========Kicking the Habit ======== It'd been a tough afternoon. My nerves were jangling. After a fevered and unsuccessful search of every nook and cranny of the house for just one smoke, I rushed out of the front door to head down the street towards the nearby liquor store. It was dark, but I didn't take the time to think about the foolishness of going out alone and on foot. I dug a couple of dollars out of my pocket, just to make sure I'd have enough to buy one pack. "It'll be my last one. I just need one drag...just to take the edge off," I told myself on the way out the door. When I reached the dark shadows near the end of my walkway, a tall figure stepped directly into my path. Obviously male. Obviously intimidating. He showed no sign of letting me past him. "Bonsoir, my precious jewel. Have a peach." "What?!!" "I believe I just offered you this fresh, ripe peach...," he reiterated gently as the juices from the halved fruit that he was holding began running down his proffered fingers. "Unless you'd rather continue your little foray over to that drab little establishment and purchase those odious cigarettes that you've *promised* to give up." Stunned, and quite unable to move in any direction at all, I just stared at Lacroix as a drop of clear peach juice rolled down one of his long fingers. Surprisingly, the smell of the peach was nearly intoxicating... or perhaps I was just besotted by his mere presence. "Taste it, Laura," he said as he pressed one of his sticky-sweet fingers to my lips and inserted in gently into my mouth. It was succulent, and my lips closed around his finger as I suckled the nectar from his flesh. I looked up into those wicked blue eyes and saw the dance of amusement sparkling there. "You see? Your addiction is, at least in part,...an oral fixation...and I'm certain that I can be of some assistance in diverting your energies away from this temptation you have to smoke. After all, as a vampire...I do have some experience with this sort of ... affliction... and how best to indulge your oral need." He slowly withdrew his finger from my mouth and bent down to cover my lips with his own. His kiss lingered; his cool tongue exploring my mouth as if to lick away any enduring taste of the ripened peach. Crushing me to his body, all thoughts of anything but his touch vanished from my mind...and his explicit suggestions at how best to begin his treatment of my oral addiction began to take root as he gathered me into his arms, took to the air, and whispered his plans for our evening of diversion together... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ah...saved by Nunkies...!! By the way, thanks to everyone on the loop here that's offered kind words of support! It's helping!! Laura NA Hardcore addict / Cousin / Val / NBFC / LuciusWench "Constant stars. The only comforting light. Kill the pain, this incessant longing." "Life is a gift...as sweet as the freshest peach..."