Respect ~ Thomas Shelby x Reader
Hi guys! This is my first time writing anything related to Peaky Blinders. I haven’t fully edited it and just kind of threw it together when a thought popped into my head so it might not be the best haha. It’s just a preview of a story I’m planning on writing in full but I was wondering if I should continue it or not. Please let me know!
“You can change in my office, no one will disturb you,” Tommy reassured as he walked towards the office door and opened it.
My mouth became slightly ajar as embarrassment at the informality filled me. I just wanted to change in the comfort of my own home, but now I had no other choice but to change in the office of my boss. What a day.
I swallowed my pride, more like embarrassment but I digress, and I carefully turned to grab the hanger my dress hung on. I shuffled through some of my things in search of my makeup and quickly took a chance to peek over at Tommy from behind me. He stood leisurely at the door. One foot propping the door open while his hands were busy lighting a cigarette. I looked over his attire. His formal grey herringbone suit fitted him nicely, the white collar of his shirt rested on his neck with a blue tie wrapped around it. The tie was tucked into his grey vest that wrapped around his torso snugly. The lapels of his suit laid over him hiding his gun underneath. His signature peaked cap sat upon his head with a warm wool coat over his shoulders. Truly dressed for the occasion, looking confident, handsome. Making me all the more on edge. I thought with a shaky breath escaping my lips.
I soon caught his intense gaze and quickly averted my eyes as I collected the rest of my things. I turned around and slowly approached the office door. He looked down at me from behind his eyelashes as he exhaled the drag he just took.
I held my breath from nervousness as I passed him in the doorway.
“Go on now Ms. (Y/L/N), we don’t want to be late do we,” he questioned, but as with everything he said, it came out as more of an statement than a question. I nodded to myself as I heard the door slowly close behind me, a soft click assuring me of my privacy.
I released the breath I forgot I was holding and laid my dress onto the guest chair in front of Tommy’s desk. I quickly undressed at the thought of Tommy impatiently waiting for me outside the door. I unbuttoned my blouse, the cool air in the room caressing my exposed skin. My cheeks immediately flushed as the idea creeped into my mind that anyone could walk in at any moment. That Tommy could walk in at any moment. My body heated up as my mind reeled with ideas of what could follow this moment. Tommy throwing open the door, pulling me in, hands running up the sides of my body, ripping off whatever clothes remained over me. But I quickly shook the thoughts away, however persistent they are.
I took my dress off the hanger. It’s a deep blue bias cut dress made of silk, it was low cut exposing my back. It was something I usually couldn’t afford but I happened to get it cheap from a friend of mine who visited London and went to one of Mr. Sabini’s clubs. She said she met someone there who was more than willing to spoil her for a few nights alone. I wished she didn’t need to stoop so low as to allow greedy men to use her. But as women in a man’s world, she doesn’t have much choice. She always tells me how lucky I am to have such a respectful boss. Her words replayed in my mind and guilt racked through me every time I wished for him to be anything but respectful to me.
I sighed and shook off the thought as I pulled the dress on, trying to focus. It stalled around my hips and I shimmied my way into it. The dress was a bit snug, maybe a bit too tight showing off a bit more of my curvature than I would prefer, but it worked. I tugged on my heels and quickly applied a bit of makeup. I never had an affinity towards it so I stayed with a more natural look, a bit of powder, eyeliner, mascara, and only a light rouge lipstick deepening my lips in the shape of a cupids bow.
I was ready to leave but my curiosity itched at me as I reminded myself that I’ve never been in his office alone before. Occasionally, Lizzie would have me come into the office to set some papers on the desk for Tommy to review later, but those were for only mere moments. Now I truly got a chance to survey the room.
The deep mahogany wood was quite intimidating as you entered the room. Even though we were still in the broken down throws of Birmingham, it felt as though you were in the office of a high member of the King’s court. Not the kind of room you would think the Peaky Blinders would be in a few years ago. They truly had worked their way up, and from the impression Tommy gives, this is only the beginning.
I lifted myself on the pads of my feet so as to not make a sound and slowly approached his desk. Fear and excitement filled me, it felt as though I was breaking a cardinal rule, which in a way I was. So, I treaded lightly as though the desk may attack me at any moment catching me red handed. I walked around and hesitantly placed a hand upon his green office chair. It was smooth, and seemingly stiff. I rolled the chair back slightly, cringing as it creaked on the floor. I awaited an inpatient response from outside of the room but none came, so I proceeded to delicately place myself upon the chair.
The chair was much more comfortable than I imagined. In contrast to Tommy’s rough exterior it seemed he enjoyed small comforts. My eyes scanned over his desk, a few papers laid about, my eyes becoming drawn to the light that peaked through the blinds of the windows, the orange hue alerting that the sun was going down. I finally pulled my eyes to look over the room from where Tommy usually sat.
The room looked much warmer from where Tommy sat. The position of power in the room shifted and seemed to be centered around his desk. Instead of my previous feeling of intimidation in front of the desk, from behind I felt pride, power, comfort. Odd.
“You nearly finished there Ms. (Y/L/N)?” Tommy’s voice questioned as a soft but demanding knock resounded.
I shot up from the desk and carefully shuffled my way towards the door. I lowered my heels back to the ground and took a deep breath before opening the office door. I spotted Tommy leaning expectantly on the archway of the office, cigarette still hanging from his mouth.
“I’m ready Mr. Shelby,” I asserted formally. Praying my voice didn’t give away my nervousness.
I watched as his eyes turned to me, slowly dragging up and down my figure. I felt myself heat up under his gaze. I thanked myself for not applying any rouge to my cheeks as I’m sure they were already flushed red. I scanned his face for any sort of reaction. But Tommy stood stoically as usual, if he was thinking anything he didn’t give it away.
He pushed himself off the archway placing one hand in his pocket and the other grasping his cigarette. I watched as he approached Lizzie’s desk and put it out in an ashtray that was there. He turned to me and stalked towards me slowly. Nervousness filled me, my heart racing as he got closer.
He was only a few inches away from me, I could smell the faint scent of cologne and smoke. He stared me in the eyes as he spun his finger in a small circle.
“Turn around for me,” He directed.
My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. He held an unrelenting gaze and I hesitantly turned around towards the office door. Unladylike thoughts began reemerging as I heard a slight shuffling from behind me. Soon hands grazed over my neck, a small gasp escaping my lips. His hands pushed my hair to the side and I soon felt something cold rest across my collarbone. I placed my hand on my chest, feeling the rise and fall, and lifted the object. My eyes widened at the diamonds that now reseted in my hands.
I was so distracted that I barely noticed his hands brush over me for the last time as he finished clasping the necklace. I whipped around with wide eyes, my lips parted in shock, ready to reject this gift as it was not something I was comfortable accepting. This was worth much more than I was for Christ's sake.
But before I could refute he extended a hand towards me.
“To the opera we go then, eh?” Tommy interrupted my thoughts, his voice slightly amused by my reaction. I felt a knot in my throat, telling me that any noise that attempted to come out would sound strained.
So, I straightened up, took his hand, and off we went.