"The Weight Of Your Gaze" pt 7
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
Summary:
Annie is a Queen.
A good one at that. But theres one issue...
She remains unmarried. With a list of betrothals broken off due to her being a "difficult" woman to deal with by past suitors, her council, desperate to find her a husband hatch a plan to host a tournament for men across the land to fight for her hand in marriage. Two Mercenary twin brother's, down on their luck, see it as their moment to strike big. The biggest they've ever went to bat for.
Content: enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, violence, peer pressure, manipulation, misogyny, sexual tension, slow burn, political intrigue
Cw: explicit language, heavy sexual tension, sexual situations.
A/n: Its been a minute, so If it feels a little jumpy, sorry in advance. This chapter was giving me a hard time🥲
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For once, it wasnt blisteringly hot.
It was a nice tepid weather, a cool breeze acting as a balm against the risidual heat of the sun.
Annie, Pearline, and Mary were outside seated next to the estate fountains. It had been a while since all three if them had the chance to spend some recreational time together. Servants flitted about handing out refreshments to the ladies.
The women shared a companionable silence, listening to the calm rush of the water fountain, watching the butterflies and bees fluttering about, too busy collecting nectar from the lush flower beds surrounding the garden.
Pearline was first to break the calm, asking Mary and Annie how things have been as she had been gone for a little while to visit family with her husband.
"Well 'lil Ms. Mary here has been quiet busy since you been gone." Annie quipped cheekily. A sly smile spread across her face.
Mary almost choked on her drink, leading her into a coughing fit. Pearline leaned over to her, patting the woman's back to help clear her airways. A slight giggle shaking her shoulders as she did.
Mary whirled on the queen, cheeks a light pink from both her exertion and to what Annie was implying at the same time. "Anisa! You cant just be goin' on saying those things in front of mixed company." She breathed, looking around at the few servants that were around, flustered.
"Oh girl hush, aint no one mentioned anything inappropriate." Annie rolled her eyes dramatically, though her light smirk still lingered from her subtle teasing.
You done told on yourself with that reaction... She thought to herself.
Pearline watched the interaction, eyes heavy with intrigue. "Oh? Now girl you gotta tell me whats been goin' on, on your side of the pond." She leaned back, eyeing Mary with an expectant look.
"Pearl, it wasnt much that was goin' on, Annie just bein' dramatic." She waved her off, "but if you must know, me an' Stack have a 'lil thing goin' right now."
Pearlines eyes bugged in suprise. "The twin to Annie's husband?"
"Yep that's the one" she nodded in assent.
"Wow... I dont know Mary, seems like a lot happened while I was gone. Couldnt have been only a few weeks so far. Now how'd that go about?"
Mary breathed a reflective sigh... "Didnt take much, we just seem to really connect is all. Then all of a sudden, were a thing."
"You gon' marry 'im?"
"I dont know... In my mind, and in a perfect world I'd like to. I dont know how possible it would be you know? With my status an' all... Anisa's circumstances is a 'lil different than mine" Her mood shifting into a quiet melancholy.
"I wouldnt worry 'bout all that. You aint married and you know you have freedom behind these walls. If marriage aint in the cards for ya'll then I say enjoy the relationship you got while you have it." Annie soothed.
Pealine leaned over and wrapped her hand in Mary's with a reassuring squeeze," Trust me. Its better to have experienced a relationship and a love like that, than to not experience it at all.... besides, you dont know what the future holds."
"I know... -but enough about me, why dont you ask Annie how things have been going with her husband." Mary added mischievously, while also no longer interested in talking about whag was going on between her and Stack.
Pearline brightened, "Ooo- yes girl, I was gonna get to that. How've things been Annie? I know last time when I left things were a 'lil tense between you two."
Annie rolled her eyes, " Well it aint much, mostly been busy. Tryna adjust to the new dynamic an' all now that he's assuming a new position."
"Are yall cool then?" Both Pearline and Mary looked at her, anticipating their friends response.
"We cool..."
After a few moments of silence they realized that she wasnt going to add anymore information than that.
Mary huffed out a snort, "Really? Thats it? "We cool" is all you gotta say?"
"Yes, thats all I gotta say an' thats all you gon' get from me too." Annie replied in a playful manner, but an undeniable air of defensiveness that said dont push too much now.
Pearline grasped Annie's hand, "Thats good to hear. Way better than the way yall were squabbling last time I saw you two." A small smile formed across her face.
"-Dont get me wrong now, he still a fussy man to deal with but we gettin' used to eachother. He aint useless or nothin' like that." Annie added.
Pearline let out a light chuckle before it ended in a knowing hum. "Alright..."
Mary piped in again, "So you tellin' me you sleeping next to a man like that an' yall aint tried nothin'?" An air of suprise in her tone as she tried to wrap her head around the nature of the queen and her husband.
"Mary- Girl, you an' I had this conversation before, and my answer is still the same. Aint nothin happenin' 'tween me an' him. We husband an' wife on paper only." She let out a derisive snort at that.
Pearline piped in, " I aint gon' lie Annie, you my girl an' all but he aint a bad lookin' man... from what it sounds like from you is that he seems decent enough. You know lives like ours were lucky to end up with a partner that aint half bad to look at. Im over here stuck with some ancient dinosaur of a husband who cant do shit for me." Pearline sighed dramatically at the mention of her husband.
"Damn he still aint made you a widow yet? That bastard must be immortal or somethin'. Would've thought he'd croak during your family visit." Mary groused.
"Lord, I wish he would've", Pearline let out another long suffering sigh. "The way his wrinkled ass kept tryin' to get a 'lil piece of me like his dick work still or somethin'." She shuddered at the memory.
"Ugh- sorry Pearl." Annie tried to comfort her after involuntarily letting out a noise of disgust.
"Tell me about it, the minute I felt his shriveled up hand tryna touch my thigh, I was drier than desert sand. Mind you I wasn't wet to begin with, I damn near gave myself carpet burn." Pearline nose wrinkled in disgust at the memory.
Mary gave the woman a pat on her back, "Nuh-uh Pearl we cant have you goin' out like this. You aint get your itch scratched at them clubs you go to in town?"
The woman shook her head, "I really only go there to sing an' dance. Let loose for a while, remind myself that there's more to life than all this stuffy courtly business." She waved her hand around the area for emphasis.
"No girl. I cant let you go on in this life without finding you someone to properly scratch that itch for you. I wont allow it. Imma find you someone." Mary said resolute in her decision to find somebody for Pearline.
"Mary you cant be serious-"
"Serious as a heart attack Pearl. We gone find you a man... or woman, you know I dont judge."
Annie shook her head at her friends shenanigans.
Not too far off the women heard distant chatter. It was the very twins they were talking about, seemingly deep in conversation.
"Well speak of the devil..." Mary muttered, her cheeks turning a light pink.
"Looks like my headache is makin' his way towards me." Annie breathed.
Despite her words Pearline noticed an inexplicable fluttering of Annie's eyes as he saw her husband make his way near her.
Is Annie...? Hm...
"Whats goin' on ladies? See ya'll enjoyin' this nice weather we havin' out here." Stack greeted, arms wide and open. The older twin remained silent, nodding in acknowledgment to the other ladies, turning to Annie.
"Anisa" is all he said in greeting.
"Smoke" is all she responded with, nodding in a small curtsy towards her husband. For some reason she noticed his eye twitch st the name she used.
What the- now he gotta problem with Smoke? Like he wasnt arguin' me down the first week of our marriage about that? This man cant be serious...
Her lips pursed, eyebrows slightly furrowed as she burned a hole into his face. Her look saying what the hell is your problem?.
He slightly kissed his teeth at their silent exchange.
The rest of the group continued on, unaware of the silent argument the couple were having with their eyes.
"Hi Stack, we out here enjoyin' the weather an all. Its been a minute since we last had it calm enough to be outside without roasting."
"Aint that the truth- oh Im sorry Lady Mary, I dont think Ive probably been introduced to your other friend here?" Stack's eyes landed on Pearline.
Elijah cut his eyes to the side of the younger twins head. Stack could feel heat of his intense gaze, but didnt look at the other brother.
"Oh this here is my one of my closest friends Pearline." She chirped enthusiastically.
"Oh is that right? Well its lovely to meet you Ms. Pearline. Pleasure to meet your aquaintence." He lightly grasped her hand, planting a whisper of a kiss onto her lifted hand.
Annie watched the exchange with an increasing interest. She noted Mary's face slightly twitch. A twinge of barely contained irritation seeming to leak out of her, at the friendly exchange between Stack and Pearline.
Annie's mind thought of the loaded look Elijah had gave his brother. Her eyes squinted.
Oh... Theres something here, and he aint said nothing to me about it.
In all honesty Annie knew part of it was because they spent a good portion of their relationship arguing, but now that they were at a tentative truce at the moment she was curious to know what that was about. She'll bring it up to him later. For now she was in no mood to open up what would no doubt be a can of worms while the day has been so nice and relaxing so far.
"Welp-" Annie interrupted the current introductions, "dont let us keep yall, seems like yall were deep in conversation."
"Oh it aint know issue my Queen, me an' Smoke weren't talkin' bout anything all that important."
Annie stiffled a frustrated huff, that was ready to escape her nose, I know they weren't talkin' 'bout nothin that important. What I want is for him to move on from here since he clearly stirring up foreseeable trouble. Mary breathin' through her nose so hard, puffing like she an angry bull.
She eyed Stacks very comfortable actions he was displaying against the very married Pearline. She fixed her lips towards him, " careful now, Lady Pearline a married woman. Don't want to let people get the wrong idea's 'round here in court..." her eyes unwavering as she stared at the mischievous twin.
Stack let her hand go, "Oh sorry, that wasnt my intentions at all- dont want to cause problems 'round here." He lifted his hands in a surrender.
"Me an' Stack were just passin' by. Aint mean to cause nothin'." Elijah gritted out. He grabbed Stacks shoulder firmly physically moving the younger twin away from the women.
The ladies resumed their conversation, a little less animated than before, a quiet, unspoken tension had settled over them.
Annie didnt like it.
There were too many questions swirling her thoughts, fighting for dominance over which took residence over the others.
What kind of debt drove a man like Elijah to agree to this in the first place?
What exactly was the nature of Mary and the younger twins relationship? From all that Mary went on about, you'd think they would be infatuated with eachother. After seeing that interaction, its looking a little one sided if Annie was being honest.
-And what exactly was the younger twins deal? She didnt like how easy his presence titled the peaceful balance they had just minutes prior.
She wouldnt lie and say it didnt make her side eye her husband a little. Sure, they were... she actually wasnt sure where exactly they were at- but again he's done things for her she's never asked.
Even getting rid of her childhood friend because he made her upset. However if the company he brought with him were causing any issue's, then that would reflect on him as well. They're kin, known eachother their whole lives, and even with the things he had said to her despite the somewhat short time of knowing eachother, blood was still thicker than water.
She didnt acknowledged the small twinge in her heart at that thought.
Then there was matters of the council... Too many things have been happening, she hasnt had the chance to work on revamping her team with new advisors. Not even had the time to look around and evaluate other elders around here or neighboring kingdom's to build a new council instead.
Annie brought her manicured fingers towards her forhead, attempting to rub away the oncoming headache forming. Her brows creased.
"You good Anne?"
The Queen turned her head towards Pearline. Her friends eyes full on quiet concern.
"Y-yeah Pearl. Im fine. Just a 'lil tired is all, I didnt get much sleep."
"Oh is that right?" Pearlines brows lifted suggestively, a humorous smirk on her face.
"Girl- stop it-" she giggled, "you know I got alot on my plate" she playfully patted her arm, both their shoulders shaking from restrained laughter.
Annie noticed that Mary became a little disconnected from their little hangout, no longer joining the conversation that much.
Annie took a sip of her drink...
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"Now, just what was that?"
"What was what?"
"Dont act like you dont know what Im talkin' 'bout fool. Whatchu doin' stirrin' some shit up between Anisa's girls now?"
"Whatchu mean "stirrin' up trouble"? Im just greetin' a pretty lady."
"Stack... I know you may be deaf, but you sure as hell aint blind. You seen how Mary was lookin' when you did that."
"Sounds like that's her problem, I aint said shit to her about bein' official 'bout nothin'. 'Sides she sure as hell aint one to talk bein' jealous over shit like that. Dont matter what what I do Smoke, that girl addicted to me." Stack shook his head with a smile, borderline one of disbelief. "Give a girl a lil lip service 'tween the legs and they wont come up off ya' I swear."
Stack looked to his brother, "So how 'bout you huh? Give the queen any relief?... -heh, prolly not, she move stiff- she's wound up tighter than bow string."
Smoke completely skipped over what Stack was implying, refusing to grace that comment with an answer, "I dont give a fuck what you an' that 'lil hussy of yours got goin' on together, I just dont want none of that shit yall be doin' affecting Anisa, which affects me too. She already got a lot of shit goin' on with her Stack."
"Man, didnt I already tell you not worry 'bout nothin' you know little brother got this."
"Do you? Really? Cause I see another fuck up in the makin' looking nice an ready to blow up in our faces again."
The younger twins face tightened, his jovial attitued seemed to vanish in an instant.
Before he could say anything back, a woman, no doubt one of Stacks many flings in the manor had called him over.
Like a switch, his devil-may-care attitude came right on back, "Well, looks like I got some other things need attendin', see ya' later Smoke" he gave the older twin a hearty clap on his shoulder, before heading towards the unidentified woman.
"Ms. Lady, you lookin' mighty fine today- I see you wearing all that red. Now you know that's my favorite color right?"
Smoke continued on, walking the grounds. Things around here were so quiet, he had no other space than to just think.
Aside from Stack sowing seeds of chaos like he seemed incapable of *not doing, his mind drifted back to his wife again. Something he found himself doing more and more often these days.
He couldnt help the distaste and irritation that seemed to bubble up when Anisa referred to him as Smoke infront of company.
Shit dont even sound right comin' out her mouth anymore.
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Smoke found himself walking across the fields outside the estate again. Something he found himself beginning to do habitually as he would patrol the outskirts of the estate. Old habits die hard.
He came out here whenever things got too loud within the walls, and he needed to decompress a little.
There were no council meetings today so he had the chance to enjoy the the weather, the lukewarm sun and the wind of a distant ocean breeze made the long grass undulate against the shine of the sun like waves of green.
After a certain amount of distance, Elijah sat on a flattened patch of earth. He paused, listening to the distant chirps of songbirds in the distance, the buzzing chatter of distant cicadas, and the rustling of trees, their leaves gently rubbing against eachother.
He closed his eyes, inhaling the earth and air around him for a few moments, before he dug in his pocket, fishing out his pack of cigs.
He pulled one out and placed it against his lips before igniting a match-
"Smoke"
His hand froze in midair, the small flame shimmering in the wind.
"You know that aint my name woman" he gruffed, finally lighting his cigarette before taking a deep inhale.
"Oh really? Last I remember you was adamant that, that's what your name was to me. Or am I forgettin' somethin'?" Her rich tone dripping with sarcasm.
The fuck?
"Whats your problem? You was just pushin' all up on me last night, now you all irate an' shit the very next day."
"You must got some amnesia like you aint just kiss yo' teeth at me not too long ago. What was that between you and your brother?"
Elijah turned around to look at her, her deep purple gown billowing in the wind, its rich iridescent fabrics glinted a rich shimmery almost gold-like shimmer in the sun.
He was irritated plenty. How Stack was moving, stirring up trouble, Obidiahs annoying bald headed self, his wife following him out to his place of peace to disturb it, and above all, how fine she was looking to him right now. Made all that other shit that was annoying him dissappear.
"You want a answer?"
"Yes."
"C'mere", he motioned her over to where he was seated.
"This is close enough"
"No it aint"
She puffed out an exasperated breath, already over him and his demands. "Your impossible", but she still made her way next to him regardless.
"Just as much as you are baby", he reached for her hand as she got near and pulled her down next to him gently.
She seated herself next to him, a few inches of space between them. "Well?" She prompted, a curious brow raised.
"My brother..." he trailed off, trying to compose his thoughts on exactly what it is he wanted to say. "Stack seem to have a knack for stirrin' up trouble without meanin' to sometimes." Elijah kept his eyes forward, looking out towards the field, taking another deep inhale.
".... Is this gon' be a problem?" Annie's eyes were lazer focused on the side of his face. Hunting for any micro expression to say what his mouth might not.
He was quiet for a few seconds, but it felt like hours, waiting for the verdict.
"Elijah" she pushed a bit more.
"No. Imma handle it 'fore it even becomes one." He turned his face towards hers, his heavy eyes wanting to implore her that this wasnt something he wanted her to worry about.
"Okay..."
Elijah didnt like the way she dragged the last syllable, but he didnt blame her. She was perceptive. Already trying to calculate all the outcomes a budding dynamic between Mary and Stack could become a problem.
With that little stint he did with that other woman, Pearline, and the blurred lines of what exactly the relationship status between those two, he'd hope it wouldnt become and issue. Smoke wasnt worried about Stack, for all the nonsense he gets up to he somehow always manage to weasle his way out with limited to no repercussions.
Hell I dont even know how he does it.
It was Mary that he was worried about.
He hasnt interacted with her much, if at all, but as troublesome as Stack is, he was always strategic with it. But this girl was a wild card...
He wasnt sure how aware Anisa was of her friend and her little "rendezvous" that shes had with her past suitors, but he didnt want to broach the subject... at least not yet.
They had a tentative understanding of sorts, but they still havent known eachother that long, and Marys been her friend since she was a child. He knew Anisa probably still trusted him as far as she could throw him and adding on to the new found suspicion that she is developing for his twin, bringing something like that up anytime soon would just end in disaster.
He decided to change the subject, "That council of yours... you ever thought 'bout changing them out?"
Anisa was quiet for awhile, in the corner of her eyeline she caught the glimpse of blue butterfly wings. She zeroed in on it as it perched on one of the purple wild flowers in the long grass, watching as it was extracting nectar, its wings batting furiously to keep its balance on its petals long enough to get its fill.
After a while she let out a long exhale before she finally spoke...
"Why you ask?"
"I know you aint too fond of 'em, cant say I blame you either. If Im bein' honest, I dont think they got your best interest at heart."
"And you do?"
"Yes..."
"How so?"
"Oh- uh, well..." He went quiet, at a loss for words, "You my wife aintchya?" His hands waved around to the open field, gesturing at nothing.
"An' whats that s'possed to mean?" She was looking at him now, her head titled to the side while her hand cradeled her face, a speculative brow raised.
"Well its what Im s'possed to do as your husband. I thought we went over this already." He was beginning to get a little flustered. He never questioned why he did what he did. He just did what felt right, and what felt right to him was to make sure she was good.
"Looks like you startin' to take this husband business seriously..." she trailed off, a teasing smirk graced her lips while she looked at him with mischievous eyes. " Who woulda thought, you aint even like me callin' you by a name you were so adamant at having me call you huh? I seen that attitude you gave me when I called you Smoke in front of my ladies."
"Well- I told you, that my name is only for you-" He cut himself off taking another deep inhale of his cigarrette. It must of been too deep 'cause it landed him right into a coughing fit.
Annie's shoulders started to shake, a quiet but warm giggle bubbled out from her at Elijah's floundering. She lifted her hand to pat it repeatedly against his wide back, to help him clear out his airways.
A deep frown formed on his lips, "whats so funny?"
"You, you a mess."
"No I aint."
"Yes you are."
"I aint" he groused, but there was no real heat behind his words.
At some point her pats became a soothing circles against the middle of his back. He was always keenly aware of her touch, it felt like a searing brand against his skin despite the layers of clothing between them. Its been a little over a month and they rarely ever did.
Almost like she could read where his thoughts were going she removed her hand. The loss of her heat emphasized by the cool breeze.
It brought a shiver to his spine.
"To answer your question, yes I have thought about it. Plenty of times- getting rid of 'em. Replacin' them with some actual competence. -Its just-" she paused, "Ive been so busy, I havent had the time to go an' make preparations for it. I mean it would be complete turn around. A change as big as that cant be made so rash."
"Mmm..." he hummed, "I can help if you want."
"No. I wouldnt ask you to do that."
"Good thing you didnt, I offered-"
"Smoke-"
"What I tell you 'bout callin' me that."
"I aint gotta listen to a thing you tell me to say, just like you aint listenin' to me when I tell you to leave somethin' well enough alone."
"I dont have to leave shit alone, you say you been too busy to deal with it, then the fuck am I doin' sittin' around here for? I might as well make myself useful."
"But I just said-"
"I already heard what the fuck you just said an' it sound like nonsense."
The intensity of the glare Annie was throwing his way, would've incinerated any man on the spot, but Elijah was anything but an ordinary man.
"I dont know what kind of men you used to dealin' with, prolly the type that let 'chu run all over them, tuck tail when things get a lil hard, but I aint one of them ones."
"...."
Elijah half expected her to leave, something she seem to develope a fondness for when it came to him. But instead, she stayed.
She stubbornly faced away from him, he could tell she was very unhappy, but the fact that she stayed felt like progress in a way.
"Anisa..."
No response.
"Annie"
She turned slightly, she was looking at him from the corner of her eyebrows. She was listening.
"I dont mean to be rough with you. I wanna help... Like I said before, we in this together... This is just as much for me as it is for you. 'Cause you already know I dont like none of them muthafuckas- If it were up to me..."
Annie let out a wry chuckle, "what? You'd get rid of 'em?"
"Shit, If I have to. Either way they'd be no more, dead or alive- only if you were okay with it though"
"Ha- well atleast you considerin' how I'd feel about it."
" 'Course, I remember what you told me last night."
Annie felt heat bloom across her cheeks as memories of their conversation last night. How she blatantly teased and rubbed up against him, something would've never thought in a thousand years she would do to a man that constantly makes her want to choke him... And do other things too
She would never say it out loud, but he sets a fire in her, a heat she never felt before with another man. It drove her insane, she didnt know whether she wanted to kill him or kiss at times.
Sometimes both.
"Good to know you can listen when your ready" she rolled her eyes.
"So whats it gon' be?"
".... okay. You can help me."
"Dont worry, Its all on your time I aint gon' overstep. This here still your domain, I just wanna be useful." He reassured.
"Useful?" She fully turned towards him, here expressive doe eyes wide and open.
"Mhm"
"Huh..." Is all she said before she got up ready to leave. A reflective look across her face.
"You leavin' me already?"
"Oh boy hush, Im right next door I couldnt escape you if I tried."
"You got that right."
This man-
And with that she left him to his own devices.
She didnt know what it was, why she never hung around him for too long. The air always felt suffocating, thick with things said and unsaid. Taut like a bow string ready to snap at any point.
Aint one of them ones he say?
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Elijah didnt know what happened, but another shift between him and his wife happened.
He didnt know what to do with himself with this new change. Somehow it was worse... for his psyche at least.
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It started small.
They had wrapped up on another council meeting where they essentially talked in circles for an hour. Everyone was getting up to leave before the Queen had stopped Elijah from leaving, grasping one of the sleeves of his robes.
Everyone exiting the room momentarily paused, they had been curious about the status of the newlyweds. They weren't sure if much progress had been made between those two so to see the queen initiate contact with the king was something of note.
Anisa got up from her chair, Elijah assisting her ascent, then she leaned on to him, placing her face right into the crook of his neck. Her other hand planted over his chest, directly over his heart.
He stiffened, not expecting her to do something like that. Be so forward im initiating any type physical contact between the two infront of an audience. Something she rarely did even when it was just the two of them.
She whispered in a low hush, quiet enough for only him to be able to hear her, the ghost of her breath caressed his ear. He supressed an oncoming shiver crawling up his spine. "Im almost ready, I'll let you know when the times right."
He could've sworn she lightly blew in his ear as she said it.
What did she even mea- oh? She must mean replacing the council...
There was almost a double meaning to what she said but he kept it to himself for once.
Just as he was about to make a move to touch her, she stepped away and walked out the door with the rest of the council. She moved so quickly it was like she flowed between his fingertips like he was trying to grasp at smoke. The irony wasnt lost on him.
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He'd be lazing about on the balcony just before it was time for bed, occasionally joined by her.
It was becoming a sort of ritual by this point, he would take his little smoke break to decompress from the days activities, and it seemed Anisa used that period to decompress as well.
Though Elijah knew of better ways to decompress than staring at trees and bickering all the damn time.
As predicted, Anisa came out to sit in the chair not too far from his own, this time with a few knitting supplies. There was no greeting, because there was no need to, a small exchange of glances was all the acknowledgment needed in their shared space. All that could be heard was the quiet rustle of shifting threads as Annie went about knitting them together. Into what exactly? Smoke didnt know, but he'd eventually find out as she progressed.
He watched her hands dexterously move in quick, fine tuned movements, quietly, intrigued.
"What you knittin'?"
"Huh? Oh- this? Im making a light sweater for Ruth."
"Ah... She a 'lil ball of nerves aint she."
Annie let out an amused breath, "Yeah she is. Always shiverin' an' shakin' good lord- poor thing. She been here for over half a year now. You'd think she'd be used to it by now, but no."
"She still young, maybe this typa life just aint for her. Shit- I get it. Dont know if Ill ever get used to all this. Dont know how you do it"
"You only been here a few weeks Elijah..."
"I know... Im just sayin' I get it."
Annie hummed, "I figured I'd go ahead and make a 'lil sweater for her. She such a small thing, all that shiverin' she be doing. I know its part nerves but I wouldnt be suprised if she cold. She needs some iron in her diet."
Smoke saw a small crease of worry at her brow for the young girl. "What about you? I know you been here all your life, an' you know what your doin' thats for damn sure but- If you had a choice... would you still be here?"
"I...-In some ways I think I'd be doin' the same thing Im doin' now, just on a smaller scale. I sure as hell wouldnt be runnin' no kingdom thats for certain... Maybe a shop? Some place where I could help people. The community one on one."
Elijah nodded quietly, a thoughful hum leaving his lips.
"- I will say... even with all the extra hoops an' regulations that come with bein' queen... Its fulfillin' in a similar way. Only difference is scale is all." The clicks of her knitting needles slowed to a stop. She looked off into the distance. Like she was quietly deliberating over the next words that were she would say.
"I know we talked on it briefly but... I seen how capable you are, no doubt your twin as well, so I wanna know... just what kinda debt was it that had ya'll going through with all this?"
Annie had never seen Elijah shift so uncomfortably. His hands started that same tremoring it was doing on their wedding day. "I- Im not gonna lie to you Anne. I dont know if Im ready to speak on the why. Just know aint nothin' gon' come of it."
She left it alone. Inexplicably she felt he would eventually tell her when he was ready. But that did leave a question:
"You dont have to tell me how much you owe. I just wanna know if its steep enough that the crowns funds would would be deeply affected."
"No. Not at all- I aint touchin' none of that money to pay somethin' like that off ya hear me?"
"Then how you gon' pay it off? With your own money? If thats the case you wouldnt be here right now." She reasoned.
"I been toyin' with some Idea's..."
That made her perk up, "Like what?"
"Me an' Stack always thought about startin' up a 'lil Juke Joint. A place for people to come an' forget their worries. Music. Dance. Drinks an' all the like. As long as the crowns name is attached to it, revenue'll come pourin' in. It would be a good way to check the temperature of the kingdoms subjects, interact with them, keep up morale and build deeper relationships if used wisely. I'll use those funds to pay off our debt in no time."
"Huh."
"What?"
"Its not a bad idea, I just wouldnt have thought you'd wanna do somethin' like that."
"You wouldnt be wrong. Its more of somethin' Stack would want to do. I do like a slower pace."
That had Annie's mind moving. Since knowing her husband, she hasnt seen him explicitly express anything that would be of interest for him and himself only. Not counting his overt interest in her, just the thought had her flustered all over again. It pissed her off -nows not the time to be thinking of those things Annie- think...
Then a moment came to her. A very small one but one that felt significant to her. The first council meeting, the mention of a recreational center of sorts for troubled youth had caught 'Lijah's attention like a fly stuck in a spiders web. I thought took root. A thought that she would never in a millions years she would think to share or do in any capacity, but with how adamant he has been in wanting to share some responsibilities-
I think the man just loves work,
She was hesitant but willing to take a risk.
Only one way to prove if he was a man that could handle this kind of pressure, of course she knew he could handle pressure, but this required a different kind of pressure, diplomacy and patience, however it goes will determine if she'll really welcome his help in searching for new members.
"Elijah?"
"Mhm."
"How you feel about overseein' the creation of that recreational center for troubled youth we've been talkin' about in these meetings on an' off for over the month. I doubt those incompetent people that I call a council will truly go through with it... Is this somethin' you can handle?" She watched his face carefully.
He was quiet for a beat. Fully taking in not only what she asked, but the inquiry buried underneath it. You wanna share some of the burden? Let me see if this is something you can handle. Not only was he up to the task, it was something he'd been quietly wanting to get involved with in the background. He was planning to ask her about it the day that sorry ass "man" called Brandon got him sidetracked.
"Yes... I would like to be involved in that. Dont worry 'bout adding on to my plate. Im built sturdy, I can handle the pressure an' then some."
Annie couldnt help but let her eyes wander over his relaxed posture when he said that. He aint lyin' 'bout that. She felt just how sturdy that man was when she pushed up on him. She currently took a particular interest in the way his lips wrapped around that cigarrette he seem to always have in his mouth. A thought. A particularly dangerous thought, that through sheer determination she refused to let cross her mind, widdled its way to the surface.
What would it be like to really feel those lips against her own? Not like the chaste kiss they shared a month ago on their wedding day, but one that lingers long enough to for her to taste him upon her lips.
Elijah was not a subtle man at all when he was ready. Very much the opposite. He had no issues in voicing his attraction to her, as audacious and rocky his approach was it lit her up. Simultaneously turning her off by his uncouth behavior, having never dealt with a man so forward, and undeniably turned on. He caused a whirlwind in both her mind and body.
The way his featherlight touch caressed and toyed with her earring led her treacherous mind into wondering what it would be like if he touched other parts of herself with the same level of attention.
She felt a light, fluttering of a pulse between her legs at the thought. She covertly crossed her legs to one side, distractedly clearing her throat.
"-ehm, that's good to know. In the next meeting we'll make sure Cyrus gives you the blue prints, you can make it your own. Lord knows he aint doin' shit with 'em 'cept talkin' out his ass." She let out a nervous chuckle
He eyed her with a curious glance, "Thanks Annie. 'Preciate it." He responded gruffly, but with an underlying tenderness and appreciation for her letting him get involved.
He knew how difficult it probly was for her to relinquish some control. Especially on the backs of people constantly letting her down as it seems lately. Given how big of a move this is for her...
He refuses to disappoint her.
Due to the cooler weather from this afternoon, the night air was brisk, making Annie and Elijah wear thicker night clothing. In Annie's case she wore a thicker loose robe over her usual night gowns, so it wasnt the usual feast for the eyes that he'd get almost every night, and his eyes were always greedy when it came to her. It didnt matter though, that woman could wear a trash bag and still look as radiant as the sun. It looked like she just absorbed the moonlight with how luminous her skin looked. No doubt doused in expensive body oils and butters.
She shifted, resuming back to her knitting, leaned to one side of the chairs. Almost unconsciously leaning into the space closest to where he was currently seated. The movement made the neckline of the robe open slightly, a sliver of cleavage almost peaking out. The fine tuned movements from her knitting making her chest slightly jigg-
Lord- this woman got me thinking like some green teenager. If Id known better I wouldve thought she was doin' this on purpose-
Smoke thought about how she teased him a few days ago on this very balcony. How close she got to the point where her lips almost brushed his as she whispered her displeasure at him "taking care" of Brandon with out her knowledge.
Nah- she know the affect she have on me. Im startin' to think her ass is doin' this on purpose...
She can play the hot an cold game all she wants. One of these days he gon' call her bluff. Again, and again, and again, 'til she gives in eventually to him.
Smoke is a patient man. Observant too. He knows when to release, be hands off, give space whenever needed and when to apply pressure. With the kind of woman Anisa was, he'd probably have his work cut out for him. Shoot- the kind of man he was? She aint even know whats coming her way.
'Cause once theres something Smoke wants? He stops at nothing to get it, and fortunately or unfortunately he was dead set on Annie.
Their conversation fizzled into a comfortable silence. Despite the whirlwind that was going through both of their minds. His cig long forgotten, as the cherry end of it fizzled out with a thin trail of smoke in its wake.
Elijah let out a long, low yawn. The day decided to catch up to him. He stretched out his arms in emphasis, "Im goin' to sleep."
"Alright. Go on an' get yourself a good night's sleep." She didnt look up from her knitting.
"You aint goin' to bed?"
"No... got some things on my mind."
"Hm.." Im sure you do.
As he got up to take his leave he could feel her eyes on him like the fleeting brush of fingers up the back of his neck. He shook his head once he closed his balcony door behind him.
This woman's somethin' else
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When time came for another meeting Cyrus only was happy to give away the blue prints for a center. Annie had an inkling he had no intentions of actually doing anything with it. Elijah had no outward reaction, but she could see a restless energy in his posture. He almost looks excited...
Once the meeting adjourned and everyone was leaving, Annie paused at the doorway as she was almost the last one to leave the room. Elijah hadnt moved from his seat. He was looking over the build plans with intense focus.
"'Lijah?"
"Mm?"
"You comin'?"
"Uh- yeah, give me a minute. I'll make sure to lock up 'fore I leave. Just wanna take a 'lil look at some of these plans..."
"Okay. Dont take too long."
"Why? You'll miss me?"
Annie rolled her eyes so hard, she could sworn she saw the back of her brain, "No fool just dont leave the room unlocked too long, we got invaluable info and plans in this here room you know?" Even still there was a telltale warmth she felt across her cheeks at the implication.
"How that gon' happen when Im in here?"
"I- well. It dont matter- just make sure to lock up or somethin'." She said in a rush.
"Alright Mrs. Annie. I'll do what you say."
The husky way he said those words, in that low rasp of his-
Annie- get yourself together girl. Gettin' worked up over some damn words, like Im not a grown ass woman.
She left the room, leaving him to his own devices, as he definitely seems very serious about the new venture... She was curious. What exactly was it about this particular project had him so drawn to it? From what she saw of him, she knew for a fact that he had a soft spot for children like her.
But there has to be something more to it...he'll tell me when hes ready, or not at all.
Either way she had to admit she could already feel a bit of alleviation from him taking charge of those plans already. Like she had just a bit more extra room to breathe.
Guess I'll use my free time to check in on 'lil Mary. Last time I seen her, she looked 'bout ready to explode with that trouble maker of hers.
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It took a minute for the Queen to find her. She had to ask one of the staff where to find her.
Mary was standing by on of the open. Corridors in one of the furthest corners of the compound. A location that didnt have as much traffic of people walking through there. Whatever the reason (Annie had an obvious idea of why) she chose this area to be left alone. Too bad for her, Annie was gonna disrupt all that moping.
She was looking out towards the tree line.
"How you doin' lil Mary?"
Mary didnt turn around to aknowledge her presence.
"Still upset with Stack?"
Mary let out a derisive snort, "Hmf! You could say somethin' like that."
"This 'bout that stint he pulled on Pearl?"
"You could say something like that." She groused.
"Well what is it then?" Annie found herself getting irritated with that crytpic shit she was doing.
Mary let out an annoyed huff, turning around to face her friend. "I think... Im sure Stacks been cheatin' on me."
"C'mon Mary, just from that lil interaction between Pearline an 'Stack you think hes cheating all a sudden?"
"Iono, didnt see Pearline pull back fast enough when he was slobbin' all over her hand. You seen it."
"Girl- are you even hearin' yourself right now? She was just tryin' to be polite. If you feel that way you need to take that up with twin, not with Pearl."
Mary deflated a little bit. I know your right. He's been damn near MIA since that day. I only see snippets of him throughout the day. He aint never in one place long enough for us to address anything."
Annie placed a hand on her shoulder, "Iono what to tell you girl, but you gon' have to figure it out."
Mary brought her hands to her eyes, but no tears came. When she pulled them back her eyes remained dry, but an undeniable tiredness was visible. Annie could now see the vague bags under them. She no doubt was losing sleep over this.
No longer interested in where the conversation was headed, Mary quickly changed the subject. "Enough about me an' my situation, how you an' Smoke been?"
For once, Annie didnt feel so defensive about the status of where their relationship is at. As clunky as its been at times, it seems that they're starting to find even footing with eachother, however clumsy this little dance if theirs has been.
And it looked like Mary could use a little distraction, so she divulged a little.
"If im bein' honest girl. Its been fine. He still aint gotta a lick of manners in his bones, but hes proven himself to be a man of his words so far. Already better than most of those bums that were courtin' me in the past."
"Mm I can imagine."
"Yeah, I have half the mind to believe his ass just love work. He's helped around in my garden when I let 'im, so he can stop pesterin' me. But I wont lie an' say its not appreciated."
"Wow. Shoot, I almost wish we switched twins. You want to? 'Cause mines stressin' me the hell out." She chuckled.
It gave Annie's pause.
She knew it was a light joke but... She didn't find it all that funny. She still remembered how Mary was at the tournament, gushing over Elijah. Annie had half the mind to think that Mary went after Stack, cause they almost look the same. Not to Annie though. She could tell wether which twin was 'Lijah with her back turned. As soon as the thought came she waved it away, doubtful.
She hummed in response. "Nah, Im good. Ill stick to his annoyin' ass. Its what Im familiar with", she shrugged with a small huff of laughter. "I hope you an' Stack figure it out. If you need anything, just know you have a listening ear in me." She rubbed her friends back one final time, before leaving her to her own world.
"Bye... Annie"
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Annie made it to her room before she realized. She didnt hear any noise coming from the room next door. Elijahs room.
Curious, she went and knocked on his door.
No answer.
Aint no way- Is he still in the meeting room?
.
.
.
There he was. In the same spot she left him, looking no less ready to leave than when she previously saw him. It had been well over an hour. Hell, probly even two and he hadnt moved. This time he had a pencil hanging halfway off his ear, looking just about ready to drop onto his work.
Clearly he had been reworking the plans, his scribbled handwriting all over the papers. She slowly walked over to him, leaning over his shoulder to look at some of his plans.
"This look nothin' like you gettin' ready to leave now does it?"
He paused. Always distracted by her presence. Even worse with her proximity with her looming over his shoulder. Her breasts were damn near pressed across the wide expanse of his back. Her floral perfume invaded his senses, while she stood bent over his shoulder.
"I was just gettin' ready to head on out."
"Aint look like it."
"Dont gotta look like it to be any less true."
"Hm..." She hummed while absent mindedly grabbing at the pencil that looked 'bout ready to drop out the crook of his ear. Her nails lightly grazing the shell of his ear while she lifted the pencil back in place a little further back to prevent it from falling off.
His whole body tensed at the contact. He let out a long, quiet exhale attempting to relax his shoulders that were looking very close to giving his ears a high five with how much he was attempting to not shrug them up. His ears were always a particularly sensitive area for him.
She 'bout to be the death of me. I swear...
He got up suddenly, effectively making her back up off him, to give more room. When he looked at her, her doe eyes looked at him seemingly clueless as to what she was doing to him.
"You think you so slick huh?"
"The hell I need to be slick about? Only thing you need to be slick with is slidin' your ass up outta this here room so we can lock it up. C'mon."
He watched the sway of her hips as she walked in front of him, leading him out the door.
"Mhm..." is all he hummed in response.
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A tension that lingered in the background between them, remained on the brink of... something. Like blowing into a balloon thats one more breath away from popping.
This hot and cold shit the Queen was doing was starting to drive Elijah up the wall.
Next time she try some shit, like I dont know what she doin', Imma call her out on her bluff. Cant have her out here thinkin' she could do anything with me like I aint gon' do shit about it.
"She stay testin' me..." His lone raspy voice echoed across the empty room he was currently occupying.
He rubbed his eyes. Quietly groaning to himself at the thought. The diffused low light of the library he found himself in made his eyes lower with a heaviness thay was bordering on the side of sleepiness. It was late night and he had been using it as a place to flesh out his plans for the recreational center. He even looked into some architectural books for some inspiration. Maybe it could become something made sustainably.
His earlier musings came back with a vengeance. He got irritated all over again. Just walking around pent up.
"An here her ass come along to come an tease me" he kissed his teeth. "I aint never dealt with no shit like this." He groused to himself.
A knock on the door interrupted his disgruntled thoughts. He got up and lumbered his way over, fatigue starting to drag his body.
And there at the door was the object of his distress.
"Whatchu doin' in here so late?" She accused, her eyes squinting in suspicion.
"Woman- dont tell me you walked all the way cross the estate to come find me to nag at me." He bit.
She instantly picked up on his sharper tone that he took with her. Something he hadnt done in a minute as they've almost fully settled into their roles.
"The hell is your problem? An' if I did? That aint no ones problem but mine- let me through." She pushed right on past him, further into the library and directly to the table with all his books and blue prints scattered all over. The dim lights of the room illuminated the baby blue silk night robe she had wrapped around her body, making it almost appear gold in this light.
Each thought entering his mind at that very moment was more sinful then the next of things he wanted to do to her, do with her. Instead of going to her, he went to the aisle's on the other side of the room stacked with books from the floor to the ceiling. He needed some distance.
"Im doin' some research." He finally answered.
"Is that right?"
"Thats right... Now whatchu doin' in here aside from lookin' for me."
"I wasnt lookin' for you... I came to look for a book."
"A book." He deadpanned
"Yes. Is that a problem for you?"
"No... go on' head." He said distractedly leafing through the different hard backs, looking for a book that didnt exist. Anything to distract himself from her proximity to him in the room.
He heard her rustling about through the room, ever drawing nearer. He decided to pick a random book, lean on the opposite shelves that his back was facing. Flipping through pages blindly. Not reading a thing.
She drew nearer, looking through the different titles on the spines of the books, apparently struggling to find what she was looking for. "Whatchu lookin' for?"
"Wouldnt you like to know." She quipped sharply, not looking away from the shelves he himself was just looking through.
He tensed, but didnt move. His body pulled tight, like a fully drawn bow string. She paused right in front of him, her body still facing the opposite, her back to his front. The aisles between the book shelves were narrow. With her just in front of him, her backside almost grazed his front.
Time stood still for him, his eyes narrowed. Every move she made slowed. His book already forgotten. After seemingly not finding what she wanted in the upper shelves, she slightly bent over to look at the lower ones. Her ass lightly pressed up against him, before she quickly shifted away.
He grabbed a hold of her hips, before she got too far. She stilled.
Elijah didnt know if he was going a little crazy 'cause for a split second he felt like he could feel her lean into it, pressing her hips to his-
She whipped around, moving so quick that he felt the residual wind she caused from it.
"What the fuck you think you doin'?" She hissed, positively affronted.
Elijahs face remained unchanged, face as calm as ever, "Nah baby, what the fuck you think your doin'?", he set the book he wasnt reading down on one of the shelves, his eyes never leaving her's.
"Last I checked passing by didnt require all that you just did." She quipped bluntly.
"It does when you steady throwin' ass at me. You think I aint gon' do nothin' about it? C'mon Annie, you know the kinda man I am"
"Throwin' ass? Boy I aint throwin' you a damn thing."
"Woman, you throwin' a whole lot at me, now you mad when Im tryna catch somethin'?"
"The hell you talkin' bout me like Im a ball or somethin? What's wrong with you?"
"You is whats wrong with me."
"Me?"
"Dont act like you confused, you been known what Ive been on witchu, I aint never hid."
"Huh...and what have you been on with you?"
"You wanna know what I been on?"
"Mhm".
She let out a small gasp as he spun her back around, facing the opposite shelves away from him. He leaned over her shoulder, his arms wrapped around the soft skin of her waist, his mouth by her neck, without touching it. He was so close, he could see the goosebumps raise to the surface of her skin in real time. He let out a slow exhale, calming himself, before he spoke again.
"You think I wouldnt notice whatchu doin?" He quietly rasped. He could feel the slightest of a tremble emanate from her body against his.
"I-I aint done shit. Watchu on about? You actin' crazy." But there was no real bite behind her words. She was winded, her voice breathless.
"No crazier than how you been actin'."
"..."
"Walkin' around in that 'lil scrap you call a night gown havin' all them curves out for me on display."
"Maybe they just comfortable to wear." She said back, so quiet, it was almost a whisper.
"Woman, you an' I both know it gets chilly at night. Aint no way to all that comfortable with them titties all out an' about. Not like Im complaining." He felt her shift in his hold. Her body restless.
"Out here blowin' in my ears whisperin' an' shit, like you aint know whatchu do to me." He felt more than heard her take a quiet inhale of breath, her rib cage gently expanding, before contracting.
"Then you stay toyin with me like I aint gone do shit huh?..."
She didnt respond.
"I keep tellin' you the kinda man I am Annie, why you stay testin' me?" She turned her head to the side, her wide, brown- doe eyes looking directly into his. Her face unreadable, except the barest hint of a twinkle in her eye. He gently grabbed her chin, lifting her face just a little closer to his. So close that when he spoke, his lips almost brushed her own, slightly parted ones.
"And now, you find yourself on the opposite side of the building from where your bedroom at. Where you s'possed to be at sleepin'- but instead you out here tryna fuss at me about some other shit we know damn well you dont care about. You know Im out here workin' on that project you gave me."
"Out here fake lookin' for books." He gruffed.
"I wasnt- there's somethin' I am lookin' for..." her voice was starting to sound dangerously close to a whine.
"Hmm..." he was unconvinced, he pulled back and spun her forward, having her facing him. He eyed her down, kissing his teeth as he did, when he grabbed her up a few moments ago, it skewed her robe, she almost had her whole chest out.
She made a move to adjust herself, but Elijah grabbed her hand before she could. He brought his hand up to her skewed neckline, lightly grazing the fabric, just barely touching the half exposed skin of her breast.
He let out a sound that was teetering on a groan, "woman... the things I'd do to you if you let me...", he went to shift the neckline of her robe closer together to help her completely cover up her chest.
She stopped him. Her hand wrapped around his wrist. When he looked in her eyes, all that brown from earlier was swallowed by the dark of her pupils. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her eyes never left his.
Then she opened her mouth again. This time words escaped as a hushed whisper,
"What would you do to me?... If I'd let you... What would you have done to me?" Her eyes grew heavy.
He cocked his head to the side. "If youd let me?..." I'd gone down on you, where I know you want me, where your bodies begging for me, weeping for me. I would've ate you 'till you cried, all while you still fussin' at me." He saw her fidget, her legs shifting and crossing where they stood.
"I wanna do things to you that aint at all befittin' of a queen. I wanna hear you screamin' my name across these halls to the point where everybody know just how good Im takin' care of you. I wanna stress you out and be the reason you get stress relief ya hear me?"
Her eyes started to flutter a bit, she was completely silent, her eyes zeroed in on his lips.
"I want you to let me take care of you..." he firmed the hold on ber chin, gently pulling her a little closer, close enough to kiss. "...but only if you let me..." He rasped against her lips.
He pulled away suddenly. In that same instance Annie felt like she could breathe again, think more clearly.
"You have yourself a good night Annie. Imma head to bed."
Wha-?
"What."
"Whatchu mean "what?" I said Im goin' to bed."
Annie started to sputter, "I- wait a minute. You-" The sudden shift felt like whiplash to her, knocked her off balance. Then she felt herself get more irritated than she was when she first entered the room.
She let out a sharp exhale, straightening herself before she shifted her posture. Her back ramrod straight gathering herself together. Looking as if the past few minutes never happened, aside from that mean glare she was casting Smoke's way.
"Whats that look on your face for?"
"-You think you can just do somethin' like that an-"
"-an' what? Hm?" He challenged. "Walk away?"
She stubbornly remained quiet for a beat, before she opened her mouth again "Go 'head then, 'cause if you think Im 'bout to let you do somethin' like that to me again you got another thing coming." She spat before she promptly left the bookshelf aisle, and back to the study area where Elijah's blue prints and plans for the recreational center remained scattered all over.
He took his time, slowly following her out the same way. "Its gon' happen again an' again Anisa, 'cause you gon' let it happen again an' again, and Im gon' keep doin' it again an' again. 'Til I hear it straight from your mouth how much you want me too."
Annie let out a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief, "You really are crazy"
"Only as crazy as you let me."
"Good night Smoke." She said sternly, leaving the room in a rush, leaving him the only one in the room again.
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Elijah paused for a little while, letting out a long exhale before he went about gathering his things. He almost regretted not not pressing further, taking them both out of this misery. No matter how she refused to fully give voice to her attraction to him, he knew she felt what was between them just as much as he did, but he wouldnt press any further until he heard her desires straight from her lips.
Stack wouldve clowned his ass for it and he'd probably be right to. He knew if he pressed any further she wouldve let him.
Now he's here, pent up as hell in a space between agitated and satisfied in seeing a glimpse how much she actually wanted him. She could probly feel him through all them clothes, just how much she was affecting him. He didnt give a damn either.
Actin' like she aint know what the fuck she was doin'
He's lucky she didnt directly ask him to do those things he said he wanted to to her, cause in his heart of hearts he knew he wouldnt tell her no. With those sultry eyes of her's and her luscious, plump lips. He wouldn't deny her a thing.
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Cant believe some of things I wrote, Im a lil nervous.🥲😭
A/n: theyre kind of at a transitional period in the progression of their relationship so if things seem a little chaotic going back an forth from being cool then quarreling, thats why😭 (doesnt help that theyre pent up asf)
K bye 👋🏾
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