Unclaimed (Kole Family)

by S. Brent

  Oh well. Not like I was ever going to see him again.

  I have done a lot of stupid things while intoxicated. Maggie and I had danced on a bar, one we were in illegally. We’d played strip beer bong, and danced on a stripper pole at a frat party, all while Skyla supervised. I wasn’t necessarily proud of any of those things but my one night stand definitely topped the list of stupid, drunken escapes. Not the one night stand in itself because it had been amazing, so good it was a little scary. I was not a virgin but damn, Lincoln O’Neil rocked my world and then like an idiot I didn’t give him my number.

  My regret was in the lack of protection. We had been so caught up in the moment and a little beyond drunk that we had gone all in without suiting up. I hadn’t even thought to tell him to put on a condom and apparently it hadn’t been high on his priority list either. I wasn’t on any form of birth control since I wasn’t having sex regularly. I guess it didn’t make much difference now. What was done was done and there was nothing anyone could do about it at the moment.

  I hadn’t told Maggie or Skyla about my unprotected sex.

  I stood up when I saw a pale blue Pilot whip through the light, Putty Tang. Maggie screeched to a stop in the middle of the bus lane and I hopped in. I barely had the door closed before she was pulling out.

  Maggie was belting along with the too loud boy band music, off key of course. Totally into it. “Every six seconds,” she sang.

  “What are you singing?” I asked as I turned it down. The lyrics were horribly dirty. I couldn’t help but laugh. Maggie made everything fun.

  “O-Town,” she said as she turned and threw me her best ridiculous, seductive look. “The dirtiest boy band music ever,” she sang along with the beat. “Come on get jiggy with me,” she ordered and started doing some ridiculous wiggling dance move. I joined right in. What the hell? It was fun. Maggie loved life and knew how to enjoy it. I was sure we looked like idiots.

  Even her car was fun. She lovingly named it Putty Tang. It sat eight people. When people question why she needed such a big car she’d just hollered, “Don’t question Putty Tang!” No one ever did beyond that. Her car was freakishly clean yet cluttered with knickknacks people had gotten her. Her steering wheel had a fuzzy, hot, pink cover. The driver seat had an ugly seat cover that looked like a skeleton, which was only topped by the even uglier rainbow zebra seat cover that I sat on.

  There was a little stuffed bear, a monkey, and neon yellow dice hanging from the rearview mirror. The little ceramic cat was velcroed to the dash, which we all jokingly referred to as pussy and then there is her GPS that was always somewhere random.

  When the song ended. She turned it down as we laughed. It was fun I had to admit it. She took a sip of her coffee. “So you ready?” she asked while we flowed with traffic.

  “Yeah,” I said. I was. I was kind of nervous but excited. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this.

  “So when do I get to see this design?” I asked. Maggie had been very hush, hush about it. I was getting a little nervous that she was going to try to get it tattooed on my body without me seeing it.

  She eyed me and twisted her lips while she considered it. “You can see it now,” she told me as she came to a light. She let go of the wheel and turned to grab her art portfolio before tossing it at me.

  I flipped it open. “It’s the third one, I think,” she said. That was good because the first one was of a naked Greek looking statue. I flipped to the third one. It was a beautiful design of cherry blossoms.

  “This one?” I asked for confirmation before I embarrassed myself by gushing over something that wasn’t intended for me.

  She peaked over. “Yep.” I loved it. Maggie knew me so well. It was definitely me.

  “Do you approve?” she asked mockingly but smiling. She knew I did.

  “Approved,” I said.

  “Oh thank God,” she called out as she let out a deep breath in an attempt to be over dramatic.

  Suddenly her GPS started talking.

  “Oh blessed Jesus,” she cried out, throwing her hands up in her over dramatic fashion. “Find him!” The GPS was frequently misplaced. How it was even possible for someone to lose a GPS that was supposed to be attached to the dash is beyond me.

  I finally found it under the middle seat and managed to turn it off. Well, I got it to stop directing us to some undisclosed location at least. The GPS and I did not get along. I always seemed to be fighting with the stupid thing.

  We lucked out and managed to find a spot directly in front of Dirty Ink.

  “Dirty Ink?” I asked. It sounded like it could be dirty as in kinky or sexy, or dirty as in unhygienic.

  “Yes, Dirty Ink. Home of the sexiest tattoo artists ever,” she told me as we climbed out of the car. I was more concerned about the tattoo artist’s skills not their sex appeal.

  “Is that their slogan?” I joked as I took in the building. I recognized the style of building. It was an old warehouse that had been revamped into apartments or commercial spaces. They were very common in this area.

  The building was old red brick with multiple businesses booming out of the bottom. There’s a trendy bar at the end, next to a deli, an art gallery, and then of course Dirty Ink.

  “No, but it should be. I tried to make my appointment with my buddy Jonas but he didn’t have any openings. Jonas and I used to go to church together. He’s done all my work. I haven’t had any work done in a few years, since he’s moved to this shop, so I don’t know any of the other guys here.” Then why did she think there slogan should be home of the sexiest tattoo artist ever if she didn’t actually know them? “But he recommended one of his friends, so you’re seeing him.” That made me feel a little better. At least this wasn’t a completely random guy she found in a phone book or something.

  Maggie pushed the door open and a little bell hanging off the door announced our presence as we stepped into a lobby, complete with a red leather couch and counter with an enclosed glass case, which appeared to hold piercing jewelry and gauges. The walls were painted brick and almost completely covered in framed artwork. It should look sloppy or cluttered but it all seemed to flow. There was rock music blaring in the background with the gentle humming of the ink guns and easy chatter of people.

  “Heeeey,” said an average size, blond guy that looks slightly familiar but I couldn’t place him looked up from behind the counter where he had been drawing something. “It’s Lovely,” he called out smiling from ear to ear while he looked directly at me. My smile dropped.

  Lovely? What did that mean? There was no way this guy had any connection to my one night stand.

  “Lovely?” another guy called out and he popped his head around the corner before looking straight at me. “Lovely,” he said as a greeting like we were old friends.

  I glanced over at Maggie, sure I was blushing and she just eyed me curiously. Confused as well. Was she making the same connection to my one night stand evaluation as I was? God, I hoped this was completely unrelated but then I was not that lucky. I didn’t know if I could go through with this if I was going to be getting grief about it the whole time. I knew it was only a matter of time before Maggie jumped on the bandwagon, all in good sport of course.

  “Lovely?” another guy called.

  “Oh it’s Lovely,” another said. And the greeting and commentary referring to me as Lovely just kept coming.

  “Isn’t she lovely?”

  “I’d like to spend some time with Lovely.”

  “I wonder if she would show me a lovely time.”

  Oh my God, I was going to die. My cheeks were burning. I was ready to turn tail and flee.

  “What can I help you with Lovely?” the blond behind the counter asked. “Looking for a lovely time?” he asked and winked at me. That’s when I placed him. He was one of Lincoln’s friends from the bar. I was glad they all had a good joke at my expense. If I ever saw that ass again I was going to kick him in the balls. Who was I kidding? I’d never do it. I migh
t beg him to spend another lovely night with me though. I was pathetic.

  “Actually, we have an appointment,” Maggie snapped giving him a sharp look. He cowered back a little. Maggie could be scary. She was all for a good teasing but she could tell I was uncomfortable so she would be determined to put a stop to it. Plus, I don’t think that she’d made the connection yet. I was dreading when she did. If she didn’t raze me here then I’d definitely get it once we left. Shoot, I’d tease her about it. If it wasn’t me it would be funny.

  Some guy with copper hair popped his head around the corner. “Mags,” he called as he winked at her. This must be Jonas, Maggie’s childhood, church buddy. “You brought Lovely,” he added in playful husky voice. Oh God, I wanted to crawl under the couch and die. Before either of us could speak he turned on his stool and yelled towards the back. “O’Neil, your four-thirty is here,” he called and I tensed.

  O’Neil? Noooo!

  From the back room Lincoln stepped out and started to head our way. He was even sexier than I remembered. His short, black hair was messy. I was starting to believe that was just his style. He was wearing thick, black-framed glasses. His gray eyes lit up when he saw me and he smirked, his little half smirk that made him look sexy and mischievous, like he knew what I looked like naked. Wait, he did.

  “Well hello Prudence Kennedy Thompson,” he said using my full name as he stepped up behind the counter towards us. I was impressed that he remembered my whole name and it wasn’t an easy one. It was a mouthful. The blond guy stepped to the side but didn’t walk away. He was staying to watch our interaction. I’m sure he expecting it to be highly entertaining.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off Lincoln but I didn’t miss blond guy’s excited look. Jackass. “It’s lovely to see you again,” Lincoln said. His smile spread to a full blown one instead of just a smirk. Oh the jokes just kept coming. Lovely! Ha. “What can I do for you ladies today?”

  I was frozen. I couldn’t seem to find the words or make my tongue work to say anything so I just stood there like a moron and stared at him, trying not to drool. I have to keep some of my dignity. At the moment I don’t have much. I was sure I was blushing the wonderful shade of a fire engine.

  This was one heck of coincidence. I wanted to see him again. Hadn’t I just been thinking about how stupid I was to not give him my number and bam, here he is about to do my tattoo. I would have thought Maggie arranged it if she didn’t look so confused. If this wasn’t fate I didn’t know what was.

  “Pru here is a tattoo virgin,” Maggie said looping her arm through mine pulling me up against her. At least Maggie was able to keep herself together. I wonder if she recognized Lincoln from the other night. Probably not. She’d get a good laugh out of it later when I broke it all down for her. Lovely.

  “I know,” Lincoln said reminding me and everyone else here that we have a history. Maggie’s eyes shot to me and I saw her putting the pieces together. She started to laugh. Not just chuckle or giggle, not that I’d ever seen her giggle, but full on laugh. Fabulous. She put the pieces together. Several people stopped to stare at her. She did look a little crazy.

  “Sweet baby Jesus,” she gasped as she brushed the tears from her eyes. She was laughing so hard she was crying. She wrapped her arms around her stomach as she bent over laughing hysterically.

  “Laugh it up,” I said. There was no escaping this now.

  “Oh I plan too, Lovely, I plan to,” Maggie got out between hysterical sobs before turning back to Lincoln. So much for Maggie sticking up for me.

  “She’s here to have you pop her cherry,” she said seductively. Maggie was loving this. Lincoln coughed into his hand to cover his laugh. I wanted to crawl under a rock and die. My entire neck and face were burning by the force of my blush.

  Maggie and him fell into tattoo talk while I alternated between different ways to make an escape and how I was going to get Lincoln to see me again if I didn’t die of embarrassment first. His eyes kept shifting to me, so I thought maybe I had a chance but first I had to not die of embarrassment.

  Maggie busted out her portfolio and to show him the design she was thinking of. I hadn’t even realized she had brought it in. They started talking placement and sizing, maybe just using a portion of the drawing to make it smaller, middle of my lower back, or an ankle.

  “Where do you want it little fairy?” Lincoln asked pulling me out of my stupor. I was lost with all tattoo chatter. I was too busy staring at Lincoln, remembering him in all his naked glory, to focus. He looked good, really good, in his lose fitting torn up jeans, and snug rock band t-shirt with his tattoos showing. He had in the same black earrings and same black barbell in his brow. I have never been into glasses before but I loved his. He wasn’t been wearing them the other night. Are they a work thing? Just for show or does he really need them too see?

  “Huh,” was my stellar response. Maggie snapped her fingers in front of my face almost clipping my nose.

  “Focus,” she barked. “We are discussing the permanent alteration of your body. Pay attention.” She was right. This tattoo should take priority over the way Lincoln’s eyes almost seem to swirl in the light behind his glasses.

  “Where do you want it?” Lincoln asked smiling at me like he could guess where my thoughts were. Probably could. “It would be cute on your foot, or if you want it somewhere more hidden, more private,” he was part asking, part suggesting as he raised his eyebrow, smirking at me again. I was sure he’d love to put it somewhere more private. I’d love to let him.

  “How big do you want it?” Maggie asked.

  I looked down at the design again. If I was going to do this then I was going all out. Go big or go home right?

  “I want it on my side.” I used my hand to add emphasis to the area I was talking about.

  “How big?” Lincoln asked.

  “Big,” I said. He eyed me for a second like he was picturing it, looking at my side. There was nothing sexual in his stare. He was like an artist staring at his canvas. He was all business.

  “Okay,” he finally said smiling ear to ear. He has such a happy smile. He came around the counter to me. He lifted my arm gently by holding my hand. The moment his skin brushed mine I had to hold back a shiver. His smoldering eyes met mine. They were full of desire. At least I was not alone in this. His eyes dropped to the area he was going to be working on.

  “We can start here,” he gently touched under my arm with the tip of his fingers. “Then have it snake around.” His finger traced the path he was thinking of all the way down to my hip. “And have it dip below your pants. It would look really good if it also came a little this way,” he said as his finger brush the side of my breast. I shuttered under his light touch. Was he trying to scare me off or turn me on? Was this a challenge? Was this some sort of seduction because there was no way he didn’t know exactly what he was doing.

  “Okay,” I said with more confidence than I felt as I met his eyes and he winked at me. My pulse jumped. It literally jumped. This man was dangerous, sex covered in tattoos and glasses and he knew it. Dangerous.

  “This is going to rock,” Maggie cheered.

  Lincoln

  My four-thirty was someone named Maggie McGillicuddy. What a name. Jonas referred her to me. If someone would of told me it was going to be the little fairy that was haunting my every fantasy I would have called bullshit. I was in the back room scarfing down a piece of pizza between appointments, the back piece I was finishing had run a little long, when the lovely jokes had started up again. They’d given me a hard time about that comment. I didn’t blame them. I would have done the same. They referred to her as Lovely and everything was lovely. It was funny shit.

  I wasn’t paying attention to all the lovely comments when Jonas called out that my appointment was here. I was pleasantly surprised to see her standing there in all her blushing glory. I remembered her friend from the other night vaguely, loud, had tattoos, basically all that mattered. I just assumed that I would be doing a
piece for her, until she announced that Pru was getting it. Yes please. I wanted to give this girl a tattoo. I wanted to draw on her body, put something permanently me on her, my mark. The idea of inking this girl who I couldn’t get out of my thoughts was more than a little exciting.

  If she hadn’t seemed so embarrassed when I walked out I would have thought she set this up just to see me but she was blushing so badly her entire face was cherry red. She looked ready to bolt at any moment. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

  Maggie’s drawings were beautiful. She was a good artist. I wondered if she’d ever consider a career as a tattoo artist. When she pulled out the cherry blossom drawing there was something about them that just screamed Pru. It would look more than perfect on Pru, beautiful, not too trendy or over the top but delicate and feminine. I could not see her walking around with a skull or the grim reaper on her delicate skin. Cherry blossoms fit her perfectly.

  I figured she’d want something small. It was her first tattoo after all but nope, another surprise, her whole side and damn it, that was a major turn on. It was going to be hot to work on her and it was going to be hot when I was done. I just needed to convince this girl to give me proper opportunity to enjoy my work.

  It would take two sittings maybe three. Maggie paid for all up front, plus tip and told me to give her girl the time of her life and winked at me. Oh I would, if she’d let me. Maggie was starting to grow on me.

  I took Pru’s hand and pulled her back to my station. I loved how her little hand fit into mine. Normally I wouldn’t touch a client except to work on them but this was different. I wanted to touch her, needed to.

  I have never been a touchy kind of guy but I discovered the other night at the bar that there was just something about Pru that made me crave touching her. I wanted to hold her against me, hold her hand, run my fingers through her hair, press my lips against her silky skin. I could go on and on about the hundreds of different ways I wanted to touch this girl.