Embers of the Brave // Peaky Blinders

Chapter 19

The Beech Tree

They had travelled straight out of Small Heath, his car taking them far from the cloudy town and out into the green lush hills. The road became smoother, a hint at the lack of traffic the tarred road got. The tree's that lined the road were large and looming, full of bright colour that spread a cheerfulness down Ella's bones. There was something about the peaceful countryside compared to a towering and overbearing city. For her entire life she had only ever had the luxury of visiting small country towns when her fake perfect family would go on their yearly vacations. The car slowed as they reached a turnoff and Michael eased into the corner. He watched the glee erupt from her face as she opened the door and dropped from the vehicle. The soft white dress fluttered behind her as she ran towards the big Beech tree that stood isolated in the big grassy field. The wind pulled it tightly around her torso, showing her small frame. Michael couldn't tear his eyes from her as he trailed behind with the picnic basket in his hands. When she finally noticed him and the basket he held, her curiosity piped to a high.

"What's in there?" She called out to him while she played with an overhanging branch.

"Sit down Ella." He laughed.

He chose a nice little spot on the grass and dropped to the floor, waiting for the particular blonde to follow suite.

She watched as his hand leant into the basket and pulled at the twines of grass. "Oh, I see. Tommy has finally sent someone to put a bullet in my head."

He laughed loudly at this, his voice reaching far in the wide area. "No silly, I wanted to take you on a picnic."

And with that, Michael pulled from the basket a selection of sandwiches and fruits. She stared at the boy in front of her, absolutely baffled. One minute he was ignoring her completely and the other he was making her food and taking her on trips to the countryside. How was she supposed to know where she stood with him when his behaviour was so contrasting? Instead of ruining the gentle moment she decided to give him a thousand- watt smile and take an apple from the collection of foods.

The banter like conversation died out into a peaceful silence. Ella continued to nibble on a sandwich and watch the tree wave and dance in the midday wind. Meanwhile, Michael Gray's eyes were fixed on the delicate human in front of him, from her short curls to the blue eyes that framed her face and past her small waist, all the way to her curled under feet. She was perfect in every way, her sharp tongue but kind smile.

No other woman would stand a chance beside her, he thought.

When she finally noticed the dark look in his features, she addressed him. "Michael?"

He hummed in acknowledgment, his eyes driving deep into her from under his long brown lashes.

"Why am I here?"

The Peaky Blinder took a moment to think through his response, it was both personal and business but that was difficult to explain and would more than likely be turned upside down. I fight was something he didn't want to happen between them, not when most of the time Michael wanted her in his lap or by his side. The young Shelby opted for the personal approach, allowing his brewing feelings to spill out.

"I think I just might like you Ella."

His voice was cool to her ear. A turmoil erupted from within her after an unknown feeling trailed her spine. How should she react to this? She tried to keep her reaction neutral and relaxed, she had never had someone romantically fancy her.

"Oh really." She declared with a spark as she leant forward and reached for the branch of grapes that was between the pair. Michael watched her avidly as she threw grapes up one by one into her mouth. She continued, "I hope you know that I do not plan to stay here forever Michael."

He understood what she was saying, she wasn't going to stick around. But he knew that, he could see the signs. The way she lit up like a match when they talked about getting her new identification files. She would bolt soon and that was why he had decided to try to ground her. Tommy also wanted this, he had only mentioned it to him every time they had a moment away from others. She was part of some elaborate plan of his, that he refused to actually tell the young Shelby. But it also unnerved him because of the fast growing feelings for her.

"I'm not asking you to stay Ella. I would never force you to settle for something you don't want too."

She replied with a bright smile, his words somewhat pleasing the grape eating blonde.  They spent a few moments in suspended silence as he watched her with a predatory gaze. The grapes dropped from her palm as she gave Michael her full attention. Her powerful crystal eyes dug deep at his soul.

"You have forgotten something." She tusked. Michael hummed at her, his eyes dropping to her plump ruby lips.

"I'm dangerous"

With a wicked grin Ella leant forward and over the food between them until their noses were but a single hairs width away. Only then did she with an agonizingly slowness press her lips to his. The light touch was anything but innocent, it was a complete tease. The frustration bubbled in Michael as he wanted more of her delicious mouth. His hands snaked around her waist and roughly pulled her to his side of the picnic rug, completely disregarding the now ruined food. He waited for a moment and watched as the light filtered through the tree branches, casting all different moving shadows against her smirking face. Michael pushed the blonde down with absolute urgency, his hands roaming higher on her torso as she laid out. The blonde curls were flung around her head like a golden halo against the avid green grass. His lips a tormenting inch from her mouth, teasing her just as he did to him. Her eyes looked up at him with demand, the blue iris' a darker more chaotic ocean blue. The pressure of this body against hers, drove a desperate need to her body and she replied with a grind of her lips. And yet he still hovered over her small body. The static electricity in the air buzzed wildly between the young couple in anticipation. "Ella" he whispers slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savour them. She finally reached up intertwining her fingers into his soft brown hair, with a greedy tug Ella pulled Michael down to her lips in a greedy and heated kiss.

A/N:

Hey Guys!

So I am really sorry I haven't had a chance to do the bonus chapters, but I promise that they will come back when school and work calm down a little. I am also so upset that the perfect GIF's that I found for this scene will not upload because they are apparently too big :(

Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Please hit the vote star! And leave me a comment, you know I love them ;)

- A