Unclaimed (13 page)

“I’m almost done.  Why don’t you come back and sit with me?” he offered.  “Jed’s cool.  I’m sure he’d love to meet you,” he added.

“Okay sure,” I said
.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me back to his area with him.  He pulled up an empty stool for me.  I gladly took it even though I can feel Miss. Shorty Shorts staring daggers at me.

“Jed, Pru. 
Pru, Jed,” Lincoln introduced us quickly as he got back to work.

“If looks could kill,” Jed said
.  “You’d be dead.  I don’t think you made a fan Pru.”  I like Jed.  Honest, to the point.  I could tell she was watching us.

“You think,” I said
back.  “So who is she?” I asked Lincoln.  I didn’t really want to talk about it in front of a stranger but at the moment I didn’t really care.  I was on edge enough that I needed the story.  I needed it now.

Lincoln let out a deep sigh. 
He had to know this was coming.  “An ex, Betty, that just can’t accept the fact that we are not together anymore.  We broke up six months before you,” he explained.  I felt a little bad for her.  Lincoln would be hard to lose but damn have some self-respect and move on.  Still hanging on, claiming you guys are together was pathetic and delusional.

“Hmmm,” was
all I can manage to get out.  I turned my head so that I could look at her from the corner of my eye.  She was seething but so was I.  I was starting to wonder if this girl was more than just pathetic.  I can probably add crazy to the list too.  Should I be concerned about my safety?  Because the girl was glaring at me like she’s planning my untimely demise.  She might actually try to hurt me.

“Pru?” Lincoln said
quietly.  I shifted so I could look over at him.  I’d been so caught up in my glaring contest I hadn’t even realized that he finished Jed and he is getting ready to go.  How long have we been glaring at each other?

“
Hmmm,” was all I managed again.  I sounded more like a question.  Apparently the ability to form words had escaped me in my irritation.

“Don’t,” he pleaded as he reached over for the side of my stool and pulled
me toward him.  He had already taken off his gloves.  He opened his legs so that I could sit between his.  “Don’t act like this,” he whined as he took off his ridiculously cute, glasses tossing them onto the counter.

“Like what?” I asked as I looked down at my legs in an effort to hide the blush I
knew was coming.  I was embarrassed that I was acting like a jealous fool.

“Like I give a shit that Betty is into me,” he said as he ran his hands up my bare thigh until his fingers grazed
under the hem on my dress.  “I like this dress,” he growled against my ear and I was no longer focused on my jealousy.  Lincoln had successfully distracted me.

I turned my head towards him and nudged his cheek with my nose to
get him to turn my direction.  He willingly obliged.  His eyes lock on mine, “Pru,” he whispered softly.  There was a desperate tone to his voice I hadn’t heard before.  I could feel his words against my lips an instant before his gently slipped over mine.  There was something intense in his kiss.  There was so much emotion behind it.  I instantly got lost in his sweet, passionate kiss.  It was gentle and full of warmth and love.

His hands were
gripping my bare thighs.  One hand has made its way higher under my dress to my hip.  I placed both my hands on his chest when I leaned into him and was now clinging to his shirt as I melted into him.  God, I loved this man.  He made me forget everything, Betty, the world around us, the fact that we are sitting in a tattoo parlor, until the catcalls finally break through.

I pulled away and buried
my head into his chest.  He wrapped his arms around me.

“Damn,” Lincoln groaned into my ear so that no one e
lse could hear.  “One kiss and I’m lost in you,” then he nipped my ear lobe and pulled away so quickly I almost fell onto the floor.  “I’ll clean up then you’re up.”  I nodded and he started going about his work.  Sanitation was very important in his line of work.  I was grateful for it.  I did not need an infection.

I rotated in my chair while I waited
.  Lincoln has stepped into the back.  Betty looked like her head was about to explode.  She was standing over by one of the other guys, maybe trying to flirt, I’m not sure, but her eyes were on me and Lincoln, who has rejoined me and was asking about my day.  He was completely oblivious to Betty.  He truly couldn’t care less.  That made me feel better but this bitch needed to realize that Lincoln was off the market.

“Ready my lovely,” Lincoln asked
when he was finally ready.

“Are you?” I asked as I smiled up at him.

“For more then you know,” he teased back.  “But that is not a very accommodating dress and I would hate to get ink on your dress and ruin it.  I am a fan of it.”  He checked me out from head to toe as I stood up.

I hadn’t thought of
my dress when Lincoln called.  I didn’t want to get ink on it either.  It was new.

“
We can protect it with towels.  Do you have enough?” I asked and he grabbed a few extras out of the cabinet.

I had an idea. 
I knew I was being childish but I couldn’t help it.  I was going to claim my man.  Betty better learn her place and stay away from Lincoln.

“I do,” Lincoln said.

I started to slowly push the sleeve on one arm down, my eyes locked on his.  He watched as I slowly slid the other sleeve down and let the dress fall to my waist.  It was only being held up by my belt.  He watched my every movement.

The shop got quiet except for th
e blaring music.  Everyone’s eyes were on me but I refused to look at anyone but Lincoln.

I looked down shyly for a moment befor
e looking back up at his face.  His eyes locked on mine, and I reached around to unsnap my lacy bra and Lincoln jumped up to hold a towel in front of me with one eyebrow raised, backing me into the corner successfully hiding me from everyone’s eyes but his.

He
knew exactly what I was doing.  His eyes were sparkling with amusement.  He planned to enjoy every minute but was not willing to share my bare breasts with an entire shop.  I wanted Betty to know that Lincoln was mine.  He wanted me and I planned to keep it that way.  I slid my bra down and toss the lacy ivory onto the counter.

“Shit,” he grumbled as he looked at my bare brea
sts and my tattoo covered side.  Who was I?  I was not bold or overly seductive but I didn’t give a shit who saw at the moment.  I actually wanted her to see.  Who was I turning into?

“Towel?” I asked
.  He took the last step towards me and covered my chest.  I reached out to hold it against my chest.

“God Pru,” he groaned
quietly.  His lips brushed mine.  “Let’s get this done so I can get you out of here.”

I held the towel over my chest to con
ceal what I can of my breasts.  Lincoln tucked another one around my waist to protect my dress from any run off before he got to work.

“I thought we would work here,” Lincoln says as he ran his fingers over the top section of my cherry blossom tatto
o, over the side of my breast.  I knew he was doing it deliberately.  I teased him.  This was his retaliation.  His eyes were dark with desire as he watched his finger trail over the side of my breast.

I nodded and bit my lip.
Even his gentle touch turned me on.  I wanted him.  I was tempted to forgo the tattoo and drag him out of here but he wanted to get this done, plus I had to prove something to Betty.

He got
ready, checked the gun a few times then leaned in so his face was only inches from mine.  “Ready?” he asked.  He loved this.  He loved working on me.  He loved touching me.  He loved teasing me.  I loved it too.

“Ready,” I said before gently kissing his lips.

He pulled back and went to work.  I flinched when he first started then managed to relax.  It was annoying and uncomfortable but tolerable.  I noticed Betty stormed out of the shop about the same time he started to work.

That’s right. 
Mine bitch.

Chapter 11

Lincoln

Pru was in her bathroom with the door open getting ready while I sat on her bed and watched her.  She never got dressed until she was completely made up.  Her wet hair was wrapped up in a towel while she applied her make up in nothing but her black polka dot bra and thong set, barefoot.  It was a beautiful sight.  A sight I wanted to commit to memory.

I’d
been drawing on the sketchpad that I started leaving at her house.  Apparently, I did some of my best work when I was with Pru, problem is most of it is Pru.  I don’t know how much of an actual problem that was though.  Pru sleeping.  Pru as a fairy.  Pru half-naked.  Pru completely naked.  She didn’t even have to model.  All I seem to draw is Pru.  Pru.  Pru.  Pru.  Today it was Pru getting ready for her day, her backside in full view.  Her front was visible through her reflection in the mirror.

I’
d given up on my sketch though.  I was too distracted.  She had that effect on me.  Pru was distracting.  I was laying out on her bed in nothing but my boxers watching her.  I hadn’t even made it out of bed yet.  The only reason I even let her out of bed was because I had an appointment at the shop otherwise I would be doing my best to keep her in bed with me.

It was Saturday and I had
to work.  Her plans for the day were studying at the library.  I was hoping to make her evening plans with me.  She could study if she needed.  I didn’t care.  I just wanted to be with her.  If I had my way she would be spending all day with me at the shop and all night with me in bed.

I was head over heels in love with Pru and I knew
it.  I am completely taken with this girl, this beautiful, delicate, sexy girl.  I wanted to spend every moment of every day with her.  Everything I think about doing I considered Pru into it.  Did Pru want Thai for dinner?  Did Pru want to hang out with the guys?  Go out?  Stay in?

I saw
Pru in everything.  Pru would like this tattoo, or book, or flower.  I bought things because when I saw them I thought of her.  Just yesterday I bought her an oversized beaded bracelet because I thought she would love it.  She had.

My heart soared
at the idea of being with her.  I got excited every time I knew she was coming and panicked at the thought of losing her.  I was in love with Prudence Kennedy Thompson.

She was fin
ishing up her morning routine.  She had already washed her face, brushed her teeth, and had moved onto make up.  She barely wore any.  It was like watching her paint her face.  There was a definite art to it.  A couple different powders, eyeliner, mascara, and lip-gloss and she was done.  She was putting on mascara.  I was watching her reflection in the mirror.  God she was gorgeous.  Her eyes met mine in the mirror and sparkled.

“What?” she asked
as she blushed slightly.  I loved when she blushed.  I loved making her blush.

“You’re beautiful,” I told her and s
he just rolled her eyes at me.  I got up off her bed and walked over to her in the bathroom wrapping my arms around her waist.  I leaned in and to kiss the side of her neck while she mascaraed the other eye careful not to jostle her so she didn’t stab herself in the eye.  I imagined that wouldn’t be too pleasant.

“My beautiful lovely fairy, mine all mine,” I whispered as I shower her creamy
skin with tender kisses.  I pulled my lips away from her exposed skin and met her eyes in the mirror.  She put her make up down.  “I love you,” I said.  I meant it.  I have never meant anything more.  I hadn’t been planning to say it.  It just came out and seemed right in the moment.

Her whole face lit
up at my announcement.  I hadn’t told a girl I loved her since high school.  It all seemed so fast but everything with Pru happened in a beautiful rush.

“I love you,” she said quietly back and my heart that had been pounding in my chest moments ago in fear o
f her reaction, her rejection.  Now it was pounding for an entire different reason.  I loved her and she loved me.  We were in love.

I had
to have her.  Now.

I step
ped back and unhooked her bra.  She arched an eyebrow at me in the mirror and I just smiled before I started to work the bra down her arms until it fell to the floor.  She was standing in front of the mirror completely topless in nothing but her panties.  I planned to rid her of those as well.

“Beautiful,” I said again and stepped up to her so t
hat I could touch her.  I wanted to touch her, to taste her, to have her.  I loved the way that she let me.  She let me touch her, play with her, and never once stopped me or complained.  She touched back, played with me.  I was not alone in my affections.  I was going to cherish the beautiful girl that I loved and loved me.

Lovely.

“Lincoln,” she sighed as I grinded my already bulging erection against her nearly bare ass.  I loved the way she sighed my name.  I reached around and cupped both of her breasts in my hands.

“Hmmm,” I said as I began kneading them while showering her with kisses again
anywhere my lips could reach.  When I lightly pinched her nipples she whimpered and rocked back into me.

“You’re. 
Appointment,” she finally got out already breathless.

“We have plenty of time,” I informed her and we did
.  Enough time for me to do all I want to her.  I kept one hand on her breast and slid the other down her stomach and into the front of her panties until I reached her moist heat.  She was already wet for me.

“Lincoln,” she begged
as I started to stroke her.  I wanted her wild with need for me. I kick the bathroom door shut to ensure our privacy as I caressed her until she came apart in my arms.

Then I turned her, tugged her panties off, and made love to her on the bathroom counter.

Prudence

I love
d Lincoln.  Lincoln loved me.  He took his time showing me just how much and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute but we had to go.  He had to work and I had to study if I wanted to pass my finals and actually graduate.

I went to open the front door just as Lincoln stepped up behind me and grabbed my hip
s and pulled me back into him.  I laughed as he attacked my neck with wet, noisy kisses.

“We
gotta go,” I laughed as I pushed him back and reached for the door again.

“Always in a hurry to get rid of me,” Lincoln teased
as he lunged to attack again.  I grabbed the door handle and twisted right as he playfully tugged at my hips and flung me around.  I squealed and laughed when my feet left the floor.

He set my feet
on the floor.  I was ready to make a break for it, only a half heart attempt of course.  I had every intention of getting caught.

Someone cleared
their throat.

I looked over at the door, which I had managed to open in my escape attempt, and my laugher instantly died.

Oh God.  My parents were standing in the doorway.  My horrible, nasty, snobby, judgmental parents.  My father with his overpriced black suit, his graying brown hair, and permanent scowl stood next to my mother in her designer sundress and newly constructed face to match her fake boobs and blond hair.  How had they gotten my address?  His secretary maybe.  In all the years I lived here my parents never stopped by, not once.  Why now?

Li
ncoln straightened up with me.  I knew there was no way he missed how I tensed against him.  He stiffened in response.

“Young lady?” my father questioned as he held out a delic
ately folded paper towards us.  I recognized it, a graduation announcement.  I hadn’t sent them one.  How had they gotten one?  I hadn’t even ordered any.  “What is this?” my father asked.

“Who is that?” my mother asked as she eyed Lincoln with an odd combin
ation of disgust and intrigue.  She blatantly scanned him head to toe.  I didn’t like how she was looking at him.  It made me want to step in front of him to protect him.  Which was ridiculous.  Her eyes lingered on his visible tattoos causing her unattractive scowl to grow.

“Mother, Father, this is Lincoln O’Neil, my boyfriend,” I said and Lincoln stepped to my side and put his hand in mine as he reached out to shake my
parents hands with his other.  They both finally shook his hand after a moment of hesitation.  Neither of them seemed too pleased about it.

“It’s a pleasu
re to meet you,” Lincoln said.  They didn’t return his politeness.

My parents pushed into th
e apartment and looked around.  This was the first time they had actually seen where I lived.  I’d lived here for almost four years.  They looked around the apartment then at Lincoln.  They were completely appalled by both.  That much was clear by their expressions.  Fantastic.  The tension was so thick I felt like I was going to drown in it.

“Would you like to explain this?” my father asked waving the graduation announcement around at me again.

“It’s a graduation announcement,” I said, clinging on to Lincoln’s hand.  I didn’t miss how quiet and meek my voice sounded.  I knew Lincoln hadn’t missed it either because I felt him tense up even more.  He was ready to jump to my defense against my parents.  That would not be good.

“From California
State University, Sacramento?  I don’t understand because my daughter is going to UC Davis.”

“
Father,” I started to explain.  I knew that this would come out eventually even though I hoped that eventually would be more like never.  I was just hoping that I could avoid this confrontation all together.  It was possible that I could graduate and they’d never know.  It’s not like they were actively involved in my life.

“And liberal studies? 
My daughter is going to be a surgeon.  What does one do with a liberal studies degree?” he snapped.  He was angry.  He was raising his voice and the vein at his temple was twitching.  I knew it was only a matter of time until his entire face was beet red heading to purple as his temper rose.

“Teach,” I said quiet
ly and looked down at my feet.  I felt five years old all over again.

“Teach?” he g
asped like I just told him I was a mass murder.  My mother gasped along with him and actually took a step back away from me like she might catch some rare, incurable disease.

“You better g
o,” I said turning to Lincoln.  “You have to get to work,” I said quietly turning to Lincoln.  He didn’t like to be late and he had an appointment.

He just looked down at me as I pulled him to the door past my parents who hadn’t moved, forcing us to walk around them, as they watched us.

“Are you sure?” he asked and placed his finger under my chin forcing me to look up at him and meet his eyes.  The concern was written all over his face.  “I can stay.  I can cancel.”

I smiled at him. 
Just another reason I was in loved with him.  It was sweet that he was willing to face my parents with me but it would only make things worse plus I knew they needed to drill me about him and it was not going to be pretty.  I didn’t want to subject him to that because they’d do it with him here or not.

“No, go to work.
I’m good.”  I tried to force a smile but I knew it looked fake.  “Call me when you get off,” I said and I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed his mouth softly.  I didn’t miss the comments my parents mumbled under their breath at my public display of affection towards my boyfriend in my own house.  They disapproved.  They didn’t even hold hands.  Their relationship was completely unaffectionate and non-physical.  They’d never understand.

I fo
ught the urge to roll my eyes.  It would just make it worse.

“Okay.” 
His eyes shot to my parents and then back to me.  “Call me if you need anything,” he said softly before leaning in and tenderly kissing my cheek.  “I love you,” he said quietly against my ear.

“I love you
too,” I said just as quietly.  I knew my parents hadn’t heard us.  They’d be having a full-blown conniption if they had.

Lincoln took
a few hesitant steps backwards before he jogged down the stairs out of sight.  I shut the door slowly then turned to face the firing squad.  This was going to be bad.  Lincoln and school were both going to be difficult for them to understand on their own but it was going to be even worse to deal with them together.

“How long have you been indulging in the b
iker,” my father asked.  Biker?  Lincoln was in jeans, tennis shoes, and t-shirt.  What about him gave off the impression he was biker?  The tattoos maybe.

Guess I wasn’t going to ma
ke that study group after all.  I turned and headed for the kitchen.  I pulled out my phone to text my group while I walked.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked my parents because I seriously needed coffee to get through this.

“No thank you,” my father snapped.

“Coffee please,” my mother called after me in her airy
sing-song voice.  Once I had two cups of coffee, mine, doctored up, and my mother’s, black, I sat down at the small table in the dining room and my parents joined me.  I didn’t miss that my mother added something to her coffee from a flask in her purse.