𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝗉𝖾𝖺𝗄𝗒 𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌

xi. secrets and slow dancing

t h e w o m e n o f w h i t e
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act one — ten
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1919

thomas felt a warmth

glistening within his chest, a type of peace he hadn't felt since pre-war, at the feeling of the pretty women's soft hands resting on his body. the pair held one another, not too close but enough so that she could feel his breath upon her shoulder.

mintues had passed as the melody of her music changed and the heat of the fire itched at their skin. "1907, it was my brother. he's still out there, somewhere." the words slipped past her lips in a hushed whisper. almost naturally her secret had slipped. although in an odd fashion it felt comforting to relieve her shoulders of her sins.

thomas didn't speak, careful not to startle her confession away. instead his callous fingers gently stroked her waist. encouragement to carry on. "he carved out my spleen and left me to die, my own brother." her voice became broken as her words spluttered out. hot tears burnt her skin as they fell onto thomas' shirt. "that's how i ended up in new york, running was the only option but i wasn't living thomas, i was surviving."

the peaky blinder felt his stomach churn at pain seeping through her voice. thomas had seen the news on the massacre and it made his face pale. "we all do what we do so we can survive, edith." it was the first time he'd spoken in a while and the rumble of his voice seemed to seize her tears. there was no judgment within his voice and it brought a new type of comfort to edith.

"i met a man, angel changretta, he promised me protection in return for me keeping the books while the boys were away." edith wasn't fond of opening up to her darkest indiscretions however it felt impossible to say anything that would scare thomas shelby away. he was a peaky fucking blinder after all. "polly told you of my letter." he nodded in return. "saying our contract was up and the last location of robert dawson." trembles vibrates at the fear that quivered through edith.

thomas tightened his grip on the petite women, his fingers brushing the curve of her spine. "no one is going to touch a hair on your head, mrs dawson." his voice was low and husky, breath warm upon her shoulder.

lifting her dark eyes to his, edith felt a serene sense of tranquility within their embrace. "does your protection come at a cost, mr shelby?" the women questioned in the same manor, eyes peering through her lashes

thomas felt a smile, not a smirk, itch at his lips. there body's fit as if pieces of a puzzle; a piece of the puzzle that tommy hadn't been able to find since france. "just one. . ." his words faded as thomas' face gingerly lent forward.

breaths mixing, it seemed that a bubble of heat eloped them. edith couldn't process any other thought, despite the current impending doom, the idea of his lips lusciously meeting hers was overwhelming.

it no longer mattered if she was going to push him away or pull him close; he just need her. tilting his head down tommy filtered a staggering breath before meeting her angelic gaze. with much grace he steadily leaned his face towards hers. her breath paused for a second as she took in the close proximity, but strangely she enjoyed the warmth he gave. earnestly he brushed his lips lightly against hers, no more then an innocent peck but enough to keep him satisfied. "do you accept?" he questioned his head still tightly pressed with hers.

a giggle rippled through edith's chest, a sound unfamiliar to thomas. "yes, i accept protection under peaky blinder oath." teased the women as her hands grasped at his shirt, a glistening smile spread across her face. tommy felt as if he were being blessed by an angel.

releasing his own chuckle, thomas once again squeezed at her hips. "good." he stated no more words needed; as his face spoke a thousand.