"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever." A. A. Milne

By the age of fourteen, Adele had learned that boys were more than nests for germs. Gretta had been much earlier on the subject so she had always anticipated the famous moment when Adele would understand that boys could easily capture her attention with a simple flirtatious smile and gentle attention.

As ironic as it sounds, that boy was Arthur fucking Shelby for Adele.

She remembered it like it was yesterday.

"Look, it's the Shelby brothers" Gretta had said in a sweet, excited voice.

Adele was young and somewhat cheeky at that age- to tell the truth, that hadn't really changed-but she still turned around to see what was so exciting about the famous brothers-which she used to play with in the mud when she was younger.

Surprisingly, it was the tallest of the three that had captured her attention. And it seemed like she had captured his, too, from the moment their gazes met.

After that, Arthur hadn't stopped trying to get her attention. Part of her had thought her mother's stories were ultimately true. Love really existed.

Unfortunately, Adele had grown up and she had learned in the hardest way how love could be a bottomless fucking pit. A well that it was damn hard to get up from.

By now she had aged well and the Shelby brother she had fallen in love with was not Arthur but the most devastating of the three.

Thomas fookin' Shelby.

Oh how much her life has changed since her young years of innocence!

She was playing with fire. Worse, she was playing with the devil, and to be honest she wasn't sure she could win this game.

Hence the reason why it wasn't long before she took a break from applying her makeup.

Had she really followed Eliot's advice?

Fucking yes!

Was she weak and pathetic?

Damn right she was!

And yet, she couldn't find an ounce of regret in her. On the contrary, she could feel a hint of excitement deep inside. Well, to be more precise, she felt a tiny lump of excitement buried under a whole layer of anxiety and anticipation. She could barely hold the brush of her makeup without trembling. And Adele don't tremble. She was a fucking doctor after all. She could handle one patient in crisis and sew up another at the same time, with her eyes closed.

She let the brush slide down her high cheekbones before finally switching to lipstick. It was probably the first time she had cared so much about her appearance. Even during her last two years, Lisbeth was the only one to use her as a rag doll. Adele had never taken the time to take care of herself like she does today.

She didn't really know why she was trying so hard.

In fact, she did.

She just didn't want to admit it.

Because if she admitted she was fucking nervous to possibly see Thomas again then she'd already lost before she even entered the Devil's den.

At the mere thought, she felt her heartbeat racing again.

She rested her makeup brush on her dressing table before suddenly resting her elbows on the uneven wood surface. She ignored the splinters pricking her smooth, delicate skin as she leaned forward before taking her neck between her hands to massage the back of her neck. She was fucking tense. There wasn't a single muscle in her body that wasn't tight. Her body had always been the first receptacle of her stress after all.

"Miss. Adele, everything is alright?"Suddenly Jarvis's voice came from across the closed door.

Adele had moved her feet and hands to make this trip on her own, but it was not knowing this persistent old man. He had categorically refused to let her leave Birmingham without his protection.

Obviously, he had no idea of her plans or else he would have placed more importance on trying to dissuade her than begging her to go with him.

Adele let a weak, trembling sigh pass her lips before straightening up to glance briefly over her shoulder in the direction of the door.

"I'm alright, Jarvis."She shouted before pausing yet another pause as she met her own reflection through the mirror, whispering."I'm alright."

"Did you say something?"

Adele pursed her lips as she looked away from her agitated expression before fleeing her own reflection as she stood up."I said, I'll be ready soon."

However, the plush fabric resting on her bed covered in silk sheets soon caught her eye again. She brought her hands up along her bared collarbone before stopping in front of the haute couture dress.

It was a sublime dark green. There was so much black ornament sewn onto the dress. In a way, it reminded her a bit of her mother's painstaking work.

Adele hadn't really had time to spend time in the stores for the past two years. If she had to go somewhere or even attend an event, she let the maids of the estate take care of it for her.

This dress had been the only couture piece she had afforded for the past two years. She would probably be lying if she said she hadn't bought it just for this occasion.

Despite her best efforts, he had always been in the back of her mind. No matter how hard she tried to forget him, he had always managed to find his way back into her cold heart.

She let out a new breath at the thought before leaning in to retrieve the dress. She took special care in putting it on before smoothing out the nonexistent folds in a thought of self-awareness. The fabric was so soft against her skin.

Adele had never been so dressed as she is now.

She thought for a moment to do something with her hair before finally changing her mind. She had already paid too much attention to her appearance. Plus, she had always liked her loose hair. They were probably her most favorite trait about her. So, she just put on her shoes before gathering her long brown curls behind her back. She could feel the tips of her locks lightly tickling her bare arms.

The ornaments along her robe tinkled with each step, finally calling out to Jarvis as he straightened up at her approach.

Adele opened the door leaving Jarvis speechless at the sight of her."Miss. Adele, you are ... lovely!"

Adele just smiled in an effort to hide the blush along her cheeks."Thanks, Jarvis. It's not a big deal."

"You're breathtaking and you know it." He objected immediately as he retrieved her coat and hat."But isn't that a bit too much for a movie show?"

Adele swallowed as her lie came back to her face before forcing a tight smile on her lips."Well, you know what Lizbeth would say, right? Even when you're at the bottom-"

"You have to dress to impress. You never know who you might meet on your way."Jarvis finished for her, leaving Adele to sketch a genuine faint smile this time."This young woman worries me sometimes."

"Let's say she has her own way of thinking."

"Let's say this."He nodded with a huff of laughter before giving another worried look in her direction. "Are you sure I don't have to go with you?"

"Certain." Assured Adele, categorical.

She hurried over to Jarvis to take her coat from his hands. She gave him a nod of thanks before simply ignoring his attempt to help her put it on.

Jarvis was sufficiently used to her independence at this point.

He just stepped back before leaning against the nearest wall with his arms crossed over his finely dressed chest. He had a three-button jacket over a white shirt with thin blue stripes. It had a round neck, sublimating his prominent Adam's apple. He had tucked his shirt into his pleated pants.

One only had to look at him to know that Jarvis was a man with great presence."What time will you be back?"

"Mhm, I don't really know. The session is supposed to last an hour or two."Adele lied between her teeth as she tried to ignore the guilt assaulting her as she continued to dress."But before midnight. It's certain."

Jarvis let a loving smile curl his lips as he took on Adele's state before approaching her with pride."I must say seeing you like that makes me really happy. I was afraid that after what happened with Mr. Lancaster you would return to your old demons."

Oh sweet irony!

If only he knew she was going to do a lot worse. It would have been better for her to isolate herself for weeks in her room than to come to this address. Unfortunately, Jarvis didn't know that.

So she just silently nodded her head with a tight smile before finally turning on her heel in the direction of the door.

"Have a good evening, Miss."

"You too, Jarvis."

"Primrose Hills, Miss. We're here."

Adele suddenly looked up at the cab driver's statement before immediately turning her head towards the front of the London house across the street. She pulled the fur collar of her coat around her neck like an icy wind suddenly made her shiver before suddenly jumping at the throat clearing of the man behind the wheel.

"Miss? You go down ?"

Adele widened her eyes in realization at his impatient expression before rushing to fetch a few pounds in her purse for the run.

"Here. Keep the change."She said, handing him the coins before finally pushing the handle out.

She took a special time getting off the step since her dress allowed her little to no room for error before stiffening again as she watched the cab pull away. She turned back to the once familiar house. She used to love coming to see Ada. But now, this place inspired her only anguish and anticipation.

Nonetheless, she couldn't help but take a step towards the entrance. She glanced around nervously before finally stopping on the doorstep in a second thought.

Was she really going to do what she was thinking about? Yes, of course, she was that stupid.

Could she already feel the regrets and auto flagellation to come? Never. For some reason that was totally unknown to her, hier brain didn't seem against it. She would even dare to say it felt almost-right.

It wasn't long before her train of thought was interrupted, however, as the door soon opened just as she was about to knock.

A young man wearing a bowler hat stopped halfway to the exit as he saw her block his way. He arched an eyebrow which made him look even more youthful before opening the front door further."Excuse me, Miss, can I help you?"

"I-uh-it's-" Adele suddenly found herself unable to form a coherent sentence.

She closed her mouth sharply in shame and embarrassment before suddenly clearing her throat in an attempt to regain control over her emotions. She would be damned if she allowed herself to be fooled by Thomas. It was something that could well and truly happen if he saw her like this. She was pitiful at best and hateful at worst.

Never in her life had Adele imagined becoming like one of those women who are easily controlled by their emotions and the men around them.

She had to pull herself together at all costs.

She was a Fitzpatrick and a Lancaster after all.

Her mother had taught her to be a strong woman. And the years had formatted her to face anything and everything.

God, Gretta would be thrilled to see her do this. Adele could almost hear her mocking laughter in her ears.

"Miss? Hello ? Are you still with us?"

Adele jumped at the boy's puzzled question before she straightened up more confidently."Yes. Yes! I ... sorry, I'm Adele Lancaster, I came to see-"

"Oh, he's inside. Enter!"He cut her off abruptly before literally pushing her inside, swapping places."I'm so sorry, I wish I could have met you but you know, he's so scary…"

Adele frowned as he didn't even wait for her answer to hurtle down the stairs four to four before finally turning to the hallway to the entrance in the realization. She closed the door behind her, rolling her eyes before pausing suddenly as he suddenly came out of nowhere.

At that precise moment, Adele felt her heart literally skip a beat. Like her, Thomas froze in place as he took in her so familiar yet almost unreal figure.

It was almost as if time had suddenly stopped for them as they each looked into each other's eyes to maintain eye contact. Almost as if they expected the other to disappear at any moment.

Thomas would be lying if he said he hadn't had that feeling over and over again over the past two years. At first he had felt like he saw her everywhere and then business had kept his hackneyed mind afloat.

But now that he saw her there, right in front of him, he wasn't sure how to react to such a flood of emotions. You had to admit, he wasn't the most emotional man there was to be honest.

Finally, the unsettling sight of Thomas's penetrating eyes got the better of Adele. He was still more unsettled than before. To tell the truth, Adele thought he was even more so than before.

His smooth skin and high cheekbones had always been Adele's weak point. Not to mention he looked so damn good in his three-piece suit. He had taken off his blazer, leaving him in a navy shirt and jacket. The combination of colors and the way it was cut was made to show him off.

Unsurprisingly, he hadn't forgotten a single detail.

The only exception was his haircut. They were a little shorter than the last time she had seen him and she wasn't talking about the auction. He had his cap on at the time.

Adele cleared her throat, breaking the moment before speaking with familiar coldness."Thomas."

Thomas almost wanted to smile.

So she hadn't changed.

There was a time when she used his name to impose a certain distance between them. He supposed she was trying to do the same again.

"Back with the basis of the name to what I see." He admitted, feigning impassivity."Shall we?"

Adele hesitated for a brief moment before finally nodding her head as a maid suddenly burst into the hallway. The woman stopped abruptly in her footsteps with wide eyes at the sight of Thomas before returning her gaze to Adele.

Her eyes widened at the sight of her coat still around her shoulders."Oh, Miss, please forgive my bad manners. May I take your coat?"

"I can remove it myself, thank you."Adele replied with a semblance of a smile for the woman just trying to impress her boss.

"You are s-"

"Mary."Thomas interrupted suddenly in his hoarse voice before giving her a nod."You may go."

Adele smirked again at the old woman as she hurried away with a nod in her direction before raising her eyebrows at the Devil himself."You have maids now."

"So have you if I've heard correctly." Thomas said.

Adele ignored the arrogance in his tone as she finished unbuttoning her woolen coat before removing it. She felt Thomas' gaze all over her body as she turned to the coat hook before facing him again. She tried to breathe steadily as she saw him swallow before he suddenly turned on his heel.

"This way."

Until now, despite the unmistakable looks, their conversation was quite cold, freezing even.

Only Adele expected no less from Thomas. He had never been the warmest man there was.

Well, Adele had seen facets of his personality that no one else had seen before, but she didn't prefer to think about it now.

She walked into the main living room, ignoring the intimate setup before giving Thomas a suspicious look."Where's Polly?"

"Pol?" He repeated with an arched eyebrow, confused before pointing to a free seat."In Birmingham. Have a seat."

Adele immediately left an incredulous scoff."How could I have been so stupid?"

Thomas nodded as he settled into the armchair across the room before picking up his box of cigarettes. He brought a cigarette before speaking while striking a match to light it."Stupid, indeed."

"Oh, go to hell!"She snapped, insulted before shaking her head as she spoke through her teeth, about to turn around."I have nothing to do here."

Thomas raised an eyebrow, almost impressed with her."Not even five minutes and you've already started with the insults."

Adele let out another scoff, this time aimed at the jerk before spinning on her heels. She stepped forward in bright light to get a better look at the man's chiseled face. She had forgotten how much he made her blood boil.

"It's not my fault. This is usually what happens when you are around."

"Fair enough." He conceded before releasing the smoke from his cigarette while pointing the alcohol at the edge of the fireplace."A drink?"

"Since it's been so kindly offered, yes."She replied. She walked over to the fireplace before giving the man a side glance, following his every move down to the second."You want one?"

"Yes."

She tried to act domesticated for a moment. It really wasn't her thing but if it could amuse him for a while then maybe she would finally get a real reaction from him. Until now, his indifference only hurt her more in her ego.

Even when they hated each other, she still managed to get some reaction from him. Seeing him like that, so cold and detached with her, made her almost nauseous.

She looked away from his profile for a moment to fill their glass with whiskey.

"You still smoke."

"Bad habits die hard."He said, detached."As you can see, some things never change."

"Well, I've changed."She replied, lifting her chin proudly.

Thomas kept his eyes on the cigarette between his fingers before puckering his lips as he shook his head."I can see that. You wear pretty dresses now."

"And you have your name written on vans near the docks." Talked back Adele, passive.

Thomas shrugged his shoulders with a slight, impassive grimace."Maybe some things have changed then."

Adele stared at the wall in front of her before rolling her eyes at his little cat and mouse game. If she didn't know him that well, she would think he was just like her trying to get a reaction from her.

She took a deep breath in an attempt to control her erratic heartbeat before taking both glasses in her hands. She handed him the second full glass before finally walking around the coffee table to sit on the sofa a little closer to him. All the while, she felt his piercing gaze on her profile. Not once did he take his eyes off her. And this, even when Adele took a sip from her glass while giving him a sidelong glance. He continued to rub his thumb against his lower lip, thoughtfully.

It was too much.

She could barely handle being in the same room so if he kept staring at her like that, she couldn't stay.

So she hurriedly swallowed the rest of her drink before suddenly leaping out of her seat in a panic."Well, Polly isn't here. And since I came to see Polly, I have no reason to stay here any longer."

"I could light a fire in the upstairs bedroom if you want."

Adele halted abruptly on her way to the door, her back offered before letting out an indignant gasp as she turned to the insufferable pretentious bastard "Excuse me? Do you think I'm so cheap? God, you really haven't changed. You're still so fucking arrogant."

"Back to hating me it is." He said, taking another puff of his cigarette."And me who thought you missed me."

Adele immediately let out a dismissive snort, her pride taking over."God, you're so fucking delusional. I am leaving."

"It's the third time."

Adele stopped unwillingly with her hand on the doorknob before turning around with a slight frown."What?"

Thomas shrugged his shoulders casually."This is the third time you've told me you're going to leave. And yet, you're still here."

"Do you think you have any power over me?" She exclaimed before closing the space between them again to join the sofa."Do you even have any idea what I've accomplished in the past two years? Your damn expansion plan is nothing compared to what I've achieved."

Thomas leaned back."I know. You have a racehorse now."

Adele holds his indistinguishable gaze for a moment, frustrated before finally looking away, taken aback. She felt like she had stepped back two years. It was as if the last two years had never happened.

"What do you want, Thomas?"

"For you to call me Tommy to start."He replied, tilting his head before suddenly meeting her gaze seriously."I mean… we could sit here for a while, talking about the good old days, drinking some whiskey. I could tell you that I haven't spent a day without thinking about you. You tell me the same thing and then we'll go upstairs to sleep together."

It was serious.

Adele could barely breathe.

She was on the verge of hyperventilating at this point. And worst of all, she was unable to look away. She had never been so humiliated. And yet her body was reacting in a fucking strange way. She was hot. Terribly hot.

"But that's not what is going to happen. So just have one drink, tell me how happy you are in the backcountry and then you can go."

She felt her heart break here and there, at that moment, as she realized that this was once again one of his damn plans to establish his superiority.

This time she was really stupid.

Any desire she had felt previously had turned to disdain. Now she was furious. Until now, she had always had a hand over the men around her. Thomas was probably the only one with such a hold on her.

However, she wasn't disciplined enough to forget where she came from. There was a time when she threatened him with her gun. She hadn't forgotten and she was going to make sure to remind him.

"You fucking piece of shit!" She screamed as she rose from her seat.

"Insults are not worthy of your status now."He recalled."You're a lady now."

"Damn right, I am."

"Yes, you're rich, I know."

"And I have a mansion, and a fucking business." Adele replied dismissively."So what makes you think that I'd sleep with you after one whiskey and some conversation?"

Thomas shook his head."I was hoping for three whiskeys."

"Pitiful." She scoffed.

"Doesn't matter now I've changed my mind." He said, patting the ash of his cigarette in the ashtray on the small bedside table next to him.

"Damn you, Thomas! Hell, damn that bloody woman! I knew I shouldn't have come!"

"And yet you are still here."

Adele looked indignantly at the nonchalant man."Jesus. I need another drink if I'm going to listen to more of this bullshit."

With that, Adele jumped off the sofa to reach the fireplace with her glass before placing it with more force than necessary on the tray already containing the glass bottle of alcohol. She poured herself a sip of amber liquid under Thomas' watchful gaze. He licked his lips as he took in her figure before trying to hide his smirk at the sight of her shaking shoulders. Adele had never looked more beautiful than when she was furious with him. He had forgotten how stimulating their verbal games were.

She swallowed half of her drink in one sip before finally lifting her head to try to ignore the burn down her throat. She held back a gag clearly still not a fan of hard liquor before finally turning on her heels to face him.

"If you really want to know, I'm here just out of curiosity."

Thomas arched an eyebrow."Really now? And has your curiosity been satisfied?"

"We must believe."

"Then? Verdict?"

Adele narrowed her eyes at the pretentious prick with dejection."Are you so certain?"

"That you're still in love with me?" He repeated before looking away, thoughtful."I was, but I'm not any more." He made a pause before giving her a curious look."You're not armed, Adele, are you?"

Adele rolled her eyes before shaking her head with a sarcastic smile."Of course I am. I came this far just to give you that bullet I promised you."

This time around, Thomas couldn't contain his hilarity any longer as he let an amused smile curl his lips."You don't have a sense of humor anymore either."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Thomas gulped down the rest of his glass before suddenly standing up, leaving Adele to sit up, on her guard. She couldn't let him pass her walls. As long as he continued to annoy her, she could handle it, but if he did start his wits then she wasn't sure she could hold out for long.

He ignored her defensive stance as he closed the little space between them before reaching out his hand in expectation.

Her brain immediately ordered her to push him away only her heart decided otherwise. The instant her hand made contact with his, her body was suddenly seized with an electric shock. She tried to mask her reaction with a mask of impassivity only it was enough to look into the mesmerizing blue eyes to realize that he had felt it too.

"Come here, let's sit." He said, guiding her back onto the sofa except for settling on the spot right next to her. He let go of her hand, leaving Adele to desire contact between them again.

However, she tried to ignore her most primary urges as Thomas let a small, teasing smile on his lips."For the space of a minute here, I thought you were going to attack me."

"Unlike some people, it's not really my style." She responded, cold.

"It's true. Your style is more to threaten your opponents with a bullet in their heads."

Obviously they were back to square one. Adele had always suspected Thomas of secretly loving their little power struggles. After all, it wasn't really surprising knowing him.

Nonetheless, Adele decided to stimulate him further as she leaned slightly towards him, her breath now mingling with his."And yet you are still alive."

A thousand responses came to his mind, each matching her cruelty, but Thomas was far too focused on her damn attractive lips to respond fully. For the first time since returning from France, Thomas had no idea whether he was in hostile or neutral territory.

He considered his nexts words. Insults were cheap and easy-Thomas didn't need to defeat her-not if he was going to get her to let her guard down. In a way, Adele had always been a bit like a thoroughbred Arabian that he had to learn to tame. Never in his life had he met a woman so difficult to understand.

"Thing is, I hate reunions. I didn't want to sit here, talking about nothing and dancing around what we really wanted to say. So, now ... I know you're successful in the backcountry side, you're rich and powerful. I know you're unarmed. And you didn't come here for sex, because you doesn't love me anymore. And it's only three minutes past."

By this point, Adele had lost every ounce of rationality. She didn't really know what to think anymore. In the space of a few moments, Thomas had managed to turn all her certainties upside down. And more, he had reminded her how fucking cunning he was. It was almost scary to be honest.

"Another drink." He said suddenly, getting up from the sofa to join the fireplace."I'll take that as a yes."

Adele literally had to stand with her two arms on either side of her on the sofa to hold herself up. In an instant, he had managed to confuse her about what she was thinking, what she was feeling and worse yet, who she was.

He poured himself a drink energetically before finally facing her with a blissful sigh."It's good to see you, Adele."

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. He finally thought he had her but she hastened to pull herself up in the resistance."You're a freaking maniac."

"I'll be honest, that's not quite the reaction I expected." Thomas admitted, tilting his head before taking a sip from his glass.

Adele immediately left an incredulous scoff."What were you expecting?"

"Not that."He said."You see, I already knew that you would come tonight…"He approached the coffee table to crush his cigarette before sitting on to be at the same height as Adele."So, you know me, I had a plan-"

Adele scoffed. "When don't you have any?"

"My real plan… was to go out. I want to impress you."Dipping his head so his lips were mere inches from hers, Thomas murmured."Now… Do you like Charlie Chaplin?"

"Chaplin?" She repeated before wincing at the thought of being seen alongside Tommy on the streets of London.

God, Gerald would probably have her head. Worse yet, the entire company would have her head. She was determined to return to the Lancasters' estate and get what she deserved by right. Now wasn't the time to put everything in jeopardy.

"Mhm. Chaplin."

"Eh, not really a fan." She objected, shrugging her shoulders, taking advantage of the fact that she was making things difficult for him in spite of herself."He's overpriced. And a repressed Gypsy Romany."

"So you know."Tommy shook his head with a puckered smile."I should have known."

"Because you know me so well, eh?" She defied, leaning arrogantly against the back of the sofa.

Thomas brought the glass to his lips to finish it in one gulp before standing up abruptly, pulling lightly on the end of his jacket to adjust it."As a matter of fact, yes, I do. More than you can know."

"Really?" Doubted Adele, strangely amused in spite of herself."Well, you wanted to impress me. Humor me."

Thomas shrugged his shoulders as if to say so before pointing to her face."Well, for starters, you take no shit from everybody."

"Anyone with a little common sense could guess."

He raised an eyebrow."Good. But I don't think many people know how ruthless you can be."

Adele paused this time. She knew for a fact that it was a direct hit to her abdomen. He went out of his way, threw her faults in her face. Even though he acted indifferently when she left two years ago, he still held a grudge up to a point.

Thomas knew her well. He knew he was pushing her on the ropes right now. At this point, she could start hitting him and yelling at him at any time. But that was exactly what he was looking for. It only took one glance at her to realize how much she had been through in the past two years.

The last time he'd seen Adele take it all in without flinching was the same day he realized how devastated they were. On the edge of the famous Small Heath Cut.

"It's rich coming from you." She reminded him.

"But it's true,"Thomas said."Just like that famous day. At the auction. It had been years since we last saw each other-"He leaned back against the wall before crossing his arms over his chest."And you didn't even turn around."

Adele left a scoff."You seemed to have company."

"Jealous?" He asked.

She raised an eyebrow."Did you sleep with her?"

"You don't really want to know the answer to that question."He refuted."I think…"He rubbed his chin as he watched her intently."I think you're trying to convince yourself."

"Again with arrogance!" She laughed before shaking her head, giving him a provocative look."Maybe I was just trying to ease my conscience."

He grit his teeth, searching her eyes but finding no answer. When did she become so hard to read? There might be a chance she was telling the truth- and maybe she was telling the truth-but now he couldn't help imagining her in another man's arms. It drove him so mad he ranted the first thing on his mind. Just to provoke her back."I slept with her."

Adele ignored the invisible jab in her lower abdomen as she kept eye contact with him despite her jealousy."Good because I slept with Nathaniel."

"Was it good?" He asked, feigning impassiveness despite the rage bubbling under his mask of coldness.

"I don't know. Was it for you?"She replied in turn.

Thomas paused as he met her piercing dark brown gaze. He didn't really know which of the two had control over the other. In fact, it had been a long time since he had stopped scoring. They were way too similar to keep score.

So he decided to surrender this time."Well, did you dance with him?"

When was the last time Adele had danced with someone? God, she hadn't even danced with Elijah on their engagement day.

Elijah.

The last few days had been so eventful that Adele had ended up completely forgetting that she had been a woman promised to another just a few days ago. And look at her now. Using her sharp tongue to assuage her position and dominance over her ex-lover.

And yet, Thomas had just won.

He might not have known it, but his question was the only bullet he had left to smash her cobbled walls. Thomas had been the last man she had danced with.

The expression on her face was all Thomas needed to make his next move. Although he would probably never know what Adele really wanted, he was determined to try and get answers.

"Do you want to dance?"

Adele was silent for a moment before giving him an incredulous look."You want to dance?"

Instead of answering her, he put his glass on the edge of the fireplace before taking a firm step in her direction. Adele gauged him intently as he walked around the coffee table before stopping beside it with his outstretched hand.

Realizing how serious he was, Adele finally accepted his offer as she nervously slipped her hand into his. She felt those chills again but this time she was prepared. She ignored the electroshocks along her skin before following him to the center of the room so they had more room to dance.

Adele took a moment to try to figure out what she was about to do before finally trying to focus her full attention on her body. She preferred to leave nothing to chance. Especially when she could barely breathe comfortably in a space so close to Tommy.

He took her right hand to rest it on his shoulder before doing the same with his left hand. Except he held it tightly in his hand. He put his other free hand around her waist, letting Adele take a shaky breath.

She adjusted her hands to his shoulders before finally releasing the pressure as she let herself be carried away by the silent rhythm of their two hearts beating in unison. She could perfectly feel Thomas' gaze on her face only, she made a point to fix a point over his shoulder.

It wasn't long before her resistance curled Thomas's lips in an amused smile. A fact that Adele was quick to comment on as a warning."Don't smile."

"I don't really like having orders under my roof."

"Technically this house belongs to Ada." Said Adele, shrugging her shoulders, amplifying Thomas' smile."Are you laughing now?"

Thomas tried to fight off his snorts before making eye contact with Adele again. Her scowl was barely threatening in that position. She still tried to act tough when she was literally at his mercy.

"What's so funny?" Adele grew impatient, frustrated.

She stopped their dance steps to make real eye contact with him. However, neither of them took their hands off each other. They stayed in the dance position from earlier without ever taking their eyes off each other.

Thomas ran his eyes over her soft, finely drawn face for a moment before finally lowering his head, capturing her lips in a long overdue kiss.

Adele lost all shades of right and wrong at this precise moment as she let go of Thomas' hand to reach for his short hair with an urgency and anger that made no sense. She seemed torn between wanting to consume him and ruin him. However, her desire was clear.

Tommy's hands found her hips, enough to bruise. All the problems he and his family were having right now flew out of his mind. All he cared about was hearing Adele scream his name again. She tasted like overpriced whiskey, cigarettes and mint lozenge. He needed more. He needed to have her all.

Adele pulled away for a moment to catch her breath before putting her hands around his neck, her thumb caressing his defined jaw.

"Tommy, it's a bad idea." She gasped hesitantly.

Thomas silenced her again as he put his lips to hers again. The hearing of his name on her lips was enough to make him half-hard. He couldn't disagree with her more. He hadn't felt a straighter moment than now.

However, Adele broke the kiss again before resting her forehead against his, struggling with her own desire now."We can't do this."

Thomas fought his frustration as he tilted his head slightly to catch her nervous gaze."There is absolutely nothing that cannot be done, Adele. You want it too."

Adele nodded weakly before giving in to her impulses as she pulled him closer to her to connect their lips again.

He wasted no time in losing his patience as he left a trail of kissing down her chin before tending to her neck. Adele threw her head back with a soft moan of pleasure before trying to support herself on his shoulders. She stared at the ceiling in an attempt to get the situation under control again."I left for a reason. We're not good for each other."

"I disagree."He said between each kiss. "We're the same, Adele."

"Exactly."Adele gasped before pushing Thomas back slightly to impose a certain distance between them. She tried to correct her appearance before tilting her head in warning."One of us will end up being the end of the other."

Thomas took a deep breath before approaching Adele again to take her face in his hands. She shivered at the feel of his callused skin against her thin skin before feeling her breath fail at the sight of the tenacity contained in his transcendent blue eyes.

"I let you go once."He called back, applying a little more force to her cheeks. Not enough to hurt her but enough to show her how serious he was."You won't escape me so easily this time."

This time he didn't give her time to make another point as he connected their lips again while carefully undoing the zipper of her dress. In no time, Adele found herself naked in front of him. The friction of his clothes against her delicate skin soon annoyed her. She quickly broke their kisses to undo his tie with barely veiled aggressiveness before literally ripping the buttons off his jacket.

Thomas took a few steps back in the effect of such aggression before pausing to drink from her finely chiseled body.

However, Adele didn't really give him time to savor the sight more as she hugged him again. It wasn't long before Thomas led her over to the sofa before paying special attention to covering her with his own body.

Now, Thomas wasn't really what you might call a romantic. He wasn't really used to taking his time. Well, except with Adele. Tommy dotted small kisses down her jaw and neck before finally sliding one of his hands between their two already wet bodies. He gently spread her thighs to make his way before finally getting inside her. The latter let out a gasp at the familiar feeling filling her before resting her head on the back of the sofa to catch her breath.

He bit her lower lip before starting to push inside her. The friction of their bodies was almost like a kind of ecstasy to them. The feel of her nipples against his chest was enough to fuel his dark thoughts. Thomas had thought about this a lot for the past two years and yet it had absolutely nothing to do with all the fantasies his imagination had come up with. It was much better. Adele's moans were fucking erotic in his ears. He only had to look her in the eye to know they understood each other. They didn't need to talk. Everything was clear to them.

Adele took his face in her hands as she could feel the pleasure rising throughout her body as he thrusted inside her. She hadn't felt such sensations in… well, forever. Sex with Tommy was more than that to her and she knew it. For God's sake, he knew it too. She grabbed his hair a little harder at the thought of it before she caught his lower lip between her right teeth. She nibbled on the pulpit lightly before accompanying Thomas on each of his thrust.

They breathed in unison as he intentionally slowed down to make the pleasure last. He took special care to gently stroke her face before bringing her to him to kiss her with all the love he had.

Adele closed her eyes as she also poured out all of her feelings from that kiss.

They became one.

A heavy silence hung between them as they took special care to put on their attire without meeting the other's gaze.

Honestly, Adele didn't quite know how to feel at this point. On one hand, she had literally just had the best sex she had been able to have in the past two years and on the other hand, part of her was fucking ashamed to have given in to Thomas's advances again. She really didn't know what this man had on her, but whenever they found themselves in one and the same room, there were always sparks. It was electric.

Adele looked away as she pulled the zipper of her dress up before reluctantly turning her head towards Thomas at the sound of his throat clearing."I'll drive you."

"No need. I'll just call Jarvis."

"Don't be so stubborn, I'll drive you."

Honestly, Adele didn't really have the strength in her to contradict him anymore so she just nodded."Fine."

"Do you plan to go back to Small Heath?" Thomas asked again without ever taking his eyes off her.

"I don't know yet." She replied."I still have some business to take care of here. People to meet. And explanations to give."

Thomas danced from one foot to the other as he frowned slightly at Adele, suspicious. She was not the type to explain herself. She wasn't the type to beat around the bush either. That was what he valued the most about her. Her unfailing honesty. She was not afraid of anything or anyone. She spoke continuously without a filter. He didn't have to worry about her.

"Tommy… I'm engaged."Adele finally admitted before making eye contact with the stunned man."To Elijah Marks. He's a Lord."

She didn't really know why she had disclosed all of this. And yet, on the other hand, she knew what she was doing. Her defense mechanisms were much stronger than her. She made sure to push him away the only way she could.

Thomas immediately took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose at the overwhelming news. He hadn't felt such a direct blow in a hell of a while. Maybe it was the fucking hours of digging and digging or the atrocities of the war, but Thomas thought he was sealed off from that kind of pain. Well, he was wrong. He bent down to retrieve the cigarette still lying in the ashtray before bringing it to his lips, letting the nicotine surpass the taste of bile along his tongue.

However, this was not enough.

He put the cigarette back sharply in the ashtray before turning quickly to Adele, frustrated."Why did you come here tonight?"

"I don't love him, if you want to know. I marry him only for business."Adele said, turning to him."He knows it and I know it. It's a deal. I don't like him and I will never like him. Not like-"

Thomas held her gaze, taking a deep breath before shaking his head."You don't have to do this to be successful in business."

"Gerald doesn't think that way."

"Since when have you been doing what you're told?" He asked, raising his hand to stroke her bare arm with the back of his hand.

Adele swallowed at the sensation of his skin burning with desire against hers before looking away again, shaking her head negatively."Can you drive me home?"

Nonetheless, it wasn't long before she paused hearing Thomas's question."Can I see you again?"

Adele let a trembling breath pass her lips as she returned her eyes to Thomas with great difficulty. She didn't really know what was going on right now but one thing was sure, she would have a harder time leaving him this time.

"Adele."Thomas called before pausing, licking his lips at the sight of her gaze."So you really ended up being a whore, eh?"

This time, Adele couldn't help but let her pride take over as she immediately raised her hand before slapping him with all her might."I just took your advice after all. We just sell different parts of ourselves, eh?"

"Yay?" He snorted, straightening up."And what would your future husband want to say if he knew you were with me tonight?"

Adele clenched her jaw, knowing that her next words would have the effect she was looking for on Thomas."That's the thing with arranged marriages, we can tell each other. I'll tell him what happened tonight. Even if it doesn't matter anymore."