Arthur opened his eyes; it was still dark, the only reason that there was any light, was because he had had better things to think about than closing the curtains in the bedroom, when he had pushed his way into the room. The dull grey light of the moon, illuminating the visage of the woman that lay next to him; her naked body intertwined with his. Her head resting on the pillow at his side.

For once, this was not just a one-night thing; not one of the mere dalliances that he was used to. This woman.......this beautiful, breathtaking creature, nothing like the nameless, faceless whores he would fuck when he was full of booze and coke; nothing like the women that he would pick up after a night at a club. No, he had worked long and hard for this one; and he regretted none of it.

She was a lady, a woman of good morals and beliefs. A woman that was not involved in their lifestyle. Their meeting........pure chance; though Arthur was sure that it was fate, or that God had been smiling down on him that night. He finding it hard to believe, when he had seen her, that such a woman could be human; sure, that she must be some kind of otherworldly being, an angel. His heart fit to burst when they had caught one another's eye, and she smiled. The oldest Shelby sure that the breath had been taken from his lungs just from that simple gesture. But it was when he got the chance to speak to her, that he knew he wanted her; not just in the way that he wanted other women, but in every other way to. He wanted her to be his, and only his. To belong to him, body and soul. He wanted to care for her, protect her; to give her anything and everything that she may need or desire. And when she had agreed to meet him again, he hadn't been able to hide his happiness.

The family, or should that be John, had of course teased him about it. Asking what might be wrong with her, that she would want anything to do with him. Joking that she must be blind, or bloody mad to like his ugly mug. Or that she must just fancy a bit of rough; there no other reason why any kind of respectable woman would want anything to do with him. That she would play with him, tantalise him until she was bored and then move on to a man that was more her standing. But Arthur knew that his brother was wrong, that everyone was wrong about them. It only his aunt Pol that had defended him; that had defended his relationship, after she had had a dream about the two of them. Though even Tommy had eventually had to agree that whatever was going on between his brother and this woman, it was good for Arthur. That his extremes, his excesses, his temper had all calmed. The Flander's Blues more under control than they had ever been. But even if his family hadn't agreed with him being with her, Arthur had no intention of giving her up. She had shown him what love was, what it could be; how it could make someone feel. He sure that he had never felt anything like it before; that no other woman had been able to instill in him such feelings. Had given him the care and love that he didn't know he needed. And he would go to the ends of the earth, to keep her. He would kill, maim, destroy anyone that tried to come between them.

Slowly he reached up and placed his hand on her cheek; her skin so soft that it felt like silk underneath his rough fingertips. A little part of him was still finding it hard to believe that the night had happened. That someone so wonderful, so perfect, so sweet and kind, had given herself freely to an animal.......a monster like him. Had shown him things, given him things that she had never shown or given another. Her surrender to her wants and desires, something that he had desperately wanted, but never pushed for; Arthur never wanting to force her, for she was too precious to him for that. She was a delicate flower that needed to be encouraged to grow; be guarded and cared for until she was ready to blossom. And she had blossomed that night, just for him. The sounds that she made as his hands, his lips, his teeth had caressed her flesh, the most glorious he had ever heard. And then to be inside her........he had almost come undone as soon as her tightness had drawn him in. Arthur doing all he could to control himself; to give her as much pleasure as she was giving him. And then, when he had felt her body begin to tumble over the edge into pleasure, he had happily joined her; he not caring who might hear, who would know. For all that truly mattered, was that she was finally all his. (Y/n) was finally his.

"Arthur..........." The older Shelby smiling as, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Is everything alright..........?"

"Never better, luv........." He replied, as his hand slowly, carefully moved from her cheek to brush some of her hair away from her face. A happy sigh leaving his lips, as she snuggled a little closer to him.

"I didn't hurt ya, did I.............?" His question causing her to pull away so that she could look at him.

"What? No........no. You......you were wonderful....perfect. You made me feel things......oh Arthur......you made me feel so good. And maybe......." Arthur placing him finger under her chin and raising her head to look at him, as her eyes feel to his chest. He sure that he could see the blush on her cheek, even in the dull moonlight.

"Maybe what...........?"

"That.........that perhaps you would like to make me feel good, again........" Her words making him smile, before he slowly leaned in to kiss her. Arthur carefully pushing her all the way onto her back. Moving her legs up high around his waist, as he settled himself back between them. A loud groan leaving his lips, as he pushed himself inside her, and her fingernails dug into the muscles of his back. No, this was never going to be a one-night thing; because for Arthur, it was always going to be a for life thing; and he was alright with that.