Pulling Sarah from the Closet, Part 3

I am a first time writer here, but a long time reader. I've enjoyed many of
your works, especially the authors Karriejj (Corruptor Series), Sstoryman,
AsianSmoker, Anon. Thanks for the many hours of work you've put into your
creations, and for the inspiration you've provided in them.  Your
comments/criticisms welcomed: grizfaninmsla@yahoo.com

This work of fiction contains adult themes about smoking and sex.

Part 3:

I woke early in the night and then slept pretty lousy, tossing and turning,
wondering what was going on. I had taken the lighter knowing that when she
went to light up it wouldn't be there and that she would have to use the car
lighter. I had also counted the number of cigarettes in the pack, seven, to
see how many she was smoking during the day.

We left for work at the same time, just like always. She followed me as usual
and then turned off where she normally does, going her way while I went mine.
Today however, I turned around a block away and sped back in the direction she
went. 

It was still dark out at 7:30, so it's hard to make one car from another with
everyone's headlights on. I caught up to her quickly and followed one car
behind. I wasn't surprised when we stopped at a stoplight and her window
cracked more and she held her hand out, holding a long cigarette and flicked
the ashes. "Doesn't she care if anyone sees her smoking?" I thought out loud,
perplexed by her actions.

She brought her hand back inside when the light turned green and I could see
her bring her left hand to her mouth. She then turned to the left and exhaled
directly out the window. I'd seen enough and decided to do a lane change and
head back towards my office building.

I felt numb, a bit depleted, with thousands of questions and no answers.

I spent a great deal of my morning looking up stuff on the Internet about
smoking, specifically closet smoking. It was almost fascinating reading why
people are closeted, what they do to hide it, how long they've been doing it,
what they've done when they are caught, who they do and don't smoke in front
of. I even ran across some sites that promote smoking and sex, some kind of
weird fetish or something. It was all very enlightening.

I still didn't know what to do, or how or if I should approach her. The whole
situation was driving me insane. I decided to just play things by ear.

I arrived home a little bit later than normal as I had some catching up to do.
I walked into the house and Sarah wasn't anywhere to be found. I checked the
bedroom and found she was in the shower.

"Hey, I'm home!" I called loudly over the noise of the shower. "What are you
showering for so soon?"

"Just had some time," she called back. "Dinners in the oven, should be ready
in 30 minutes or so."

"OK," I replied and made my way back to the garage.

I opened her car door and sat inside. I noticed a slight smell of smoke.
Perhaps I wanted to smell it, but I truly could. I pulled out the lighter from
the dash and inspected it. Tiny specs of white and gray ash clung to the
coils. I didn't bother smelling it.

I then reached under the seat and pulled out the First Aid kit. Inside was her
old pack, and new pack, still sealed and unopened, and a new lighter. "She
must have stopped somewhere today," I thought. I opened the older pack and saw
just 1 cigarette left. So, she had smoked at least 6 today I deduced. No
telling if she smoked more after seeing her bum one from Janet yesterday.

I took a deep breath and took both packs and the lighter from the box. I
closed the lid and replaced it under the seat. I was nervous as hell knowing
what I was about to do would change our lives forever. I found a small box in
the garage and placed the items in it and went back inside, readying myself
for the confrontation.


Dinner went fine and Sarah's lasagna was perfect as usual. We spoke about our
days work, the news about Iraq, the terrorists, normal stuff. When we were
through I sat back in my chair and finished my glass of wine and took a deep
breath.

"God that meal was wonderful," I complimented her.

Sarah blushed a bit as she wiped the edges of her mouth with her napkin.
"Thank you," she replied smiling.

"Some people say after a meal like that, a cigarette tastes so good," I said
looking her straight in the eye.

She quickly looked away and sipped from her wine. "I suppose," she stammered
nervously.

"Would you like one now?" I asked pointedly.

She turned to me red faced, and now I could see her begin to get defensive.
"What the hell does that mean?"

I reached for the box sitting on the chair next to me and slid it slowly
across the table towards her.

"What the hell is.." she began, but I quickly interrupted her.

"Open it."

She set her glass down and pulled the box towards her. She opened it slowly
and cautiously. When it was open and she saw the contents, her body went a
little limp and the color drained from her face. She covered her mouth in
shame. My eyes pierced hers, looking for an answer.

"How did you know?" she asked meekly and wiped a tear away from her eyes.

I told Sarah my story, of how I had been driving past her office and saw her
and Janet. And how I had snooped in her car, taken her lighter, followed her
to work, everything.

"We've always been open and honest with each other, why did you hide this?" I
asked softly, trying to belie a bit of the hurt she was feeling.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes again, finished her wine and began to tell her
tale. I filled both our wine glasses as she spoke.

"I smoked at the end of high school, and during college, up until we met. Our
first date, you said something about smoking that put a real negative spin on
it, it made me believe if I ever wanted a relationship with you, I couldn't
smoke. So I hid it."

"We've been together almost eight years now and I've been a closet smoker the
whole time, I guess I've been smoking a total of about 12 years. I can go
weeks without them, like when we've gone on vacation, but they keep haunting
me, calling me back. I've never been able to give them up."

"I'm so sorry Brad," she said leaning forward and reaching for my hands. "I'll
quit, right now, no more, if you'll just forgive me."

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she was searching for something,
anything. I took her hands and shook my head.

"When I saw you yesterday, so much emotion crashed through me, anger mostly..
but I saw something else." I paused searching for the right words. "I saw you
happy too, enjoying something. I can't explain it, but it almost made me
jealous in a way. Deep down, I guess, I don't care if you smoke. I mean, I
care about your health and everything, but I can't deny you happiness can I?"

She pulled away and sipped her wine. "Wow, I'm shocked" she said nervously,
her hand still shaking a bit. "That isn't the response I thought I'd get. What
are you saying?"

"I'm saying I love you. And if smoking is part of who you are, then I'll learn
to love that part of you to. I just don't want either of us to have to agonize
over this anymore. I swear I've gotten an ulcer over last 36 hours. I'll ask
the same question I asked a few minutes ago.. Would you like one now?"

"You're serious?" she asked dumbfounded.

"Yes," I replied smiling. "I love you Sarah."

She reached into the box cautiously and pulled out the lighter and the nearly
spent box of Marlboro Light 100's. She flipped back the lid and extracted the
last one and placed it in her lips. Our eyes met as she flicked her lighter
and touched the flame to the tip and drew long and hard. She pulled the smoke
deep into her lungs and held it, letting the nicotine sooth her frayed nerves.

She exhaled a tight stream towards the ceiling. "Please don't stare, I'm self
conscious about this enough already," she asked with wisps of smoke detailing
her words.

She tapped her ash onto her dinner plate. "I'll need to pick up some ash
trays," she said and drew again.

"Fine," I said staring at her, smiling.

She exhaled and then blushed. "What? Why are you smiling like that?"

"You look.. sexy." I said and then stood and walked behind her. I leaned over
and hugged her from behind nuzzling her neck, gently kissing her.

"You don't mind the smell?" she asked

"The smell is part of you," I replied softly and began nibbling her ear.

She took a deep pull from the cigarette and as she exhaled I turned her head
towards me and kissed her full on the lips, tasting her wonderful taste and
breathing in the wonderful smell. At that point I understood what I had read
and seen on some of the smoking sites, the fetish, and I think I had it. 

I took her hand and pulled her to her feet. She took a final drag from her
cigarette and dropped it into her wine glass. She exhaled lightly and grabbed
her new pack and lighter, then we walked quickly back to the bedroom and made
slow passionate love.

We laid in bed afterward and Sarah had her first post sex cigarette. On a
whim, I tried a few puffs as well. It would take some getting used to, but I
enjoyed the sensations.

"Thank you Brad," she said through an exhale. "For letting me have this, and
for forgiving me for lying for so many years."

I rolled towards her and watched her smoke while I ran my fingers across her
breasts. "You can tell me anything Sarah, no more secrets.. OK?"

She took a final drag and put the cigarette out in a cup of water on the
nightstand. The smoke exited both her mouth and nostrils in a soft exhale
highlighted by the lights of the bathroom.

"Anything?" she asked.

"Anything," I assured her. "Is there something else?"

Sarah bit her lower lip and blushed, then turned her eyes to mine. "Well.. ya
know Janet.. from work? The one you saw me with -"

The End.

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