod-"

Annie grumbled an interruption, her exhausted body twisting and turning in the large passenger seat.

She bit out forcefully. “I ain’t yours.”

Smoke continued the phone conversation as if the mere concept of Annie not being his was foreign.

“Please bring up a few extra towels for her bath. I need it done in thirty minutes. Make that fifteen.” Though the man said his formalities and expressed manners, it wasn’t a request and the employee knew it. “I’ll take care of it, Mr. Moore.”

The music resumed after the call dropped as the SUV glided down the highway. He had no regrets. Couldn’t even pretend that he did. He looked over at her again.

“You hungry?”

Her eyes narrowed at the silly question. “I’m just tied’. Some of us had to work today instead of playin’ detective all ova’ the town, Lijah.”

Another smart remark noted.

——————————————————————

The bathroom was warm and steamy as Annie stared at herself in the large mirror. She was freshly showered and stood naked at the bathroom sink, with all of her toiletries laid out for her.

These were brand new, fresh out of the packages. Coconut oil to remove any makeup. A tube of organic fluoride free toothpaste with a separate tube of whitening toothpaste. Dove gentle skin bar soap to cleanse her face and a container of shea butter from a local vendor, though it wasn’t from her exact vendor but everything else had been.

Elijah clearly paid attention back in Brazil and he clearly had every intention of bringing Annie back here tonight. He was arrogant. As if he felt the woman thinking about him, a shirtless Smoke walked into the bathroom without any announcement and immediately stood behind the woman, placing his chin on her shoulder. Annie sighed into him and Smoke took that as all the permission needed.

His lips dropped near her ear. “Spread ya legs.” He hummed.

She was flustered. “Eli-“

He shushed her. “I ain’t forget about that shit in Brazil. You was ‘sposed to stay put but you lied ta’ me.” His large hand palmed her fat mound as she whined and hissed in response. Annie was supposed to be upset with him and she had a right to be but she needed this release.

His thick digits flicked at her sensitive swollen clit while her slick began coating his index finger. He stared at her relaxed face in the mirror as he continued his ministrations. A sigh escaped him but it wasn’t done in contentment. It was a restrained hunger. He had her right where he wanted after weeks of chasing her from Brazil to Louisiana. He plunged a finger inside of her warm hole coaxing a gasp and moan from her. Satisfied with the squelching sounds that her wet pussy was echoing throughout the large bathroom, he withdrew his fingers to taste her. In one fluid motion, he dragged her right leg up and placed it on top of the counter, knocking down both his and her toiletries.

She was open and spread wide for him just as he wanted. Her hands came up to grab the back of his head to bring him closer. When their eyes met in the mirror, she remembered the reprimand that he gave her in Brazil. Move that hand.

When he got like this, she was learning that it was best that she simply stay still. Annie quickly moved her hand from his head and opted to grip the countertop instead. They sighed in unison as he slowly inched his way in and quickly became sheathed in her essence.

Her grip on the counter tightened as she held her head to one side, exposing her neck. “Mmmm. Fuck.”

He bent down to press a few more kisses into her neck while he stroked up into her and awaited more of her gasps and cries. Once she gave him what he wanted, he brought his warm hand under her chin to force her to look into the mirror, deepening her arch. She could smell herself on his fingers. He held her in place and switched his pace to quicker strokes, her titties bouncing with each move. Smoke slapped her hand away when she attempted to reach for her sensitive peaks.

“Don’t touch nothin’. It ain’t yours no mo’.”

Her leg began to slide off of the counter. “Elijahhhh.”

He said nothing as he continued to dig her out bit by bit. Sweat beads formed on the sides of his forehead, the heated bathroom reminding them of Annie’s recent shower.

He panted. “Look at ya’self in this mirror.”

His hand retuned to her chin and the new grip he had on her this time was almost painful.

“I can’t!” She mewled.

“You can. You just don’t want to.” His eyebrow raised. Shortly after, their eyes met in the mirror and Smoke made sure that Annie saw everything that he was doing to her right now.

His pace was turning sloppy.

“Look in the mirror and tell me you stayin’ this time.” It was a demand that borderlined a plea.

Annie was close but he was closer but he needed her to finish first and he knew exactly how to get her there.

His thumb pressed her swollen nub as he held it there with pressure. “Go on. Tell me.”

“I’m stayin where you want me.” She sobbed through gritted teeth. Her warm release flooded them both as Smoke tried to soothe her cries through kisses.

But he gave her no time to come down because he followed suit shortly after. “Good.” The pulsing of his dick pulled one more nut from Annie.

———————————————————————

The Next Morning. 9:32am.

The couple moved through Annie’s home as she packed a suitcase for the next few days to spend at Smoke’s home in Jackson. She looked beautiful today as she always did but there was a glow.

He took a seat on the couch to observe her, his arm casually extended over the back of the sofa as if he’d been paying bills there.

Her duffle bag sat on the floor near the door. “I would give you a tour of my house but I’m sure you’ve seen it all already.” Her Southern lilt playing peekaboo in between words.

Elijah huffed out a laugh that had no humor in it. “I did.”

Annie rolled her eyes before making her way to the fridge to grab them a couple of bottled waters for the road.

The ride to Jackson went by quicker than she’d imagined. She and Elijah left no room for silence as they discussed everything under the sun while they enjoyed the scenic route. The initial plan was to stop and get food then head to Smoke’s home, but a quick call changed that.

“That was my mama.” He announced.

“She wan’ me to stop by today.” He looked over at Annie who was still looking out of the window. “You comin’ wit’ me.” There was no question and no room for debate but the woman still tried.

“It’s too soon for that. It ain’t a good idea.”

Elijah silently looked over at her in finality.

Smoke pulled into the circular driveway of the single story brick home and parked right behind one of Stack’s SUVs. He was in the Escalade today so that meant one thing. E.J. was there.

The baby boy was fourteen months old now and getting into everything, including attempts at walking. The front double doors of the home opened up to welcome the new couple.

In the entryway stood Ms. Earlene, Smoke and Stack’s mother.

She was beautiful. Copper brown skin with a head full of grey hair that she usually kept in a single braid. She wore a peach colored two piece capri set, with a plain white t-shirt under it and diabetic approved sneakers. She gave a smile in Annie’s direction which the young woman promptly returned. Smoke exited the vehicle first leaving behind the continuous ding of the open door car alarm. The visit was supposed to be quick because he just needed to give his mom money to pay her landscaping company. Smoke was only a few itches away from his mom when she began to question him.

“Who’s that in your truck, Elijah?” She brought him in for a kiss to his cheek.

Smoke kissed her back. “Her name Annie.”

A small smile played on her full lips.

“Tell her to get down and come here, please.” Elijah knew his mom and he knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

He walked back to the truck and opened Annie’s door. “Come meet my ma real quick then we can head out.”

She stuttered. “No, I-“

He grabbed her hand and guided her down from the vehicle. “Ya look beautiful. Come on.”

They made their way into the kitchen of the home where Ms. Earlene sat at the massive table with EJ on her lap. Stack was nowhere to be found except on family photos that adorned the walls of the large home. Based on the front yard of her home alone, one could simply tell that Ms. Earlene was well taken care of by both of her sons.

“Have a seat, baby.” She patted the chair next to her. Annie did as she was told.

“You a pretty lil’ chocolate thing.” She beamed. Annie looked over to find Smoke who somehow had made his way back outside to talk to the landscaping company, leaving her alone with his mother who she wasn’t supposed to be meeting yet in the first place. Asshole.

“I’m Annie.” She extended her hand out for a handshake but the elderly woman instead reached over to pull her in for a hug as the toddler that she will still holding pressed his small knee into Annie’s stomach. “I’m Earline… or you can call me mom, too.”

Annie’s eyes widened as she smiled uncomfortably. Earline sensed her uneasiness and sent a soothing smile her way. “I’m just messin’ with you, baby.”

The two ladies spent the next fifteen minutes talking about life, their careers, and families. Ms. Earline mentioned that her grandmother was from Lake Charles, a smaller town in Louisiana about four hours west of Annie’s home. The woman also shared that her sister, Smoke and Stack’s aunt, was a teacher for thirty four years up until she passed away from brain cancer.

Annie noticed that the one person that was never mentioned was the twins’ father.

Elias called to check in on his mom and EJ to ask what they want for lunch. Though she couldn’t see the man’s face, she listened to his voice on speakerphone. She’d easily be able to tell him and Elijah apart. Where Stack was fast and controlled the conversation, Smoke was slow and moved on his own time. She also noticed way back in Brazil that he let others speak and only added in something when necessary, never just for small talk. Except with her. Smoke was gone for twenty minutes but the women barely noticed and certainly didn’t hear his re-entry at first.

He appeared at Annie’s side to help pull her chair from the table. “You ready?”

The three of them plus EJ stood on the porch as they said their goodbyes.

When Earline was done hugging Annie, EJ reached his small arms out for her in which she happily accepted his invitation. Earline looked at the young woman then looked at Smoke, whose dark eyes were fixated on the scene before him.

Annie looked like a natural.

EJ nuzzled further into her neck and all Annie could do was melt. “Uh oh. Them babies can sense a good soul…. Sometimes they can sense somethin’ else.” The grandma’s eyebrows raised.

Smoke cut her off. “Aight, ma. We gone.”

An hour later, soft moans filled the living room air in unison mixed with the rhythmic creaks of the sectional sofa. Annie’s colorful maxi dress was pulled up around her waist, right under her breasts with her knees apart and spread over Smoke’s muscular thighs. Her juices spilled on to his lap only mere minutes ago but she was close again and he felt it. His right hand snaked up her back to grab her hair to signal that she should still her movements.

He started with a few quick pumps before setting his pace that had his dick stroking up into her as if he was trying to make room for himself inside of her permanently.

Maybe he was.

“I bet you stayin’ now.” He grunted against her neck. Elijah had no plans to let her forget about that mishap in Brazil anytime soon. The woman couldn’t do anything else but slur her responses which she was sure came out as incoherent babbling.

——————————————————————

November

Three days left until Thanksgiving break but for Annie? It was her last day of teaching for a while. Her body was beyond tired these days. Most of the time, she could hardly make it through the school day, barely making it to lunch. But her village and everyone around her helped her and pitched in when they could.

These days, her pregnant belly entered rooms before she could.

Only three more months of this.

She reached into a cabinet to grab some trash when her classroom door opened. By the sound of the footsteps, she knew exactly who it was. Jordyn.

Annie began speaking without looking back. “Jordyn, you ‘sposed to be in Ms. Williams class. You gone get both of us in trouble now.” The little girl stepped closer.

“No, I won’t. Ms. Williams say today iss okay.” Her hands immediately went for Annie’s hardened stomach as she began drawing circles on her belly as if she had a piece of paper below her.

“Baby numberrr one.” She drew a swirl. “And baby number two.”

Annie pointed a little bit further up. “Baby numba’ two is here.” She smiled.

The door creaked open and in walked Smoke, dressed in a black V-neck and dark jeans. This morning, he told Annie that he’d be dropping by with a crew to help her move out of the classroom but right now, he was alone.

Just her, him, and Jordyn stood in the halfway packed learning room.

He gave her one look-over as he licked his lips. She looked gorgeous and so full of him.

“Why you standin’ on ya feet right now? I told you I got it.” Of course this would be the first thing he’d say. Annie looked at him, then to Jordyn then back at Smoke in warning. The man retreated. For now.

A few seconds later, he looked over at Jordyn and gave her a small nod which left Annie confused as she fanned herself. Smoke was right, she did need to have a seat because she was overheating even though it was cool outside.

“Ms. Celestine.” Her little voice squeaked out. “We got somethin’ for you.”

Elijah reached into his front pocket to pull out a small velvet black box which he handed to Jordyn first.

Inside, sat a nine and a half carat yellow gold double banded engagement ring.

The heavily pregnant woman looked down at the ring then up at Smoke who’d been watching her every move and reaction…as he did since day one. “You sho’ about this, ‘Lijah?”

He said nothing as he removed the glistening ring from its storage to place on Annie’s swollen finger.

The little girl gave them no time to celebrate before she took off running into the nearby hallway to embrace the awaiting family members and friends. Smoke arranged for all of them to be there to assist with cleaning out the classroom but he failed to mention his other plan. Only Jordyn and her mother had any inkling.

“Ms. Celestine gettin’ married!” She sprinted up and down the quiet hallway. “I told her!”

END.

A03 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/87349321/chapters/233239346

https://archiveofourown.org/works/87349321/chapters/233239346

Link to Part 1: https://www.tumblr.com/nika324/820376954348945408/you-stayin

Smoke said: inspo credit to @r8dsquid

A/N: Well…. 😭😭 Ngl, this fic made me want to eat my fawkin phone since day one and not in a good way. But I’m happy with the end result. My goals with this fic was to show despite his obsession, he meant well. And to be loved is to be seen. Him upgrading her friends’ flights, him including Jordyn in the proposal, etc was all for a reason. Annie loved all that chaos even though she cut him. 💀💀💀 Also: Listen to children bc they know things we don’t know sometimes. My granny always say that.

Alright friends. This may be it from me for a while. Ima still be on here but ima be hella busy the next few months. I gotta go and sell this puss to pay for my travels. Byeeee. 💛💛 I’m joking. 🥲 Maybe.

Thank ya’ll always. 🫶🏼

December 3th 1999

The day their daughter came into this world and changed their life forever.

Winter Moore.

:

:

:

December 3th 2000.

1:30

First birthday and to say that her parents weren't excited?

Well that would be understatement..

“It's my baby girl's birthday, stack..” Smoke said through tears as he stopped decorating for a moment, it was finally hitting him at that moment that their baby girl was growing up.

“Smoke, don't cry man, you know seeing you cry makes me cry.” Stack spoke up softly as he stepped over to him, pulling him into a tight hug.

—-

It was just a year ago that they were in a hospital room, Annie almost squeezing his hand to death and Elijah trying his hardest not to pull it away as he comforted her the best he could.

And then the crying came.

She came into this world crying and it broke his heart in that moment he vowed that she’ll never cry like that again

“It's a girl!” the doctor said excitedly as they handed her over to the midwife, Elijah watched closely, breathing heavily before refusing back to Annie.

“You heard that baby?” he whispered to her with a shaky chuckle as he pressed his forehead against hers, “it’s a girl.. We got a baby girl,” he kissed her check softly as the midwife placed their daughter on Annie's chest.

Elijah felt his heart melt in that moment, she had Annie's whole face and had his eyes.

Annie let out a weak chuckle as she looked down at their daughter, breathing shakily as she rubbed her cheek with a thumb.

“She's real pretty..” she muttered softly as she tilted her head, smiling faintly. Elijah let out an amused hum as he kissed her cheek once more. “She gets it from her beautiful mother.” he gently touched their daughter's cheek, fast asleep she was.

“What’s her name, Mrs.Moore?" the midwife asks softly, entering the quiet moment between the new family.

Elijah and Annie had made a deal in the beginning of their relationship that they’ll take turns naming their kids when it came to that point.

And now it's that time.

“I like winter,” she said softly as she looked at the midwife. “She looks like a winter to me.” Her gaze went back to their baby girl.

Winter.

“Winter moore..” Elijah muttered gently as he started grinning , wiping away tears “I like that.” he said after a moment.

–

11:30 pm December 3th, she was born close to midnight. Yeah she definitely a winter.

Elijah watched and paid close attention to the midwife explaining how to change her diapers.

Like he was about to change an engine.

Stack enters the room with a big bag of gifts and food for Annie. “Wheres my niece at?” he asked almost immediately as he placed the bags on the nearby chair. “Just forget about me then, huh?” Annie spoke up with sarcasm , raising her eyebrows at him.

Stack lets out a small chuckle and walks over to her. “Of course not sis, wouldn't have my niece without ya.” he chuckled as he walked over with her food and gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I got you that sushi you’ve been craving.” he muttered with a smirk as he wigged the bag in front of her.

Annie lets out an amused huff. “You remembered.” she beamed as she took the bag before he could taunt her any further.

He chuckled and gave a small nod before pausing as he saw smoke with the baby. He meets his eyes having a silent conversation with his brother.

“Thats her?”

“Yeah it's her.”

Stack let out a shaky laugh as he stepped towards the bassinet, he lightly touched her check (after washing his hands of course) “she stole your whole face annie” he chuckled as he glanced at Annie before looking back at her. “Whats her name?” he asked after a moment, keeping his gaze on his niece who he is absolutely going to spoil to death.

“Her names winter, winter moore.” Smoke said softly with a small smile as he looked at his brother.

He gives a small nod. “Isn’t it a little on the nose, no?” he started , immediately in the mode to tease them. “You know? Winter, and she's born in December?’ he said with a smirk as he looked at them and Annie met his gaze with a deadpanned expression and Elijah chuckled quietly, reluctantly agreeing with him.

“Well I like it, it fits her.” Annie said after a moment, chuckling gently as she thought about the irony of it.

“It does, I'll admit that.” he hummed as he looked at them. “Oh! I brought the camcorder.” he said as he walked over to the bags from earlier and started it up.

“Of course you did.” Elijah muttered softly as he kissed Annie's cheek.

Stack spent the rest of the night and early morning with them, taking pictures and recording little moments with them.

__

THE PRESENT

“I aint crying man,” Smoke says as he wipes away tears. “My eyes just sweating is all.” he muttered with a huff as straightened up.

Stack looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “right, right..” he said as he glanced at the decorations, holding back a laugh.

“Let's finish decorating before your wife says something..” He whispered to him quickly as he went back to the other side of the living. “Need to get that grill going soon before everyone and they mama start showing up.” he added as he picked up the silver strings.

“Yeah, you right.” Smoke said with a small chuckle as he refocused on setting up the table, wiping away a few stray tears.

:

In the kitchen.

Annie and pearline are seasoning up the meat for the grill, Mary helps with cutting up the vegetables and Sammie is playing with his little cousin.

“Snow,you want this or that?” Sammie asked softly as he held up the banana and veggie baby food. Sammie gave her the nickname snow cause of her being born in December, Soon the nickname just stuck.

Winter stares at the baby food with intense interest as if she was really deciding before she points to the banana one. “See, I knew you would pick this one.” Sammie muttered with a chuckle as he put away the veggie one and grabbed a spoon.

Annie watched with a chuckle as she shook her head, she was listening to their conversation, finishing up cutting up the chicken. “She doesn't like anything else but that banana, been trying to get her to like that veggie mix.” Annie says gently with a soft huff as she washed her hands.

“Well I wouldn't either, shit looks like diarrhea.” Pearline spoke up as she carried the pan of hotdogs and burger patties outside.

Mary and Sammie started laughing immediately. “Don’t let smoke hear you cussing, no cussing around his baby girl..” Annie says gently with a chuckle as she checks on the cake.”almost done..”she muttered softly before moving to the living room to check on the twins, see if they’re almost done.

She pauses, her gazing landing on the decorations and the birthday banner hanging to the side. “Well, this could be better.” She spoke up , leaning against the frame as she looked at them.

Stack and smoke immediately turned to face her, both looking a little guilty.

“Oh come on Annie, it gives a homey feel, gives very much family.” Stack called out as he looked at them, up on the ladder.

Annie looked at him with amusement

“We’re trying to hurry up,baby..” smoke muttered gently as he moved over to her, gently kissing her cheek. “Where’s little snow?” He hummed , rubbing her side as he glanced into the kitchen.

“Lil Sammie is feeding her.” she answered, smiling softly.

“Ain’t delta slim,supposed to be here grilling for us?” Annie asked after a moment, following behind smoke as he headed to the kitchen wanting to see his baby girl.

“He should be here any minute.” Stack spoke up from the living room as he finally got the sign right .

Annie chuckled at his words and gave a small nod as she watched stack for moment before refocusing on smoke.

“Let me take over ,lil Sammie.” He asked gently with a hum as he patted Sammie’s back.

Winter lets out a cooing noise. “Dada..” as she lifts her arms forgetting all about the baby food, smoke chuckles softly and picks her up anyway. “Yeah princess, it's dada.”he says gently as he pecks her cheeks.

“Just forget about me huh?” Sammie chuckles as he pokes winter's cheek as he moves around them, going to help stack. Smoke lets out an amused huff as he rocks her gently.

—

*knock,knock*

“I got it,” Sammie calls out as he steps away from the decorations, moving towards the front door. “What took you so long , old man?.” he asks with a small smile as he helps Delta slim.

Delta slim lets out a chuckle and adjust the cupcakes he brought (just in case)

“Well traffic was a bit-” he started to say until he noticed smoke looking at him with a raised eyebrow. ‘Right that no cussing rule..my bad Smoke.” he says with a huff as he glances at Sammie who's holding back a laugh as they move to the kitchen.

“Ayee, now that grill can get started.” stack says moving the last tray of meat to the back yard. “Cause I am starving waiting around for yall.” he muttered underneath his breath as he started the grill up.

“Coulda been had that grill going, yall aint have to wait for me to do that naw.” delta slim said with a huff, giving winter a kiss on the head as he passed by her and smoke, heading to the back yard, winter let out a giggle at the kiss which caused smoke to start smiling.

“That's what I was trying to tell them,slim.” Annie spoke up , as she looked at the twins. “But you know how they get.” she added with a giggle as smoke looks at her with an raised eyebrow, mary nods in agreement, looking at stack with a smirk.

“Yall aint got to gang up on a brotha.” stack says sarcastically, kissing Mary's head as he looks at the others.

“Oh please, they hardly ganging up on yall.” pearline says as she steps back inside. “I’ll say that's light work.”

“The lightest of work , mind you.” Slim said from outside as he put the hotdogs on the grill, everyone started laughing even little winter , the twins though.

They both got the same mug on their face.

—

2:23

“You know..something smells like it’s burning..” Sammie spoke up as sniffs the air.

“Something do smell like it’s burning..” Pearline muttered as she glanced outside, “ well it ain’t the grill.” she added shortly after seeing everyone outside.

“Go ask Annie if there’s something in the oven.” He asked as he stood up, going to check the oven anyway. “Boy, why would I ask her when you're doing it anyway.” She immediately said with irritation as she crossed her arms.

Sammie pauses as he sees the smoke. “Now, boy I know you hear me talking to yo—“ Pearline started before stopping in her tracks.

“That’s the cake ain’t it.”

“Yup..”

They both looked at each other. “I ain’t telling her.” She said immediately as she held her hands up.

“Oh very mature.” He says with a huff before going to turn the oven off.

Sammie coughs as he opens the over, quickly covering his mouth with his shirt. Pearline makes a stank face as the smell fills the kitchen, she moves to the windows to let the smoke out.

Sammie sighs as he looks at the overly burnt cake. “Would’ve thought the oven was on high..” he muttered with disbelief as he placed it on the stove.

Not even a full thirty seconds later.

“I swear something smells burnt..” Elijah muttered as he walked inside.

“Man nothing burning,you over reacting as usual smoke.” Stack says following right behind the twin before getting hit by the smell of burnt chocolate.

“That shit stank..” he coughed, earning a glare from smoke before smoke sighs and stepped further into the kitchen.

“Not my baby cake, oh lord..”he huffed as he looked at the cake, he had spent so much time making it from scratch. “I swear I told someone to remind me..” he muttered to himself as he stared at the burnt cake with disappointment.

“Should’ve put on a timer..” he sighed as he rubbed his cheek before carrying the pan to the trash and scraping the burnt cake straight into it.

Stack grew stiff, immediately recalling his twin telling him to remind him to check on the cake. he glanced at Sammie and Pearline as they got started on fanning the smoke detector before he slowly started backing away.

“Why my house smelling like that?.” Annie spoke softly with disbelief as she carried in the grilled chicken.

They all turned to look at her, except smoke who was still scraping the burnt cake out the pan.

“Um..the cake got burnt..”stack muttered as he rubbed the back of his head, glancing at Annie while he stood there like a deer caught in headlights.

Sammie and Pearline looked at each other , relieved that they didn’t have to tell her.

“I forgot about the cake , baby..” Smoke spoke up with a sigh , genuinely mopping right now as he placed the messed up pan on the counter. “I’ll buy you a new pan tomorrow.” He added as he crossed his arms.

Annie watches Elijah for a moment, sighing gently as she walks over and places the pan of grilled chicken on the stove.

“We’ll still make sure the day is special,papa..” she said softly and rubbed his back.

—

“Alright time to sing happy birthday!..” Annie says with a giggle as she carries out a plate with one cupcake on it.

A small smile grows on Elijah's face , still a little disappointed that he messed up his baby's first birthday cake but he’ll learn to deal with it. He sits at the table , holding his baby girl who’s gripping his chin right now. “Dada, dada..” she cooed gently,bouncing in his lap before noticing the cupcake quickly forgetting all about him.

“See, those cupcakes came in handy.” Delta slim spoke up as he moved over to the table.

Smoke chuckles at delta slim. “Guess you really thought ahead..” he says with a laugh.

Stacks soon came around with the camcorder ready. “Yall better sing happy birthday on key, I swear..” he warned playfully as he narrowed his eyes at everyone before settling the camera on winter and the cupcake.

“Well imma sing on key, I don’t know about the rest of yall though.” Sammie hummed as he cleared his throat, ready to show off.

Everyone lets out a laugh at Sammie’s words.

“Preacher boy, we get it, you can sing...” Pearline says softly with a giggle as she shakes her head, moving to stand beside him as they get ready to sing happy birthday.

While everyone is singing happy birthday, smoke fights back tears as it starts to really hit him.

His baby girl really is growing up.

Man ain’t ever been the emotional type but ever since Annie came into his life and ever since then it’s been an adventure and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world.

“Alright snow, time to blow out the candle..” Annie said gently with a warm expression as all of them watched winter, stack making sure it’s on her adorable face.

Winter looks at the candle before glancing at her mama like “yall really expect me to blow this candle out?”

Elijah chuckled as he peeped the look his daughter was giving, he sighed before blowing the candle out for her.

Winter immediately claps and giggles clearly gotten what she wanted out of him.

—

I hope you guys enjoyed!I feel like my writing is definitely getting better 🤍 also had to cut this a little short cause it was about to reach 3k words and i genuinely wanted this be short (well, as short as it could be😭)

Taglist - @aizawash0e @myheartsaysyes @lizbehave @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @nika324 @bananajoeclone @sunshinerepublic @xeebop @lestatthelioncourt @hdfen2474 @brownskincheyenne @r8dsquid @waitingtobreatheagain @brwnsuggasweetea

The young woman sat atop a plush stool in front of the mirror, tears glittering her eyes—but she had to push all emotion down for now. Today was supposed to be a big day. Droves of flowers. Swarms of family—and people she’s never seen a day before in her life. Every little girl's big dream coming to fruition. Behind her in the mirror, she could see her folks moving about the room, trying to finish last minute details or simply busying themselves so much that it caused the stress to rise in her system. And tears were glittering her eyes.

She'd thought about today since before she could remember. The dress. The cake. The first dance. The man at her side.

Her mind droned on over all the things that felt imperfect and incomplete now that her dream had seemed to swarm her without noticing, and without even realizing, her exhausted body began to weep.

Above her, the woman halted—brush along her temple, unmoving and apprehensive.

“Do you need a second,” the makeup artist whispered, cautious of her volume as to not bring attention to her state, but the young woman just released an exhausted laugh and shook her head. Her family and friends were still moving around wild behind her, and she hated that it took someone who knew nothing of her life to notice her state—to care.

“I’m fine,” she punctuated with sorrow. Inhaling a deep, shaky breath, she stared back at herself once more. This had all happened so fast: the meeting of the fathers; the drafting of the contract; the planning of the wedding. She'd had little to no input in any of it. And she still had yet to see the face of her groom. One hour until she was set to be married, and she had no idea who she was committing herself to—but she had no choice in the matter.

Her daddy—Mississippi’s soon-to-be first Black governor. And her soon-to-be husband’s family—major donors to his widely successful campaign. They have shares in several major businesses out of the state—Nissan Motor Co., Howard Industries, Southern Tire Mart—and somehow, without the young woman knowing it, her parents had made the decision to offer her up as thanks for all their assistance along the way. But she viewed it as payment.

Everyone knew the Moore's. 30 years ago, they were into shady and illegal bullshit, and now it was far more shady with legal loopholes and connections to sustain them. With her having the Moore last name, they were almost guaranteed protection for the rest of time; Her daddy just had to win his election next month, and she had to say yes at the altar.

“Anna Mae,” she heard a shrill voice shout from behind her. Looking through the vanity mirror, she saw her mother, wide-eyed and stressed. As the older woman turned toward the makeup artist, her tone became more pleasant but clearly very annoyed. She pointed at the young woman, flailing. “I thought she was supposed to be done by now,” she questioned, talking as though her daughter was not even there.

The makeup artist swallowed thickly, hands moving toward the eyeshadow palette with haste.

“Almost,” she offered. “We took a small break to regroup, but I can have her done in fifteen.”

“Fifteen?! She’s supposed to be seeing her fiancé in five,” the older woman condemned, her high-pitched voice cracking with anger. But the information she had offered sparked the young woman’s attention. She looked up as her mother and the makeup artist consulted, agreeing that everything will be completed in the nick of time. She felt as if she were a child; She was talked over, completely disregarded as if she weren’t there at all. Clearing her throat, she finally spoke up.

“I’m going to meet him before the wedding,” she wondered aloud, voice quiet, showcasing how apprehensive she still was about the whole ordeal. Her mother, standing over her and peering down like she’d been personally inconvenienced by the sound of her voice, rolled her eyes.

“Yes, Anna Mae,” she began, looking down at her watch with an annoyed huff. “In two minutes and fourteen seconds, you will be meeting your fiancé. We won’t have time to dress you before then, but your robe will suffice for now.”

And with that, she exited the room as if she hadn’t entered like a tornado bringing rain. The makeup artist continued, pity filling out every muscle in her face, and the young woman’s eyes dampened once more before assuming the role she’d unknowingly been given at birth.

Stone-faced, the man clenched his fists while peering through the window. Outside, flowers were being delivered and guests would soon be arriving too, but inside this room, he would be meeting his fiancée for the very first time.

He bit back a snarl, stuffing down his emotions. This had to be done. This was for the family. For legacy. For future. For himself. For his brother. What had to be done had to be done, and he knew he was the only one right for the job. Across the room, his twin stood at attention, eyes just as sharp but with a lighter air due to his ease and carefree nature. On the couch sat the Moore family lawyer, their primary council, and their father. The oldest of the three Moore's smirked with a deep evil grin, shades concealing his eyes.

"This gon' be perfect for us," he barked in laughter, words going out into a void. Everyone in the room sat detached, barely hanging on to the moment at hand, but he was ecstatic. "I had a dream about this shit here," he exclaimed. "Yes, sir, I did! 'Fore y'all was born, me and y'all mama used to talk 'bout this." Smiling silly and faraway like time had finally caught up with him, the man looked toward his oldest son, suddenly sentimental. "She used to say 'Eli, our boys gon' be something important some day,' and look at you now. I just wish she could see it."

The twins—too similar and too different at the same time—shared a look. One that said they'd been hearing the same shit all their lives. One that said they wished they mama would've shacked up with another man. One that sent apologies back and forth for how differently their father saw them when they were so similar.

The oldest swallowed thickly when his twin diverted his eyes, leaving him to do the same. He went back to watching the window, dreaming that all of this would resort in a better life far away from his daddy's rule—but he knew better.

Big Eli commanded attention. He was resilient in a way that struck fear in the hearts of every cop, judge, and politician in the state of Mississippi, and if he was forcing his son into something like this, it was because he knew this would last; He'd made it so.

His son only cared about doing what needed to be done. He held no regard for the other family or for the young woman he'd be bound to. The way he saw it was that they were trying to settle a debt, and he was just coming to collect.

Across the room then, the door opened, but he refused to turn around just yet. Through the window, he watched as the world moved, not even caring for what was going down behind him. The situation was enough to pull an exasperated laugh from him.

"Eli Moore," one man uttered, boastful and solid in a politically correct way.

"Henry Laveau," the other man guffawed, shaking the outstretched hand laughably before turning to greet his wife. "Michelle, it’s lovely to see you again," he offered, toning down his rowdy nature and bowing his head. His attention rose quick when meeting the next set of eyes, fully straightening his posture and stepping forward with a hand offered in her direction. "And it's even lovelier to finally meet the young woman my son is to marry," he smiled devilishly, licking his lips at her appearance.

The young woman held her head high, eyes piercing through him. Not once did they lower to his hand. Not once did she motion to shake it. She just held his eye contact with a straight face, showing her disdain for the situation.

"Feisty one I see," he laughed off, pulling his hand back and smoothing down his hair. Across the room, the younger twin allowed a laugh to escape his lips, and for the first time since she'd entered the room, the woman allowed her eyes to take in the space around her. Along with her mother, father, and their lawyer was Eli Moore, two people sitting on the couch who looked like advisors or lawyers themselves, and two other men nearly identical to each other. The one who'd laughed stepped to the older man's side.

"I'm Elias. But folks call me Stack," he prattled while his eyes traveled down the length of her satin robe. She noticed the way he focused on the dip of her waist, the curve of her hips, and it made her cross her arms underneath her chest and settle her weight onto one foot. She rolled her neck, annoyed and refusing to interact before her mother spoke up behind her.

"Don't be rude, Anna Mae," the older woman argued, pushing her forward, causing her to stumble slightly.

"I'm Annie," she choked out, scowl deepening when the man's smile widened.

I know they don't think I'm about to marry this goofy ass fool, she yapped to herself, but before the thought could linger, the other young man across the room turned in her direction. When their eyes met—both full of a unique mixture of fear and anger and obligation—they stayed right there on each other.

Although it would soon be offered, Annie required no explanation for who the man was. They both carried the same weight, the same disgust. As much as she wanted to drift her attention away, something about him held her in place.

"This my oldest—Smoke," Eli boomed. Smacking his hand against his son's shoulder when he moved to stand in front of Annie, he looked over at him with proud eyes. "Y'all make a nice lookin' couple, don't it," he laughed, but Annie's nostrils flared, and her arms closed around herself impossibly tighter.

She was set to marry this strange man and enter into a strange family all because of her parents and their lack of care for her wellbeing and desires.

"Can we get a second alone," she all but demanded, eyes trained ahead. Around them, everyone threw out looks of confusion, glancing toward the time on overly expensive watches or the documents in their hands. Things had to be neat and in order, and none of them had time to dilly dally.

"You're getting married in thirty minutes, baby girl," her father stepped close. He broached with caution, attempting to pull her eyes toward him, but she refused to stop looking at Smoke, at the ruffle between his brows. "You gotta sign that contract before we do anything else," Henry reasoned, but she was hearing none of that.

"I know that, daddy," Annie snapped, emotion welting in her chest, "but I will not allow you to force me into a marriage before I even get a chance to talk to my future husband alone."

The Moore men watched with differing layers of amusement. Eli looked as if he were realizing Annie's attitude would either be a gift or a curse in the long run. Stack chuckled as if he hadn't expected so much energy out of someone of her background—but loving it nonetheless. And Smoke swallowed as if he weren't sure what he was even allowed to feel.

He tracked her every movement. The narrowing of her eyes. The clenching of her jaw. The bobbing of her throat. The swaying of her robe when she shifted. Annie looked toward everyone, expecting them to move toward the door and honor her command, and when Smoke saw her neck roll one last time before everyone put their feet in motion toward the door, his eyebrows raised in what could only be described as him being impressed.

When the door closed, the room settled in a deafening quiet.

She leveled him with a look that could kill.

"My daddy might think I'm stupid," Annie began, stepping forward into Smoke's personal space. She cursed him with her eyes, spoke ill on his name without even having to say the words outright. "He may think I am, but I ain't no little girl. I know what yo' family do. I know why we gettin' married. But that don't mean I gotta like it." Her nostrils flared—large and round, bearing her anger—but the man refused to speak.

"So you ain't gon' say nothing?" Annie threw in question, only to watch as Smoke blinked—once. "Impossible," she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms tight, and emotion grew in the man’s chest.

Something dark and wanting yet full of despair and anxiety.

"Look, neither of us want this," Smoke grumbled, eyes falling away from her body. "My daddy ain't give me no say in this. He told me this was happenin' probably around the same time yo' folks told you. But just because we gettin' married don't mean I'm gon' try to control you the way they control us. I ain't that type of man, and I can tell you clearly ain't that type of woman," his voice tapered off, giving Annie the chance to be offended.

Her face screwed up, and her head reared, and her mouth spat her lividity.

"What the hell does that mean—"

"I'm just sayin'," he breathed, stepping forward. His hands raised at his sides, almost as if he were approaching a frightened animal. He sighed, hating the position they were in but knowing what needed to be done. "Let's get through this together and figure out later what’ll be best for both of us movin' forward, alright?"

Annie was skeptical. She didn’t trust many people—especially those her daddy worked with—and she hardly trusted any men. But as she looked Smoke in the face, something in her stomach flared, something in her leg twitched.

Rolling her shoulders back, she spoke confidently.

"What’s your real name," she questioned with strength, eyes unwavering once more.

Smoke swallowed. His veins bulged. His hands shook. His muscles tightened.

“Smoke ain’t good enough for you,” he threw back, and he immediately knew answering a question with a question was not something a woman like Annie would put up with.

“I’m not marrying you if I don’t know the name your mama gave you,” she roared, eyebrows tight. “You say you wanna get through this together and figure shit out, but if you don’t even want me to know yo’ name, then we ain’t finna do shit!” At that, the young, fiery woman turned on her heels. Her robe lurched with the movement, and Smoke was far too caught up in the flash of thigh he received to notice her moving toward the door in a hurry. When her hand was around the doorknob, preparing to put an end to the whole affair, Smoke came up behind her and pressed his chest to her back. His hand covered hers on the knob.

“It’s Elijah,” he breathed in her left ear, relishing in the visible presence of a shiver down her spine. And when she spoke his name back, voice curling around each syllable with care, his body immediately ignited in a similar reaction.

~~~~~

The terms of the contract were simple: Elijah Moore and Anna Mae Laveau were to be wed in an effort to settle Henry Laveau’s debt to Big Eli and the Moore Family; And the contractual marriage would be null and void if Henry Laveau's campaign were to fail.

~~~~~

The twins, as always, had taken to watching the room—standing with their heads held high in their designated spots at the altar. Stack was directly behind his brother, scoffing internally at how packed the room was.

"Eli know he wrong for lettin' them Laveau's do yo' wedding like this," he grunted, rolling his eyes at a woman who was making her way to her seat on their family's side. "We don't even know most the people in this damn room. Look at that bitch over there," he whispered, pointing down the aisle, "wearin' black at somebody wedding like she ain't got no sense."

"Mhm," the older twin all but blew smoke from his nose. His nostrils flared as the last few people trickled in—late and loud. He thrived off punctuality, off order, and he couldn’t resist looking down at his watch and willing this sham of a wedding to commence.

Lace and tulle drooped off every surface. Long-stemmed bouquets flaunted their beauty. As the last guest made their way to their seat on the Laveau side, the overhead lights dimmed just slightly before the strum of a harp reverberated across the space.

As grand as the venue, so was the size of the wedding party—but as Smoke’s eyes narrowed upon each arm-locked couple walking down the aisle, his anticipation for the bride grew deep in his chest.

After one pluck of a harp string, he had to remind himself that this was just business. After another pluck, he had to remind himself that this wasn’t some fairytale where he got the girl and the acclaim in one swing of a sword to the throat of some devious dragon. He hardly knew Annie, had had only one—very heated—conversation with her. But his throat bobbed when the doors at the back of the venue opened to reveal the soon-to-be governor ushering in the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. His hands twitched at his sides, begging him to reach out for her.

Anna Mae kept her eyes locked on Elijah. Each step she took, she willed herself to not look away. She needed to see every emotion pass over his face. She needed to remind herself that even if she had no say in getting married, she was not going to allow her husband to run all over her. But her attempt to intimidate him with eye contact failed as her own gaze turned soft—just for a flash of a second before reverting.

And his gaze shifted to match her softness without faltering.

~~~~~

“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Elijah Moore and Anna Mae Laveau,” the officiant squawked, hearty voice blanketing the room. Ceremonially, the minister droned on, but the young pair could hardly pay attention to the words he spoke. They were in their own heads about what the future would hold upon saying I do, and every few seconds they attempted to communicate with the other telepathically, overthinking the inevitable.

I hope you Moore’s don’t ruin me, Annie spoke to herself. She exhaled deeply, eyes drifting to the man directly behind her groom. At least it seems like I got the more serious twin. And I can’t lie that he’s a beautiful man. Maybe this will all work out in the end? Who the hell am I kidding? My daddy did this for him, and like always I’ll end up being miserable.

This isn’t real, Smoke reminded himself as his heart swelled while watching his bride. This ain’t real, and this wedding is fake. But even if it is, I’ll at least make sure she’s happy.

Each of them held emotion in their eyes, conflicted by all that was happening around them—to them. They held hands when prompted. They spoke when willed. And when it came time to bestow the title of husband and wife upon them, they leaned in and kissed each other like they’d done it a thousand times over.

~~~~~

The reception was a blur.

People were everywhere. Asking for pictures. Giving unwarranted advice. Congratulating them. Saying how proud they were. They hardly got a second to themselves that wasn’t full of other people prying into their lives, so when it came time to leave the venue for the hotel that had been set up for the pair, Smoke and Annie had no idea what to do.

The first kiss they shared together lingered in their minds as they rode the elevator. The number of each floor illuminated slowly, ticking by as they stood shoulder to shoulder. Annie was the first to shift her eyes away from their reflection in the closed doors and to the man’s face. When Smoke looked over at her, her breath grew shaky.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he admitted reluctantly, voice groggy from exhaustion and too much talking for a man like him. He watched with anticipation as the young woman nodded.

“Not tonight though,” she huffed, pulling at her fingers and twisting the new jewelry her ring finger now held. Gazing down at it, tears of disbelief caused her to shudder. “I’m sure you’re a wonderful man,” Annie began, words barely above a whisper, “but I’m gonna need some time for this to feel real.”

Elijah understood, of course he did. He had been saying it himself all day, and he would never want to press her toward any emotion. They’d been put into a difficult position by people who were meant to care for them. But now, it was up to themselves to make the best of a weird situation.

That night, Smoke slept on the couch in the suite, allowing Annie the king-sized bed to herself. And there, she laid on her back, eyes wide open as she thought about how her life had been fully imagined for her, how she had been shaped and molded by her parents to be a perfect doll that they could handle in whatever way they saw fit. She didn’t want that for herself any longer, and if she was going to be married to this man, it was seriously time for her to start making sound decisions for her own life.

With the room-serviced breakfast in front of them, the young pair, avoided conversation and each other’s eyes by stuffing their mouths with food. Smoke looked past Annie, eyes toward the window, but the young woman kept her head on her plate. The silence wasn’t fully uncomfortable. There was an understanding there: they were tired, exhausted, fed up of being pawns, but there was also the truth that they had to make the best of what was now.

Mississippi’s gubernatorial election would be in one month, and there’s no way Annie’s father could lose. With the Moore’s on his side, it was nearly guaranteed, so she knew there’d be no way out of this. She thought the null and void clause couldn’t save her.

But nothing is ever guaranteed.

“You want kids,” she asked first, hoping to gauge what his reaction said about how tight of a leash this marriage would hold on her.

Smoke’s ears perked up immediately, eyes drifting over with intention. He swallowed his last bite, paying attention to how Annie’s shoulders had squared off.

“I think so,” he breathed, straightening his spine. When a questioning look passed over her face, he continued. “I think I’d be a good father. Think I’d be able to give my children what my daddy couldn’t give me and Stack. But the situation is important to consider.”

“What do you mean,” the woman wondered, brow crooked.

“You,” he admitted. “If you don’t want kids, I ain’t gon’ force you. If you don’t want to birth children, then we can look into adoption or something. I want children, but they ain’t something I need if the circumstances don’t align for everybody involved. You included.”

The young woman swallowed and willed her face to remain neutral. It was a bare minimum answer, what any decent person would say, but it meant the world to her. He didn't need to know all that just yet.

“Where we gon’ live,” Annie asked next. She hardly gave his last answer time enough to breathe before she was expecting more of him, but Smoke didn’t back down or shy away. He pushed his plate to the side before speaking.

“I like the home I live in now. It's big with plenty of space for the both of us, but I want something that’s ours. So when all this newly married energy dies down, I'd like to find something perfect for the both of us." He watched her every move: the sharpness of her eyes, the shifting of her body, the shine of her ring finger when she moved to drink from her glass of water. She was his wife; He was her husband. He'd always wanted a life of his own; Someone—besides his brother—to love and protect and care for. He just hadn't expected it to happen like this. "What you think of that," he questioned, desperate to know what was happening behind those eyes.

Annie breathed through her nose, sighing as she mulled the question over. She'd learned so much about the woman she wanted to be through her mother's silence, through her complacency. She'd learned so much about the man she wanted as her husband through her father's boastfulness and unpredictability. She liked Elijah's quiet demeanor. She believed him to be honest, hoped it so.

"I think I'd like that," she answered simply, glass in her hand as she watched him closely.

~~~~~

As the days ticked closer to Henry Laveau’s projected victory, Anna Mae and Elijah’s connection grew stronger. Conversations about the hard stuff grew to include things that allowed the pair to understand each other as individuals. They weren’t concerned with their parent's, colleague's, or community's opinions. It was just them—newly married and hoping for the chance to make their forced relationship something mutually beneficial.

~~~~~

During the weeklong hotel stay, Smoke arranged for Annie’s things to be moved into his home. It was large—but not overstated. Homey—but not stuffy. It smelled like him, felt like that dangerous calm she’d been recently introduced to and was quickly growing to appreciate.

Her first night in his home—their home—Smoke cooked for her, showed her around, explained that she’d have her own bedroom for her upmost comfort. The fact that he cared so much meant the world to the young woman, but as she walked through the home, part of her wanted to stop him, admit what her heart had been feeling since the moment they first met. Elijah made Annie's heart flutter. Elijah made Annie feel safe—comfortable—and part of her had grown used to him sleeping in the same room, even if he’d spent the entire mini honeymoon on the couch across from her. She liked the sound of his breath or when he would shift from his left side to his right. She liked knowing he was near.

So that’s how they ended up here.

Annie abandoned the room Smoke set up for her with all the things that had previously brought her comfort before they’d met. Then she tiptoed down the hallway and two doors down. Standing before the man’s bedroom door, she knocked solidly and kept her eyes forward.

“Everything okay,” Smoke asked as soon as the door was opened. His words were rushed and worry drenched his eyes, but all Annie could focus on was the lack of shirt covering his upper body.

Her eyes slipped down his chest, falling over the peaks and valleys of a part of him she hadn't yet seen.

“Ye-yeah,” she coughed out, ridding her mind of those thoughts. She pointed in the direction of her bedroom, nervous yet determined. “It’s very nice, but I think I’d be a little more comfortable if we slept together. I mean, like—like if I stayed in your room—if you’re okay with that—obviously.” The suggestion came out jumbled and lacking the confidence the young woman normally possessed. She was embarrassed to be asking such a thing, upset at herself for seemingly not being able to sleep without the young man anymore. She wanted to laugh at her own self—and her reaction to the new person in her life—but as she went to do so, Smoke was already holding the bedroom door more open and allowing her entry.

Annie blinked in shock and a tiny bit of awe before entering, her shoulder lightly brushing against Smoke’s chest. A shudder ran through him and his stomach tightened. The husband would be lying if he said he hadn’t thought of the wedding more times than he should’ve, if he said he hadn’t thought of the one kiss they’d ever shared. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been sat up in bed with Annie on his mind. But as he closed the bedroom door behind him and watched his wife step quietly toward the bed, his breath caught itself on the way out.

“I don’t know if I can sleep without you in the same room anymore,” Annie laughed embarrassedly, shuffling under the covers on the far side of the bed. The way she settled herself brought a goofy smile to Smoke’s face because he couldn’t deny the comfort they had brought out of each other. A week ago, they didn’t even know each other’s names, and here they were, sharing space like they always had. “Have I ever told you that you smell really good,” the woman questioned. She moved the comforter to her nose and took a deep inhale.

“No, you haven’t,” Elijah smiled, sitting next to her on the bed. “But I could tell because when we hugged earlier you wouldn’t let me go.”

“Okay, but that has more to do with you feeling good than smelling good,” Annie laughed, unsuccessfully trying to deflect. She tossed her head back as her giggles continued. They snuffed out the room's nervous energy, surrounding the young couple in warmth.

Her husband grinned in victory at having her erupt into a fit of laughter, soon moving to shift under the covers with her. He faced her, head cradled by his palm, and when he reached out, he tangled his other hand in her nightgown.

“You feel good, too.”

It was simple and honest.

And with an ease that neither of them quite understood, it lit Annie ablaze.

Nothing had been clearly determined when the married pair shuffled closer to each other. Nothing had been decided when their bodies inevitably collided.

Annie’s hands found themselves at the back of Smoke’s head, fingers running through his hair and holding his face close to hers. She shivered when his palms laid residence to her waist and right under the curve of her breast, and when he shuddered a breath—warm and timid against her lips—she pulled him in.

The kiss was passion-filled and drenched in tension that had been growing for days. Between shared meals and quiet laughs. Between calls from family and updates on business and how bad the polls had tanked.

They had been inching closer to each other in ways only the two of them could understand, but now they were in a fully private space with no real care in the world besides each other. Before now, they had used their newness as an excuse to not explore what was right in front of them. But they were ready to touch each other like they’d been avoiding. They were to taste and feel and experience. They were ready to let themselves fall under the spell of their desire.

And there was no turning back.

Their breaths turned hot, and when Annie’s mouth opened to Elijah’s tongue, a heady need overcame her.

Smoke, trying his best to listen to his wife’s direction, allowed his hand to drift up the length of her thigh. Rough fingers traversed skin softer than what he felt worthy enough to experience, toying with the laced edge of her gown.

And as his fingers retreated to give Annie a second to collect herself from the moans quaking her, she uttered an honest please, and he gave her everything she’d been wanting.

~~~~~

One month—the time between the wedding and the election—and the hopeful politician had tanked in the polls, the republican nominee skyrocketing in the public’s favor.

It had been hanging over the heads of both families, lingering in every corner of their minds. Henry was concerned with his duty to Mississippi and his potential legacy as the first Black governor of the state. Michelle was anxious about her duty as his wife, what new and challenging tasks his position could spring onto her. Eli worried about his investment in the Laveau’s, how this could tank him if it went sideways. But Annie and Smoke were only worried that if Henry Laveau didn’t win, their marriage would be annulled.

As the votes were tallied for each county, anxiety flooded their bodies. Fear coursed through their veins.

They made up their minds, just as the decision was about to come in, that no matter what happened, they’d always make their way back to each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

word count: ~5,600

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