Page 25 of The Smoke Hour

“Are you sure?”

“You don’t even love that man, Kai. Stop dragging yourself,” Tamara stated.

“I just feel guilty because there’s truly chemistry between a stranger and me, and I don’t even know him.”

“And yet, you can’t force chemistry where none exists,” Noel stated.

“You feel nothing when you’re with Terry?” Christina asked.

“No.”

“And this guy?” Tamara asked. “What’s he giving?”

“Vibes like he’s someone you’d better run and hide from.”

“Like toxic?” Tamara asked.

“No. More along the lines of dark and dangerous. Sexy and edgy.”

“Ooh, I like.” Christina clapped her hands happily.

“Men have plans to get in the panties whether that’s your plan or not, Kai,” Noel stated the obvious in a boring tone.

“Not all guys, Noel. You’re not that guy.”

“The hell I’m not,” Noel replied, folding his arm behind his head on the armchair.

He crossed his ankles and became even more comfortable in my chair.

“Noel, you’ve always been a gentleman,” Christina disputed.

“Gentleman, thug, friend, homie, or whatever, we all want the same thing: to bust a nut. We just have different ways of going about it. Whether we are charming and debonair, crash outs, chill, around the way, or what the fuck ever, we want them draws, baby girl.”

“Damn, Noel. When you put it like that…” Christina tapped her chin thoughtfully and looked up at the ceiling. I had no idea what was going through her mind, and truthfully, I didn’t want to know.

“Who is this guy?” Noel asked. “What titty bar does he own?”

“The Smoke Hour,” I replied.

Noel’s eyes widened. “Come again?”

“What?”

“The Smoke Hour isn’t just a titty bar. It’s a gentlemen’s lounge where a lot of things occur, not just stripping. And you’re meeting up with Smoke?”

“Yes.”

“Smoke Socco, right?” Noel asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

“That’s not a nigga you want to play games with.” Noel’s warning tone was grave.

“How do you know him?” I asked.

Noel laughed and shook his head. “I don’t personally know the man. Shit, I wouldn’t want to know the man. But I know who he is, what he’s into, and the fact that you should steer clear of him.”

“Why? What’s he into?”

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