chapter fifty: L'Amour looks something like you
Kate sighs and rests her head against Thomas's shoulder. She inhales deeply and closes her eyes. "You alright, Kate?" he asks, as he runs a hand down her shoulder.
She holds his hand tightly. "Yes, I am Thomas."
He frowns at her. "Are you upset with me?"
She frowned. "No. why?"
"You're back to calling me Thomas again."
"Oh, I'm sorry." She rolls closer to him, aligning her hips with his. "I should get into the habit of calling you Tommy. However, I just feel that Tommy is the name for a boy. You," she allows her gaze to rove appreciatively over his handsome features. "are 100% all man." she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. he caught her lower lip with his teeth causing her to groan and break the kiss. "Take it as a compliment."
"Alright, I will." He shifts onto his back, to look up at the ceiling from their position on the floor. Thomas had made love to her again and now, they were just lying on the floor near the fire, enjoying each other's company. "Are you warm enough?"
"Yes." She exhales. "I'm sorry; I'm just a little distracted. Who do you think-
"Don't think about it Kate. It'll be alright."
"It seems like, ever since I met you, I've done nothing but bring trouble and strife into your life."
"Yes," Kate glances up at him. he is smiling faintly at her though. "but you also brought something else into my life. something I've needed for years."
"What's that?"
He props himself on his elbow and runs his hand down her exposed hip, which is peeking out from underneath her white, hip-length slip. "Love." Kate places a hand on his hand as he continues to caress her leg. "And light…the last few years without you…seemed so dark. And now…it's like I have something to live for again." Kate blinks against the tears building up in her eyes as he brings her hand up to his mouth, pressing a kiss to her ring finger. Suddenly, he sits upright, taking her ring off her finger. She frowns as he reaches for both of her hands, holding them tightly together. "Katherine, will you marry me?"
Kate stares up at him in shock. "What?"
"I love you and I want to claim you as my wife in a ceremony that doesn't leave you in tears. I want to see you, walking down the aisle in white," tears begin leaking down her cheeks. "with a veil flowing behind you. I want you to remember that I willing chose you, not because you were forced to marry me."
"Believe me," she sits up, cupping his neck with her hand. "there is no other man for me and no one had to force me to take you." she covers his hand with her other one as she nods. "Yes." He smiles broadly, as she laughs lightly. "I will marry you Thomas." He slides the ring back on her hand, before cupping her face in his hands and kissing her again. she moans as he dips her back onto the carpet. He rolled on top of her, nudging between her legs. She groaned as he arched against her, prompting her to pat him on the shoulders. "Easy there Tommy. Remember, I'm already pregnant."
He chuckles. "This will be my third time exchanging vows, with my future wife because she had my child."
"Well," she runs a finger from his ear to his shoulder. "you got me pregnant on our wedding night. So, technically, I don't fall under that category."
"Possibly." He studies her. "I'm not wearing you out am I?" she shakes her head. "It's been a while since I've been with someone that I care about."
"I've not been with any man before. I'm curious; it's…all so much at times. The feelings." He kisses her neck, nipping her with his teeth. Kate moans. "God. You clearly know what you're doing. You seem to know each and every inch of me, knowing which little touch will make me yours."
"I never got around to taking you on your honeymoon." He continues nibbling on her neck. "I better take you soon."
"Thomas," Kate closes her eyes, running her fingers through his hair. "I've done enough traveling in my lifetime. I don't want to go anywhere."
"Well, I should take you somewhere for a few weeks, even if it's a hotel in London." He bites her neck a little bit more firmly, causing her to inhale sharply. "Get to really know you better."
"How about the cottage?"
He laughs. "Kate, that's not a proper honeymoon location."
"I know, but, it's private. You and I wouldn't be far from everyone and you're easy to get in touch with should anything come up."
He nods. "Fair point."
"Besides, with the newest Shelby member, I don't really want to go traveling. I want to stay close to home." he moves his attention from her neck to her earlobe, causing her to giggle slightly as she traces a finger across his chin. "You've domesticated me; my days of darting around the world are all over."
"Trust me Kate; you were ready to become a mother. You just happened to…settle down with me."
She hesitates before asking. "Are you happy about the baby, Thomas?"
His lips still on her face and he breaks the kiss. Kate inhales deeply, worried about what's going to come out of his mouth. "To be honest Kate…I don't know, if I'm ready to be a father again. I'll admit, that this time…I feel better than I did the last two times."
"I know, both times you weren't expecting it."
"Well, I weren't expecting it this time either." She giggled at his accent. "But, are you happy about the baby Kate?"
"Yes, I am."
"That's good. because that's what really matters to me." he glances down at her. "Do you want to announce it at dinner tonight?"
Kate nods. "Yes I do. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell my father first."
"It's alright. Your pregnancy was rather conveniently timed."
"I'd rather he never knew." She says quietly. "Him and Anton."
"Babies, shall we say, have a way of controlling people. Your father will be more inclined to be on our side over your brother now."
"that's true. Thomas," she bit her lip before asking. "does my missing breast…bother you?" he glowers sharply at her. "I mean, my doctor said it could be…a turn off and-
"Do I fu," Kate covered his mouth, cutting off the expletive. He shrugged her hand aside. "ck you like I'm turned off?"
His dark tone caused her to flush red. "No."
"Then I'm not." He stated, his tone suggesting that should be the end of the conversation.
"I was just wondering because," he sighs heavily. "you've never said anything and…I am deformed."
"Shut up Kate." He grabs her slip and pulls it up over her head. she flushes under his gaze as he places his thumb on the line where her breast had been. "This scar shows me, that you're a strong woman. Very few men could meet a woman as strong as you in their lifetime. Ironic that you lost the breast covering your heart, but you never lost the warmth and gentleness that attracted you to me in the first place. You're not deformed to me…you're perfect for me Kate." She blushes as he rolls on top of her and began gently kissing her scar. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, arching her back under his lips. "Your body was made for me…the perfect fit, like a glove. Hey," she opened her eyes to find him gazing adoringly down at her. "I love everything about you. you are my wife. My property. You're mine Kate."
"I should almost be insulted that you call me property. But the thing about property," she grabbed his shoulders and shoved him onto his back, so she straddled him. "is it's a two way street." He grinned broadly up at her. "You're mine as well. I own the great Thomas Shelby. And you," she leaned forward slowly to kiss him. "will do my bidding."
"As my wife commands."
Idcam: I had a few rough days, but, it'll be worth the delay!
