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brownskincheyenne · 3 days ago

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Amazing !!! When I say black & talent & creative go hand in hand !!!!! I love this please share & comment !!

Love Blues (Part 3) by Uzumaki Rebellion

Pairings: Elijah "Smoke" Moore x Annie Moore (Sinners)

Warning(s): Mentions of Hoodoo, Explicit Sexual Content, Romance, Violence, Angst, Smoke's POV, Pre-Sinners movie.

Series Summary: Smoke Moore has returned from WWI with his twin brother Stack and meets Annie for the first time. Smitten immediately by the young Creole beauty, Smoke longs to make Annie his own. But he has to get past his brother and another rival suitor first.

Word Count: 10.4K

Masterlist HERE.

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"I love you baby so please don't you

Leave me here all alone

I can't stand it baby when you

Leave me here all alone

So wherever you decide to go baby

Just don't stay gone too long"

Keb Mo – "Love Blues"

Smoke drove his father's car with Stack on the passenger side.

They traveled through the cluster of shacks that made up a close-knit community near a river tributary run-off not too far from their mother's home that everyone called Gator Walk because of the occasional sightings of alligators. The fearsome beasts often climbed out of the water to sunbathe on the banks before crawling back to their liquid sanctuary, floating downriver toward the swamplands to lay their clutch of eggs in nests of sticks and mud. Stack wanted to pass by Annie's home to catch her leaving if he could…and to see who with.

Her residence was a modest dwelling that rested on short wood stilts to help protect it from sudden river floods that could spill over into the shacks during the rainy season. Surrounded by tall, sweet-scented lilac bushes, the home appeared empty of occupants.

"Slow down, Smoke," Stack said, lowering his black fedora to hide his face.

"If she sees me driving, she's gonna know it's you right next to me," Smoke said.

"Shut up! Pull over there where she caint see the car…between those trees over there."

Smoke drove where he asked, and they watched for signs of Annie.

"Maybe you should go knock on the door," Smoke said.

"Nah, her daddy might be home. He real strict with her. Shotgun strict. I tried sneaking by her bedroom window one time—"

"When was this?"

"Last Sunday. There's an old tree stump by her room and you can step up on it to tap the shutters. Ain't no glass on it. I thought I could sneak in without the neighbors seeing me while her parents were at Sunday evening prayer service with Uncle Jed."

"What happened?"

"Her parents didn't go to service and her daddy caught me talking to her. I told him I was walking through and seen her looking at the lilac bushes and wanted to know if I could take a few flowers home to my momma. He told me to keep steppin'. But man…the way she smiled when her daddy chased me off. I only got to speak to her for a few minutes. She told me how I could chew on lilac leaves to treat a sore mouth, and all I could do was stare at her mouth while she talked to me. Her lips look so soft. I caint figure her out. She likes me…I know she does. I mean really likes me…but she won't let me get to that next step."

"Maybe she's figured out that you only want her for one thing."

"That's not true. Okay…in the beginning it was…but now…"

"Now?" Smoke asked.

Stack sighed and took off his hat.

"She makes me think about things. Asks me so many damn questions about myself that I never thought about before. She talks to me like the fellas do…like a regular friend."

"Maybe that's all she wants."

"She stares at me sometimes like she wants me. When I try to get close to her…going in for the kiss, cuz you know I knock 'em out with a good kiss…she always pulls back. Ain't no woman ever turned down a kiss from Big Stack. I kinda like it though. It builds up anticipation and shit. I just wanna get her alone and on her back… hear her talk all that Creole to me while I'm stroking my way to glory. Shit gets my dick hard."

"Alright…you ain't gotta share all that."

"It's true! I caught her walking home once from our place and she's telling me about something momma showed her and she stopped talking English, like she's too excited to get the words out and forgot we ain't in New Orleans. I'm listening to her and lookin' at them big ol' hams she got for titties. That girl got me all twisted. My pecker started swelling up and I had to leave her before she caught me pokin' outta my pants. She real different, Smoke."

Stack glanced over at the shack again.

A restless unease settled in Smoke's chest. He toiled with telling his brother the truth of his own attraction to Annie.

"Don't get your hopes up tonight or get mad if she avoids you. We don't need to hear y'all fussing and messing up the mood," Smoke said.

"I ain't talkin' to her. I made up my mind that she gotta come to me first if this thing between us is going to happen."

"What if it don't happen?"

"Oh, it will. Once she gets a gander at me with other women. She'll get jealous. Miss Annie Belizaire will come jiggling over to me, speaking all that sweet Creole in my ear, and I will sweep her off her feet. Watch and see."

Stack stuck his hat back on his head.

"Let's go," Stack said. "Ain't nobody here."

Smoke shifted gears and drove out of Gator Walk, headed for the jump up. A soft breeze bathed their faces in the late summer air. Fall would come soon. He thought of projects that needed to be done around his mother's property and calculated a budget for him and Stack to live on that would carry them over into the New Year and beyond.

Arriving at the secluded location, Stack leaned over the door of the automobile, catcalling the young women that strolled toward the old abandoned barn where Cornbread's party awaited them. Six horse-drawn wagons rolled in, one at a time, filled with young people. A couple of field trucks loaded with more revelers arrived, and the rest traveled on foot. The sun slanted to their left, keeping the temperature bearable. The excitement of being around a host of other young adults crackled the atmosphere with a vibrant energy. Smoke couldn't wait to submerge his entire self in good country fun. It would be the twins' first post-war party with their own people.

Cornbread's elder uncle Lodie and his older brother Matthew took on the important task as barbecue pit masters for the event. They lorded over two ground pits covered with tarps and held down with large stones where two huge roasted pigs had slow-cooked for hours overnight. The men pushed away the big rocks and yanked back the tarps. Heavy white smoke drifted across the main set-up area in front of the barn where a giant fire pit waited, piled with chopped wood for the bonfire later in the evening. Smoke sniffed the heavenly scent of smoked pork and almost salivated thinking of eating it with red sauce and white bread.

"Slow down, Smoke. Let's give these pretty women a ride so they can rest them nice thick legs," Stack cajoled, waving for the two women, Geeshie and Mayola, to come over to him.

Smoke slowed down their all black Model T, and Stack hopped out, opening the side door for the women to climb in. Geeshie grinned and Smoke couldn't help but glance at her slinky orange dress and enticing wide hips. Mayola carried a svelte frame and her Marcel waves framed her oval face like a movie star.

"That's it ladies, make yourselves comfortable as we escort you to this here jump up," Stack purred.

The new gold on his teeth gave him a trickster's persona, and Smoke slid his tongue over the bit of gold on his own teeth worn on the opposite side. Both men had to take care of decayed teeth worn down from lack of dentists willing to repair colored teeth in Clarksdale. Thankfully, the army paid for their dental work. Taiwo had been so shocked to see their two mouths full of gold like their daddy.

He parked in back of the barn to hide the car from prying eyes and helped Mayola out while Stack helped Geeshie out on his side. His brother left his jacket on top of Smoke's in the back of the car. He tugged on his suspenders and swiped his hand down his clean shirt. Stack advised they dress casual and comfortable. If any fights broke out from drinking, their good clothes wouldn't get ruined with bloody cuts or tears.

Smoke expected at least one or two people to test him and Stack. Their unsavory reputation preceded them and since they'd been gone for three years, other young men might think they were the top dogs of Clarksdale. Wouldn't hurt to set some men straight if they started puffing out chests. Smoke carried a gun on his ankle in case he needed to add an exclamation point for any man brave enough to step to them.

He could already feel the ripple of nervousness among a few of the young people who didn't know them personally. They gave head nods and a few handshakes. Cornbread rushed over, thankfully pulling him away from Mayola.

They joined a slew of young men and women dressed to party gathered inside the barn where an old cutting table held Coca Cola bottles and root beer, along with Wonder Bread, warm hushpuppies, and fried okra in big pans. Stacks of tin plates waited to be used right next to a spread of forks. Everyone buzzed with anticipation as a group of musicians warmed up their instruments near stacks of old hay being used as seats. Two fiddlers, a guitar player, and a man wearing a metal washboard holding two spoons riled folks up with the first song.

A slick buddy named Ghost Eye Terry pounded his hands on a crate to create a drum beat. As kids, Terry tried Smoke one time too many, and he busted the man's eye with a fist when he stole Stack's penny candy on a fishing trip, injuring the retina. It never healed properly and eventually clouded over, thus the nickname Ghost Eye followed Terry through life.

Once the harmonica player started wailing away with a yearning sound, no one wasted time dancing.

Mayola resumed her grip on his arm and tried to walk through the rest of the barn with him, pretending he brought her there as his date. He scanned the growing group for signs of Annie. So did Stack. His brother's lips poked out with disappointment.

She wasn't there.

A few men started carrying haystacks out toward the circular firepit prepping seats, and Smoke's stomach grumbled. Cornbread laughed.

"We'll be eating in five minutes, promise," Cornbread said.

Smoke nodded.

Lodie, Matthew, and Cornbread soon loaded up the wrapped pigs onto two nearby carts. They cut away the chicken wire and then the protective burlap bags that kept the moisture in. Several people came out to watch as the succulent meat fell off the bone.

Cornbread rubbed his hands together.

"Yeah, they seasoned up real good. Uncle Lodie stuffed them with carrots, onions, and oranges…look how tender it is…ooh wee, we gettin' some good eatin' tonight," Cornbread enthused.

The birthday host headed to the barn with Smoke close on his heels.

"Grab you some plates, everybody! Time to eat while it's hot!"

"Get you a plate first," Smoke said.

"I surely will," Cornbread said.

Cornbread lifted a plate and added some bread and hushpuppies to it.

"Somebody help me grab the pots of sauce," Cornbread said.

Smoke lifted an iron pot, and another young man grabbed the other. Both had spoons in them to ladle out the tomato-based condiment. Once Cornbread piled up his plate, a line formed, following him out to the pit masters where they loaded up on pulled pork slathered in barbecue sauce.

Smoke strolled back to the barn to get a plate and noticed Bo rolling in on a small horse cart chauffeuring Grace, Annie, and two other young Black women he didn't know. Bo guided the horse to the spot others left their animals and wagons. Smoke trotted over to greet them.

"Bo," Smoke said.

His eyes stayed on Annie. Bo jumped down and assisted Grace out first. Smoke helped the two other women out, and then Annie last. Clasping her warm hand caused his heart to thump faster. She held it tight and let go quickly out of modesty.

"Hi," she said.

She recognized him from his brother easily by the way his lips never curved upward animatedly, the way Stack's did. He glanced over her short-sleeved, pale yellow summer dress with a collar and pearl buttons that fastened up the front.

Her luminous dark skin smelled like she slathered it with calendula-scented oils that wafted off of her hair, too. She decorated the twists in her tresses with yellow sewing thread all the way down the back of her neck, adding a cluster of baby's breath flowers at the ends. She looked regal, especially with the touch of ruby lipstick she must have borrowed from one of the other women. He knew her parents forbid make-up for their daughter. Church people thought red lips were a sign of the Jezebel spirit.

Bo slapped him on the shoulder.

"We made it in time for barbecue hot off the pit," Bo said.

"Yep," Smoke said.

Bo glanced at Annie, then Smoke. He cleared his throat to get Smoke's attention.

"How's it going, Grace?" Smoke asked.

"Good. Where's your other half?" Grace said, looking over his shoulder for signs of Stack.

"Around here somewhere, probably in line for the food," Smoke said.

Annie lowered her eyes at the mention of Stack.

"We should get in line before Cornbread goes for seconds," Bo joked.

Annie brought forward the two other young women with them.

"This is Donetha and Caldonia. Ladies, this is Smoke Moore," Annie said.

Caldonia took a step back and Donetha gasped out loud.

"Smoke, as in the Smokestack twins?" Donetha said.

"They don't bite," Annie said, winking at Smoke.

"Go on and get your food," Smoke said, stepping aside.

Bo and Grace strolled over to the barn, and Smoke stayed near Annie as she walked with the other two women.

"Donetha, stop acting so scared," Annie hissed.

"I'm sorry, but I heard nothing but bad things about you and your brother," Donetha said.

Caldonia smacked her friend's shoulder.

"Ow!" Donetha said.

"Don't be rude in front of the man's face. What if he shoots us?" Caldonia said.

"I won't shoot you ladies, not unless you do something that deserves it," Smoke teased.

His deadpan expression encouraged the women to shuffle ahead to get away from him.

Annie gently pinched his shoulder.

"Why would you say that to them? Now they won't come ten feet near you."

Her grin lightened the scolding she gave him.

"Annie?"

Smoke turned to see who called her.

Beau Willie.

He walked up to them from the barn. Smoke didn't notice him earlier when he first arrived.

"I didn't know you were coming. I would've asked your father if I could pick you up. Me and Buster went around gathering a few folks here in my father's wagon," Beau Willie said.

He completely ignored Smoke.

"I rode over with Bo Chow and three of my girlfriends. My parents don't know I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way," she said.

"Understood. Can I get you something to drink? They have Coca Cola and root beer," Beau Willie said.

Smoke grew agitated. Annie sensed it.

"Maybe later, Beau Willie. You know Smoke Moore?" she said, bringing Smoke into the conversation.

"I know him. You ain't been back long, Smoke. How's it feel to be in Clarksdale again?"

"No different from when I left."

"Come get in line for a plate, Annie," Beau Willie said, gripping her elbow to guide her away from Smoke.

"We'll speak again real soon, Annie. I think you and I have an appointment to kick up our feet later," Smoke drawled out.

Annie grinned, and Beau Willie's jawline clenched. He whisked her away and Smoke didn't feel the need to one-up Beau Willie in that moment. Annie knew he was coming for her.

Stack appeared, carrying a plate of food already. He looked at Beau Willie escorting Annie to the end of the table line.

"Hmmph. She thinks Beau Willie is supposed to aggravate me? That boring ass goodie-two-shoes?" Stack said.

Smoke glared at Beau Willie. He was a little too comfortable with Annie. Touching her arm. Brushing lint off her shoulder. Cockblocking. They must've known each other well already. Beau Willie was a pious Christian, the type Mr. Belizaire would like for his daughter.

"This food is good," Stack said, scarfing down his pulled pork sandwich. Barbecue sauce painted the corners of his lips.

Smoke went and grabbed a plate and waited his turn to fill up on a hearty meal of tender pork meat. There was plenty of food, and he softly tapped his foot to the music spilling out from the barn. A barbecue under a pleasant country sun was what he needed to get acclimated into the slow southern way of life again.

After he fixed his sandwich, he took a seat next to his brother outside who entertained a bevy of beauties who weren't afraid to get near the twins. Cornbread joined them and Smoke was pleased to see his friend so happy. From his viewpoint, he watched Annie take her plate indoors with her girlfriends alongside Bo. Annie and Grace seemed close and laughed together while their shoulders touched. Beau Willie followed behind her, carrying his plate and two root beers.

Annie towered over a lot of the other women, and it only enhanced her attractiveness. She literally stood out with her unique hairstyle and the bright yellow dress that reminded him of corn silk. Granted, there were plenty of gorgeous women wandering about that could've tickled his fancy. He only had eyes for the woman his brother wanted.

A gnawing at the pit of his stomach brought him back to reality.

Clearly he had to compete with Beau Willie, too.

He picked at the rest of his food and listened to all the chatter going on around him without participating. Stack regaled the women sitting next to him with stories about the war and Europe. Some men gathered behind him to listen in on the danger they faced, the food white people ate overseas, and how many men died gruesome deaths. The stories enthralled them. Stack could weave a tale like a spider and create enough sticky webbing to hold an audience for hours. Their daddy was like that. He would mesmerize men on their old porch, pluck at his guitar or the old banjo, and orchestrate a rousing good time. Maybe that's why he beat Stack so much. Too much of his nature bled through his baby boy. Whatever demons Cash wrestled with, whatever life-altering thing that happened to him when he went out into the world, he clocked it bubbling up through Stack. Noticed it in Smoke, too. Then the fists came. All the beatings. Split lips. Black eyes. All the blood-curdling screams from Taiwo as she fought to pull Cash off them.

Smoke's hands shook with tremors, and he put his plate down on the ground. Stack noticed. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a pouch of tobacco and rolling papers. Made Smoke a cigarette. He lit it, took a drag first, then handed it to Smoke.

The musicians cut the music to eat some food before the party kicked it up a notch. No one noticed the lack of music playing. They were busy catching up and passing around a fat bottle of hooch that they poured into cups. The warm communal feel of the gathering seduced him into relaxing for a change. Stack was in his element, impressing the ladies, and Smoke wouldn't have to watch over him so much for the night.

Life could be good for them.

The bank sidetracked them, but the spirited enthusiasm of their peers bolstered his sense of hope for the better. He had a mother to care for and younger relatives who looked up to him and Stack. If he played his cards right, he could have a woman as well.

The music cranked back up and men grabbed the hands of the women they desired and danced until dust kicked up inside and outside the barn. No one cared.

Cornbread pulled out dice from his right trouser pocket and shook them in a fist.

"You boys ready to throw these bones and wager some bets?" Cornbread said.

Stack passed Smoke the flask of whiskey they shared and swallowed a sizeable amount that heated his blood. His brother pulled out some cash and a group of eight men shadowed Cornbread to the side of the barn where a large slab of wood rested against the wall like a flat table. Stack heckled the other men, and Smoke took a smaller sip of whiskey before handing the flask to Cornbread. Sauced up by the liquor, Cornbread passed it around to the others.

"I got three more bottles of corn liquor and gin for later. Summa you fellas might get lucky up in the barn tonight! Get your peckers wet in some hot juicy pussy."

They tossed their coins and cash on the ground. Smoke shook the dice in his closed hand first. He blew on them for good luck three times and threw them with expertise. They bounced against the barn wall, rolling the number he wanted.

"Muthafucka!" Cornbread yelled.

Smoke came out hot with a seven on the first toss.

"There ya go, big brother! Spank these niggas' asses with that Moore magic touch," Stack cackled, throwing more money down.

They played, drank, and laughed uproariously. Smoke enjoyed the camaraderie and laughter of his brother by his side.

Smoke kept his eye on Annie.

The party turned out to be a lively ring-a-ding-ding, and she flitted about, easily attaching herself to various clusters of conversations and line dances. Beau Willie hovered near her and Stack kept true to his word, staying away from Annie despite the occasional sneak peeks he took to see if she paid any attention to him.

She didn't.

Every time she looked Smoke's way, she smiled at him before her friends pulled her off to mingle with others. Smoke noticed she drank the harder stuff and wasn't shy about speaking to other men who vied for her attention. He stood near the musicians and watched folks sway and rock their bodies. Annie cut loose and danced a few times with Beau Willie while Smoke played dice earlier, but as the rosy-orange alpenglow of the setting sun struck her face, and the music changed to a more sensual offering, he made his move on her.

He passed by Stack who danced close and slow with a woman named Josephine. The way his brother's hips moved, he'd probably drag Josephine back to their car or up to the second level of the old barn to hike up her dress and get busy. With his brother's preoccupation and Annie no longer a concern to him, Smoke seized the opportunity to act.

Cornbread and some other men lit large kerosene lamps and distributed them throughout the barn, setting a romantic mood early. Bellies were full, and most people were tipsy from the liquor. Matthew started the bonfire and the crackling of the kindling and the odor of fresh smoke shifted everyone's mood to thoughts of partnering with someone for the rest of the evening.

Annie spoke to Grace and Mayola. Mayola grinned and waved at Smoke like she expected him to come to her. Annie noticed her enthusiasm and Mayola whispered something in her ear. The expression on Annie's face withered, but she quickly recovered when she looked at Smoke again. Before he reached her, Caldonia approached her.

"Annie, should we bring the cakes out now before it gets too dark?" Caldonia said.

"Oh, shoot! I forgot about the birthday cakes. Lord, where is my head right now? We better get them and sing happy birthday to Cornbread before he gets too drunk to remember," Annie said.

"Guess I'll have to wait for that dance, then?" Smoke said.

"Not for long," Annie said. "Could you get Cornbread for me and have him go to the food table? We can sing to him and cut the cakes up before the sun goes completely down."

"Sure."

"Thank you," she said.

Smoke trudged over to where Cornbread cracked jokes and flapped his gums about the signifying monkey. He was in the center of a small circle of men clapping their hands and building an intricate rhythm on their thighs and chests, while he took verbal shots at his friend Lil Percival. Cornbread's verbal dexterity almost rivaled Stack's ability to rap with the fellas in a sing-song voice.

"Yeah, he's talkin' 'bout yo mama and yo grandma too… and he don't show no respect for a nigga like you! Now you weren't there… and I'm sho' is glad… 'cause what he said about ya mama… made me mad!"

The men threw back their heads and howled with laughter that ricocheted against the barn wall outside. Lil Percival took his turn to out-do Cornbread. His short stature made their exchange look comical since he had to look up to Cornbread's big, wide body. Lil Percival wagged a finger up at his face.

"Signifying monkey stay up in your tree… you don't wanna mess with a man like me… always lying and signifying… signifying monkey stay up in that tree… but ya better not monkey with a killa like me!" Lil Percival barked out, keeping his words sliding on the beat of the handclaps and hambone body slapping.

Smoke listened to a few more lines before breaking up the verbal sparring.

"Hey, Cornbread. Annie wants you back inside for something," Smoke said.

"Oh, yeah? She wanna dance with me?" Cornbread said, tugging on the straps of his overalls.

The expression on Smoke's face told Cornbread to not even think about it.

"Guess I'll go see what she wants," Cornbread said, shambling off.

"Y'all can go in too…help sing happy birthday," Smoke said.

Everyone crowded into the barn where Annie and Donetha lit candles on three big chocolate cakes with white icing.

"Aw Annie, you ain't have to do all this for me!" Cornbread said with delight in his round eyes.

A woman behind Annie belted out Happy Birthday, and all the others joined in. Cornbread blew out the spread of twenty-two candles across all three rectangular cakes. Annie cut Cornbread a big chunk, and he ate it with his fingers, letting the icing paint his greedy lips.

Everyone who wanted a piece ate cake, and the music continued. Stack headed for the fire pit to get a sip of gin, and Smoke made a beeline for Annie.

"May I have this dance, Miss Belizaire," he said.

The radiance of her smile warmed him.

"You may, Mr. Moore."

He took her hand and followed behind Bo who swept Grace in his arms and twirled her out before pulling her back in.

Smoke held Annie's hand and took her to the center of the barn. The flickering of the lights in the kerosene lamps glinted on her earrings. They stood face-to-face, and he touched her dangling silver earrings with tiny blue gemstones at the bottom.

"What took you so long to ask me to dance, Elijah?"

He exhaled softly at the sound of his birth name rolling off her lips.

"I had to wait my turn, I guess. You're the most popular woman here."

"I only wanna dance with you."

Smoke stepped closer, letting her breasts brush against his chest. He wrapped both his arms around her waist, and she curled her delicate hands around his neck. Rocking their bodies slowly, he led the pace in time to the music.

"You're good," she said. "I thought maybe you couldn't dance because I didn't see you out on the floor at all."

"Been a little busy."

"Shooting craps and drinkin'?"

"Yeah. Is that a problem for you?"

"No. I drink. Can't shoot craps though."

"I can teach ya."

"I wanna learn."

"Okay."

The feel of her lushness in his arms awakened a need in him. He wanted her for himself and would have to tell his brother about his feelings before the night was through. They swayed in another direction and Beau Willie stared at them, his mouth fixed in a scowl.

"Is Beau Willie fixed on courting you?" he asked.

"He asked my daddy's permission two years ago, but I was too young then. We tried sneaking around, but my father would've found out. I'm the youngest of seven daughters from a seventh daughter. My daddy made sure all my sisters were married off to respectable men in New Orleans. He aims to do the same for me in Mississippi. Beau Willie knows that."

"What about now?"

"I'm old enough. He has my daddy's permission, too."

"How you feel about that?"

Her head rested on his neck, her lips blew warm air on his skin that curled his toes.

"I used to be crazy about Beau Willie. When I was sixteen, I couldn't wait to be old enough to step out with him. He was the first boy I ever kissed."

"And?"

"I like somebody else now…I like you, Smoke. But didn't you bring Mayola here as your date?"

"Nah, I gave her a ride from the road to the barn. Dassit."

"Good, because I don't like drama. I ain't never fought over a man in my life and I don't plan on startin' tonight."

"My brother really likes you, Annie."

"I know. But he ain't you. He'll have to come to terms with that on his own."

"Will your daddy let me court you if I ask him for permission?"

Annie lifted her head and looked at him.

"Your uncle told him about you after we first met. Warned him to keep me away from you and your brother. My parents don't even know I hang around your momma every day. They don't want me practicing Hoodoo."

"Why not?"

"My grandmother taught me back in New Orleans and I carried what I know here with me. The moment I met your momma, I was drawn to her. I recognized a kindred spirit, but my parents…they're Christians who only want the power of Jesus to guide me. There's more to that, like our ancestors and the power of healing through rootwork, and I want to hold on to what I've learned since I was seven years old. I'm saying all this Smoke because my daddy…he'll never give you permission to be with me."

Smoke ground his molars together.

Uncle Jed.

The uncle who partied hard with his big brother Cash ran from town-to-town with him back in the day, whoring and fornicating with the odor of liquor seeping from his pores. The man who told Taiwo that sometimes his brother had to step out on his wife to keep the peace in their house.

A fucking hypocrite.

Smoke ran his hands up her back, squeezing the softness there and pressing his crotch against her front to feel the warmth of her body all over. They slow dragged through several songs, and he never wanted to let her go. Ever.

He slid his hands below her waist and palmed her backside briefly, just to cop a quick feel.

"You ain't slick," she said.

She leaned back with a smirk on her face.

"I was just moving my hands, and they slipped," he said.

Her eyes twinkled.

"You can smile," she said.

She touched his right dimple and then dragged her finger across his lips to the other side of his face to touch the other one.

"Your face lights up so bright when you smile. I want to see you smile more…for me."

He lowered his gaze bashfully and pursed his lips to keep his face composed.

"No, don't try to hide it…it's out now. Can't take it away from me," she teased.

She lifted his chin to raise his eye level to align with hers. He pressed his forehead against hers and sighed.

"I'm going to see your father tomorrow. I will ask him for permission to see you properly. If he says no, I'm going to keep asking him until he says yes. I know he wants the best for you…wants to protect you and make sure the right man comes along who can take care of you. A father is supposed to do that for his daughter. I respect that. I'll do whatever it takes to gain his trust in me."

Annie stared at him. He'd stopped moving in time to the music and rushed out his thoughts before he lost the nerve.

"I ain't got much right now, coming back from the war and all…but I'm a hard worker and I plan on owning my own business one day. I ain't no good Christian. Been baptized, but I backslide a lot. Got a lot of my daddy in me that I try to control…drinkin', gambling, hangin' in places of ill repute all night. But I'll never lie to ya, Annie. I want a wife and family one day…and I guess I'm tellin' ya all this because it's important for you to know that I won't play with your heart. No matter how terrible me and my brother's reputation may be to you, I sincerely hope you'll give me a chance to prove myself worthy of being yours."

He clamped his lips together. The rush of words unsettled him. Lightheaded, he stepped back from her.

"You can really talk when you want to Elijah Moore," she said.

She entwined her fingers with his.

"Let's go get some air," she said.

He nodded and led her to a side door in the barn that took them out to some small trees. The sun left completely and the evening air felt cooler.

"Look," she said, pointing ahead toward an open area.

A swarm of fireflies darted about, creating the illusion of hundreds of yellow stars dancing in a black velvet sky.

Smoke marveled at the sight. The wonderment of it all seemed extra special with Annie by his side.

"Watch this," she said.

She left his side and the space where she once stood created an uncomfortable vacuum to his peace of mind. He watched her saunter over to the flurry of firefly activity and stand in the middle of the sparkle, holding her arms out to her sides.

The swarm parted at her invasion, their synchronous flashing lights glowing all around her until hundreds alighted upon her hair, arms, legs, and dress. Annie appeared to him like a queen of the fairies in a balmy southern night. Heaven must've looked like that.

She was magic.

Smoke touched the left side of his chest where his heart used to be. It had flown over to be with Annie, floating near hers, beckoning him to walk toward her. He sauntered through the flickering display, the whirring of tiny wings lightly grazing the skin on his face as he joined her in the center of the twinkling.

"The scent of the oil on my skin draws them like nectar," she said.

She indeed appeared to be a dazzling and delectable flower for the insects. But she was more than that to Smoke.

He'd listened to her talk for weeks with his mother and learned parts of her she probably didn't even know he heard. How she prayed for him and Stack with his mother while they were away. She shared the burden of her mother's fears for them in Europe, without even knowing them herself. All she had to go by were the pictures he and Stack took before they traveled overseas, the pictures his mother kept above her mantle. A traveling photographer took the black and white pictures in front of the house where the haint blue Taiwo kept the porch and door painted didn't even show up as a shadow on film. Stack grinned wide and Smoke only looked directly at the camera, hoping the photos gave his mother solace while they were gone fighting. Annie had used those pictures to be his guardian angel.

Had she made her choice then on who to pick based on the photos?

Annie spun in a circle and the fireflies swirled around her like a cloud of bursting nebulas and streaks of gold lightning. Her playful laughter drifted up into the dark sky, where starlight and a silvery moon bathed her skin in deep blue hues.

"Annie," he said, ignoring the fireflies prancing on his shirt.

"Yes?"

He cradled her face and kissed her.

Her lips were so soft.

Pliant.

He slipped his tongue between the seam that she parted for him and sought the relief that only she could give him. Her tongue followed his lead and slid back and forth against his before she explored his mouth on her own with gentle plundering that pulled moans from him that he couldn't hold back. He slanted his head for her to take what she wanted from him and they did an awkward dance to figure out what worked best for them until he locked in on holding her tight. They kept tilting their heads and sucking on tongues with a breathy desperation. He loved the feel of her full lips brushing against his plush ones, and when Annie started tugging on his bottom lip with her teeth, her mouth became ravenous.

His arousal came on strong and the thickening in his pants pressed into her. He rocked his hips forward to grind against her and she released his lips, licking a trail along his neck and up to the shell of his ear, where she nibbled the top of his earlobe. He groaned and his mouth fell open. Exhaling and panting, Smoke melted under her touch.

"Mwen ka renmen ou pou tout tan," she whispered in his ear.

"Whatchu say, baby?" he panted.

The tip of her tongue traced swirls along his earlobe in a slow circular fashion and she kept speaking Creole to him as if she were telling him all the nasty things he wanted her to do to him. He quickly understood the allure that her native tongue brought out in his brother. His erection strained against his trousers and she kept seducing him with whispery Creole. The tip of his dick leaked pre-cum and the root already started throbbing with anticipation.

"Dis-moi que tu es à moi?" she said.

"W-w-whatchu sayin'?"

"Tell me you're mine, Smoke."

"Baby, I'm all yours."

Her teeth grazed against the tender flesh of his ear again and she slipped her warm tongue inside his ear, darting it in and out with slow gentleness. He whimpered and gripped the side of her throat. His tongue sought the tender parts of her neck as he sucked, nibbled, and licked on it with an ardor that nearly overwhelmed him. It was her turn to hiss and whimper as he scraped his teeth down to her collar.

"I gotta take you somewhere else," he panted, pulling away from her.

Threading his fingers with hers, he pulled her from the twinkling mist of fireflies.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Ahead of him, his father's old car shined under the pale moonlight.

"My car," he said.

He could've taken her up to the second floor of the barn, but Stack may have noticed. Beau Willie, too.

"Here, get in the back," he said, opening the door for her.

Annie shook her body free of the remaining fireflies. He did the same. She climbed in the car and followed behind her. The moon was bright enough to flood the interior. Her eyes shined with the anticipation he also felt in his gut. God, she was so beautiful. Nineteen and so full of life.

He touched a soft tuft of hair near her ear that unraveled from the yellow thread. There was no telling when he'd be able to see her again. If her father kept a tight leash, he'd have to savor every moment with her that night. He leaned in and she met him halfway. Their lips touched, and he let her discover the parts of his mouth that satisfied her curiosity. Every time she sucked on his tongue or whispered Creole in his ear, his dick jumped in his pants.

He finally reached his tipping point and fondled a breast. The abundance in his hand spilled over and he groaned louder while squeezing. Annie pulled away. Her eyes had a glassy sheen to them. Arousal bathed her face in lust. He glanced at her breasts.

"You want to touch me?" she asked.

He bit his bottom lip and nodded in the affirmative.

"I'll be a little sweaty from dancing and all this heat, though."

"I don't care."

She unbuttoned the top of her dress and he helped her pull down the sleeves in the cramped space of the back seat. Her white bra seemed to glow. She slowly pulled down each strap and her voluptuous breasts spilled out.

"Fuck," he said under his breath.

He stared at her titties like he'd never seen breasts before.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"No…you're beautiful Annie. I just wanna look at you. Drink it all in, baby."

The moonlight on her skin dazzled his eyes. She looked unreal. Beyond ethereal. With any other woman, he would've pounced and got down to business, exploiting a carnal situation to his complete satisfaction. But the eroticism she displayed for him had Smoke shook.

She looked down at his dick and swiped her tongue across her top lip, exciting him more. He finally reached over and touched her left nipple. It pebbled quickly and extended out to his delight. Big tits and big nipples. Heaven.

He pinched and played with her nipples, learning the best touches that she liked along the way. Soon he squeezed and lifted them with both hands, fearful of cumming in his pants because she had him under her spell. Her lips quirked and bunched up with all of his gentle breast play. He lowered his head and sucked on a plump nipple, tasting the salt on her skin from the perspiration she warned about. He didn't mind. It gave her skin extra flavor. She moaned out loud and called out his name several times. He kept right on sucking, switching it up with the other nipple, and then smashing her big tits together so he could flick his tongue quickly across each nipple back and forth.

"These titties are so big, Annie," he grunted.

He palmed them and she helped arouse him more by lifting their weight and holding them together for him.

"Tryna tease me, woman?" he said.

She laughed, her eyes crinkling up tight. Her gaze drifted to his lap. She licked her lips again.

"You want to touch it? You made it hard…so fast," he huffed out.

"Yes."

He pulled down his suspenders. Annie started unbuttoning his shirt. His curious eyes met hers.

"I want to touch your chest, too," she said.

He let her finish. She liked what he presented. Her index finger traced a path across his pecs. He unfastened his pants and lowered them with his underwear. Her eyes grew wider looking at his dick. He reached for her hand and guided it to the stiffness.

"It's so hot… and big," she panted.

Her hand knew what to do. She stroked him firmly up and down. Pre-cum gushed out of his deep slit and spilled all over Annie's nimble fingers. He stared at her tits and let her jerk him off. No wonder Beau Willie chased after her. Those big areolas and dark satin coloring on fat tits had Smoke wiggling in his seat. Shit felt so good that he gasped when his balls started pulsing with the friction she created going up and down. He became feverish with lust and licked his lips.

Clutching a breast, he held it with a firm grip. The heft turned him on in the worst way as he imagined taking her from behind. He craved the sound of her breasts smacking together while he fucked her, holding her bent over somewhere private, plunging into some slippery wet pussy that drained his balls. His groan deepened and Annie worked his fat dick up and down…up and down…up and down with such exquisite dexterity that his right leg shook. How deep was her pussy? Could he cram all the thickness she stroked inside of her?

His thoughts turned to Beau Willie. Had he fucked Annie? She didn't seem nervous, like someone inexperienced. He clenched his jaw with jealousy. If Beau Willie had her first, Smoke would have to turn Annie out to erase that man from her memory. His dick throbbed hard in her grasp. The heavy spilling of pre-cum helped keep his dick slippery for her delicious hand-job. His lips bunched up, and she had his dick on the verge of spitting everywhere.

He reached for his pants pocket and pulled out the handkerchief he kept there. He'd need it for the explosion that built up in his nutsack. Annie wouldn't want him to mess up her pretty dress if he wasn't prepared.

"You want me to put my mouth on it?" she asked.

Her sweet voice saying something so filthy caused a hearty chuckle to burst out. If her father ever found out, Smoke would have a dozen bullets in his body like Swiss cheese. Fuck it. She was worth dying for.

"Only if you want to," he said.

"Will you promise to cum in my mouth?"

Jesus Christ!

"Yeah, I'll cum wherever you want me to."

Excited, Annie hunkered above his dick and her breasts hung down the way he thought they would. He almost passed out. She licked his dick like a lollipop and kissed the wide head. He would have to teach her what to do because she wasn't giving him the service he was used to—

Fuck!

Her lips slid down his pipe with the suction he needed to get off. His eyes rolled back for a second, and he lost all comprehension of what his part was in the matter.

"Annie! Goddamn, girl! Suck that dick…aw shit…dassit…fuck girl….!"

She gagged, trying to go past her reflex, but she relaxed into the sucking. Her saliva coated his dick, and he almost started crying as she bobbed her head in his lap. He wasn't expecting that much pleasure from her mouth.

"Suck it…suck that dick…get it all deep in your mouth…"

He praised her efforts and offered her more dick down her throat.

She took it.

Took it deep.

He grabbed a titty and squeezed, needing something to ground him as the surge of his climax rose into his dick. Smoke slammed a hand against the roof of the car and shouted Annie's name as semen spurt into her mouth.

She swallowed.

Everything.

Her succulent lips made a loud popping sound as she released his dick. She sat back and wiped her mouth.

"I always wanted to do that," she said.

"You ain't never sucked dick before?"

The incredulous look on his face caused a giggle to escape from her.

"My first time."

"You a virgin?"

Her eyes darted away from his face.

Goddamn that Beau Willie.

"Was Beau Willie your first?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'ma be your second and last, hear me?"

She beamed, and Smoke kissed her full on the mouth, wanting to taste himself on her tongue. He played with her tits again, stuffed as much in his mouth as he could get, and she stroked his hair.

Voices.

Nearby.

"Shit!" he grumbled.

Annie started fixing her bra and Smoke pulled up his pants.

Too late.

"Nigga, getcho ass out here! Bo is about to propose to Grace and wants us with him when he does it!" Stack shouted. "You in there stankin' up the car gettin' some nookie?"

Stack yanked open the passenger door on Smoke's side. Annie tried to fasten her last few buttons, but Stack caught an eyeful of what went on seconds before.

"Stack, I was gonna tell you about me and Annie," Smoke blurted.

Stack took several steps back in a daze.

Smoke climbed out and stuffed his shirt in his pants and fastened his trousers. He pulled his suspenders back up.

"Stack?" Smoke said.

"What the fuck are you doing with her, Smoke?" Stack said.

Smoke glimpsed Bo waiting for Stack near the barn.

Annie stepped out of the car and faced Stack.

"I like your brother, Stack. You and me were only going to be friends. Don't be mad at him."

Stack's eyes watered.

"Why it had to be my brother, Annie?"

Annie reached for him, and Stack pushed her hands away. Smoke stepped in front of her.

"I was going to tell you how I felt. Since you spoke to her first, I let you have a chance with her. But she wants to be with me. I'm sorry. I ain't mean for you to find out like this."

"What he got over me, Annie? I look exactly like this nigga! I know I'ma lot more fun. Why you ain't want me? Huh?"

"I can't explain why, Stack. Something about him makes me feel…I just…"

Annie's eyes welled up. Smoke reached for her hand and pulled her in close. She hid her face in his shoulder.

"This is fucked up!"

Stack stomped away, turned back, and looked at them.

"Fuck the both of you!"

Bo patted Stack on the back as he passed him to go back into the barn.

"The fuck, Smoke?" Bo yelled over to him.

"Go pop the question to your woman, Bo," Smoke shouted.

"I want you there, too. I need my two best friends to give me courage."

"Give me a minute!"

Bo nodded and went after Stack.

Annie trembled in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Annie. I'll talk to him later. He'll get over it."

He held her and rocked his body against hers.

"He'll find him another woman in no time."

"I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be. I'm not. Shit happens and then you gotta move on. I promise, baby. We'll laugh about this one day."

He used his fingers to wipe away her tears and then blotted away the rest with his handkerchief. Once she calmed down, he held her hand and walked her back to the barn.

There was a noticeable shift in the group when people caught on that Smoke had claimed Annie for himself. It sparked whispers and curious glances. Their community always viewed the twins as troublesome catches. They were attractive, but the risk of being Smoke's girl would change how others interacted with Annie. They would admire and fear her.

Moving through the barn, Smoke ushered Annie out through the other side to the bonfire. Bo stood next to a visibly shaken Stack. Grace, Donetha, and Caldonia sat on haystacks, laughing and smoking cigarettes, oblivious to Bo and Stack standing behind them.

Cornbread tapped Smoke on his shoulder with a finger up to his lips. One fiddler stood next to him.

"We're going to have Chauncey serenade for Bo while he proposes," Cornbread whispered.

Smoke nodded and moved aside with Annie, giving Chauncey room. Bo slinked over and pulled out a ring and showed it to him.

"I'm so nervous," Bo said.

"Do you love her?" Smoke asked.

"I do."

"Then you're ready."

Smoke nodded toward Grace.

"Go handle your business, man."

Bo took a deep breath and pointed to Chauncey. The fiddler dragged the bowstring down and the pleasing sound alerted Grace and the others sitting around the fire that something unexpected was happening.

Bo walked around Stack and stepped over an unoccupied haystack. He stood before Grace. The firelight illuminated the couple, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Smoke glanced at Annie, and the flickering flames danced in her eyes. She slipped her arm around his and tilted her head up. Her lips enticed him and he kissed her…openly. Let his tongue slip into her mouth. She squeezed his arm.

"Grace," Bo said with a shaky voice, "You are the most important—"

The punch to Smoke's face came out of nowhere. Annie screamed, and he tumbled back, holding his cheek. The pain stung like hell.

Stack held his fists up, his face contorted in rage.

"Hey now…this ain't right. Brothers ain't supposed to be fighting. What's going on?" Cornbread shouted, stepping between them. "Smoke? Stack?"

"Fuck it!" Stack yelled.

He waved a dismissive hand and walked off toward the darkness, away from the fire.

Smoke rubbed his face. The pain wasn't as sharp, but it still hurt.

"Sorry, Bo," Smoke said. "I'll be back, Annie."

Smoke strode in the direction his brother went.

"Stack! Stack! Hold up!"

Smoke jogged after him.

His brother stopped and held his hands on his hips with his back to him.

"Talk to me, Stack."

"You should've told me. The moment you knew you had feelings."

"I should've…but you went for her, and I stood aside."

Stack sighed.

"I could never figure out why she held back with me. She made me laugh…listened to me. Never judged me. I dunno…made me feel like I could be something."

"What are you talking about? You're already something. We're both going to be something more when we start our own shit. C'mon, now."

"Cut the crap, Smoke. You and I both know people see us as two ain't-shit sons of Cash Moore. The man they believe had the devil in him and passed that evil onto us."

"We not evil. Stop believing that shit."

"They call our momma a witch."

Stack sighed. Tried to talk.

"Annie…man, she…..aw forget it!"

He threw his hands up and pulled out his flask. Gulping down the contents, he handed it to Smoke.

"How's your face?" Stack asked.

"It's going to have a bruise in the morning. Momma is going to wonder what happened."

Smoke took a huge swallow and choked, almost dropping the flask.

"The fuck is in here?" Smoke gasped.

He coughed and Stack whacked him on the back a few times.

"Pure grade moonshine, whipped up by Cornbread's uncle Lodie."

In the distance, an old truck kicked up dust, charging toward the bonfire. It stopped just short of the haystacks, and a group of men hopped out.

Smoke and Stack hurried back to see what the commotion was about.

The moment they reached the others, Smoke sensed trouble. Cornbread looked nervous.

"What's going on, Cornbread?" Smoke asked.

"These boys are from Cedar Mound."

Cornbread wouldn't look at Smoke. His eyes stayed planted on the leader of the new arrivals.

"Friends of yours?" Stack asked.

"Nah."

A bulky young man with slicked back hair, beady eyes, and clothes that looked too new to be trusted, stepped forward.

"We're friends with Terry," slick hair said. "He said for us to come around for the birthday party and barbecue."

"Terry who?" Cornbread said.

"The nigga with the fucked up eye," another man with a muscular frame and bitter-looking face interjected.

His eyes dragged up and down Annie and Caldonia. Donetha, too.

Smoke placed himself in front of them.

"This here is a private function," Cornbread said. "I don't know ya, and nobody can invite people I don't know to my jump up. I'll kindly ask you fellas to leave and find someplace else to have fun."

"Nigga, we told you Terry said we could come here!"

The muscular one lunged forward like he wanted something to jump off.

Both Smoke and Stack had already reached down to their ankles and pulled out guns, aiming them in strangers' direction.

"Guess you niggas caint hear too good. The man said you ain't welcome," Smoke challenged.

"We can help clean those big ass ears out if ya want," Stack added.

Annie snickered, and the muscular stranger curled his lips into an angry snarl.

"Bitch, what are you laughing at?" he barked.

Smoke cocked his gun, but Annie reached into the deep pocket of her dress and whipped out a straight razor.

"Call me a bitch again and I'll slice your balls off," Annie spat right back.

Smoke and Stack glanced at her and quickly looked at each other.

"Maybe it's best you keep her, Smoke. Caint have my balls cut off if she gets mad at me," Stack joked.

Ghost Eye Terry ran out from the barn, waving his hands around.

"Aye, Cornbread! That's my buddy Randolph…I told you earlier that he might come through," Terry huffed out.

"You said one person. Terry. Not four," Cornbread said.

Randolph, with the slick hair, grinned widely.

"I'm sorry, that's my fault. I didn't want to come all this way alone. The klan been busy this summer as y'all know. Didn't want to take a chance and get caught on the road by myself. Brought me some back-up just in case," Randolph said.

Cornbread scratched his head and sighed.

"That is true," Cornbread said.

He glanced at Smoke and Stack.

"I guess it's okay to let them stay. I told Terry he could have a friend come since he helped drive people over."

Terry nodded enthusiastically, relief spreading across his face.

Smoke moved closer to the muscular man and kept his gun aimed directly at his head.

"Ain't nobody stayin' until this nigga apologizes to my woman," Smoke said.

Cornbread blinked twice and stared at Annie.

Randolph smacked the muscular man's shoulder to comply.

"Apologize to this beautiful lady, Wilson," Randolph said.

Wilson spread his greasy lips into a caricature of a smile and bowed his head at Annie.

"I am very sorry for calling you outchea name, Miss…?"

"Annie," she said.

"My apologies, Miss Annie. My mother taught me better than that," Wilson said.

Everyone waited for Smoke.

"Is that good enough for you, Annie?" Smoke asked.

Annie folded her straight razor and tucked it back in her pocket.

"It'll do," she said with her haughty dark eyes cutting into the new guests.

Smoke reared back his hand and pistol-whipped Wilson across the forehead.

"I said sorry, nigga!" Wilson wailed, pressing a hand onto the new bloody gash on his face.

"That'll teach ya not to run ya mouth next time," Smoke said.

"Come get something to drink. Might be some cake and food left," Terry said, rushing his people toward the barn.

Cornbread looked over at Annie.

"You sho' is full of surprises tonight," Cornbread said.

Annie smirked.

"I don't trust these niggas. Klan or no klan," Stack said to Smoke.

"I agree."

"I'll go check on 'em. Make sure they don't kill the party with their musty asses. Lawd almighty, that thick neck one smell like a dead skunk," Stack said, his face scrunching up at the odor left behind.

"We good?" Smoke asked.

Stack looked at Annie. Her big brown eyes and pretty lashes were hard to stay mad at. His brother's shoulders relaxed. He tucked his gun in the back of his pants for easy access.

"Yeah, we good."

Stack walked over to Annie. Looked her dead in the face. She reached out and ran the back of her hand across his cheek. Then kissed the side of his face.

"You'll always be my favorite twin," she said.

"I'ma be salty with you for a minute. Don't think we not gonna have a conversation about this between you and me at some point."

"I know," she said.

Stack turned and headed inside to keep his eyes on folks.

Smoke held out his hand. Annie clasped it.

"A straight razor was in your dress while we were fooling around?" he said.

She touched the hidden pocket that blended into her dress seamlessly.

"I gotta protect myself at all times."

"Not from me."

"Especially you," she teased.

"I think we're a good match, then."

He scanned the groups of people relaxing and chatting by the fire.

"What happened to Bo and Grace?"

"He tried to finish his lovely words to Grace, and she jumped up to go puke in the bushes over there. That moonshine Cornbread passed around is rough. Bo postponed the proposal until she feels a little better."

Sweet music and laughter drifted out from the barn. Smoke placed his gun back in his ankle holster.

"May I have another dance with you, Annie?"

"Yes you may, Elijah."

Smoke allowed a tiny sliver of a smile to show on his lips. Annie kissed her fingers and touched his lips with them.

"The best part of my night," she said, "Seeing you smile at me."

He kissed her on the temple and made plans to speak to her father first thing in the morning.

Part 4 soon come....

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brownskincheyenne · 1 day ago

Text

Go read neooooww!!

BIG • BROWN • EYES

annie x smoke

summary: smoke lays his eyes on annie for the first time and is immediately taken by her beauty. as he notices the way she makes his heart beat fast in his chest and his hands stop trembling like they had for so long, he realizes that he has love for someone other than his brother.

cw: fluff, use of the nword, brief mention of trauma, stack being an annoying younger brother, nothing reallyy. just my cute loves

a/n: yea soooo three uploads in three daysss,, inspired by @margepimpson !!! thank you so much, love! i so needed that fic list you made

masterlist

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He saw her first in town, walking from shop to shop, clearly checking off things from a mental list of necessities. Her walk was full of a grace that he adored. Something in her stance commanded every space she walked in. It made heads turn on a swivel just to keep up with with her. It made eyes bulge while she checked the firmness of watermelons or the quality in a gingham fabric.

The next thing he adored about her was the kindness in her smile. Every time she paid a cashier and collected her things, she graced them with a genuine smile and a honest thank you. It made his heart burst with infatuation.

One thing he couldn’t look past was her body. She was round and full-figured in a way that made him want to grab and hold onto her for dear life. Her hips were full and bounding. Her backside had a curve in it that made him want to run his hands along her dress. And her chest was plump and sitting high.

But despite this—and everything else he had found a joy in about her—what he seemed to love most about the mysterious woman was her eyes.

Big, brown, knowing eyes.

As he watched her drift through downtown—his body rested against the side of his car—he dreamed about what it would feel like for her to bless him with just one glance. That’s all he needed: to look directly into her eyes just one time.

Elijah ‘Smoke’ Moore had never felt this way about a woman. He was by far no loose-man like his brother—tending to the needs of women who just couldn’t wait to rub it in the faces of women who hadn’t gotten a chance to lay with a Moore twin. But Smoke wasn’t a saint either.

He sinned hard and long into the night, lusting after women he didn’t have no business being with.

But the woman he peered at from across the street was like none other he had ever encountered. His stomach erupted in a funny feeling as he traced a line of sweat that ran from her neck and down the center of her chest. It was like his insides were twisting and turning with something fierce. Like when he’d gotten a bad batch of tamales from town but different.

This feeling was pulling at his soul.

It was aching.

Needy.

Desperate.

Before he saw her, Smoke’s hands had been trembling like they were known to do. His time in the war and years spent under the roof of an alcohol-abusing father had done that to him; And as he tried to patiently wait for his brother to return from collecting some cash they were owed, one sight of the woman eased his tremble and remedied his internal pain.

“Shit,” Stack shouted as he emerged from the building. "Took longer than I expected." He patted his brother on the shoulder and began to climb into the passenger seat but saw Smoke’s far-away gaze. “You good?” He asked after not receiving any indication that his twin was paying attention. He watched as Smoke's gaze was fixed across the street, watching a lady strolling about. He thought to call out to him again: “Smoke!”

“What, boy," he grumbled, not yet peeling his eyes from the woman. He tilted his head to get a better look at the way her arm swayed at her side and how her dress flooded nicely around her calves. "Don’t you see I’m busy?”

Stack huffed, not being put off by his brother's combative nature.

“I see you bein’ a weird ass nigga, starin’ at folks," Stack voiced unapologetically. His gaze was now fixed on her too, admiring the way she moved and enjoying what he saw. But one look at Smoke's face, and he knew she was already claimed. "What you lookin’ at her like that for?”

“You don’t see her?” Smoke neglected his question, shaking his head in disbelief. His brows ruffled at the annoyance his brother could be at times.

“‘Course I see her," he answered with an obvious tone. "That don’t answer my question though.” Stack prodded at his brother, trying to get him to be honest without so much of a fight.

“Nigga, she beautiful," Smoke spoke, voice dripped in a dreamy cadence—like he was imagining what life would be like now that he had gazed upon someone so gorgeous. Stack nodded along to his words, eyeing the side of his twin's head to see if he could read his mind. Stack knew his brother, and Smoke had never been this drawn to anyone before.

They had seen the world, and some of the most beautiful women there ever were called Mississippi home, but there was something so evidently different in the glint of Smoke’s eye.

Stack set his mind on making sure Smoke and the mysterious lady met face-to-face. He stepped forward, raising his hand and his voice.

“Aye! Pretty lady,” he yelled loudly, getting the attention of everyone in the town’s center and the woman Smoke’s heart now belonged to. She squinted her eyes at Stack, eyebrows drawn close together at the way he was attempting to wave her over.

“What you doin’, boy,” Smoke hushed in embarrassment. His teeth were bared, and his eyes had shifted downward in order to not meet anyone’s gaze.

“I’m getting you laid,” he spoke as if it was obvious. He began jogging across the street as the woman walked away. He shouted over his shoulder at his twin. “That’s probably why yo’ ass always so fuckin’ uptight. You need that good shit.”

Smoke completely recoiled from his brother’s brashness. His mellow and calm was now gone. His fingers began to shake again, causing him to pull a cigarette from his suit pocket that Stack had rolled for him earlier in the day.

He watch Stack gain the woman’s attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder, but the look she gave him was completely lacking the kind eyes she once had.

“I don’t take too kindly to men beckonin’ me like I’m some dog,” she punctuated, not backing down from the taller man. She found offense in the way he expected her to cross the street. She looked up at him, shoulders back and lips pressed into a flat line. It made Stack’s blood run cold and made Smoke’s heart jump.

He loved to know she was a no nonsense kind of girl.

“I ain’t mean nothin’ by it, miss,” Stack apologized , voice quieter than before. “I’m sorry that I offended you. I’m Elias ‘Stack’ Moore. And you are?” He took his hat off his head and placed it to his chest. His hand was held out to shake hers—though she refused to accept it.

“Annie Laveau,” she voiced, trying to get to the point of the conversation without any unnecessary fluff.

“That’s real pretty,” he smiled widely, chuckling just a little to lighten the mood. He wiped his had on his suit jacket to push away the burn of rejection. The sun was beating down in them hard, and the way she looked at him with those big, brown eyes made his insides burn even further. “You one of them fancy Louisiana niggas?”

She rolled her eyes and shifted her weight onto one foot. Completely avoiding his idiotic question, she asked:

“What did you want again?”

Stack was taken aback. He stumbled over he words slightly and looked back to see his nervous brother, smoking a cigarette to quell that uneasy feeling he had often.

“Well, you see my brother over there,” he said, pointing to the twin, “he said he think you beautiful.”

“Is that so,” Annie questioned but in a voice that didn’t expect a real answer. Her eyes met Elijah’s from his spot across the street.

When they looked at each other, it was like the world stopped moving, even for just a moment. It was like they were the only two people in the world. Like Clarksdale wasn’t bustling and moving with an economic fervor spurred on by the production of cotton. Like neither of them had experienced a lifetime of pain and had to push through the trauma to survive. Like they somehow knew everything there was to know about each other but still desired to learn more.

That feeling was back in Elijah’s stomach. And the nervous feeling in his hands was gone again, causing him to throw his cig on the ground and stomp it out like it had never existed in the first place. He straightened his clothes and removed his hat, all while looking directly into her kind eyes.

Annie swallowed hard. She had met many men in her life and had entertained plenty of suitors, but the man across the street—who was the spitting image of the one who had offended her so—had won a special place in her soul just with one look in his eyes.

She cleared her throat and reluctantly turned back to Stack. He had a smile on his face that was buzzing from the show he had just witnessed.

“Tell ‘im if he think I’m so beautiful, he gon’ have to do more than just follow me with his eyes and send his twin to beckon me,” she said with less confidence than she had before. She kept glancing up to sweep her eyes over his body—how he had previously been leaned against the car but was now stood at attention.

“He ain’t send me over here,” Stack rushed out, putting his hands up in surrender. “I’m just a better talker than him, you know. Wanted to see if you wanted a chance with the less fun version of me.” Stack ran his hands along his face and neck to show her all his glory, but it just made her laugh in his face.

“You really don’t know how to talk to women, do you,” she chuckled at his audacious manner. Him coming to see if she wanted “a chance” was more offensive than what he’d done before, but she still looked up at the man across the street one more time before deciding what to do.

“Girl, I stay with an arm full of fillies,” he huffed, ego hurt more than he cared to admit. “I can handle a conversation wit’ a woman.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” she breathed heavily and raised her eyebrows, tone full of sarcasm. Her mind wandered, knowing that if she left without at least speaking to the other twin she’d live to regret it. “Fine,” she grumbled as if she was being drug to the cross, “I’ll go talk to ‘im.”

But she was giving in so willingly.

Her long legs crossed the street with that grace Smoke loved dearly. His brother stayed back, sending raised thumbs his way as an attempt to ease his anxiety.

The entire time, Annie’s eyes were on him, tracing the crisp line down the center of his pants legs, the hat that was clutched in his palms, the straining veins in his hands, the bulging of his adam’s apple, the softness in his brown eyes. She looked at him like he was the world.

And he looked at her the same.

It was then that Smoke realized his true feelings. As she walked across the street and through crowds of people, he realized that what he felt was love.

He met her halfway, a sweaty hand outstretched. He had seen how she reacted to his brother and feared the same fate of a heavy hand left unaccepted, but that fear was soon overcome.

She grabbed ahold of his hand.

Hers was soft yet solid against his calloused one, causing his head to swirl at how good it felt to touch her.

“H-hi,” he stuttered, tripping over his words as he tried to push the nerves away. Annie laughed sweetly at him, enjoying the way she had him shaking in excitement and a delicious nervousness.

“Hello,” her Louisiana accent rang out, pulling him in even further. “I’m Annie Laveau.”

She waited for him to say something back, but he just gawked at her with his lips slightly parted and body too close to hers for a public setting. She didn’t move away though. She stepped closer and squeezed at his hand that she still had a firm grip on.

“Sorry,” he apologized, placing a kiss to the back of her hand, indulging in the warmth of her. “Nice to meet you, Annie. I’m Elijah Moore. You can call me Smoke.”

Annie tilted her head to the side and smiled softly at him. She adored that sweet drawl in his voice, and she realized then that even if Elias considered himself the better talker, she’d do anything in the world to hear Elijah say her name again and again.

It was like the taste of honeysuckles and the scent of magnolias in bloom all at once. Her name had never sounded so good.

Annie stepped impossibly closer to his body, effectively stopping his breathing as he surrendered to her delightful gaze.

“I prefer to call you Elijah,” she nodded to herself, eyes glancing down at his lips and over to the dimple in his cheek as he smiled at her, “if that’s ok with you?” The smile he’d given her made her body feel numb. Prior to that, she had only seen his straight, far-too-serious expression, but here he was, showing her full teeth.

Elijah nodded his head with way too much enthusiasm, causing Annie to blush with laughter and Stack to shout at him from across the street.

“Damn, nigga,” he yelled at his twin, “she punkin’ yo’ ass.”

They both ignored him, sighing and rolling their eyes at his unique way of being. Annie and Elijah stood there, enjoying the calm that surrounded their bodies and envisioning a future full of love and possibility and each other.

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

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