Unclaimed (Kole Family)

by S. Brent

  “Holy shit,” the guy in my chair said under his breath as he looked beyond me. I was still with the same guy, working on his back. He was laying on his stomach so he could see the front door. My back was to it.

  “What?” I asked not looking away from him. Then the lovely comments started. Pru just walked in. I understood the guy’s reaction. She had that effect on people.

  “Yes, I’ve had a lovely day,” she said in answer to someone question. I stopped working and spun around on my stool as I heard her heels walking across the tiled floor. She was in a short dress and heels, like always. Her legs looked amazing.

  “Hey Lovely,” I said. She leaned down and gently kisses my lips. I wanted more. I wanted to pull her into my lap and ravish her but I was working and I was sure that would have embarrass her.

  “Hey,” she said as she smiled down at me. I loved that smile. In all our time together I had never seen anyone else receive that smile. It was mine. Just mine. She had a few bags in her hands.

  “Why don’t you go put your bags in the back and then pull up a chair,” I suggested. She nodded and headed off towards the back. I let my head fall to the side as I enjoyed the view of her walking away. She had an amazing backside.

  I turn back to my client, some young guy, and noticed he was doing the same. He was admiring Pru’s backside.

  “Hey,” I snapped and flicked his arm drawing his attention. “No.” I scolded him. I didn’t like the idea of him or anyone staring at her ass. It was mine.

  “What?” he asked with a shrug. “She’s hot.”

  “Mine,” was all I said. I was in full on caveman mode now.

  “Jeez, I was just looking,” he clarified with big eyes. I was clearly scaring the kid.

  “Well, don’t,” I snapped. I had officially gone over the deep end. I was not the possessive type, well I hadn’t been but I guess things change.

  Prudence

  I hung out with Lincoln while he worked. He finished his appointment. Some guy who was getting a lion on his back. I thought it looked silly. The work was wonderful. It was Lincoln’s after all, but the placement just seemed random, but to each their own I guess.

  I loved watching Lincoln work. He was so focused no matter what the piece was. He truly loved what he did. His silver eyes were so intense behind his too large glasses when he worked. I loved it. I could watch him work all day. He takes care with everything he did. I loved that about him.

  The idea of hanging out at a tattoo parlor while he worked should have seemed dull or like a last resort but it wasn’t. It was a nice place to hang out, the employees were great and the atmosphere easy.

  Lincoln was usually calm and relaxed while he worked even when he was deep in concentration but he was snarlier than usual with the guy he was working on. I didn’t know what the guy did to piss him off but Lincoln was less than tolerant with him.

  I knew I was in trouble. I loved so much about him. I was in love with Lincoln. The way he ran his fingers through his hair. The way he called me by my full name. His smirk. His smile. His playful teasing. The way he drew all the time and had mountains of sketchpads full of beautiful art. He probably really could pursue selling his art if he wanted.

  I wanted to tell him how I felt but I was scared to, once it’s out there I couldn’t take it back. Those three little words would either make us or break us. What if he didn’t want that serious of a commitment? What if he didn’t love me back? I have never told anyone I loved them before but I knew I love him. I just hope he felts the same.

  After work Lincoln and I swung by the grocery store and picked up a few things. We were going to go back to his place to cook dinner together. Everyone else was going out so it would be quiet. We’d have the whole place to ourselves. His place was starting to feel like home. I spend more nights in his bed then my own.

  The moment we walk in the door I kicked off my shoes. My feet were killing me. I made the mistake of wearing new shoes while going to the mall and I was paying for it. I would have taken them off at the shop but I was sure it goes against sanitation rules or hygiene codes or something.

  “Okay so I have to be honest my lovely fairy,” I loved it when he called me his fairy. It was just so original. It was always Lovely or my fairy, like they were just for me. “I don’t actually know how to cook,” he confessed as he eyed the box of noodles in his hands.

  I laughed. I stepped towards Lincoln so we were only inches away from each other, grabbing the box. “This is going to be interesting then because I can’t claim to be a chef either but I’m sure the box has instructions.” It did. My cooking skills were limited. I didn’t have time for extravagant meals that took all day to cook. I was a college student. I had eighteen units and I was student teaching. I was lucky if I remembered to eat.

  “Do you think we can microwave it?” he asked as he smiled down at me. He was joking. I hoped.

  “No. I’m pretty sure noodles are non-microwaveable,” but still that was just a guess. We decided to make spaghetti. We got all the stuff. Maggie made it all the time. I’d helped. How hard can it be?

  “About the only thing I know how to really cook is breakfast,” he informed me.

  “I make excellent coffee,” I threw in my only culinary skill, not sure if it even counted.

  Lincoln tried to look serious like he is deeply considering this while he nodded and fought back a smile. I smiled up at him like a blazing idiot proud of my coffee making skills.

  “Well it’s good to know that if teaching doesn’t work out for you, you can always have a successful career as a barista,” he teased.

  “Always good to have options.” I was nodding pretending to be serious. He smiled down at me before he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine pulling my bottom lip between his, sucking on it for a second before releasing it.

  I stepped away from him before we get too lost in each other. We’d never get dinner done.

  “You’ve shrunk,” he said after he freed my lips. He looked a little confused.

  “That happens when I take off my shoes,” I teased as I started searching through the cupboards for a pot to boil water in for the noodles.

  “Why do you always wear heels? Not that I’m complaining,” he asked as we both started working towards dinner.

  Lincoln and my relationship was very open and honest. He shared his secrets with me and I shared mine with him. I had never talked to anyone about my parents outside of Maggie and Skyla but Lincoln knew. It was nice that he did. I didn’t have to pretend that I had some sort of wonderful childhood with the perfect family.

  “Well, I managed to disappoint my parents in every possible way, including my height.” I never shared this with anyone. “I can’t sing. My Mandarin isn’t fluent. I don’t like science. They still don’t know that I changed school and majors. Anyways, I got a recessive gene making me vertically challenged. I don’t care that I’m short but everyone else does so I started wearing heels when I was about ten. Well, my mother started forcing them on me. God forbid I look short. I’ve been wearing them ever since.” I shrugged. It was what it was.

  “You’re parents aren’t here, so why does it matter? You could wear any shoes you want.” True. He started to ground up the meat while I got the water ready.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore. That’s just why I started wearing them, now it’s just habit. I like them so I wear them.” I shrugged. It was the truth. They were just a part of me. My shoes were just as much a part of me as him running his fingers through his hair every time he got frustrated or annoyed.

  “Well I think you look amazing with or without them.” I could see the honesty in his eyes at his cheesy line. He could be so sweet sometimes.

  “Thanks.” I leaned into him for another kiss.

  “And the dresses? I don’t think I have ever seen you wear jeans.”

  “Yes you have. I wore then the first day I got my tattoo.”

  “Oh yeah,” his eyes got that far away look like he was seeing som
ething else. Probably trying to remember me in those jeans. “You look good in jeans.” He was smiling at his memory still staring off in space.

  I laughed at him. “I only wore them because Maggie made me. I only have like three pairs. She was afraid that I would end up flashing everyone in a dress or have to completely strip because of the tattoos location. But my mom insisted I wear dresses growing up. It was proper. I didn’t even own a pair of pants until I moved out. I like dresses. Pants just feel so unnatural to me. I’m just too used to skirts and dresses I guess.” I poured the noodles in the simmering water.

  “Well, I’ve got to say, I’m a fan.” He reached over, pulled me into his arms and started to inch my dress up over my thighs. He finger grazed against the edge of my panties and I let my head fall back, my breath hitched knowing what was coming.

  “Easy access,” he said as he slid his finger under them to stroke my core. “Already wet for me, Pru,” he teased. He was smirking down at me with lust in his eyes.

  “Always,” I said between broken breaths.

  And just like that dinner was forgotten and the kitchen christened.

  Sometime later the water for the noodles was boiling over, the noodles are stuck together in a glob in the bottom of the pot, and the meat was half burnt, and smoking. We ruined dinner. It was a little sad.

  Lincoln and I stood staring down at our home cooked meal. He was behind me only in his boxers with his arms wrapped around me. I was in just his shirt. The rest of our clothing is scattered around the kitchen.

  He started to laugh as I reached out and turned off the stove so we didn’t burn the house down. I couldn’t help but laugh too. So much for dinner. I guess we had our priorities and they were not eating fabulous home cooked meals that we lovingly prepared together.

  “I think maybe we should stick to breakfast,” Lincoln said as he took in our disastrous attempt at cooking.

  “Probably.”

  He leaned down and started kissing my ear lobe and down my neck. “I should feed you before I drag you off to bed,” he mumbled against the side of my neck.

  “Probably,” I agreed as I closed my eyes and leaned back into him. “Later.”

  Later ended up being almost two in the morning. We dressed, Lincoln in the new shirt I bought him, and went to the nearest twenty-four hour diner, since it was the only thing that was opened.

  Chapter 10

  Lincoln

  I had a major dilemma and I didn’t even care. I wanted to be with Prudence Kennedy Thompson all the time. I called and text her multiple times a day. Find any excuse I could to see her or hear her voice. I spend every possible moment I can with her and the ones away from her counting the seconds until I can see her again. I was a complete goner.

  I pulled out my cell phone and dialed her number for the first time today even though it was early afternoon. I was trying not to smoother her. I was probably already deep into stalker territory but she didn’t seem to mind.

  “Hello,” she answered after the third ring.

  “Hello, my lovely fairy,” I said into the phone, my voice already husky with desire. I couldn’t imagine a day that I wouldn’t want her. A day when I wouldn’t want to hear her voice, see her face, look into her eyes.

  “Hellooo,” she said again stretching it out playfully and I could hear the smile in her voice. I heard some kids screaming and chatting in the background.

  I peeked at the clock. “Where are you?” I’ve grown accustom to Pru’s schedule. She should be free right about now.

  “About to leave the school. Just got in my car actually,” she told me. The random noises were suddenly gone and I heard the car turn over.

  “Where you headed?” I wanted her to come here, to see me. She came by a couple of times. I finished shading and coloring the bottom portion of her tattoo days after we went to the lake. A few times she brought me food or just hung out while I worked. I liked having her with me no matter where I was: work, home, car. Like I said, total goner.

  “Home,” she said.

  “Hmmm… Come to the shop. I just had a cancellation and I can finish you up today I think. If you don’t want to get your work done today I can think of other ways to pass the time.” I could think of several other ways.

  She laughed into the phone. “Well that sir is a much better than heading home to finish homework and read kindergarteners journals. I’m on my way.”

  “Please tell me you have a bag in your car so that I can keep you all night,” I groaned. It was hard to let her go once I got her. I rarely let her go home once I got a hold of her. I was seriously considering asking her to move in with me, which should be scary but it wasn’t. There was nothing about Pru that I didn’t love. I could think of nothing better than waking up to her every morning and holding her every night as she went to sleep.

  “I do,” she said seductively into the phone.

  “Oh thank God,” I let out a deep sigh. “Get your hot ass over here,” I growled into my phone. I get to keep her for the night. It didn’t scare me that I wanted to keep her every night, forever. I wanted her to be my forever.

  She laughed at me. “Bye Lovely.”

  “Bye,” she said and then the line went dead.

  I headed over to my station to finish up the appointment I was with before she got here. I wanted every moment I could steal with her.

  I was focused on my work when a hand ran over my shoulder. How had I been so focused that I didn’t hear Pru come in? Usually the moment she walked in the lovely comments started so even if my back is to the door, like it was right now, I knew she was here. I hadn’t heard them.

  I tensed when the hands owner became obvious. It wasn’t Pru. “Hey Lincoln,” she cooed as she leaned in so her lips were only inches away from my ear. It sent a chill through my body and not in a good way.

  “Hey,” I said never looking away from my work. I just rolled my stool out of her reach shrugging my shoulder until her hand dropped away. When I first felt a hand on my back I instantly jumped to the conclusion of Pru but when she spoke it became clear that it wasn't Pru. It was Betty, my ex that just wouldn’t give up.

  I didn’t know how I could have ever confused Betty’s hand with Pru’s. Betty hands are large and hard while Pru’s are small and delicate.

  I hadn’t heard from her in about a month so I figured she finally moved on, apparently not. She hadn’t been around the shop either so I assumed she found some new place to haunt.

  “When you’re done here I could take you in back and we could have a little fun,” she offered. Her voice was like nails on my nerves. How did I ever found this woman attractive?

  I turned to look over at her for the first time since I realized she was here. I didn’t know what I ever saw in her. Her shorts barely cover her ass in a trashy kind of way. It was not sexy. They just looked to small as they cut into the top of her thighs and waist. Her fake boobs were three sizes too big for her shirt. She was covered in ink, some of it my work, and piercing. Her make-up reminded me of a drunken clown and her hair looked like something was nesting in it and a three year old cut her bangs.

  Had I really been so desperate that I let her hang around just to get laid for so long?

  I rolled my eyes and looked back at Jed, my client who is drooling up at her. Some guys liked the overdone type. I did once.

  “No Betty, I do not want to take you anywhere, go anywhere with you, or do anything with you,” I snapped. I was sick of this. She called off and on and stopped by occasionally to get me in the sack and when I refused her she turned to one of the other guys, usually went home with them and was back throwing herself at me a few days later.

  Jed’s eyes were huge. I’d worked on Jed before and we have some mutual friends. I consider him a friend of sorts.

  “But Lincoln,” she pouted and bent forward so I got a perfect view down her shirt. She knew what she was doing. “I miss you. I know you miss me too.”

  “I really don’t,” I told her trying to blo
ck her out so she’d leave.

  “Lincoln,” she pouted worse. It was so fake. How did I ever fall for her act?

  “Fuck off,” I snapped louder then I intended too and the shop suddenly got quiet, all eyes are on us. I did not need this. I did not want this. The last thing I wanted is for Pru to come in and see Betty throwing herself at me. I didn’t need the extra drama. I didn’t want Betty around. I didn’t want her around Pru. I didn’t want my drama at work.

  Betty looked around the shop nervously and just laughed. “Oh Lincoln,” she said with fake giggle louder than necessary. “You’re so funny.” She swatted playfully at me before strutting off to go throw herself at someone else finally.

  “Can I ask what the deal is? I’m curious,” Jed asked. “That seems like an easy piece of ass to just turn away.”

  “She’s an ex,” I explained as I wiped away excess blood and ink.

  “I gathered but she still seems more then interested,” he observed.

  “Yeah but I’m not. I moved on to better things.”

  “She’d have to be for you to pass up a quickie from that,” he teased.

  “Lovely,” the shop cheered as one.

  She was here, my lovely little fairy. I wanted to jump up and run to her. I turned to look at her. She was curtsying at the shop, playing along with their good spirited teasing. I didn’t know what I would have done if she couldn’t have handled it. I couldn’t help but smile. She played along well.

  She was still in her teaching clothes. I loved her teaching clothes. She looked so damn sexy. She looked like no teacher I ever had or I might have paid better attention in school. She’s wearing an ivory colored dress that didn’t even reach the end of her fingertips with some sort of lacy bottom. It was loose fitting but pulled tight at her waist with a little gold belt. The dress has flowy sleeves that reach her elbows and it has a high neckline but it’s sexy as hell, especially with the gold heels she was wearing. In typical Pru fashion her hair was wild and she’s wearing a combination of cheap and expensive jewelry.