Anchor

Chapter 17

I was aware I was walking through a meadow. Fresh daisy's and tall green trees surrounded me as I continued to walk towards the opening. In the distance I heard sounds but couldn't quite figure out what the sounds were. As I walked through the opening I saw a large bricked house. I knew someone was home as I saw steam come through the chimney.

The loud sounds grew louder and I finally recognized it was the sound of guns which evaded my ears. I gasped in horror I saw men firing machine guns at John I screamed as I saw blood shoot out of his wounds as he fell to the floor. The single gun he held to no doubt defend himself was tossed aside as he lay motionless on the ground.

I was aware of my own scream as I woke up with a cry. My whole body shook as the dream replayed in my mind the sight of a deceased John on the ground made me begin to cry. The bedroom door slammed open and there stood John standing in only his boxers and holding a revolver he looked around the room before looking at me

"What happened Em?"

Sniffiling I tried to calm myself down "I'm sorry it was just a dream"

He lowered the gun and came beside me. Leaning up on my knees I clutched him to me as one of his arms clutched my waist the other in my hair "your trembling"

Sniffing "I dreamt you died, some men were shooting you with guns"

He scoffed "that won't happen Em"

Pushing myself away I smacked his arm causing him to hiss "what the fuck Em?"

"This is your problem you and your brothers think your indestructible but your not your just men. And you can still die from bullets being shot at you. Stop thinking of yourself as a member of the Peaky Blinders John and start thinking yourself as a man"

He examined me for a second before nodding a cupping my cheek "Alright love I'm sorry"

Sighing I hug him again feeling my body relax against him.

"So you really care for me then?" I could hear the grin in his voice causing me to chuckle and call him an ass

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I didn't go back to sleep as my body was still shaken by the dream. John lay beside me as we tucked ourselves beneath the covers. It was around 2:00 in the morning.

John being here put me at ease as I lay a hand on his chest.

The silence was nice, peaceful. It honestly felt like it was just us and noone else. I realised I was ready. Ready to let go ready to give myself and every fibre of my being to John. The man who had somehow won me over and caused me to fall in love with him. The rain which had started to fall made a light patter on the closed windows.

Turning my head and shifting my body slightly so I could face John I saw the soft smile I loved so much. Without letting my mind think for a change and instead let go and let my instincts take charge for a change in drew him closer towards me until we shared the same breath. With one final look into each others eyes I tilted my head and placed my lips on his.

It was like everything had stopped yet everything around me was racing. As we continued to kiss, before I lost my nerve, I placed my hand on his chest feeling him shudder as he wrapped his arms around me and the kiss intensified. I slowly made my hand down until they roasted at the edge of his boxers and I hooked my leg around his waist.

Pulling back John looked startled. An unspoken question lingered between us as we continued to look into each others eyes and caught are breaths. "I'm ready John" Placing my hand over his cheek I smiled and felt my heart flutter as he smiled brightly and covered my hand with his

"Before we do this I just want you to know I love you" kissing my palm he never broke eyecontact "I love you Emily Saunders and one day I'm gonna marry you"

Chuckling I brought him close "John Shelby you mad man. I love you too"

We both continued to grin until we pressed our lips together again. The rain outside had picked up pace but I was more focused on John's hands removing my nightdress.