As Tommy exited the room Ada saw he had left Ela panting from their exchange, and Arthur going around the room informing something to the Lee Family.
Fucking Thomas Ada thought while she approached Ela so she could relax a minute before the vultures could have a chance at her.
-"After all that, I think you could use a drink" Ada offered while she took Ela's arm in hers.
-"Ada I..." Ela started but she trailed off not knowing what to say, the fact that the Family and some friends would have been watching from the distance her interaction with Tommy had slipped her mind until she saw Polly. She felt ashamed of her actions, not only for having allowed herself to behave like she had but for liking it.
-"Shsss love, you don't have to explain now, I think you'd have the hardest time finding the right words," Ada said with a smile as they reached the bar and were passed their drinks. Ela nodded thankful for her friend's understanding and took a rather large sip of her Whiskey, feeling relieved for the liquor's ability to calm her rumbling mind.
-"Now, enjoy your drink, there's a couple of people I would like you to meet" Ada announced and although Ela knew that had been the whole point of the invitation, she would have much rather escape for the rest of the night; the conversation with Tommy had left her exhausted and at the moment she was having a hard time collecting her thoughts. Ada noticed and rubbed Ela's hand sweetly reassuring her it was still early, she could introduce them later.
After a while, the men in the room became restless to get their chance to talk to the girl, and from far away Edna could feel the change in the room and encouraged her husband to take Ela dancing so she could have the time to see a friendly face and accommodate to the situation.
Alfie walked toward Ela and despite Arthur's fist clenching he motioned for the boys to stand down as it was safe with him being a friend of hers and Tommy's.
Dancing with Alfie in the calmest of motions proved to be exactly what Ela needed, he made her laugh and loosen up, but when Arthur had enough from it, he was the next to get close and with a wild look in his eyes he asked Alfie for a dance with Ela which the man agreed to with a smirk to his lips.
Feeling safe with Arthur as well Ela wondered how much her perception had changed in the few months of working for the family for her to feel secure with men she knew were involved in the most vicious pursuits, but she dismissed it, firmly believing what she had told Tommy that same night, she recognized the hearts behind their deeds. But she couldn't help but worry for Arthur who had become even more fidgety as the night progressed.
-"How are you feeling Arthur?" Ela asked with concern in her tone.
-"Fine and fucking dandy Ela" He replied with a grin although she could see the smile didn't reach his eyes, and it was obvious the drugs were consuming his mind.
-"You know you can always come to me if you're feeling anything other than good, right?" Ela said with a charming smile and a look of compassion in her eyes that made Arthur look away as he could not bear to see her worry for him.
-"Nah, I won't trouble you with my problems, eh? I'm a fucking nut case" He said trying to make it sound like a joke, dismissing his feelings, but clearly knowing his problems were once again becoming too recognizable.
-"You're not, you're my friend and if you're hurting I want to know, I'll help you however I can" Ela wanted Artur to notice so badly that he didn't have to go through that dark alley alone, she could offer her friendship to at least decrease his anguish a little.
-"Me head is useless love, it's haunted," he said while his smile faltered suddenly feeling too moved by her words and the sincere look on her face offering help. He knew she meant it, but he wouldn't bother her with his issues.
-"We all have demons lurking in the dark for us Arthur, but it's easier to face them with a friend holding your hand" She smiled and squeezed his hand lightly so he would know she cared a lot for him, and would always be there if he ever decided to reach out.
-"Thanks love" Arthur admitted with an honest smile knowing her words although sweet were truthful, but he was on the brink of a precipice and had no intention of anyone he cared for standing close to the abyss with him.
After dancing for a little while, Arthur almost felt solace as John came close to them asking to dance with Ela, her caring nature was getting the best of him and tears threatened to escape his eyes not knowing how to control his vices. They were the only think that had in some measure helped him cope with his memories.
He handed her over to John gracefully and went back to his standing position by the bar, but Ela could barely remove the angsty look from her eyes watching him walk away knowing he was having a harder time each day to subsist with the apprehension he was feeling since their return from the war.
John did manage to lighten the mood between them with his humor and silly jokes, they talked about Esme, the army of kids he had at home, but whenever they approached the subject of Tommy Ela's movements became rigid, so John got the queue and refrained from the sensitive subject. Only those two knew what was happening between them, but it seemed intense and complicated in Ela's heart if her anxiety was any indication.
Instead of putting pressure on the topic, John opted to share with her some fond memories from when they were kids, living in the caravans in the woods, pickpocketing on the town streets, the gypsy rituals they had witnessed, and some of their beliefs. Ela found it fascinating and made him promise he would take her to Esme's family so she could get a closer look at all he had described. She knew it had been a tough childhood for them to live through, being hungry most days, stealing what they could to exchange for food and whatnot, having an absent father who became abusive as soon as he got close, and a distressed mother they seemed to love but who had left this world too early. Hearing him speak also gave her a notion that many good memories remained happy and glorious in their minds. They were proud of their roots, and despite all the struggles, it was clear none of them would trade the hand life had given them.
Having had enough of her family and close ones being the only people getting to talk to Ela, Ada approached her and John who had been laughing for some time now while dancing, and she told her friend she now wanted her to meet some people. Ela embraced John before parting and both women disappeared into the room not before John gave Ada a knowing look which she rolled her eyes to.
Perhaps it would be best, Ada thought, to let Ela know she was being watched by the Lee family who would not let her get too close to any man in the room as per Tommy's instructions, but she didn't want to smudge the image Ela had of his brother, although it was exactly what he deserved for his behavior.
-"Ela dear... about meeting the men" Ela turned to watch Ada trying to find the right words to describe the situation.
-"Yes? Is there something I should know about them?" She asked not understanding why Ada was having trouble speaking, if anything, she was too blunt sometimes.
-"More than you can imagine, but that's not what I'm trying to explain..." For the first time Ada was at a loss for words, how could she explain to her friend that her employer, the man she called his brother, wouldn't allow her to show more than a little interest in anyone?
Ela frowned not understanding Ada's sudden shyness, but then she got it seeing a rush of emotions go through her face; from sympathy to anger, and then she knew what Ada meant to say.
-"Ada, are you trying to inform me that the family and the Lee boys are all vigilante of my actions?" Ela said with a smile on her face.
Ada was truthfully surprised, she didn't imagine Ela would have noticed. They were not being as obvious as they could and nobody had given a signal that would display their intentions because Ela had been mostly surrounded by the family.
-"Yes, how did you notice?" Ada asked not recognizing how Ela had figured it out.
-"When I first walked into the room men seemed to be getting ready to line up to dance with me, after the... events" Ela described without getting into detail but blushing as they both knew what she meant "They keep staring at me but are not as willing to come forth, as if expecting I'm the one to give the approval, but I'm not naive enough to think it's that, I know I don't hold the cards, I noticed the Lee family staring down anyone that was approaching me about an hour ago".
Ada was liking more and more who Ela was becoming, her sweet nature was still there, but she was more upfront and aware of her surroundings.
Still, she thought it was unfair her brother was putting up barriers preventing her from living life.
-"I'm sorry love, it shouldn't be like this"
-"My dear Ada, it doesn't bother me one bit" It was true, she was unfazed by the fact; she wasn't desperately trying to engage with men that evening "but Mr. Shelby's efforts are a waste honestly".
-"What do you mean?" her admission confused Ada not quite understanding what her friend meant.
-"Well, for one, he must know no man in their right mind would approach me after he was seen with me, on the other hand, I have no interest in dancing with any of them, but most of all, if I did there's nothing he could do to prevent it," Ela said with a smirk to her face, knowing that if she didn't love Thomas Shelby the way she did, and she were, in fact, interested in dancing with anyone she found attractive, there would be little tactics that were safe enough to pull off in this dangerous environment to avert it.
Ada was more than proud of Ela, she was her own woman, beautiful, but definitely not only a pretty face, behind all her looks, there were layers and layers that held her strong sense of self and confidence. Ada would need to refrain from thinking of her as only sweet, the girl was decided and smart.
-"We've corrupted you, dear Ela, I'm somewhat proud" Ada took her by the hand with a smile and guided her to where the group of Americans were gathering.
They had yet to meet women like Ela.
As Tommy discretely glanced at the clock in the study he noticed how long the meeting had been running, it had been almost 2 hours since he had left the parlor, and although the updates from Johnny about the situation in the living room concerning the woman he had left behind were constant and understood there was nothing to worry about, he wanted nothing more than to end the negotiations and return to her.
After he and his associates reached an agreement and shook hands on the renewal of the opium deal, he stood gulping his drink and walked trying not to rush.
As he got to the room, he noticed lots of women glancing his way giving him inviting and seductive looks, far more suggesting than he thought they would dare considering their brothers and parents were in the room to scold them for it, but he couldn't care less, there was only one woman he needed to find.
Finally, his eyes reached her position, it was clear Ada had introduced her to the Americans, being the less dangerous, but captivating enough to be entertaining.
Before he approached them, he got to the bar and watched her closely; he grinned knowing exactly what she was thinking.
There was an untouched brown drink on the table in front of her and although a smile was set on her lips, whenever she tried to speak the man closest to her kept interrupting so she returned fake smiles while sitting uncomfortably in her chair.
Ela wanted to roll her eyes at the man that was keeping her company at the moment if you could call it that.
Although others from the Nelson Family had been more engaging since the beginning, the son of the head of the family had gone out of the way to keep on talking her way without letting her speak her mind once, not even when the waiter arrived had he let her order a drink of her choice.
-"You don't seem like a Lady that enjoys Gin or Vodka, Oh, I know, bring her a Cutty Sark".
Ela had attempted to express that's not what she wanted but the man had begun talking again without even noticing her expression of distaste about the drink.
Since he would not notice if she was paying attention or not, her mind traveled to Tommy, his figure, his touch, from the first time their fingers had been in contact, to his strong back and hips when they rode back home together, to a few hours back when she had felt his strong hands on her waist and wrist, not to mention the pressure of his bulge against her thigh she had sworne that's everything she wanted to feel for the remaining of her days on earth.
Every memory of him filled her mind, and she wished nothing more than to see him again, although her reason screamed she needed to get some restrain knowing the next time they were in contact she might lose all her logic to her instincts and her heart.
After watching Ela sit in the company of that man who clearly didn't see anything more in her other than her beauty, dismissing her every attempt to talk, he had enough and gathered two drinks from the bar once again walking slowly to their table.
She was still lost in thought when she felt his scent getting closer, she tried not to demonstrate how much he affected her by not turning around, but Tommy caught sight of the goosebumps that formed in her arms as he approached and smiled to himself.
-"Hello Mr. Nelson, Miss Dawson," Thomas said dragging out a cigarette from the pocket inside his jacket and lighted it smoothly.
-"Me. Shelby" the man began and although his tone was steady it was evident he held fear for the man in front of them "I'm guessing you're here to kidnap the lady from the world once more".
Thomas remained undaunted even when he wanted to rip the man apart for even daring to speak.
-"Miss Dawson I believe we have a conversation pending," Tommy said looking down at the woman who was still sitting and could barely look up to him as he offered his hand to her.
-"A little unfair wouldn't you say, Mr. Shelby? Being her employer she'll always have to say yes to you," Nelson said, and his family got wary expecting a fight to begin at the careless words towards the Birmingham king. Although Tommy wanted to reach for his gun and shoot him for what he had just implied, trying to smear Ela's honor and his own in the process, he bottled his anger when Ela accepted his hand sweetly and stood next to him.
-"The lady always has a choice to say no Mr. Nelson, but it seems at the moment she prefers my company, I'll be seeing you soon" The politeness in his tone impressed Ela since she could clearly sense his rage from the scent he was producing. Tommy handed her one of the drinks he had been holding.
-"She already has a fucking drink!" the angry man that had been rejected by Ela and had been told the obvious by Thomas yelled as he stood enraged from his chair.
Tommy looked back at him with an amusing expression he took the fully filled glass that was in front of the chair Ela had sat on, and looked the man dead in the eye.
-"You should be more attentive Mr. Nelson, if you were, you would realize the drink is untouched, and the Lady likes Irish, not Scotch" Tommy finished tilting the glass the liquid spilling to the floor.
The man's face became red and just when he was about to retort his father spoke.
-"If you're wise, you're mouth will keep shut Robert, the man has spoken nothing but the truth," Jack Nelson, the man's father said while nodding his head to Tommy, who nodded back in respect and walked away with Ela's arm linked to his.
-"Mr. Shelby where are we going?" Ela asked as they left the ballroom and made their way into the hallways of the house.
-"To the study, if I see that man again too soon I'll forget me politician ways and take my blade to his eyes" Ela thought it would be improper to leave the event he was hosting and she was attending, not to mention suspicious and would get people talking, but smelling the rage pouring from his system for the time being it was for the best so she didn't argue with him.
As they entered the study Tommy closed the door behind them and gulped down his drink dragging a long smoke from his cigarette while Ela sipped from the whiskey in her hand watching him close his eyes a second; the nicotine calming his senses.
-"After meeting that man, I believe your theory on every gangster holding a heart has been debulked" Tommy finally said after a few seconds of silence.
-"Not quite Mr. Shelby, but I have another one now. I believe there are at least two different types of criminals" Ela explained walking toward the desk to put some distance between them, it was hard enough to be near him, but it was proving to be impossible while they were alone and the door was shut.
-"Let me guess" he began walking closer to her knowing she was trying to distance herself feeling wary of their confinement in the room.
"The ones that see more in a woman than their beauty and are interested in what they have to say" he was getting closer and closer to her and although it was evident she was getting agitated by his approach, her eyes traced his every movement with desire burning brightly "And the ones who only see them as something pretty by their sides while boring them senseless with how the trading market works".
-"Precisely," as the man approached her with a slow pace that matched his speech Ela's breathing was quickening, but she tried to remain focused on the conversation to keep her mind occupied from lascivious thoughts "I must admit, to my surprise I found more than one gentleman from the first group out there Mr. Shelby".
Tommy's advances stopped for a moment and savage thoughts crossed his mind; she was clearly trying to make him uneasy as he had done to her many times in the past, he would play the game by his own rules
-"So you enjoyed some of their companies".
She knew the teasing had made him upset, his scent was too clear not to notice, so she would keep the charade. Now she understood why he enjoyed teasing her so much.
-"I did, yes sir"
-"Well, that was Ada's intention inviting you here, by no means will I be the one to stop your fun" He made a swift motion gesturing to the door and saw Ela's lack of response as the indication he had once again the upper hand and carried on walking her way "Or maybe you won't go back there, because for some time now you have found the company you enjoy the most".
His scent had changed once more, confidence and boldness were distilling from his body, so she went another route.
-"It might interest you I also discovered something all gangsters share Mr. Shelby" Seeing him so close again she tried to take a step back but her leg bumped into the desk. She had no more room to move backward to "An incredible high regard for themselves".
-"Oh I don't doubt that Ela" The cockiness in his eyes could not be hidden, she was trapped again "Without high regard, we wouldn't be ambitious enough to go after what we want, and It's Tommy, not Mr. Shelby" his implication came accompanied with insistence on his name again "It's interesting how you're comfortable being surrounded by criminals, but you squirm at the thought of calling me by me name".
-"Perhaps you have overestimated me Mr. Shelby, I had to be rescued from a boring conversation" She was trying to make him see a fault in her, she was not the strong crown agent of a woman his wife had been, not a business lady she had gotten to know he had been around after his wife's death. Maybe seeing her in another light would change the carnal look he was holding.
-"It is curious, you're a strong woman Ela, you could have walked away on your own" Indeed she was right, he had taken her away instead of it being her own actions that removed her from the conversation.
He was getting to see a crack in the image he had created of her, and although she was glad he could stop pretending she was more than she thought she was, it also meant he would not be as interested anymore
-"Bruising that man's ego could have resulted in him bruising my face".
-"Not if he appreciates his life" The threat rolled out his tongue without hesitation, he was a man to be feared, but Ela just couldn't see him that way, and she wondered if both of them were failing to see the faults in each other, or if they saw more so the rest didn't seem to matter "and yet out of politeness, you'd endure another boring conversation this evening if it came your way".
He was right, not even in the most tedious of situations she would dare to create a scene in the ball
-"This is your family's event Sir, I will not act out of place"
It was funny really, and Tommy chuckled at her comment, how easily she could recognize her actions as a self-preservation act and to dissuade the wrong attention being brought her way, but didn't understand he had not wanted her to assist in the interest of preventing all of that in the first place.
-"You are already out of place Ela, attending a ball like this, no one in that room has ever been close to a woman like you, from noble birth and perfect manners"
-"Mr. Shelby I..." She turned her back on him as he had managed to get right in front of her, he was all-consuming and was asserting his dominance over her. The air in the room changed completely and both their pheromones spiked to an unprecedented level. In her mind, the fight between herself and the Omega had been won before it even started, because as much as she wanted him to take the sign of her turning her back as a reason to back down, now the mating gland in her nape being the strongest one was in full display for him to see.
-"But I was certain, if you attended there would be too many men who would make it their task to captivate you" he pressed against her and her hands dropped to the edge of the desk that she was now holding for dear life while her knuckles were turning white and her breathing became shaky.
"They would try to impress you with talk of their business, their money, their power, not letting you speak because all they would care for is the virginal beauty top-rated Omega, only wanting to make you submit" Ela's breathing caught in her through and her mind was set on fire, she was no longer in control of herself and would eventually give into his games.
Tommy slipped a hand on her waist and tightened it to keep her secure on the spot as her knees were unsteady and he wanted her in position, he pushed his leg forward to close the space between them and Ela gasped a bit too loudly when she felt him hard against her ass.
"They would keep pouring drinks down your throat and you would accept them because it meant you didn't have to make sense of what they were talking about anymore, but then you would have a hard time recognizing one had managed to lead you to a room, and by the time he had entrapped you there, he would make sure the routine of you not getting a word out continued and you'd almost be relieved he was busy touching every part of your body he could get his hands on because that meant there would finally be silence" Ela's head fell back a little and it lay by Tommy's side who got close and started talking close to her ear in a rugged low voice. With his other hand, he grabbed her hip and started making his way down in slow motion to her pelvis, Ela's chest rose and fell never having felt so intoxicated in her life even when he was talking about what could have happened with other men, his cock and his actions made her frenetic with lust and she was done trying to restrain what she wanted, the slick started running down her leg and Thomas inhaled the smell loudly hardening his grip on her that would surely bruise while she felt his warm breath against her skin.
"Then that man would lift up the skirt of this exquisite new dress and lay you down on your stomach while he spend five pathetic minutes fucking his way into oblivion desperate to get your maiden blood, making careless movements to scent you and bite your glands while you stayed flattened in bed half-dead with boredom fantasizing of the man you really want to make it bearable" his head rose forward and his lips traced the glands around her neck, she shivered at the touch and let out a moan tilting her head for him to have more access, he smirked against her skin and the hand on her pelvis pressed on her dress, she moaned loudly and pushed her ass on his groin making him groan.
"and after he was done tucking himself away, you wouldn't have the time to hear yourself think because he would have already started talking about Wall Street and foreign policy again" Tommy's hand traveled from Ela's waist to take on her breast "Now. Is this close enough? or will you keep calling me Mr. Shelby?"
-"Tommy..." she gasped his name and he smiled in victory and pushed her slightly on the desk so his hand could push further back into the tulle of her gown and her ass could feel his cock closely.
-"Now tell me, am I right to think that would have happened?" Ela couldn't form a coherent thought, how could he expect her to respond? She could barely keep from falling.
-"Answer Me Ela" he used his command voice and the Omega in her straightened her reason even in between all her lust.
-"No Tommy" she let out in an uneven voice.
-"Is that right?" Tommy stopped touching her body without distancing from her, still completely pressed to her body knowing how easy it would be now to bend her on the desk.
-"Yes Tommy, I swear" She whined truthfully wanting him to return to his motions touching her, and craving for him to start ordering her around so she could please him.
-"Good, because the idea of any man getting to your bed is not one I like" he started pinching her nipple through the fabric and was rewarded with a jagged wailing.
-"Yes Tommy" she heard herself say even when her brain had turned to mush and the reason was out of the window.
-"Don't you forget your bed is right here in my house" he started slowly rubbing gentle circles with the hand on her core and Ela cried in need, and never before had Tommy felt such satisfaction from a noise "The only man you'll ever welcome to your bed and fuck you will be me"
The slick kept running down Ela's legs, her panties were soaked wet and the fabric from her dress in between her opening and Tommy's hand had dampened completely.
"And when I do, I won't do it in a nice parliamentary way, I won't just lift your pretty little dress getting rid of the panties beneath, I'll rip apart any layer that covers your body that now only my eyes get to see, and I'll grab every fucking perfect part of it making sure your glads tear apart and bleed; when I get you on your stomach be sure it won't last five miserable minutes, I'll take my time with you, and you won't think of anyone else because you'll finally get to stop fantasizing what I know you have since the first night you arrived at my house, at last, you'll have me between your legs fucking you so hard that you won't even remember who you are, you'll only remember my name, and when I'm done you won't be able to stand, but whenever you manage to walk, when you sit, when you move you'll remember it was me who made you feel whole and you will come back begging me for more; to fuck you wherever and however I want because you won't be able to live without me inside you".
The last bit of will Ela held surrendered to his words letting him control her however he chose. Tommy moved the hand from her nipple and wrapped it around her throat not squeezing too hard bringing her head back completely to his shoulder, the hazel in her eyes had vanished completely and the black of her pupils was the only thing present matching his own dark eyes, her cheeks were fully flushed, her lips were parted and her brow was shinning with sweat.
-"Now, dare to tell me I'm wrong in knowing you want me".
She shook her head accepting everything he had said was true, all she wanted was him.
-"Tommy, I..."
Tommy rubbed her core pressing his fingers harshly and Ela closed her eyes moaning and feeling her muscles tightening in his hold.
-"If you want something, you'll have to ask for it"
-"Tommy... Please..."
Before Ela could devise her wish in her begging voice three gunshots and the yelling of people penetrated the study walls bulking them back to reality.