It wasn't long before Ruth and Jacob came over to us. Michael pulled back from me slightly, resting his hand on my thigh as Jacob sat beside him with Ruth on his lap. "So Michael, what do you think of our little soiree?" Jacob asked, looking at Michael intently. "It's alright, different." Michael commented, looking around the room. There were people in various states of undress and snow being passed around like it was sherbert. "Yeah, I bet the Peaky Blinders don't have parties quite like these." Jacob laughed as Michaels hand tightened slightly on my thigh.
"Jacob." I warned, raising my eyebrow at him. Ruth playfully slapped his arm. "I apologise for my husbands slip up, he tends to get carried away in the festivities." she smiled. "No one can know who I am, especially now I have brought Michael here." I reminded them, looking between the pair. "Of course, Evie! Your secrets are safe with us." Ruth beamed. It wasn't her I was worried about. Jacob seemed to revel at the fact Shelbys came to his parties and now I had brought him a in the flesh Peaky Blinder as well. As a lawyer, he had written the gag orders we signed as we walked in and had placed tiny loopholes in them which he loved to exploit.
"I'd appreciate it if nothing that happens here was mentioned to Alfie as well. I wouldn't want it affecting any sort of business agreements between our families." I told the pair, knowing full well that they were likely to be giving him a full report once the night was over. They both faltered for a moment before plastering on a smile. "Of course, Evie." Jacob smiled. "We wouldn't want anything to affect the business." Ruth added. I watched the pair carefully for a moment before Michael cleared his throat.
"How often do you do things like this?" Michael asked, taking a sip of his whiskey and looking at the pair. "We try to host one every fortnight, every week where we can. My family owns the building so we can use it as often as we wish." Ruth told him, looking at him intently. "Now you've been invited by Evie, we can add you to the list going forward. If you'd like, of course." Jacob added. I looked at Michael, waiting for his response as he took a moment to think about it. "I don't come to London often, it would be a waste of a space." he replied, trying to sound diplomatic. "Nonsense! Some of our guests only come once a year or every few years. Leave your address with the receptionist on the way out and I'll personally make sure you get an invite." Jacob responded, clapping Michael on the back.
My eyes went to Michaels, I couldn't tell what his reaction was to the gesture. His well masked face giving nothing away. "Well, games are about to begin upstairs if you feel like joining in." Ruth said, standing. "I think Michael and I will be leaving shorty. We have a long drive back to Birmingham in the morning." I replied, taking a sip of my drink. "You must come visit us more often." Ruth told me, wagging her finger at me. "I will." I promised. "We will come find you before we leave." I added as Jacob stood beside his wife. "It was lovely to meet you." Michael told them. They both gave him a smile before being called away to join in with the games.
"They really are something else." Michael laughed as we watched them leave the room. "Yeah, you could say that." I replied. "You sound worried." he told me, bringing his eyes to me. "I just know what Jacob is like, wouldn't surprise me if they were off to ring Alfie now." I replied, turning to match his gaze. "Do you think Solomons will tell John or Tommy?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink. I shook my head. "No, I've known Alfie long enough now to know his loyalties lie with me, not Tommy or the family. That's why Tommy sent me to speak to him." I explained, as Michael nodded along. "We can trust Alfie." I added. He didn't look convinced but let it go.
He looked around the room once more, his eyes seeming to hover over two naked girls. "You can go join in if you want." I told him, taking a sip from my glass. His eyes shot to me. "You're wearing a black ribbon." he replied, brow furrowing. "I am, but you're not and neither are they." I responded. "Do you want me to go over to them?" he asked, trying to read my neutral expression. "I want you to be happy, Michael. We aren't married. I just ask that you are honest with me like I am honest with you." I told him, placing my hand over his on my thigh. He continued to search my face for a moment before bringing a hand to my face. "I have no interest in anyone else but you." he promised before bringing his lips to mine.
I smiled at him as we broke apart. He kept his hand on my face, keeping me close to him as he looked into my eyes. "What are you thinking about?" I asked, looking into his stormy eyes. "What our life could be like in London." he replied sincerely. "We can't have a life in London, Michael." I told him, pulling away from him. "Come here." he told me, turning me around on the seat and pulling me backwards so I was leaning back against his chest with my head on his shoulder.
"Close your eyes." He told me, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my head. My brows furrowed slightly but I did what he told me, settling back into him and closing my eyes. "We would have a big townhouse and every morning I'd wake you up before going to get the kids up." he began in a soft voice, painting a picture in my head with his words. "Then we'd all go downstairs and have a nice family breakfast. Then we'd both get ourselves and the kids ready for work and school. I would leave first for my job at the bank, kissing you and the kids goodbye on my way out. You'd make sure the kids all had their book bags and drop them off at the school down the road on your way to work. Obviously Solomons would've given you a job. A nice office job that brought in a decent wage and kept you busy. You'd finish in time to collect the kids from school, taking them to the local park for ice cream where I would meet you once I finished to walk home.
"We'd cook dinner together, listening to music and the sound of the kids playing. Then dinner would be another family affair, each of us talking about our days at work and school. Then we'd play games until it was time for the kids to go to bed, tucking them all in and wishing them goodnight together. We would then head downstairs, have a drink or two and enjoy each others company and then the next morning we would do it all again." Michael finished, kissing my head once more and squeezing me gently.
I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the stark reality that surrounded us. I cleared my throat before speaking. "That's wonderful, Michael. But that life isn't for us." I told him, not wanting to move from his arms. I felt him shift slightly beneath me as I picked up his hand in mine and brought it to my lips. "I want to enjoy tonight with you. Let's not think about dreams or reality. Let's think about us." I added, shifting so I could look up at him. He carefully pressed his lips to mine. I knew he wasn't happy about it but tonight was all we had right now.
He looked for me for a long moment as we broke apart. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, searching my face. I nodded, reluctantly pulling away from his warm body. We both stood together, Michael putting his arm around my waist as we went to look for Jacob and Ruth to say goodbye. We eventually found them upstairs, taking part in some sort of sex game. We waved to them from the door, they waved back and smiled before going back to their game. We quickly navigated the long halls back to the reception, the girl fetching our coats for us without a word. "Did you want to leave your address, Michael?" she asked, looking up at Michael as he put his coat on. "Nah, you're alright, thanks." he replied almost instantly.
I smiled to myself as I did my coat up before tucking myself under Michaels arm and going out into the cold London night. Somewhere in the city, a clock chimed one as we walked leisurely down the empty street. I knew Michael was thinking hard besides me but left him to his thoughts as mine drifted to my family. Lily, James, Benjamin and John. John was a good father and the kids doted on him but something had changed in him in the last year. Something was different. He wasn't my John.
I brought my thoughts back to the present as we walked into the warm hotel lobby. Michael nodded politely at staff before we got into the elevator, he told the attendant the floor number and we began our ascent. We got off the elevator, still arm in arm. Our rooms were on the same floor, a few doors down from each other. Mine was first and we stopped outside the door. Michael turned to me, searching my face for a moment. He wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it. "I've had a good night with you." he told me, lowly. "So have I." I smiled. "But the night isn't over yet." I added, going onto my tiptoes to kiss him. He was hesitant and I pulled away from him.
His face was conflicted. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, mirroring the words that he said to me in those stables the first time we were together. My brow furrowed slightly as I looked up at him. "I do." I told him, bringing my hand up to the side of his face. He searched my face for another moment before brining his lips down to mine. The kiss was sweet at first but quickly built. The lust and passion that we had been hiding all evening pouring out into each other. The next few minutes were a haze but as my back hit the soft bed, I heard a small warning bell in my head. I pushed it away, pulling Michael into me.
The drive to Birmingham was made in a comfortable silence. I was sat next to Michael, his hand on my thigh as we drove. I could tell that he had something on his mind but I left him to his thoughts, not wanting to repeat any of the conversations we had last night.
The phone was ringing when we walked through the door to Pollys, the house was eerily quiet other than the shrill ringing. I went to the phone in the hall, picking it up. "Eves?" a familiar voice asked. "Bloody hell, Tommy! I've just walked through the flamin' door." I laughed, undoing my coat. "I know. How did it go?" he questioned, getting straight to the point. "He'll work with us. Which you knew he would if I asked him." I replied, as Michael brushed past me. "And Michael?" Tommy asked. "On his best behaviour. Not even a peep." I replied, giving Michael a mischievous grin when he looked at me. "It was a good idea taking him." Tommy told me. "I know." I laughed. "Concentrate on getting better, Tom. I'll see you when you are home." I added, concerned at the coughing that was coming down the phone. "Alright, it won't be long." he promised. "Alright, Tom. See ya later." I told him. "See you soon, Eves." he replied before the line went dead.
A/N I hope you liked this Michael/Evie chapter! Please let me know what you think :)