Smoke

She stood infront of the mirror once more, meticulously going over every detail of her outfit, her heart thundered behind her ribs as she checked the clock.

She passed the cab driver a note instructing him to keep the change, she walked anxiously up to the door of the pub, already able to smell the smoke and stale lager, she stepped forward her heels clattering as she did. She flinched as the door heaved open, a smile coming to her lips as she heard familiar voices around her,

“Oi, Oi Dolly! Look at the legs on you!”

George pulled her in to a tight cuddle,

“Alright George?”
Billy wolf whistled as he walked out of the door, she felt her confidence grow a little, enjoying the attention before she went in,

“Does anyone want a drink?” She called out, Listening closely to the jumble of voices that replied almost confident that she had understood them all, “Whats Kevin drinking?”

“Noting yet Dolly” Bill replied “He’s not here yet!”

“Marnie probably won’t let him out!”

George spluttered through laughter,

“I’ll just get him a pint”

She sighed walking in to the bar.

He paced across the living room,

“You know this happens Marns! Every Thursday!”

“Well if It happens every Thursday you won’t mind missing this one!”

He was sick of the arguing, they had always had a complicated relationship, starting as school sweethearts and moving in together once they had left, he remembered fondly how wonderful she was to begin with, before he had joined the fire brigade, he remembered the laughing, the dancing and the drunken singing but now thing were different, she remained beautiful with brown hair and sparkling blue eyes, she was gorgeous, he was starting to wonder if it was worth holding on just for the sake of looks, she hated his job and did nothing but slate him for it, she called him out on his working pattern and the way he spoke so highly of the rest of the crew, he tried so hard to keep a decent balance, giving up his poker nights and attending the bare minimum of training sessions in an attempt to keep Marnie happy but it never seemed enough,

“Marns for fuck sake! It’s a couple of pints at the pub with some of the crew!”

He looked at her, sat cross legged on the sofa purposely not looking at him like a stroppy thirteen year old,

“Will Scarlett be there?”

Kevin sighed and scoffed,

“Probably she’s on the crew, Marnie I’m not having this argument with you every time I leave the front door for Christ sake! Don’t you trust me?”

She sighed standing up from the sofa and walking towards him, she draped her arms around his neck the tone of her voice lowering suddenly,

“Of course I do babe, I just know a lot of women would like a night with a dark handsome fireman too”

She did this every time, she drove him to the brink of distraction with her petty arguing and then pulled him back in with a few well placed compliments and a tone in her voice,

“Well I’m not like that, look I’m late already but I’ll be back soon alright”

She nodded slipping her hand to the back of his neck and pulling him closer, she pressed her body in to his planting a long kiss on his lips, “Don’t be long” She whispered.

He smiled to himself as he walked along the road, already hearing George and Billy singing over the dull thud of the music that was playing, he pushed the door open,

“Kevin!! Hello mate!”

George shouted, already tipsy, Kevin stopped dead in his tracks frozen to the spot, as his eyes danced over a figure at the bar, with long auburn curls tumbling down her back, although unrecognisable it was undeniable who was stood there, he watched her flinch as Billy’s voice cried across the crowded pub,

“Go on Kev!!”

She turned looking over her shoulder towards him, smiling as he walked over to her, she slid a pint over to him,

“Thank you, glad you’re here”

“Yeah well I had nothing else going on!” she laughed taking a sip from the gin and tonic in front of her “Where have you been!”

“Nowhere” he shrugged “Had to sort something out before I left”

“Right!” she replied pulling a cigarette from her packet, hunting her bag for a lighter, “Shall we go over to the others then?”

“After you”

He smiled placing a hand on the small of her back as she walked away, she felt her stomach flip at his touch, they sat beside each other at the table, taking it in turns to get drinks, sharing fags and laughing loudly with the rest of the crew, Bayleaf stood and stretched,

“Oh Bayleaf! Don’t go”

Scarlett joked,

“Nah one of us has got to be functioning to get dinner on the table tomorrow night” He smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, “Take care of yourself Dolly and kev” he paused his expression changing as he locked eyes on the young fireman “Keep it in your pants!”

He pulled his jacket on walking away from the table without so much as another word.

Just like at the station they were soon the only two left, she felt herself warming to him as they moved closer together, laughing at their private jokes and chatting between themselves, she finished the last mouthful of her drink,

“Do you want another one?”

She asked concentrating on keeping her words straight, he smirked at her rising from his seat, placing a hand on the top of her arm,

“Nah, why don’t we go somewhere?”

She felt her blood begin to pump warm,

“I’ve got some gin back at mine”

Her words almost slurred as her eyes fixed on his,

“Let’s go there then”

He grinned, picking his jacket up from the chair, she linked her arm through his as they left the bar.

They walked the short distance back to her modest flat, he planted small kisses on her temple and cheek as they walked, with his jacket on her shoulders and her hand in his she felt safe.

As they stumbled through the front door, he caught her, kicking the front door closed, he lifted her in to his chest drawing a loud laugh from her as they went.

The two collapsed on to her bed, he lay next to her examining every inch of her face, taking in every freckle, he smiled to himself as he moved her hair from her forehead with his fingertips, with little warning, he placed his lips on to hers, she felt her stomach tighten with excitement as his hand slowly explored the curve of her hip and settled on her thigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck, desperate to be close to him, her breath catching as his hand made contact with her bare skin, his fingers toying with the hem of her dress, his touch almost burned, his lips trailed from her jaw to her neck, his hands travelled between her thighs, using gentle strokes he teased, she gasped as he moved her underwear to the side, slicking his finger through her. He shifted suddenly, standing over her he pulled his t-shirt off hurriedly, she pulled at his jeans, watching, catching her breath as he stepped out of them, using both hands he pushed her dress up, she moved slightly as his hands slid along the side of her thighs, she giggled as he pulled her underwear off, helping him by moving her legs, they locked eyes for a moment, he could hear his heartbeat in his ears as thoughts of Marnie began to dance through his mind, he took a deep breath focusing on what was in front of him, every inch of her was perfect, her pale skin and toned abdomen were standard for a fire woman, but out of uniform she looked and felt completely different, he used one hand taking both slender wrists and pinning them above her head, she smiled, not taking her eyes from him, he used his other hand to guide himself in to her, building a rhythm, she writhed underneath him, her skin brushing his, she pulled her wrists free, her hands roaming his body, pulling him closer to her and deeper in with her hands on his hips, she groaned bucking against him, as he brushed her sweet spot, she moaned his name, driving him insane, he felt a warmth grow in his pelvis, he gripped the sheet in one hand and desperately reached for hers with the other, he kissed her again, groaning in to it as he climaxed, leaving her trembling, he collapsed on the bed beside her, draping an arm across her abdomen.

She rolled towards him, placing a small kiss on his lips, he smiled back at her,

“Tea?”

She asked, he laughed moving her hair from her face,

“Go on then!”