Tommy kept needing to read every paper spread out across his desk ten times over to understand what they were about, his mind kept rumbling back to memories of Ela in the rain, the look of devotion in her eyes, the tenderness of her words, her scent that drove him crazy, he took off his glasses tossing them aside gulping down his drink and rubbing his temples.

Endless memories of her kept popping up in his brain; walking around the house, speaking softly, replying in a gasp when he taunted her, those sparkling hazel eyes glowing when she laughed, biting on her pink full lips when she saw something she liked, squirming under his gaze, bowing her head to him almost in reverence, disheveled soaked hair in muddy clothes, perfectly put together in fancy attires. Recollections of her crowded his mind, her godly figure, and gentle manners.

The sudden need to burst open the door of her room and bend her against the vanity; spread her on the floor and pin her against the wall was too grand and he felt like a bastard knowing he could do it and no one would argue, nobody would interfere or say a word about it, she would be all his, to take, bite, scent and mark.

Since she had arrived at the house Tommy had not visited Lizzie, or any other woman for that matter, although his need heightened every day, and having driven down the whore houses too many times just to drive away the moment he realized he would get no satisfaction from any of them, no matter how brutal and unhinged he fucked them, it was an itch he could not scratched with anyone but her.

Not having her was making his reason disappear and sleeping had not helped, the much-needed rest he thought would calm his senses only made it worse from his dreams of her presenting for him, inviting him to take her as roughly as he wanted, to demand what he desired and she would concede happily.

Fantasizing about her had become almost routine now after their close encounter in the storm, he thought it would go away after a day or two but two weeks had gone by and instead of diminishing, his need had increased.

He needed release, turning to the window, and knowing it was the middle of the night, he unbuttoned his pants and released his fully hard cock from his trousers. Tommy closed his eyes and thought of her while pumping himself, first gently imagining it was her hand around him but picturing her needy, wanting to please him however she could fuel his want, and as he ran a hand through his hair, the other enclosed tightly around his length speeding up its motion until he came all over his fist gasping in the cold air.

Cleaning himself he thought how much better her tongue could do the job and a few minutes later he was hard again. He groaned wanting a second relief but not from his own hand, he wanted her, needed her, and he knew he couldn't have her, he said he would let her be, let her go.

But his mind clearly didn't agree, it restlessly reminded him of her, and every day that went by only made it clearer that he could not forget about the girl.

He poured himself another drink concluding it would be best to sleep on the study's couch again, just like he had done for the last few days. Passing by her door on his way to his room smelling even the tiniest hint of her would only trigger his desire for more.

How had he become a prisoner in his own house? he didn't know, but he would need to find a solution soon.

Ela had been somewhat glad Thomas Shelby was locking himself up in the studio most days, she had rarely seen him around the house after their last conversation, but her heart also yearned for him, she was saddened by his absence, missing his figure, his voice, his teasing, his scent. Although it lingered around the house it had decreased by his confinement. For the past two weeks, she had noticed he was out of the house as early as dawn, and she heard him come back way past dark.

She hadn't seen him that engaged in his work before, and the rare times she had seen him lately a feral look crossed his features when he saw her close, walking straight ahead and slamming the door of his office remaining there until he was gone by morning time. She even thought he was sleeping there, and she couldn't guess what was happening since it seemed the businesses were untroubled and even his family was clueless about his temper being on the edge of madness, no one guessing what it was about, and not daring to ask since the simplest questions on the subject made him lash out.

She was concerned for him, and not seeing him around was driving her mad as well, she thought about him constantly, feeling less rested after each day of not feeling him close, and between his anger and her sadness the house was going back to the grimness she had seen when first arriving at the mansion, but there was no comfort, it seemed, for either of them.

It was early Friday morning when Ada arrived at the house to collect Ela.

She had asked Tommy to let her out so they could go shopping for a dress she could wear for the ball, and even when he had agreed with a snarl of a response, Ada paid him no mind, still not forgetting how he had behaved when she had propositioned Ela's assistance to the event in the first place.

Although she felt worried about his change of disposition in the last couple of weeks, it wasn't completely out of character for him to get in a fury over something, she just wished he would let anyone help, but if he wanted to deal with it on his own and continue being stubborn about support, she would let him.

As both women were in the car, Ada kept glancing at Ela beside her while she drove to town and noticed she was lost in thought not paying much attention to Ada talk about her latest adventures, she usually loved her tales, but this time she could not concentrate on anything around her, Ela merely stared ahead. She had noticed Ela had become distant for a few days now, almost at the same time Thomas had withdrawn from the world in his study, but when she asked if anything had happened between them, Ela assured her she had barely seen him since that afternoon with the family at the house; but when they spoke about it on the phone, the long pauses while Ela spoke told her there was more to the story.

Still, Ada backed down, if Ela didn't want to discuss it, she would let her sort out her thoughts on her own, and be there for her whenever she wanted to talk, but she thought it weird any disagreement between them could actually be responsible for their mood changes in such a ponderous way.

When they arrived at the department stores, Ada put on a happy face hoping her good attitude and a day of shopping would lighten up her friend's spirit. Especially when she had prepared a surprise for her.

They had taken only a few steps inside the store when Ela's head turned to the direction she had felt the smell rising from and smiled immediately when she noticed who was waiting for her.

The woman raced to her and they both embraced lovingly.

-"Effy! what are you doing here?" Ela said still holding her childhood friend close to her chest, feeling better than she had in the last few weeks.

-"Ela my sweet, how I've missed you, you have no idea!" Effy said pulling away and grabbing Ela's face in her hands with utmost fondness while she continued "Ada phoned me, introduced herself, we talked a bit"

-"More than a bit, it was about four hours when we let go of the phone" Ada retorted from her spot smiling at them.

-"You're right of course, more than a bit" Effy smiled back, "She told me you had been gloomy lately, and I can't say I haven't noticed too love," Effy said with a frown of concern on her face; Ela looked down feeling ashamed of herself by letting her feelings for a man she had no other than a professional relationship with affect her in such a deep way that her friends would be worried for her "but then Ada told me you would be assisting the benefit ball the family's hosting and I thought, what better opportunity would be for us to meet and help you brighten up than a shopping day?!".

-"Oh Effy, I'm so sorry for troubling you, I didn't mean to worry you, neither of you," Ela said taking Ada's hand in her own with an apologetic look.

-"We love you hon, of course we're going to care about your feelings, I don't know what hurt you this way, and you don't have to tell us if you want to keep it for yourself," Ada said putting her other hand on top of their joined ones, looking at her endearingly "but that doesn't mean we can't try to make you feel better".

Ela felt like the luckiest woman in the world, having friends like hers was not something to take lightly, they were too good to be true. she instantly felt better knowing although she could not be with the man she loved, and not even seeing him lately other than to distinguish his recently acquired rage, she could be thankful for people like the women next to her that cared enough to ease her pain.

-"I couldn't have asked for better friends, thank you both," she said with joyful tears pooling in her eyes.

-"None of that love, we're here to have a great day together not to cry," Effy said wiping the first tear that escaped Ela's eye "Now, let's do some shopping, shall we?!" she exclaimed excitedly, Ada couldn't help but chuckle at her spontaneity.

-"Now that I think about it" Ela said looking around the store only seeing the employees and no other buyers "Shouldn't the store be crowded by now? It's strange we're the only ones here".

-"Ah yes, I told them we would want privacy and an exclusive look at the new designs with no one else bumping into us to ruin the experience" Ada explained as if it was the most casual thing in the world while removing her gloves.

-"This is probably one of the busiest boutiques I know this side of the world, Ada. However did you manage to reserve it just for us?" Effy said looking at her in disbelief.

-"Sometimes, and let me be clear, just sometimes, being a Shelby has its advantages," Ada said with an eyebrow raised and an air of pride to her.

-"Hmmmm, I remember you saying something a while back... what was it? oh yes! That you were a goddamn Thorne and not a fucking Shelby" Ela said raising her own eyebrow teasing Ada, and Effy looked at her never having heard Ela so confidently swear in public. She had adapted some of the family's lifestyle for sure.

-"Well some things are hard to let go of, especially if it's in one's blood," Ada said putting the back of her hand behind her chin staring Ela up and down "Although I think sometimes even the most polite, gentle human if being around the Shelby's long enough will start acting like one" a smirk played in Ada's lips realizing what Effy had too a moment ago.

Ela thought about it for a second and registered how much she felt she had changed being surrounded by the family the last few months, she was more confident, strong, and relentless. It felt good, not to be afraid to turn at every corner, to stand straight and feel grounded at the same time. Although her heart remained the same, she was another woman no doubt.

-"What can I say? sleep with the dogs..." Ela started but trailed off with a laugh.

-"And they'll take you fancy shopping apparently" Ada finished with a smile, loving how Ela not only looked better than she had in the past few days, but also seeing how much she had grown into her reliance since she had met her.

-"I didn't come all the way from the comforts of my home to see your wit contest, if there's a store just for us with a new collection awaiting, I'm in a rush to spend my husband's money, now c'mon you two" Effy announced grabbing both women by the elbows guiding them to the rows and rows of lined up gowns.

Although Ela had brought her hard-earned money to spend what she could afford in a ball gown, but Ada and Effy didn't let her waste a single pound.

They made her change into what seemed like a thousand dresses.

Liking too many for her, even if they were classical, simple, or stylish they insisted she kept them all to renew her wardrobe.

But it proved a challenge to find what they considered the perfect dress to wear to the ball. Although Ela thought some of the ones she had already selected could work perfectly well for the evening, her friends weren't convinced, they wanted something that would be unforgettable. They kept saying she was already the prettiest woman who would walk across the room, but they wanted an attire that would make her look even more divine, heaven-sent, unattainable.

Seeing her friends so engaged in their task made Ela giggle not understanding why they cared so much, she would feel perfectly fine with a simple garment, she wasn't interested in bringing attention to herself, the ball for her was only an activity to pull her out of her routine and perhaps meet some interesting people, have a good time with the family, and call it a night. But she let them join forces in what looked to go from a challenge to a titanic task, she chuckled watching both her girlfriends turn the store upside down making the other feel fabrics, discussing colors, and arguing on textures; for Ela, it was a joy watching her worlds collide. Her childhood friend and her most recent one, both dear to her heart, care so much to make her feel like royalty.

About two hours later when the employees of the boutique were about to quit their jobs, and Ela felt like a mannequin from changing so much, the owner of the store announced she might have the gown they were looking for saying it was the newest ensemble the designer had been working on and since she had noticed Ela gravitated mostly towards the purple colored pieces it would be the perfect option.

As she presented the dress, the three women fell enchanted by its magic at once and knew right away their search was over. It was the perfect one. Like nothing they had ever seen before.

The creator explained the top was a corset attached to straps fashion enveloped in the best tulle that would accentuate the waist while the same material with a thousand hand-sewn sequins running along the bottom portion would also highlight the hips. It was the most beautifully chosen lilac tone, it had a daring neckline showing enough cleavage to make heads turn, but not scandalous enough that would be considered improper in any way, and it was long too so it would cover her legs completely.

Ela had never seen anything quite like it, and although she felt it would reveal too much of her chest, shoulders, and back her friends reassured her that it wasn't in any way untidy or vulgar, with Ada even promising the salve would be able to divert her scent enough, which mixed with such a gown would leave no room to hide her glads as they would be on full display for everyone to perceive.

After a few minutes of discussion, even with hesitation in her brain Ela surrendered to the dress, it was too beautiful not to wear.

They all cheered and hugged feeling amazing at the time spent together.

The store employees arranged all the purchases to be safely placed in the car taking special care of the final piece as if it were a fine painting or a jewel.

After having lunch together near the boutique, Effy said her goodbyes and drove away to London.

Ela and Ada made their way to Arrow House walking quickly up the stairs to safely put the dresses away, especially the beautiful piece they had come across as if carved from a dream.

As they made their way down they found Polly bossing everyone around in a rushed manner to make sure the preparations went exactly as planned, they had less than 24 hours left and although Ela offered to help with the arrangements knowing Polly needed all the staff to assist, the older woman dismissed her lovingly.

-"Off you go child, I don't want to see you anywhere near the organization of the event, you're a dear guest of ours, I have 50 people working on this already, there's no chore for you here" Ela pouted really wanting to be useful, but in no rush to contradict Polly, she went up the stairs to find Charlie.

-"Hello my beautiful boy!"

-"Ela!" The boy rushed to her arms as she opened them for him "You're back! I missed you so much" he said while she lifted him in a warm embrace while the boy rested his little head in the crook of her neck.

-"I was only gone for a few hours my love" Ela chuckled knowing she had missed him just as much.

-"I know, but I missed you, I don't like it when you're not around," the boy said looking at her with awe in his eyes.

-"Oh my boy, you make my heart swell, I missed you too," she said while hugging Charlie with such affection that it was palpable in the air.

Ada admired the scene from the hall, seeing Charlie and Ela together was always a beautiful thing, they loved each other dearly, and she had taken a pivotal role in his life, but for a moment Ada worried.

They were so devoted to each other already, that it was as if Ela had become Charlie's mother. When the time arrived for Ela to meet a man and decide it was the moment to leave the house to begin their life together, it would break the little boy's heart, not to mention what it would do to her. Ada understood her brother's detachment from everything and everyone for a second, as getting too close would only mean heartbreak when life determined it was time to pull apart. But glancing back at Ela and Charlie again, Ada smiled knowing the hurt could only mean there had been true love to begin with, and that was worth all the pain in the world. That's what Tommy had never understood.

Although beautiful, Ela couldn't help but feel self-conscious looking at herself in the large mirror of her room as Ada applied large amounts of the balm to her glands and rearranged the necklace she had put on.

Her makeup and heels were on as well, and she was ready to walk out the door, but her hands shook.

-"It's only jitters, it has been a long time since you have assisted to an event like this hun, it'll pass the second you have a fine Whiskey in your hand," Ada said putting her hands above Ela's shoulders smiling at their reflection in the mirror to steady her.

-"You're right of course," Ela said trying to pull a smile but she knew it was more than jitters. It would be her first time assisting a Shelby family event, she wanted to be perfect and the anxiety from that was too much, without adding that most of all, she was struggling to face the fact she would be in Tommy's presence again after so many days of not seeing him, and only God knew how he would act around her, or if he would acknowledge her at all having so many guests to attend to ensure their donations were all put in place.

She breathed in, exhaled calmly, and remembered everything she had learned from her upbringing when it came to luxurious events, demanding her brain remove childish notions of a love that was not meant to be.

Her facade came on, her confidence lifted, and in a minute Ada saw a completely different woman than the one who had been fidgeting with her fingers.

She had become someone else.

Tommy stood glass in hand near the bar in the large ballroom of the house.

He knew he needed his head in the right place to endure the night that had barely begun. Many people had already greeted him, but there were many more to come, and he could not behave as he had in the last couple of weeks.

He needed to be put together, as none of the fancy-looking but truly dangerous guests in his house could know he was distressed.

No, he thought, it was time to regain hold of his senses.

-"You managed to put yourself together for the evening I see Thomas," Polly said approaching him from the south entrance.

-"It would seem so Pol" he said drinking from his Whiskey.

-"And will we be enjoying this version of yourself for longer than a night? or you plan on going back into stupid behavior after everyone's left?" she said quirking an eyebrow at him expectantly, knowing he would not lash out at her words with everyone around them.

-"Well Polly I plan on staying like this, but I can't promise anything if you keep pushing it," Tommy said in his common calm fashion although his jaw was tense and he wanted to grit his teeth at his aunt.

-"Very well, I wonder when are you going to tell me what made you go into hiding and become a beast when spoken to?" Polly said while smiling and waving at the new arrivals who had no idea the type of conversation she was holding with his nephew or they would be more than surprised.

-"Now you see there Polly, I would not call that stop pushing it, I would call it not leaving me the fuck alone," Tommy said with half a snarl at his aunt who only rolled her eyes at him.

-"I see, the stupid beast is still amongst us" she spoke glaring at him, but her attention was soon taken from her nephew and onto the main entrance. Smirking mischievously she spoke close to him once more "But I would suggest you tuck it away. You'll need more reason tonight than you'd thought" she indicated with an eye gesture, he felt her scent and turned around.

Tommy was immediately taken aback by her.

For a second he let his eyes widen as he saw her across the dancefloor.

He didn't believe in any God, but someone with high powers had to be responsible for her. She was a divine creation indeed.

Such beauty and grace had to be heaven-sent.

Ela was the picture of perfection, her hair was pinned up only a bit at the front, letting the waves of chestnut and purple fly free, and she had minimal makeup not needing any as her features were more than enough to impress anyone she may come across, only her lashes had been curled in black mascara, her eyebrows were more defined and her lips shimmered with a gloss, she walked effortlessly in her high heals, and her dress was like nothing Tommy had seen, but it looked angelic in its lilac tone against her creamy skin.

Tommy's desire fogged his brain and his senses heightened, she was a vision, and he noticed every man in the room was looking at her, his blood boiled along his veins, and he could not contain his instincts, he felt the possessiveness over her wash him over, feeling she needed to be protected, by his side, not let go of, no one had the right to smell her, touch her, see her, she had to be his.

He traced her every movement with his eyes and saw her waving and smiling at someone whom he quickly recognized, and his brain calmed just a fraction.

Despite her confident facade, Ela had felt a nervous wreck when walking into the room, and after a few minutes of not seeing the Shelby Family and Ada having disappeared down the stairs when someone called out for her, she felt immense relief when she saw friendly faces and immediately approached them embracing both.

-"Alfie, Edna, I'm so glad you came, I thought you had business to attend to in London and wouldn't make it" She smiled and held Edna's hands in hers feeling happy she would have someone to come to during the night if things became too intense.

-"Ela my dear, we wouldn't miss a chance of meeting you for anything, even if there are large amounts of money to be donated for the chance," Edna said but winked in her joking fashion.

-"Well, don't you look beautiful, eh? it's been too long since we saw you, so how you've been love?" Alfie said while looking at Ela knowing she would have trouble enjoying a spare minute on her own the rest of the night, as every man present, married or not would want to be near her.

-"Oh I missed you both terribly, I'm sorry I haven't visited you," She said feeling guilty once again for not taking the time for a trip to Camden Town.

-"Yeah, right, well, my fault really, I presented the invitation only allowing you in when you changed your drinking tastes for better ones, you haven't tho, aye?"

Ela smiled broadly remembering their conversation.

-"I'm sorry Alfie, I told you, you should have given me realistic reasons to visit, I'm a loyal woman".

-"Yeah, you are, you are, and loyalty is as important as a good taste in bread, but Ela love, you have to come around the house eh, or Edna here won't stop nagging me about it, she'll drive me mad," He said while holding his wife's tightly against him and pressing a loving kiss to the back of her hand while she looked at him adoringly.

-"Funny Alfie, from the moment I met you I thought you were mad already" Ela retorted with a spark in her eye knowing he would appreciate her words, and knowing her friend's love enlarged each day as they looked more in love now that when she had met them if that was even possible.

-"I see, well, I'm a man of God, but you know here and there my fascinating ways and intellect might be confused with madness, sort of" Both women rolled their eyes at him but they chuckled at his serious frown face while he spoke "I can't blame you love, a mastermind is hard to comprehend" he finished pursing his lips and bobbing his head a little.

-"You never disappoint Alfie," said Ela smiling fascinated by his eccentric ways "Dear Edna, indeed it has been too long, let's not let it happen again," Ela said placing her hands above their arms and they smiled back at her.

As Ela was about to say something else, she felt a gaze, a presence, that scent, it could only be his, the man that haunted her dreams and she managed to turn her head to where it came from. There he was, walking in her direction, two glasses in his hand as he marched toward her, with a look in his eye that mirrored a predator hunting his prey.

-"Tommy! Hello mate I haven't seen you in so long" Alfie said excitedly while noticing Thomas was approaching them "Oh but you know, it's always hard to see after you've been shot in the face by a fucking twat, yeah".

-"Hello Alfie, Edna," he said to the both of them, and although there had been bad blood and multiple attempts on both their lives they were not only polite but cordial to each other, even Edna greeted Tommy with a genuine smile on her face. That's a thing that would always surprise Ela, how after so much violent history between them, their friendship remained.

-"Let me tell you something Tommy, eh, this what you have here is a unique specimen," Alfie said referring to Ela "Much like my own unique specimen," he said looking back at Edna in adoration "and with unique specimens, one of their kind, people tend to be captivated by them, right, mostly men, so caring for them closely would be wise," Alfie said clearly intending his words and knowing the impact they would have on the man standing in front of him.

-"Thank you, Alfie, your concern is always appreciated," Tommy said looking straight into Alfie's eyes knowing he meant well, but wanting to put him on the spot with such deliberate efforts made Tommy clench his jaw. He turned to look at Ela who could barely hold his gaze clearly embarrassed by Alfie's words. He handed her one of the Whiskeys he had brought making it a point to touch her hand in the process.

-"Yeah well you know, being close to God has made me wise Tom, I'm a reliable source of truth" Cracking his knuckles Alfie looked around the room noticing the attention the four of them had brought to themselves. Many were aware of their friendship and their conflicts too, so it would only be entertaining to watch them talk, but having the beautiful women by their sides made it more enticing for the audience they had built.

-"I'm sure you are, wisdom Alfie is a rare thing, be sure to use it tonight, I heard Arthur was hoping to discuss some boxing matches with you, aye," Tommy said raising his eyebrows and looking around in a calm fashion even with the threat behind his words. Although it was meant to indicate Alfie was stepping over the line with his comments, there was truth behind his words and Tommy would make it easy for his friend to be cautious.

-"Right well, in that case, I shall take it as a sign from God to stay right here, eh, who knows what can happen in the dark mate, I hear in broad daylight at a beach one might get shot. Good riddance Tommy," he said lowering his tone while smiling kindly and looking at Tommy straight in the eye, at least with the good one he had left, before walking away with Edna by his side. Tommy returned his smile and saw him approach the bar on the opposite side of the room from where Arthur was sitting.

-"So I see you didn't take my advice on wearing something less fitted tonight, Miss Dawson," Tommy said while lighting a cigarette looking at Ela up and down who blushed at his words.

She took a mouthful from her glass letting the amber liquid run through her tongue as an attempt to calm a little having him so close, in front of so many people not wanting to disrupt the ambient displaying her feelings for him.

-"I thought you wouldn't oppose Mr Shelby, considering it's dry as a bone" he smirked at her words knowing her efforts to remain steady were far greater than anyone in the room could imagine.

-"Let's see how long it stays that way sweetheart," he said and she could have choked on her drink as the comment entailed too many implications but she cleared her throat a little and saw him grin from her reaction.

Tommy noticed too many men were staring at Ela, all of them he knew, had done business with, and could fairly guess what was going through their heads about her. He would not make it easy for any to approach her tonight and decided it was time to make a statement.

-"I believe Miss Dawson, it's only right being the host that I open the dancefloor now for everybody," he said looking her in the eye and she felt a sudden vertigo from glancing at the ice-cold stars speaking behind his gaze that seemed to have ignited. After both had taken another large swig of the Whiskey, he took both their glasses and placed them on the nearby table, he extended his hand and spoke again "Would you dance with me?".

Ela's mind alarmed, her heart quickened, and her eyes shinned, wanting to agree and dance with him all night long if he so wished, but she felt afraid too, not having done it in the past, and their last close encounter had been indeed too close as she recalled it, but she took his hand not being able to stop herself and think for a second.

-"I thought gangsters wouldn't enjoy dancing much," Ela said while they danced slowly to the rhythm of the song the band had chosen. Although her heart was racing she was trying to focus on conversing to slow it down.

-"I thought governesses didn't enjoy getting soaked," he said looking down right in her eyes while she looked away shyly at the memory. Being the target of so many of his pointed comments should have gotten easier by now Tommy thought, but noticing how affected she still became about them made him smirk "I suppose we were both wrong"

-"We're learning from each other it seems," she said looking just above his eyelids not able to make eye contact with him as he kept tightening his grip on her waist.

-"Tell me, what else have you learned?" Tommy knew he was compacting her in his grasp, but feeling her so close only made him want to hold her even tighter to his grip while he looked down at her with a hint of worship that he just couldn't hide.

-"That Edna Salomons was right about what she told me months ago," Ela said finally looking him right in the eye, he was being notoriously possessive over her, not giving her much room to move, not letting her eyes travel around the room, he wanted her there, present, focused only on him.

-"And what was that Miss Dawson?" he said while he placed her hand on top of the lapel of his suit jacket while he moved his fingers down to her wrist.

She almost froze as his thumb traveled to be positioned on top of her wrist gland, she missed a step, and her breath caught in her throat as he caressed that sweet spot she had let nobody but herself touch before. He knew that was a tender place that held one of her scent glads, any contact from a man, especially a top-rated alpha like himself would make an Omega quiver under his touch. She started breathing through her mouth as she felt his scent change, he went from calm to exhilarated at her bodily response.

-"That every gangster has a heart, although they may make it hard to recognize most times" She let out almost in a whisper not being able to manage her voice well with him putting pressure on the gland. She felt her knees buckling and knew it would be a matter of seconds before the slick started building in her core.

-"I must be a different kind then," He said in a low voice, feeling how his touch was affecting her, and noticing how her scent had changed from being with him. Her cheeks were blushed, her hazel eyes were burning with desire, and little by little they had become darker, even when she was controlling her breathing it wasn't working well enough and her steps were becoming more rigid as her feet could not swiftly move from the desire running along her veins.

-"A unique specimen perhaps" he grinned at the reference and as she retorted trying with all her might to remember all the teachings from her upbringing and the ones from the lady's academy on how to compose oneself from undesired Alpha's advances in a public place, but they had never thought her anything on how to regain composure when the advances were in fact desired.

"But not one without a heart Mr. Shelby"

-"Not only do you feel God in all places, but you also recognize a heart in every man, it could all be self-deception Miss Dawson," he said gently caressing the gland in her wrist noticing the people around them had detected the change in their scents by now. It was too strong to be concealed, not her pomade, not even the fact there were about a hundred people moving around the room could convey both their smells.

-"A blessing and a burden perhaps Mr. Shelby, but not a delusion I assure you" She knew people were watching them, now more than ever from their pheromones, she felt embarrassed by it, not being the center of attention was all she wanted at the moment, but although it mortified her to admit, if that was the prize to pay for him touching her more she would gladly pay it, even if it made her writhe in front of everyone present, she had yearned for his touch too much, and knowing he was enjoying it, knowing she was pleasing him, only made her want to concede more.

-"We all see what we want to see Miss Dawson, wishful thinking might be playing a part in your perception," he said removing his hand from her wrist and earning a sigh from her, but he couldn't be sure if it was from relief or missing the feeling of his touch on her.

-"And what is it you see Mr. Shelby?" she said in a steady tone, lifting her eyes to his having recovered most of her senses.

-"A woman wishing to believe a man, any man around this room bares a soul after everything we've all seen and done," he said motioning with his eyes at the attendees, knowing very well how conservative they looked but how truly vicious they all were.

-"I cannot speak for every man in the room Sir, I do not know them" This time it was she who squeezed his hand lightly, not caring about anyone else but him, not even considering he might be right, because she knew he wasn't. He had a heart, bigger than he might ever realize.

-"But you know me" he squeezed her hand back acknowledging her words, but not accepting them as real. She might have seen some good in him, but his mind could only trust that all the bad would ultimately smear it in the end.

-"Parts of you, yes, and I have seen the heart behind them all" The light she was constantly referring to as the heart in him could only be her naivety talking, her innocence, and her hope to always see the best in people deceiving her from reality, an effect as powerful as booze to reason.

-"I'm guessing that would change if you knew what I'm thinking" he revealed as he gazed down from her face to her gown while he pressed his fingers on her waist.

-"Perhaps what many other men around us are Mr. Shelby, and yet, not having acted on it even when having the chance and no one around to interfere," she said in the most confident tone she could find, she knew what men could be thinking of her, because of her dress, her body and her scent. Too many times she had been told how beautiful and what a perfect top-rated Omega she was, how her movements and reactions were the ideal for her type, and how any man would know what she was feeling without a word from her. At this moment, her desire for him would not go unnoticed.

That's when she realized the basis behind his actions, he had wanted to spark those reactions on her, from both of them, not only to tease her, to contradict her, to enjoy her making her respond as she had. He had wanted everyone around them to know she felt as strongly as she did for him, and in return, they would know he wanted her as much.

The rest of the night men would approach her, they would want to be near her despite their display, but coming in close contact and not getting the same reaction from her, could only have one result, in the back of their minds they would think of her as his. Registering his motives Ela could only smile, for reasons she was not yet sure of, Thomas Shelby wanted no man to think they would have a chance with her, more than possessive he was showing everyone, her included, she was not to be matched.

-"Your actions then and the ones now may have just proven my point"

-"I'm used to getting what I want sweetheart, sometimes, taking it by force is not as rewarding as earning it," he said while they continued dancing as they had for about five songs now and she let him swing her around, feeling protected in his arms, the ones she had dreamt about for so long.

-"What you earned, both of us, is a lot of looks, Mr. Shelby," Ela said gently looking at her side and seeing everyone although trying to hide their interest, could not help but glance at them.

-"Then let them look," he said twirling her in the spot and putting her closer to his body as they crossed to the middle of the dancefloor, he leaned in and whispered in her ear making her squirm under his breath

"And I think at this point, we're past the formalities Ela, you know my name".

-"I do Mr. Shelby, I also know you're my boss, and I can recognize what is my position as well," she said gathering all her strength to pull her head from the confined space he had created without letting her movements be too rushed and out of place.

-"Your position, that is, beneath me" At his words he felt her legs tremble, and the pool of slickness that had gathered on her core had most definitely started soaking her undergarments. He felt a rush spread throughout his body and became hard against her which caused her nature to kick in to press against him even more to feel how much he wanted her too.

Polly looked at the exchange between Tommy and Ela from afar while they danced, and just like the rest of the guests, she noticed how their interaction kept escalating and how he was asserting his dominance over her.

It seems Tommy had made a decision about the governess and her role in his life, and he was making it clear to her and everyone else around them.

-"Polly, the Chinese are here, they want to talk business, where's Tommy?" Arthur approached with John closely behind; he was clearly high on snow as he talked too fast while slurring his words and his brow was quickly covering with sweat.

-"Hold them off Arthur, now is not a good time," Polly said entranced by the exchange she was watching take place in the distance.

-"Polly we can't make them wait long, the business is rising, Tommy needs to make a deal, where is he?" Polly didn't look at John as he spoke, her attention was too focused on his other nephew.

-"Has anyone seen Ela? I want to introduce her to the Americans, they're not much but might be entertaining for her, I can't seem to find her" Ada declared as she arrived where the family was gathering.

-"Not a good time now Ada, tell them to fuck off," Polly said dragging smoke from her cigarette still not looking at any of them.

-"What do you mean not a good time? that's the reason we invited her, to meet people and socialize, where is she?" Ada said and both she and her brothers were looking at Polly in confusion to her lack of explanation.

-"Arthur, Polly's right, now is not a good time," John said smirking from his position as he glanced to where his aunt had been staring and was less than surprised by what his eyes were seeing.

Arthur and Ada turned their heads too and both found the subjects they were looking for, together, dancing away, and much closer to each other than they would have imagined they could be.

-"Oh for fuck's sake Tommy," Ada said in disbelief rolling her eyes at her brother.

-"Well now we know why he didn't want her to attend," Arthur said suddenly understanding his brother's behavior and why he had been enraged lately.

-"He seems to have found a solution for it tho, eh?" John said mischievously while he also realized why Ela had been saddened lately, not having Tommy around had taken a toll on her mood as well as his.

-"A solution that can't last all night, he's wanted to talk business Pol, people here are waiting to meet with him," he said trying to get his aunt to understand and intercede for the family.

-"And every other man in the room will cut his throat if he doesn't release Ela to dance with someone else, they're all glaring" Ada exclaimed and she wasn't wrong, everyone was looking at Tommy with dangerously feral eyes clearly wanting him to let go of Ela so they could have a chance of a dance with the most precious woman in the room.

-"Oh and you want me to be the one killed when I break the spell to tell him he has to release Ela to deal with business?" Polly said with a scoff, while her relatives all looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

-"You're all fucking cowards, you forget you've shot in cold blood, started fires, created riots, and taken eyes with razors, but won't approach your brother" Polly scolded them all while putting out her cigarette on the asher before walking toward the middle of the room.

-"Not if he's dancing like that with his woman Pol" John replied while chuckling and Arthur joined him not believing they had been so oblivious to the situation.

-"That's not his woman John you fucking twat, that's Ela" Ada retorted clearly angry they were taking the situation so lightly, Tommy was executing his ruthless power over his employee and Ela's nature was probably too weak to behave otherwise.

-"By the looks of it Ada, that is his woman, and don't get me wrong, look at them, that's her man," Arthur said putting an arm around his sister's shoulders and pointing at the couple on the dancefloor to make her see that it wasn't one-sided, it was mutual. Although she could see it, she didn't want to believe it, but then Ela's words came back to her; all the details she had shared weeks back about what she liked in a man inside and out reflected Tommy perfectly, but she had been too blind to see it.

For Ada it seemed twisted that Ela being the gentle, kind, light woman she was, could be interested in a Shelby, much less like him as she clearly did, they were complete opposites. Although her brother could be very handsome and care about his family, he was also cold and ruthless, his heart had been shadowed by pain and anger.

Ada considered the possibilities, maybe her friend had seen in him more than she could at the time; perhaps both had suffered so much in the past that their trauma and wounds to their souls were mending from being close to each other, and it would be a lie to say they both hadn't grown since they had met, but Ada couldn't help to worry, liking Tommy, or any gangster for that matter would not go without crossing danger and pain in her path.

While Polly approached the couple she witnessed his nephew pressing himself against Ela's legs and the woman's nature reciprocating his movements without a second thought to his advances or the fact they were being publicly displayed, she caught sight of their eyes burning with want, and their scents getting stronger as if to intoxicate the whole room.

She knew Tommy was in control of the situation, but couldn't help but wonder since Ela seemed to be not too far gone in her mind, how much was she fighting her Omega side to refrain from him, or if she was fighting at all.

-"You're needed for business Thomas" Polly announced while tapping on his shoulder.

He glanced back acknowledging his aunt's presence but not letting go an inch of Ela.

-"Tell Arthur and John to deal with it," he said dismissively while trying to go back to that liberating state of mind where he didn't need to concern himself with anything other than the woman he wanted in front of him.

-"Arthur has been playing in the snow all night Thomas, and John can't do it on his own, you need to fix this yourself," Polly said while stepping into his line of sight and raising her eyebrows in a purposeful manner to indicate there was no argument he could pull that would be good enough to get him off the hook. His features remained cool and unfaced but Polly saw the wild look in his eyes of his instincts fighting against his logic to let go of Ela.

Ela could barely look at Polly feeling the embarrassment wash over her since the older woman had clearly watched them behave in such a way if the cheeky look in her eye was any indication.

-"Tell Jonh to bring them to the study," Thomas said finally addressing his aunt in a calmer fashion while she nodded and walked away. He was recovering a hold of his senses and his urges were becoming steady remembering his responsibilities.

-"It seems our chat has been cut short" Said Tommy letting go of Ela's hand who immediately disliked his absence wanting to reach back, but refrained from doing so. Enough had happened between them on the dancefloor to give the attendees more of a spectacle.

-"If by short you mean it lasted an hour Mr. Shelby" Ela said brushing her wrist gland with the tips of her fingers without noticing what she was doing, but the movement didn't go inadvertently on Tommy's eyes; the corner of his lips lifted a little knowing he had ignited her desire and she couldn't go without even a little relief.

-"Believe me I'm a man who enjoys taking his time with what he likes," he said standing straight in front of her with a suggestive look in his cold eyes while gazing at her lips "And is Tommy, Eh? Ela, it's Tommy".

A shiver ran down her spine at his words and the slick kept wetting her panties threatening to come loose and run down her legs.

-"I don't think so sir, you won't convince me of that".

He caught the smell of her need becoming evident once again at his comments, and if it weren't for the meeting he had called, and the number of people who were present his Alpha instincts would have taken over fully to once and for all make her obedient to his command. He abstained but not without getting close to her ear and whispering once more before leaving the scene.

-"By now I think you should know I can be very persuasive sweetheart, and the night has only begun". With that last comment, he adjusted the lapels of his jacket and walked away leaving her mind a wreck.

Even when he had business to attend to he didn't leave the room without ensuring Ela was looked after.

-"Arthur, I want you to look after her, tell Jhonny dogs and the Lee boys to keep an eye out for anything I wouldn't like, eh? You hear me?" Tommy said with a dangerous tone to his brother while he took his face in his hands.

-"Yes Tommy I understand," Arthur said fully comprehending what he meant although the cocaine and whiskey in his system were making him twitch and feel on edge "But is a ball, Tommy, all our associates are here, and Ada wants her to meet people, she's gonna dance with some of them".

-"She could, but she won't" Tommy knew Ela well, and by the state she was in right now, she wouldn't want to get near any man other than him, she would be polite and gracious but not get closer than necessary

"Anything other than talking and you intervene, aye?".

-"Yes Tom" Arthur confirmed and saw Tommy walk away trying to recall how many years had it been since he had seen his brother care about someone outside the family that much, or feel protective about a woman as if it was his own. He hadn't seen him display his intents so evidently since Grace, and not even with her he had shown that level of ferocity and control. Arthur knew this was too important or the night would end in trouble and chaos, he gathered the Lee boys and Jhonny quickly to explain the orders, and after they all agreed, they spread out along the room, all of them with the single purpose of guarding Ela from any other male attention that wasn't Tommy's.

It was bound to be a long night.