PEAKY BLINDERS IMAGINES

John Shelby - 'Racing Hearts'

The Garrison was buzzing with life, as it always did on a busy night, but tonight there was an edge to it. A sense of energy that rippled through the air as if everyone knew something was about to happen. John Shelby had just returned from the races, his day spent under the bright sunlight, surrounded by the speed of the horses and the thrill of the bets. But now, as the door swung open, the cool evening air followed him inside, and his eyes quickly scanned the room for what he really wanted-the one thing that had been on his mind for most of the day.

There you were, standing in the middle of the room, laughing and swaying to the lively music, surrounded by two men. Both tall, handsome, dressed in sharp suits that fit just right, and they were hanging on to your every word. John's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them. They were making you laugh-laughing at your jokes, hanging on your every move as if you were the most important person in the world.

And to them, perhaps you were. To John, however, you were his.

His gaze darkened as you twirled in the arms of one of them, your smile bright and carefree, lighting up the room. He'd seen you with others before, and he knew you didn't belong to anyone but yourself. Still, a flicker of possessiveness stirred in him, a fire he had a hard time ignoring. He wasn't one to be easily jealous-John Shelby had always been a man who had his own admirers, his own share of attention from women who adored him. He had no reason to be jealous of these two men.

Yet here he was, watching you, and feeling something stir inside him that he couldn't quite control.

As you spun, your laughter ringing through the air, you caught his gaze. That's when it hit him-the little smirk tugging at the corner of your lips. You knew. You knew exactly what you were doing.

You'd noticed him the moment he entered, but instead of greeting him as you always did-running over, wrapping him in your arms, flashing that affectionate smile-you kept right on dancing. Teasing him, toying with his emotions in that way only you could.

John didn't move right away, standing there in the doorway, his jaw clenched. He watched you for a moment longer, his chest tightening with every laugh you shared with the two men. It wasn't that he didn't trust you. He knew you well enough to know you were yours, never anyone else's. But there was something about seeing you like this, the way those men looked at you, that made something in him snap.

"John," you called out, your voice sing-song as you broke away from your dance partners. You didn't even look his way, pretending to pay attention to one of the men who had come to sit beside you. But John's eyes didn't leave you. "You're back early," you added, as though it were no big deal, but John could see the gleam in your eyes. The playful gleam that told him this was all part of the game.

One of the men reached out to touch your arm, but you shrugged him off lightly, just enough to make it seem like you were more interested in your own game than his attention. You knew what it did to John, how it made him burn, and you liked it. You always liked to test him. See how far you could push him, make him aware of how much he cared. You always knew how to make him lose control.

You met John's gaze again. A little flash of mischief sparkled in your eyes, and your lips curved into that teasing, impish grin that drove him wild.

"Miss me, did you?" you asked, voice dripping with playful innocence, but John knew better than to fall for that act.

His posture stiffened, his jaw tight as he watched the two men smile at you. The one closest to you, the taller of the two, placed his hand on your back possessively, drawing your attention back to him. John felt his chest tighten with every movement they made, and that fire inside of him turned to something far more intense, far more dangerous.

"That's enough," John muttered under his breath, his voice low, a dangerous growl in his throat. His eyes never left you. "You're making me mad, Y/N."

You laughed, a soft, melodic sound that seemed to echo in his ears. You tilted your head, the music fading into the background as you stood up straight, your fingers brushing the rim of your glass before setting it down. You were fully aware of the effect you were having on him.

"Am I?" you teased, your gaze flicking to the men around you, and then back to John. "Maybe I just wanted to see how much you cared."

John couldn't stand it any longer. He had watched you play this game for far too long, always on the edge, always just out of reach. But tonight was different. Something in him snapped, and before you could react, he was there, standing in front of you, his strong hand on your waist, pulling you close to him with a force that made your breath hitch in your chest.

The men beside you froze, but John didn't care. His eyes were on you now, only you, and he wasn't going to let you get away with this.

"Enough of this," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "You're mine, Y/N. Don't you forget it."

You looked up at him, your chest rising and falling with the rhythm of your rapid heartbeat, but you didn't back down. Instead, you leaned closer to him, your breath warm against his ear, your lips brushing just slightly against his skin.

"Maybe I don't want you to stop," you whispered, your voice a teasing lilt that sent a jolt of desire straight through him. "Maybe I like making you jealous, John."

His grip tightened on your waist, pulling you even closer, his body practically pressing against yours now. "You're playing with fire," he growled, and you could feel the heat in his words, the warning. But you loved this side of him-the side that was so raw, so fierce, so completely taken by you.

His hands slid from your waist to your back, his thumb brushing along the exposed skin just above the collar of your dress. You shivered at the touch, knowing what was coming next. His lips brushed against your ear again, his breath hot as he whispered, "I don't share, Y/N. Don't think for one second that I'll let you have all this attention from other men."

You tilted your head back, your eyes locked on his as you spoke softly, teasingly, "Maybe I just like seeing you wild with jealousy, John. Maybe it turns me on."

His eyes darkened, and with one swift movement, he spun you into his arms, lifting you off your feet, his lips crashing onto yours in a kiss that was fierce, unrestrained, and full of all the emotions you had just stirred in him. It was raw, full of possessiveness, desire, and a desperation you hadn't seen from him before. The tension that had been building between you snapped, and in that moment, everything else disappeared. There was only you and him, the music, the chatter, the laughter of the room fading into nothing.

When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours, breathing heavily. "I won't play your games anymore," he whispered, though his lips were still so close to yours that you could feel every word. "Next time... you're mine. All mine."

And you smiled, feeling the heat of the moment settle between you like a promise-one you were both ready to keep.