Page 53 of The Smoke Hour

“Damn, girl. You’re gonna make me fuck around and marry you.”

She beamed at me and shook her head.

“You’re a fool.”

“No, I’m a wise man. A man who doesn’t make a woman like you his wife is a fool.”

“You’re saying all the things that make a woman feel good, Smoke, but I know that it’s too soon for all that.”

“Maybe you’re setting your expectations too low, baby,” I stated as I looked up from my plate where she was toying with her food.

Fiya

Ididn’t want to act like a big baby, but I was scared to stay alone another night. Smoke had been busy the last few days and nights. I wasn’t sure what it was that had him busy, but whatever it was had him stressed out. He tried each night to have me come to his house, or he wanted to come to mine, but I had told him not to worry about me.

Smoke had business to handle at his house tonight. Tired of the lonely nights, I agreed to return to his house, where he made love to me before I fell asleep. Freshly showered, fed, and sexed down, I had fallen asleep and hadn’t woken up again until I heard my phone ringing on the nightstand.

I flipped onto my side and noticed a call from Noel.

“Hey, boo.” I greeted him in a groggy voice.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just wanted to tell you good night before I turned in and that my flight leaves at eleven tomorrow morning.”

“No problem. Good, because I miss you.”

“What are you doing? Watching TV?”

“No. I’m in Smoke’s bed.”

“Damn. Sorry about that. Did I interrupt hot sex?”

I snorted. “Not hardly. I was probably snoring, and he’s probably downstairs in his office still working.”

He sighed. “Be careful, Kai.”

“About?”

“Smoke. I mean, I know that he treats you well and puts you first, but he’s a dangerous man.”

“He won’t hurt me, Noel.”

“I know. But sometimes men can make enemies who come after those we love.”

“Noel, he protects me. He even mentioned marriage tonight.”

“He did, or you did?”

“He did.”

“Mm.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Men have been known to marry women to keep her from testifying against them.”

“What are you saying, Noel?” I hissed as I sat up in bed.

“Just saying that Smoke can be a dangerous man. When I was running late to the airport, I ran into Garrett Thompson.”

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