˗ˏˋ꒰ 💰 ꒱ ━ ☐ Thomas Shelby never thought he would fall in love with a whore. In the bustling streets of 1920s Birmingham, Alicent, a prostitute since her teenage years, with her irresistible charm, had only one goal : to make money. Every encounte...
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ALICENT WAS SITTING NEXT TO HER BOSS, a glass of whiskey in hand. The dim light of the bar highlighted the shadows on the face of his boss, who seemed to be in a better mood than usual. It was a relative happiness, of course, because he remained the unpleasant man that he had always been.
Indeed, in recent weeks, his view of her had changed. It had become the most important source of income through Thomas Shelby, which earned him some praise.
"I must say, Alicent, you have been working well these days," he let go, a grin on his lips.
She nodded, looking at the glass. The last thing she wanted to hear was her boss's approving tone. Her mind was preoccupied with darker thoughts, those that were haunting her at the time : she had her period. The dull and aching pain, the feeling of fatigue and discomfort that accompanied him made his job even more difficult. She felt like a puppet whose threads were worn out, ready to disarticulate at any moment.
The idea of having to juggle between her job and her menstrual cycle worried her. She had seen women being rejected or even abused when they refused clients for reasons like hers. And yet she kept saying to herself that this should not happen to her.
"Don't you want to say something, my dear ?" he insisted, his eyes intensifying.
She looked up, feigning a smile. "I'm just tired, that's all."
"Tired ? I don't care about your tiredness. You know what's important, right ? Men don't like excuses."
Each sip of whiskey seemed to burn her throat, as if the alcohol tried to give her the courage she lacked.
"I know I've been making a lot of money lately... I was wondering if maybe I could not work tonight. Just this night."
The smile of his boss instantly fades. He looked at her with a contemptuous air, and she could almost hear the wheels of his mind set in motion. It was not to provoke him, but she needed this moment of respite.
"Not working ?" he repeated, his eyes creaking. "And why should I give you a night off, Alicent ? Money won't be made by itself, you know."
She tried to stay calm. "I need some time for myself just this once. I feel... exhausted." She put her glass on the table, looking straight into his eyes. "I can do better if I take care of myself."
"Do you really think I'm interested ? Every customer you leave is a loss. You know how much I depend on you."
"I understand, but..."
He stared at her, contemplative look, then leaned forward, his smile slowly returning. "What if I offered you a deal ? You're working tonight as planned, and if you make a good number, maybe I'll consider giving you a night off next week. What do you say ?"
She could not believe what she heard. Her heart beating, she hesitated, weighing the pros and cons. "Okay," she said finally, realizing that she really had no other choice. "I will do my best."
"I'm waiting to see results."
As soon as his boss had finished his sentence, the door opened with a familiar creak. Thomas Shelby entered, and Alicent felt his heart go up in flames. She was surprised to see him on a Tuesday, when he used to come on Thursdays. It was just adding a layer of unexpected to his already complicated day.
Her boss immediately stood up, welcoming. "Mr. Shelby, what a surprise !" he exclaimed with a polite smile on his face. "Thank you for coming so regularly. Alicent is always so pleased to see you."
She stood up, bewildered. Her gaze swept across the room before landing on her.
"Do you want a second one for the night ?" asked his boss, feigning cordiality.
He shook his head, his eyes not detaching from her. "One will suffice."
"Perfect !" said the boss with a smile. "I'll leave you to your party." He leaned slightly towards Alicent. "Don't forget what I told you," he whispered before giving him a light spanking, a gesture that was as familiar to him as a greeting.
She chuckled as he walked away and turned to his client. "What brings you here today ?"
"I wanted to see you."
She felt the heat of his palm against hers, and without a word she dragged him through the dimly lit corridor. They finally reached their usual place, a discreet alcove, far from curious eyes.
Alicent turned to him, and before she could say a word he came forward, gripping her by the waist firmly, drawing her against him. Their lips quickly found themselves, searching with an intensity that they no longer tried to hide. Her kiss was slow, but full of greed. She felt her hands slide along her hips, pressing her body against hers.
Their mouths mixed with a sensual sweetness. She had this power, that of erasing everything, even if it was temporary.
She slipped her hands into her dark hair, pulling slightly to bring him even closer. He grunted in return, appreciating the boldness.
As he began to slide his hands along her body, skillfully disassembling the little cloth that covered her skin, she gently grabbed her wrists. His gaze was fixed in his, hesitant.
"Wait..." she murmured, her voice barely audible, tinged with a slight embarrassment. "I... I have my period."
He said nothing at once. His hands, still on his hips, did not move. Then he slowly approached, placing a simple kiss on his lips.
"It doesn't change anything," he said finally. He gently stroked his cheek with his fingers, his thumb following the curve of his lips. "Are you in pain ?"
She shook her head slowly, avoiding his gaze. "No, it's okay... I'm not in pain," she replied in a breath." But..." She paused, searching for words, aware of the intimacy of the situation. "I don't want to dirty you."
His fingers brushed her chin, lifting up her face to force her to look him in the eye. "Dirty, you say ?" He whispered, a hint of fatigue in his voice. "Do you think I care ?"
She remained silent, unable to answer. Words seemed useless. He stared at her for a long time, trying to break through the wall of insecurity that she was building around her.
"I am already covered with blood," he added in a low tone. "Yours will not change anything."
He did not wait for an answer. With a fluid movement, he slipped his hands under his thighs and lifted it effortlessly. She instinctively clung to him, her arms wrapped around his neck, while he carried her against the cold wall of the alcove. The contrast between the heat of her body and the coldness of the surface behind her made her shiver.
Their eyes crossed for a moment, and he embraced her with an intensity she had not anticipated. His lips, firm and possessive, captured hers in a whirlwind of sensations. She lost herself in that kiss, forgetting for a moment all the rest – the embarrassment of her situation, the accumulated tiredness, her miserable life.
Slowly, his lips went down his jaw and then his neck, embracing every bare skin he found in his path. Her hands, still firmly resting on her thighs, supported her as her warm breath was felt on her collarbone. He took his time, savoring every moment, every centimeter of skin that he rediscovered.
She would have told him to stop, but her body seemed to betray his intentions. When he reached his chest, his lips stopped for a moment, as if he was savoring the moment. His fingers slipped on the straps of his garment, slowly pulling them down, revealing his naked skin and vulnerable to his caresses.
She closed her eyes, feeling her lips exploring the top of her chest, descending, burning. She whispered, almost imperceptibly : "Thomas..."
He stopped, raising his head to look at her, surprised to hear her name.
"Not tonight."
He stood still, his eyes creaking slightly, as if he did not understand what she had just said. Then slowly her expression changed. It was not surprise or worry, but something darker.
"What ?"
"Not tonight," she repeated, her voice slightly trembling.
A heavy silence settled in the room. Without a word, he let her slip from his arms and dropped her roughly on the nearby bed. Alicent lands with a slight muffled noise, breathless, more by the brutality of the gesture than by physical pain. She watched him stand upright, his imposing figure standing out against the dim light of the alcove.
Without even giving him another look, he began to move away, his heavy footsteps echoing in the room.
"Wait... where are you going?"
He stopped, without turning back. "I will find another."
The shock struck her hard, leaving her frozen in place. She watched him leave the room, his back disappearing into the shadow, the sounds of his steps slowly moving away.
She sat there, her body still tense by the events, her mind trying to understand what had just happened. The silence in the room seemed more oppressive than ever, and she realized, with a bitterness in the back of her throat, that for him it was nothing more than an object to be replaced. A mere distraction among others.
The cold bed beneath her, the suddenly too large room, and the pain of a void she had not wanted to recognize were settling in, giving way to greater loneliness than ever.
