Welcome and enjoy!

Reminder that this story is M rated. In this chapter we have: a lovely blowjob (my first time writing anything explicit, so be kind, please), Tommy's potty mouth (this man says fucking more than any other character I've watched on screen) and Anna and her friend, Tessa (who are definitely very unladylike).

Thanks for all the comments, favorites and follows! It makes me so happy that someone is enjoying my writing :D

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Trouble

Tommy couldn't unglue his eyes from the sight of Anna slowly going down in front of him, kneeling. She undid his pants and lowered them, quickly followed by his underwear. Then, he was in heaven. With a sigh as her nimble fingers grasped his cock, his head fell back against the side of the bathroom stall. Her fingers traced him, then pumped and then, a heat enveloped the tip of his cock. He let out a groan, making the heat vanish.

"Keep it down, would you?" Anna grumbled. Before he could reply, she had him in her mouth again, sucking, licking, grazing him with her teeth. At this rate, he wouldn't last long. As her hands pumped the rest of his length, whatever she couldn't fit into her mouth, she sucked and he finished embarrassingly quickly. She hadn't even touched his balls. It was all mouth on cock and he was gone like some teenage boy. Anna rose with a telling smirk just as he opened his eyes, releasing a ragged breath he'd been holding in. He saw a tickle of cum down the side of her painted red mouth which she scooped up with her finger and licked off, swallowing.

"Fuck," Tommy growled. He reached forward with his hands, finally remembering he had them, catching the sides of her face and kissing her. Anna pulled back after a second, despite the rather chaste kiss without any tongue. Her eyes were wide. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again mutely. "Fuck, I'm sorry," Tommy let go of the sides of her face, his hands suddenly feeling cold and clammy. He grabbed his underwear and pulled it up, then his pants. "I'm sorry, Anna." She still hadn't said anything, and when he looked up he saw her holding her fingers to her mouth, eyes wide in shock. "I'm sorry." He didn't apologize. Tommy Shelby never apologized. Yet, he'd done it three times for her. Something about her expression made him sorry for the kiss.

"I-it's fine," she stammered, clearing her throat. "No biggie," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. It was big. Had it been her first kiss? A girl could give an amazing blowjob without shame, but she blushed and reeled back at a kiss.

"First kiss?" Tommy asked, still breathless. The recent orgasm had thrown him. Anna nodded. "Fuck," he cursed. "I shouldn't have done that." He'd wanted to, though. He'd wanted to kiss her ever since she'd walked into the party. He'd wanted to do more. He'd wanted to take her home, take that dress off and have his way with her. She was the first woman, after France, who'd made him feel like that. Young. Alive. Reckless.

"It's fine," she waved him off. "There's still business to be done," she told him, fixing her hair and dress before opening the stall. Tommy followed her out of it, watching as she fixed her lipstick in the mirror, erasing the smears on the side.

"Anna, I-"

"Business first," her eyes found him in the reflection and Tommy nodded. She seemed adamant to ignore whatever moment they'd had. He could respect that. "I'll find you later to lift the goods," she said, leaving him standing in the bathroom. He remembered Polly's accusing words. Did he actually want Anna? He didn't know. After this, he didn't know anything anymore. He checked his watch and cursed. He was running late.

He was a right bastard. Grace had been right. He had used her as a bargaining chip. Used Anna. Used Polly. Hell, he'd sold out everyone in his life, one way or another. Tommy ran his hands over his face, staring at the numbers in front of him. He couldn't concentrate. That was rare. He couldn't concentrate on the bets and the income and the surplus of money. Money, he'd always been good at. Since the first time he'd dabbled into the business. Women, he was quickly realizing, he was bad at. He used them. Used them without any emotion. He was a right bastard.

"Hard at work?" Tommy looked up to see Anna in his office. He hadn't heard her come in. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but I thought I'd drop this off before I left." She placed a paper on his desk. "Everything you need on Kimber and more."

"Anna," Tommy said, but she raised her hand. She was mad about the kiss, still.

"I need to check in with the guild," she told him. "I won't be around for a month, or so."

"If this is about the kiss-"

"It's not about that," she shook her head. She was dressed in black, as the first time he'd seen her. Black trousers with wide bottoms that looked more like a skirt. But her hair was down, just pulled back. "This is protocol. If I'm engaged for more than a month in business I need to go in for a check-in. Then, I can go out on work again." Tommy sighed, nodding, leaning back in his chair.

"You'll be back?" He asked.

"If you book me again," she nodded. "There are plenty of other thieves, Thomas," she said. When had she started calling him by his name. Not even Tommy, but Thomas. Where was sweetheart. It left him feeling empty. Hollow. "I'm not the best or the cheapest."

"You're the best for me," he said.

"Why?" Because she was Anna. What a silly question. She was funny. She was serious. She did good work. She made him feel at ease. She was beautiful. He wanted to kiss the somber look she had on her face away. She was his little thief. Because she'd stolen his dirty sock. Because she'd made him cum like a schoolboy. Because she was Anna. Because she was his. Because she was the best for him. Because he trusted her.

"Are you asking me not to book you again?" He didn't say any of it. Anna shrugged.

"Up to you," she said. "I don't have an opinion there," she gave a small wave, turning to the window. Once again, she sat on the sill, like she'd done so many times in the past and swung her legs over. "See you around, sweetheart." Before she could jump out, he spoke.

"Take care, trouble." The smile she gave him before a mock salute and a jump was everything. When he looked back at the books before him, everything made sense.

"Tess," Anna greeted the young girl at the reception with a smile. "Is there a room available?" Tessa was a tiny little thing, Chinese, and worked hard as hell. Tessa, of course, wasn't her real name. She'd chosen it herself, much like Anna. It was standard practice. Why she'd gone with non-Asian name, Anna didn't know, but then again, she'd done the very same thing, forgoing her roots. She wasn't one to judge. Besides, Tessa was the best companion she had at the guild. Anna would never judge her.

"913?" Anna nodded. "I'll send for a handler," Tessa said, looking her over as she handed her the room key. "You seem different."

"How so?"

"Don't know, but something's different," Tessa squinted at her. "Did you fail your job?" At Anna's snort of disbelief Tessa grinned. "Right, silly of me to say that. I'll bring tea round your room come evening to chat. I'm off at nine."

"Sounds good," Anna agreed, picking up her bag to leave, then she stopped moving backwards to the counter again. "Almost forgot," she grinned, mock-knocking on her head. "Can you start the process for adding a name to my services?" Tessa's mouth dropped open.

"Finally got an alias you like?" she gushed. "That's huge! Oh, I want to hear everything!" Anna nodded with a smile. She'd grown attached to her new name, the one Thomas used. Not because he used it, but because it was pretty.

"Anna Smith."

"Oh, that's horrid," Tessa wrinkled her nose at her. "You could've gone with something more romantic. Cordelia. Annabelle. Rosaria. Valentina. Genevieve!" Tessa yelled after Anna's retreating form, huffing at the dismissive wave she got. Still, the girl started the process of acquisition of proper paperwork. It would take about a month to build the life of Anna Smith.

Anna took the elevator to the familiar floor. She unlocked the door to her room and entered. Home sweet home. The room was simple, much like the rest at the hotel. A window looking out into the street and a desk in front of it. A bed on the other side with a nightstand and a lamp. A large mirror on the other side with a makeup table in front. A wardrobe which she never used. There was no adjoining bathroom, only the communal one for the whole floor. Anna didn't mind it. She'd learned not to mind so many things in the past year. She'd learned to live without the luxuries she'd been used to. She'd learned to live alone.

With a sigh, she dropped her bag on the makeup table and took off her hat. Next came her shoes and stockings. She felt like she could finally breathe when her legs were bare. Something about the fact that she'd grown up having to wear proper stockings and shoes to all the events made it so liberating to take them off. She could recall her mother admonishing her for running around the house barefoot. Or the garden. Or anywhere. Everywhere.

A knock on the door made her glance up.

"Enter," Anna called out. A tall man entered her room, taking off his hat. The black hair and mustache and a pair of bright, dark eyes were familiar to her. It wasn't her usual handler, but it was a man she knew. "Welcome home, Mr. Russell," Anna greeted.

"Likewise," he politely said, a hint of accent to his voice. Matthew Russell, as he was known, was painfully polite, harshly by the book and never in a joking mood. Still, Anna liked him fairly well. "How has work been?" He asked, sitting down on a chair at her desk. He didn't bother taking off his hat.

"Good," Anna nodded. "I completed the assigned mission with only a slight delay, no injuries or compromised identities to report. A few expenses over the budget, but I reckon Mr. Shelby won't be against compensating for them. He added a few clauses to the contract post signing." Mr. Russell nodded.

"Anything of note to report?"

"Nothing," Anna said. "I've chosen a name for the record." At his silence she continued. "Anna Smith."

"Good choice," Mr. Russell said. "Nothing too memorable. Will Mr. Shelby remain a client?"

"Likely," Anna sat down on the bed, stretching. "He's satisfied with the service I provided." She remembered the feel of his warm lips on hers. "I think he will be booking me again soon." The feel of him in her hands and mouth. "I'm hoping to keep him as a regular client."

"That's good," Mr. Russell replied, making her look at him and focus on the conversation at hand, ignoring the images in her head. "We've checked him out and he seems like a good future investment." Anna nodded. "We're sad at the loss of Mr. Brown as our client, but it was unavoidable."

"I'm sorry," Anna apologized. She'd burned that bridge by gathering intel for Thomas. Mr. Brown wouldn't be seeking her services again, for certain. He wouldn't be blackmailing her either, seeing as she'd dealt with all the proof he'd had. His word was worth nothing on its own. He didn't even know her name, just bits and pieces of annoying information.

"It's no loss, if we've bagged a bigger fish," Mr. Russell gave her a pointed look. "Rest for a day or two, you've been requested during your time away. The next mission is in three days."

"Understood," Anna nodded. "Mr. Russell?" He looked up at her and she spoke again. "I was hoping that you could look into these names for me. I can't seem to get enough information on my own."

"These will take time," he said, looking at the list. "Most of them have connections with the police. Is this for Mr. Shelby?" Anna nodded. "We'll get it done." He stood and left, tipping his hat at her. Anna sighed in relief, dropping back on the bed. They wanted Thomas. Of course they did. He was ambitious. He liked to take risks. He wanted to earn well. Soon enough, he would be one of the many names added to the guild's roster. While Anna didn't want him involved in it, partially, she also selfishly wanted him involved. She wanted him to book her. She wanted those eyes back on her. She wanted to hear that deep voice call her trouble. She was addicted to Thomas Shelby and it would end badly. After all, Anna was a curse embodied.

Tessa came into her room late in the evening with sandwiches, biscuits and tea. She was grinning ear to ear, eagerly awaiting Anna's story. And, the girl didn't spare any detail. Well, any detail of the activities outside of her intel.

"So, he's a local gangster?" Tessa asked, her legs on Anna's pillow as she lay back on the blanket, enjoying the sweets. "Aren't you too expensive for him?"

"Most definitely," she nodded. "And that's not the only criminal thing about him. His good looks shouldn't be allowed in the streets. He's got a cute butt, too." Tessa giggled, slapping Anna's legs which were by her head.

"You've slept with him!" Anna shook her head. "Then what?"

"Woke him up in the middle of the night." At Tessa's outraged gasp, she continued. "I've also sucked him. And he kissed me."

"That's what I came here for," the girl giggled, giddy. She sat up, coming closer to Anna. "I get no fun here, all the boys are boring work-obsessed thieves and assassins and all the clients are old farts or creepers. Give me some gossip, woman!" Anna shook her head, but obliged.

"Well, I was stealing stuff at a party," she began. "And the key I'd stolen slid down my corset. I needed help fishing it out, so I asked Thomas."

"I bet he was more than happy to go fishing, eh?" Tessa waggled her eyebrows, making Anna roll her eyes.

"God, his hands," she sighed. "He has such warm hands, you know? Super gentle." Tessa nodded quickly. "But, when he got the key out and moved away, he was… you know…" Tessa slapped her knee.

"For fuck's sake, woman, you blow a man and you still won't say dick," she poked Anna's stomach, making her laugh.

"So, I helped…" she smirked. "With my mouth." Tessa was having a moment of utter joy, living through Anna's experience. She finally calmed down, motioning for her hand for the rest of the story. "When he was done, he kissed me. Then he apologized for kissing me." Anna frowned.

"Was it horrible?"

"What?"

"The kiss." Anna shook her head. "Did you stink or something?" Anna shrugged. "What did you eat and drink that day?"

"Peaches and vodka," she told Tessa, but then shook her head again. "But there was no tongue. It was just… him pressing his lips to mine."

"Then what? He didn't like the blow?" Tessa asked.

"I… think I pulled back," Anna admitted in a small voice, looking at her lap.

"Why? You seem to like him well enough?" Tessa was frowning at her. Anna thought for a moment, then replied.

"It was my first kiss," she finally said.

"Aaah," Tessa nodded sagely. "Well, intimacy is like any other partnership. First time is bull, second is better, third is amazing if it's meant to be." Anna looked up at her shyly, cheeks flushed. "Do you like this man?" A nod. "Do you want him?" A pause, then another nod. "Then what are you waiting for? Seduce him!" Anna quickly shook her head.

"He has a sweetheart," she said somberly. "A barmaid at his pub." Even Tessa didn't have anything to say to that. "Besides, what could I offer him? A quick fuck? I'm not a whore nor do I plan to be one."

"Of course you're not a whore," Tessa caught Anna's hand, holding it. "Do you think there's nothing other than wife or whore?" Anna didn't look at her. Tessa sighed, patting Anna's hand. "I won't preach to you, but I'll say this. If you like him, and he likes you, give it a go. Don't think too much. You always think too much. You can have a life outside of work. Hell, you should have a life outside of this. That's how we stay human." Anna looked at Tessa then, steel in her eyes.

"I don't need human right now." She squeezed Tessa's hand. "I need to finish what I've started." Tessa shook her head.

"We all need human," she leaned forward, hugging Anna tight. The girl returned the hug. "That's how we survive what we do."

"I'd like to book room 913," Tommy said into the phone, waiting for the reply. He was getting nowhere on his own. He felt the need to double-check every piece of information which came into his hands, unlike with Anna. There was a clear difference between professionals and his men. He needed Anna.

"Unfortunately, the room isn't available," the woman on the line said. Tommy raised his eyebrow.

"When will it be free to book?" He asked.

"It's under renovation, sir." Tommy dug through his drawer for the paper of code words Anna had provided him with. He looked for the one mentioned by the receptionist. Next to it stood 'ill or healing'. His hands went cold.

"I'd like to see the room, if possible," he spoke into the telephone, not knowing if this improvised code would work. There was a short pause.

"I will have to talk to my superior about a permit," she told him. "Also, I will obtain the status report on the room, if it's safe for a quick glance. If you would wait a moment, please." Tommy stayed silent, waiting. What had happened? Had someone injured Anna? On a job? Had she fallen into a trap? Did she just get sick? He rubbed his forehead, forcing himself to stop running circles in his head. He would know soon enough. After about a minute, which seemed to him more like half an hour, the female voice picked up yet again. "The room will be available tomorrow for a quick visit. I will enter your name on the permit list. We will be expecting you after seven o'clock. Good day, sir." The line cut off before he could ask anything else. For a moment, Tommy sat still. Then, he put the phone receiver away and hopped up, getting his cap and coat.

"Polly!" He left his office in a hurry, going down the stairs. "Polly!" He found the woman sitting in the shop, counting money. "I need a moment." Tommy was well-aware of all the eyes on him. He'd come in like a bat outta hell, which wasn't his usual manner. His control was slipping.

"I've got a few more bets to list and-"

"Leave it," he said, making Polly raise her eyebrow at him. Still, she called John over and stood, following Tommy into the living room of their home.

Tommy sat on the train bound to London the following morning, attempting to read the newspaper. He wanted to stay up to date on everything going on in the world, but it wasn't working out. Not that day. He kept wondering about Anna. Was she even alive, for starters. He stared blankly at the page which he had opened at the beginning of the ride. For hours, he hadn't read a single line. Finally, Tommy gave up and folded the paper.

Polly hadn't been too happy about him leaving her in charge of the business while he went to London. She hadn't been too happy when he'd said that Anna was injured and he was visiting. She'd given him that accusing look yet again. There was no need to ask about his interest in the girl. The question hung in the air, but he didn't answer it. Tommy didn't like answering questions. He liked posing them. Giving orders. That, he was good at. Understanding how he felt, that was a different matter entirely.

Tommy didn't live by listening to his heart. Everything went through his brain first, dissected meticulously and serving as fuel for his goals in life. Everything had to serve some purpose, or he didn't do it. He wanted to go legit. He wanted to be out of the gang business. Earn a fortune. Build a family. Do better for the world. Be better than his disappointment of a father. The topic of his father made him think about his mother.

She'd been a sad woman. A sad woman with a sad story. Trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who saw her as a means to an end. Arthur Senior had seen his wife only as a bed warmer and a way to continue the bloodline. Why he'd married her, a woman of gypsy roots, still escaped Tommy. He'd certainly gotten enough silent criticism for it. Yet, Tommy couldn't remember a time when his mother was happy. When she was in love with his father. When she showed affection for the man. She'd been mostly cooped up in her room during his childhood. Caring for John, then for Finn, as much as she could. Polly had raised the boys, really. She had been the mother they'd needed.

So, Tommy didn't want that for him. He wanted something different. Not a delicate wife who couldn't handle the business. Someone who stood on equal ground as him. Someone he could confide in, rely on and trust. Someone who helped him become the best version of himself, whatever that might be.

The image of Anna, sitting on the other side of the kitchen table in his house, munching on toast and asking questions which helped him think better came to mind. The delicate curve of her lips into that coy, knowing smile. The shine in her deep blue eyes as she helped him plot and plan. An equal, if he ever saw one. Perhaps not as big on plotting, but definitely meticulous. Tommy smiled to himself as he remembered how she'd arranged his dresser one early morning, making certain that everything was in line and symmetrical in size. A little obsessive, but that wasn't a bad quality.

Then he remembered Anna's young age. And Grace. It wouldn't be appropriate to pursue Anna. On so many levels it wouldn't be appropriate. She was too young. Too inexperienced. She was too innocent. She was too connected in the underworld. Grace was more appropriate. She was beautiful, too. His type. Yet, she was dangerous, as well. Grace walked in the light, outside of the shady work of illegal business. As much as she hinted to him that she was interested in working for him, Tommy knew a proper woman when he saw one. A rich girl. He didn't want to corrupt her. And, if he did corrupt her, would he even be interested in her anymore? He enjoyed the little reactions of outrage and shock whenever he did something unexpected. On the other hand, Anna's ideas and boldness made him react in a similar way that Grace did to him. It was a closed, endless loop.

The train stopped and Tommy rose. He didn't know what he wanted, he thought while picking up his newspaper and bag. He didn't know which woman intrigued him more. He just knew that seeking comfort from Lizzie Stark wasn't the way he wanted to spend his nights anymore. He didn't want the lack of intimacy which made him feel like he was using the woman. She might be a whore, but he didn't have to be the kind of man who sought that kind of comfort.

London was always busy. Loud and busy and the crowd didn't part for him like it did in Birmingham. Tommy wasn't sure if he liked or disliked that. It was refreshing to be out of the constant eye. Away from the scrutiny. Yet, he missed the respect his reputation provided. London. He wanted the city. He wanted more. He wanted the world.

First, he would take Billy Kimber. Next, he would take London. Then, the whole world. He would take it all for himself and his family.

That's all for now!

For the first time I'm writing a bit from Anna's POV, I hope you enjoyed it :) Also, a bit more insight into my interpretation of Tommy and his affections.
I actually thought for a long time what to do with his canon relationships, and I've decided that Grace will be included. I hope that I will do their relationship justice, while also adding Anna to the mix.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!