Authors Note: The one thing about writing is, at first you may say you’ll only do one. And your own cliffhanger makes you want more 😅 shoutout to yall for loving it and I want to give the people what they want. (It’s me, I’m also people). Today’s song has no direct connection.. it was just what I was listening to while writing. 🤭
The light comes in soft, blush pink and silver-gray, spilling across the rumpled sheets. The world outside is still. No cars. No voices. Just birdsong in the distance and the faint creak of the ceiling fan above.
Annie stirs first.
She’s curled under the blanket, one leg twisted out, the other tangled around Smoke’s. His arm is slung low across her waist, fingers resting just above her navel like they never stopped touching her all night.
She doesn’t move yet.
Just watches him.
He’s asleep partially on his side, chest rising slow, face completely calm. That same unreadable expression he wore when he first pulled up in the Cutlass, but now it feels different.
Now it feels like hers. It’s been a short while since she’s felt this way.
She lets her eyes trail across his bare shoulder, the curve of his throat, that little scar near his collarbone. She almost touches it.
Almost.
Smoke stirs.
Eyes barely open, just a sliver. A voice similar to the rumble of thunder rattles through her chest. “You watchin’ me?”
His voice is gravel-soft. Not startled. Just aware.
Annie smirks, shifting onto her side to face him fully.
“An’ what if I was?”
Smirking is his half-dozed state he mutters a bit louder. “Then I guess I should wake up and make it worth watchin’.”
She laughs under her breath. Shakes her head and tugs the blanket up a little, covering herself even though he’s already seen it all.
He turns toward her, finally really looking at her. His fingers move slow, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Not possessive. Not rushed. Just… gentle.
It disarms her more than last night did.
Annie looks at him as the sun peaks through the blinds and shimmers against his soft brown skin.
“You’re not gonna get weird, are you?”
Raising an eyebrow, Smoke rubs a hand down her shoulder. “What you mean?”
“Like… go quiet and vanish. Pretend it didn’t happen. Do the whole “my bad, I was high” act”
Smoke just watches her. Then reaches for her hand under the blanket and laces their fingers together.
“I was high.”
“Nigga..” Annie cuts her eyes at him, pulling away her hand from his. “See? There you go with dat shit”
Smoke shakes his head with soft smirk before speaking. “But I knew what I was doin’.”
“Still do.”
That sinks in slower than she wants to admit.
She lies there, looking at him. Trying not to let the fear crawl in, the one that always comes after soft things.
Smoke leans closer, mouth brushing the top of her shoulder this time, not her lips.
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
She closes her eyes at that. Not because she’s sleepy but because something in her chest just unclenched.
Biting her lip, Annie glides her hand down his arm, feeling the ripples of his muscles under her fingertips.
“Good.” She whispered. “I thinkin’ about makin’ breakfast. Maybe…”
Smoke stretches a little beside her, arm sliding behind his head. “I’d eat it.”
“Uh, I know dat. You can never stay away from my cookin’.. Even though ‘you ain’t been here in a while’.. Big ole broad ass nigga. ” She laughs as his face contorts.
“Well then go surprise me.. My palette may have changed”
“Don’t get smart” She side-eyes him.
“You always this sweet in the morning?” Smoke chuckles softly, watching her sit up.
“Only when I wake up next to you. Cause you have some sort of kink for this shit.”
She laughs again. This one fuller. Unafraid.
And as she rolls out of bed, shirt tugged back over her head, bare legs crossing the floor to the kitchen. Smoke watches her like he already knows she’s gonna come back.
Like he ain’t even gotta follow her immediately.
Because some things don’t need chasing.
Some things just stay where they are.
The sun slices in through the kitchen window, warm and gold. The air is filled with the sizzle of garlic, the pop of cherry tomatoes in olive oil, and the faint hum of music playing low from Annie’s Alexa. Something old and soulful.
Annie moves through the kitchen like she owns it. Barefoot, focused, confident. Her hair’s messy in a way that still looks deliberate, and she wears one of Smoke’s shirts like it was made for her.
On the stove, a cast iron skillet holds the makings of a perfect omelet, herbs, sautéed peppers, sharp cheese melting into the folds. Toast already golden, jam homemade, sitting beside a French press half-full with fresh coffee.
No half-effort here. She cooks like she loves herself.
From the hallway, the sound of soft footsteps. Then Smoke appears in the doorway, rubbing a hand down his face. Shirtless, dark grey sweatpants hanging low on his waist, and eyes still heavy from sleep. He looks at her like the sight alone is making it hard to breathe right.
Annie hasn't turned yet. She knows he’s watching.
Voice still about as low as his sweatpants on his waist, Smoke vocalizes. “Damn.”
Annie doesn’t look back. “Morning to you too.”
His voice becomes clearer as he continues to watch her.
“You cooked all this?”
“I don’t do that cereal in the morning shit. I like real food.”
Smoke steps in, slower than usual. Not because he’s tired but like he’s weighing something.
“You still cook like this?”
She flips the omelette over swiftly, shrugging. “Only when someone’s worth feeding.”
She finally turns to look at him. And he looks guilty.
Not the dramatic kind. The real kind. That slow, tight regret sitting behind his eyes.
“Annie…” He pauses. “About last time… Me goin’ ghost. I should’ve said somethin’. You didn’t deserve that.”
Her jaw tightens a little. Not from anger, just recognition. She plates the food with intention, no waste, no mess. Slides his dish across the table, sits across from him.
Scoffing softly, she glances at him. “You’re right. I didn’t.”
He nods, taking it. Doesn’t deflect.
“I had shit to handle. But I should’ve at least let you know I was alive.”
She watches him. Picks up her coffee. Drinks slow.
“I don’t need play-by-plays. I ain’t no football coach. But I’m not someone you just hit when the smoke clears.I’m not built for that kind of vanishing act foolishness”
“I know,” Smoke looks down for a second, then back at her. “That’s why I’m here. Why I came back.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment. Just eats. Fork cutting through the omelet, revealing the melted cheese, still warm and soft.
He watches her chew. Watches the way she avoids looking at him when things get close to real.
“This is fire, by the way.” His lips smack slightly.
Smirking, she looks up. “Nigga you betta act like you know..”
He laughs. And for the first time that morning, something eases between them.
She finally looks at him straight.
“You still got some explaining to do… But I’m not gonna waste good eggs being mad.”
Quietly wiping his mouth, Smoke nods.
“I’m not goin’ ghost again. Not on you.”
She holds his eyes. And it’s like she’s measuring whether she believes him or maybe, whether she’s ready to believe anyone at all.
Then, slowly, she leans over the table. Reaches for his hand, thumb brushing across his knuckles.
“Next time, just say what’s real. I don’t need perfect. I just need present.”
Rubbing his thumb along her hand, he watches her gaze.
She lets his fingers stay tangled in hers a second longer than necessary, then pulls back and stands up, gathering dishes.
“Now if you really want to prove you’re not the vanishing type…” Annie smirks.
Eagerly, he leans forward. It’s not like her to give hints. “Yeah?”
“You’ll wash the damn dishes.”
Grinning as he rose, he strides over to her “You cook, I clean. I can do that.”
She smirks and leans in close as she passes behind him, hand dragging lightly across his bare chest, then his lap. Not an accident.
“Good…” She feels his breath hitch briefly. “‘Cause later… I’m gonna need dessert.”
She disappears into the hallway.
Smoke watches her go, eyes low, jaw tight with quiet hunger but also relief.
He’s not just back. He’s grounded now.
And Annie, she might just let him stay.
The dishes are done.
The kitchen smells faintly of lemon soap and roasted garlic. The window’s cracked open, letting in a warm breeze that flutters the curtain like breath. Alexa now playing soft R&B, the bass humming through the house.
Smoke stands at the sink, drying the last plate, shoulders relaxed now. Shirt still missing. But he had put some socks on, the tilt floor started to make his feet cold. He’s still here, that fact hanging in the room like a low hum Annie pretends not to hear too loud.
She’s across the room now, wiping down the counter, but really… watching him.
“You’re good at that.”
He smirks, tilting his head. “Doin’ dishes?”
Nodding softly, she hums. “Mmhm.”
“Might start inviting you over just for that.”
He finishes and leans back against the counter, arms crossed, watching her with that unreadable gaze; the kind that feels like he’s cataloging every piece of her and still somehow not looking away.
“What else you need me to make up for?”
Her head tilts.
She lets the rag drop into the sink. Turns fully to him. Slow, deliberate.
“Oh, you wanna have that conversation?”
He shrugs, but his grin betrays the calm.
“You the one brought it up.”
She takes a few steps toward him—bare feet quiet on the tile, the frigidness being nothing new to her. When she gets close, she reaches out, fingers lightly grazing curve of his jaw, then sliding down to rest on his chest.
“It’s not just about disappearing.” She adjusts his chain. “It’s about what we lost… Time. Nights. Things you owe me now.”
Smoke’s hands come to rest on her hips, but he doesn’t pull her in yet. He just holds her there, like a decision he’s ready to keep making.
“What you think I owe you?”
She leans in, lips ghosting his ear in a way that makes his knees almost buckle.
“You ever been kissed like you were supposed to stay forever?”
Smoke doesn’t answer.
But his fingers flex against her waist.
Annie doesn’t pull back much. Just enough to meet his eyes.
“Because I was thinking maybe you make that up to me… One room at a time.”
A pause. The air thickens. Then he moves. Deliberate. Certain.
His hand slides up her back, the other under her thigh as he lifts her in one motion, no hesitation. She laughs, breath hitching, hands gripping his shoulders.
“Okay, damn.”
“You said one room at a time, right?”
Nodding, she slides a hand to rest at the base of his neck. “Might wanna start with the bedroom.”
“Might not leave it.”
Light filters through curtains. The sheets are already messy from the night before.
Now, they’re worse.
Annie’s tangled beneath Smoke, hair splayed across her pillow, lips parted, eyes fluttering between focus and something slower, softer. She’s not trying to hide anything anymore—not want, not trust, not how long she’s needed this.
Smoke’s moving like he’s catching up for all the hours he missed. Not rushed. Not apologetic. Just here.
Fully here.
He speaks quietly against her neck, nibbling on the spot he knows drives her mad. “Ain’t goin’ ghost again.”
Annie whispers, “You better not..”
Her hand’s on his jaw, keeping him close. His is on her lower back, anchoring her in place. His hips grinding against her in the hungriest manner.
“You going to keep teasin’ me or you going to do somethin’?” Annie moans softly, his shirt riding up on her hips.
Smoke doesn’t speak but moves his body off of hers. Before she could protest, he began placing soft kisses down her body. His hands lifting his shirt to reveal her soft, chocolate skin. His eyes wandered to her legs, her thighs swallow the material of her panties making them almost invisible.
“Oh I’m going to do something, aight..” dragging her to the edge of the bed as he drops to his knees, he kisses the top of her thighs.
She lets out a soft moan, propping herself up on her elbows. “An’ what’s that?”
Spreading her legs and sliding her panties off, he was greeted by her glistening pussy. His mouth watering while he palms her flesh.
“I’m gonna make you shake, baby…” His voice dripped with seduction as he gave her clit a soft peck.
Annie bit his lip, she wouldn’t admit it out loud but seeing Smoke… Her Elijah, on his knees speaking a language to her soul that only he could also drive her up the wall.
His tongue curled and wiggled in between her folds, spreading her wetness onto her thighs and his face. It almost sounded like a primal thirst.
“Fuuck ‘Lijah..” One of her arm slips from underneath her as he latches onto her clit, sucking on it so passionately it was audible. He lets out a purr, almost like a growl but in a melodic tone.
He catches her eyes as she starts to grind her hips against his tongue.
“Papa’s here..” Speaking against her clit, he palms himself through his sweatpants as her moans drip from her lips like a love song written just for him.
Feeling his tongue slip into her entrance she squirms to slide away from the edge of the bed. Sensing this, Smoke grips her thighs and anchors her legs around his head.
The man was feasting on her like he hadn’t just had a full breakfast.
“Why you always gotta do that?” She panted desperately, watching him become flush between her chocolate thighs. She whimpers as he chuckles against her button.
“Because I love hearing you moan like that..” His voice was now a purr, his strong hands holding her steady.
“Just fuck me… Please?”
“Oh you beggin’?” She could her the slight upward inflection of his voice, like he was genuinely surprised.
“Yes.. Because you like to play..” Her hips gyrating the air for some friction as Smoke wrapped her legs around his waist.
Smirking, he slaps his dick against her aching clit. Annie whines, biting down her lip. “It is called foreplay, sweet baby..”
Reaching up, Annie grips his beard. Pulling his face level with her own, she locks her legs around his waist causing him to sink inside of her warmth. Growling through a moan, she gazes up at him. “Elijah you betta quit playin’ and fuck me.”
—-
Some tags didn’t work so please don’t fight me 😭 im tryna fix it and will retag once I get it straight. But I hope yall enjoyed. Work and school has been whooping my ass but ya girl is a certified Phlebo tech. now and on the dean’s list. 🤭🤏🏽
Hello Beautiful Queen.. How are U doing, today?!... I'm wondering if U mind following me, so we can message/chat and enjoy having some good convo?.. But I'd love to have ur company, if U don't mind?
