˗ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 ˗ ❝ am i not pretty enough for you then?❞
ALEXANDER HADN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. He hadn't forgotten about how his brother had somehow figured out his hidden sexuality, while also confessing his own. He also hadn't forgotten how a drunken Finn had tried to make a move on him. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when he woke up to Finn's arms wrapped around his torso, his dark hair splayed across Alex's chest. It tickled a little, especially whenever Finn moved his head in his sleep. A gulp passed down Alexander's throat, nerves consuming him as he slowly removed his right arm from Finn's shirtless body.
A knock sounded at his door, and Alexander felt his body jump a little. Glancing over at the clock, he realised it was nine in the morning, and the butler was probably outside his door with the breakfast. Alexander carefully detangled himself from Finn's body, picking up a fluffy white robe and wrapping it around himself before approaching the door. He didn't look his best, his golden blonde hair ruffled and slightly covering his eyes, his cheeks a little red, but he didn't care much. He didn't always need to look polished and well-kept, especially not in the morning.
"Good morning, Your Royal Highness," the butler greeted, a trolley filled with breakfast items beside him. "I've come to prepare breakfast."
"Good morning," Alexander mumbled with a tired smile, stepping out of the way to let the man through. "My brother won't be joining me, but Finn Shelby will." He didn't know why he insisted on it. In all honesty, he didn't know if he could look Finn in the eyes again. "You don't need to set it up for me, though. I don't mind."
Finn didn't wake up for another ten minutes, by which time Alexander had gotten dressed and ready, and was sitting at the table eating breakfast while flicking through a newspaper. Thankfully, Finn was dressed. Alexander glanced up from the paper, which he wasn't really interested in anyway. It was rather boring, but he wanted to preoccupy himself.
"Morning," Alexander greeted, hoping Finn hadn't remembered what he had done. He wondered if this is how Finn had felt when Alexander had basically spilled all his secrets to him a few nights ago - confessing that he was homosexual.
"Morning, mate," Finn grumbled, rubbing his forehead as he sat down and grabbed a cup to fill with tea. As he was pouring the contents of the teapot into the cup, he looked up at the prince. "Listen... I'm sorry for what I did. It was weird, and awkward. I wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable."
Finn ended up rambling, and Alexander slowly put down his newspaper, watching as the peaky blinder struggled to find his words. His cheeks were growing increasingly red by the second, and Alex almost wanted to offer him some water to calm him down.
"Finn," Alexander spoke up. "It's fine, I understand. You were drunk. It isn't that serious, I assure you." This was giving Alexander serious déjà vu. He could sense Finn's discomfort, his cheeks a bright red colour as he stared down at his drink.
Alexander trailed his eyes down to Finn's hand, seeing how tightly it was wrapped around his cup of tea. Hesitantly, he reached out and placed his hand on Finn's. Surprisingly, Finn didn't move his hand away. His fingers only twitched a little before settling, his free hand reaching out for a croissant to bite into to distract himself. Alexander did the same, not removing his hand from Finn's as he continued with his breakfast. At some point, the Shelby got tired of the silence.
"Am I not pretty enough for you then?" Finn's tone was playful, a slight smile on his lips. Alexander glanced up from his newspaper, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't want to kiss me."
Alexander cursed himself. He cursed the way his cheeks immediately heated up, and how he looked straight back down at the newspaper in front of him. He was always so charismatic and well-spoken in public, but it looked like Finn didn't have to say a lot to reduce him to silence. It was embarrassing.
"W-Well, you are pretty," Alexander replied, grabbing a napkin to wipe his hands. He picked up his tea and stood up, releasing his hold from Finn's hand as he moved into the sitting room, throwing himself onto the couch after placing down his drink. The rooms were connected, so the two could still hear each other clearly. "But you were drunk... and you don't even like guys. It would have been weird."
"Would you have kissed me if I wasn't drunk? And liked guys?" Finn asked, his voice suspiciously suggestive. Alexander frowned, rolling onto his stomach and looking up at the door to the dining room. Finn was standing there, hands in his pockets. His expression was difficult to read. "Alex?"
"Why are you asking me that?" Alexander asked, sitting up onto his knees, laughing nervously.
"Just asking," Finn said with a shrug. "It's just that..." he moved further into the room, until he was standing in front of Alexander. It was then that Alexander could see the nervousness behind Finn's eyes. The hesitation. The fear of something Alex couldn't put his finger on. "I told you I never had much luck with women, right? Now, I'm not saying I don't like women. That's not what I mean. I just don't think I have a preference for anything."
Finn's words were a little jumbled, and Alexander had to focus properly to understand him. He was only just coming to terms with his own sexuality, and to hear someone else confessing their own to him felt strange. But he supposed it was confessing his own that encouraged Finn to speak about his.
"So... you like both?" Alexander questioned. "Men and women, I mean. Well, there's nothing wrong with that."
"I think my brothers would say otherwise," Finn mumbled. There it was. Alex understood that Finn was always seeking his brothers' approval, trying to be like them.
"They don't need to know."
"They don't?" Finn asked in a thoughtful voice, as if considering the fact. Alexander could practically hear the cogs turning in his head, and the glimmer in his hazel eyes. It was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and then a surge of confidence overtook him. "That's right, they don't."
There were no feelings established between the two of them. No confessions, and no hints. They were just both fond of each other, and neither would deny that they found the other attractive. It seemed that was all Finn needed before he placed his hands on Alexander's shoulders, lowering the prince down until he was laying down on his back.
"Finn, what-"
"Can I kiss you?" Finn asked, his voice trembling a little. "I just want to see something."
Alexander looked up at the boy, aware of their close proximity and the fact that Finn's knees were on either side of his hips, his hands by Alexander's head. Hesitantly, the prince nodded his head. There was no harm in a little kiss, he thought to himself. It's just a kiss.
Only a second passed before Finn closed the space between them, their lips locking in a gentle but clumsy kiss. Alexander could feel a slight tremble on the cushion beneath his head, and so he reached his hand up and took Finn's hand, guiding it to the side of his face before placing both of his hands on Finn's face. It was then that Finn relaxed, lowering his body so that there was no space between them, but Alexander didn't feel crushed.
The kiss went from gentle to passionate as soon as Finn relaxed from his tension, with Alex's fingers curling up into the Shelby's hair. It was soft to the touch, and he kept his hand there, Finn's tongue gliding gently across Alex's bottom lip, prompting the latter to open his mouth a little. It was still clumsy and all over the place, but neither of them made the move to stop. Not until Alexander pulled back, leaning his head back against the cushion as his chest rose and fell. Finn propped himself up on his elbows above Alex, trying to catch up with himself.
"Fuck," Finn said breathily, lowering his head into the crook of Alex's neck. His breath fanned across Alex's skin, causing him to shiver a little as his arms instinctively wrapped around Finn's middle. "I just kissed the Prince of England."
"Not The Prince, a prince," Alexander corrected, breathing softly. "I'm not that special."
"Fuck off," Finn said, a low chuckle leaving him. Alexander could feel the vibrations against his chest. "Your dad is the King of England. You're gonna be the Duke of... what's was that place?"
"Cambridge."
"Oh, yeah," Finn remembered. "Never been there."
"I go to the University of Cambridge. Maybe I'll invite you there one day," Alexander offered. The smile on Finn's face faltered for a moment as he became absorbed in thought, and that conflict returned to his eyes.
"Let's... Can we keep doing this?" Finn asked, caution in his voice. It was almost adorable how nervous he was. "There doesn't need to be any strings attached. We can still be friends. Just-"
"Very well," Alexander cut him off. "I'm fine with that."
Alexander didn't know why he agreed. It was a very inconvenient arrangement and inappropriate for someone of his background. He was a prince, and Finn was a gangster from Birmingham. And most of all, Finn was a man. Nobody would ever approve. But for some reason, Alexander didn't care. It was just a bit of fun, right? There was no harm in it.
"Alex?"
"Hm?"
"What time do we check out of the hotel?" Finn asked. He still hadn't moved from his position above Alex, his arms caging in the prince. Tilting his head back, Alexander attempted to read the clock.
"In two hours," Alexander answered. Before he could say much else, Finn latched his lips onto Alexander's so suddenly that it startled the latter.
Alexander wasn't stupid. He knew these kinds of "relationships" that had no feelings involved were only temporary, and usually ended in one gaining feelings for the other inevitably. It was a difficult thing to avoid. But once again, Alexander ignored that part of reality and melted into the kiss, his hand coming up to rest on the back of Finn's neck in order to pull him closer.
Needless to say, they both knew this wouldn't end well in the long run. It was dangerous, especially in the society they lived in. But all Finn could really focus on was how soft Alexander's lips were. They were really soft.
word count : 1796
·̩͙✧ AUTHOR'S NOTE ! ━━━
this was such a shit chapter i'm sorry-
it's only chapter nine and it's a little rushed but i don't CAREEE. plus, we've got more drama later on. aand, they're just hooking up, we've got a little while until they get together properly dw
also, this book has been getting some support recently so THANK YOU i appreciate all of you ❤️ england is in lockdown again so i guess i'll have more time to update
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
![𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 || Thomas Shelby [1] by OneBaroqueGirl](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/335736272-80-k673606.jpg)
