Free Smoke by Toye Lawson Brown

were to go to his place at this hour of night, he would expect more than just a tour, and after months with no sexual contact, she couldn’t trust herself to be alone with him.
    “I’m closer to home if I leave from here; maybe some other time.”
    He licked his lips “Fine. How about I take you to breakfast in the morning? I’ll even come get you.”
    “Mm, I have church.”
    “I’ll go with you.”

    “You would come to church with me?”
    “I admit I have sinned but I do believe in God. The big guy answered my prayers tonight.”
    She laughed. “How—did you pray Anthony would get stuck with the smelly
    lady?”
    Jonathan removed every expression from his face and leaned down closer to her.
    Tilting her chin with the tips of his fingers, he touched his lips to hers. When she didn’t pull away, he pressed the kiss tighter. Passing his tongue into her warm mouth, she allowed him to play with her tongue. The tasting, teasing and mingling of their tongues activated her launch system as well as his.
    Her arms went around his neck drawing him closer. Their noses bumped before finding a comfortable position. With eager lips, Jonathan kissed, her chin, cheeks the side of her sweet mouth before returning to devour her lips. Weaving her fingers through his soft hair, Gabrielle sucked in a breath, diving back into the passionate kiss; forgetting where they were.
    Their bodies were close. Jonathan could not stop the surge of passion ripping through him, awakening every membrane in his body. Gabrielle felt him growing against her abdomen and pulled away from the kiss. She didn’t want to start anything she wasn’t willing to finish.
    “Jonathan, we have to stop,” she said pulling away adjusting the jacket around her shoulders.
    Still feeling the sting from the kiss, he wiped away any lipstick residue from his mouth. In a deep husky voice said, “Yeah, this is not the place to get cozy.”
    “It’s late. I’m going home and take a nice cool shower and go to bed.”

    “Why do that when there is a Marriott around the corner?” Her body stance made him retract his words. “Too soon to make that kind of joke; I’ll walk you to your car.”
    Crossing the street, she opened the car door using it as a partition between them.
    “I had fun tonight.”
    “Thanks for hanging with me for the evening. I promise when I take you on a date, I will do it right. I’ll pick you up and make sure you get home safe.”
    Her index finger outlined his strong jaw. “I’ll call when I’m home to let you know I’m safe.”
    “Don’t forget.” He leaned over the door placing a light kiss on her lips.
    Gabrielle smiled returning his jacket before getting in the car and starting the ignition. He stepped on the curb and watched her drive off. Unloosening his tie, he walked to his truck parked a few feet away digging in his pockets for the keys. Anthony was leaning against the hood with his arms folded.
    “Congratulations, you won this round,” he said clapping his hands lightly.
    “Go to hell, Anthony. I told you this ain’t a game.”
    “I’m joking with you, quit being so sensitive. I’m not blind and can see she wants you.”
    “She’s being cautious for some reason. The kiss was sweet and I could tell she wanted more.”
    “She just met you; give her a minute to get used to you.”
    “You might be right. We haven’t really spent any time alone to talk to get to know each other.”

    “It’s a damn good thing you weren’t alone. I thought I was going to have to turn the hose on y’all to break up that kiss.”
    “We just got caught in a moment. I’m not planning on sleeping with her on the first few dates.”
    “I’m just saying—“
    Jonathan turned angry. “I know what you’re saying and I’m putting it on record, I’m not like that anymore! Gabrielle is the only woman that will have everything I own; which includes my faithfulness.”
    “Be careful, Jon. She hasn’t proven to you she deserves it.