Inked Souls (The Shaw Effect Duet)

by Lucia Grace

  “You got it.” I look down and smirk before taking her lips in a searing kiss. Branding her with my need and want and love. My large hands cupping her full tits. Her nipples scraping against my palms.

  Her small hands wander over my back down around to my abs before gentle fingertips work their way under the waistband of my boxer briefs, gliding over the head of my dick. I tear my mouth away from hers. Breathing harshly.

  “What’s wrong?” she breathes out in question. Her voice wavering slightly.

  “Baby, fuck, give me a second.” Her warm hands threatening to have me coming from the simplest touch. “You’re fucking wrecking me, angel.”

  I look down to see a smile gracing her lips. Straight teeth peeking out between full lips. Pride alight in her eyes at what she does to me. She leans up to kiss me through her smile. Moaning as my tongue seeks immediate entrance into the wet warmth of her mouth.

  This time, before her wandering hands can slide into my boxer briefs, I pull away from our kiss and slide my hands down her toned stomach to her hips. My eyes following their trek down her glorious body. I heave a deep breath before looking at Kennedy. “Can I see you?” I ask. Wanting her to know I respect her and I’m not just using her for what she can give me.

  Her eyes turn soft. “Make me yours.”

  And I’m fucking done for.

  Destroyed.

  Wrecked.

  Completely owned.

  I make quick work of sliding her panties down her long, toned legs. Goosebumps erupt on her flesh as my knuckles drag against satin skin. When they pass her bare feet, I look up to find her bare pussy so pretty and fucking perfect glistening with her arousal for me.

  “I have never in my life seen anything so fucking perfect, baby. Nothing like you with your hair surrounding you in a halo like the angel you are, tan skin flushed with lust, green eyes shining bright with need, your heavy tits heaving with your breaths, and your pretty, pink pussy dripping with your want for me. Fucking perfect, angel. So fucking perfect.”

  “Perfect for you,” she whispers.

  “That’s right, baby. Perfect for me. Because you’re fucking mine.” I vow, then slide my boxer briefs down my thighs. My heavy erection bobbing and standing at attention against my stomach.

  “Oh wow,” she gasps. Swallowing thickly.

  I start stroking my steel length in my right hand. “Like what you see, baby?”

  She’s nodding before I even finish asking. “I need you,” she moans as her legs start squirming. Looking for some friction.

  I crawl back over her prone body on my king-size bed and settle my dick against her pussy. Groaning again in unison.

  Sliding a hand down her bare pubic bone, I spread her lips as I skim my middle finger over her clit down to her entrance, where I waste no time sinking the digit in. Pulling out only to add a second finger. Her tight heat sucking me back in.

  “Oh god…Rhett…that’s…” She can’t even form a coherent thought, and she’s only fucking my fingers. I can’t fucking wait to sink into her and have her forgetting her own name with my dick.

  “That’s right, angel. Ride my hand. Soak it. Let’s get you ready for my cock.” My filthy words have her moaning even louder.

  “Rhett!” she shouts as her orgasm washes over her. I crash my lips to hers after taking in her beauty as she falls apart at my hand, swallowing her cries of ecstasy.

  Pulling my fingers from her still-spasming pussy, I make sure her heavy-lidded eyes are on me before sticking them into my mouth. Growling around the digits as I suck them clean of the sweetest fucking thing I’ve ever tasted. “Like fucking honey,” I growl at her. “And you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be diving in to have a taste later. But my dick has been weeping for you since day one. I need in you, baby.” I reach over to my side table drawer for a condom when her hand lands on my tatted forearm.

  “The one thing I’ve never let any of them have was me bare.” My body locks tight at her bringing up her past. My jaw ticking. Not wanting to think of her with any other man. She continues. “But I want that with you. I want just us in this moment. Nothing between us.”

  Now my body is locked even tighter at the thought of her pussy wrapping around my bare dick. “Are you sure, angel? Because I want nothing more than that either. I’m clean. I’ve always wrapped up. Always.”

  “Yes. I want it all with you.” I kiss her at those words. Slower and softer, yet more desperate than ever.

  “Give me a truth,” I quietly demand when we part for air.

  Eyelashes flutter before green eyes focus on me. “I’ve never felt more cherished or wanted than I do right now.”

  Then I’m kissing her again. Because I need those lips against mine, to taste those words on her tongue.

  When I pull away, I grab my length and line it up at her entrance after running my blunt head through her still-dripping arousal. My eyes locked on hers.

  Our lips just barely touching.

  My free hand clasping around the side of her neck. Fingers tangling in her long hair. My thumb stroking along the front of her throat.

  I slide into her. A groan roars out of my chest, ricocheting off the walls of my bedroom. Mixing with her moan of ecstasy. My bare dick enveloped by her slick velvet walls.

  My life forever fucking changed.

  “God, baby, nothing has ever felt like this. And nothing ever will. Right here. You and me. Just like this,” I groan as I slide back out to the tip before slowly sinking back in. I brace on my knees and grasp her hands in mine and raise them. My large hands engulfing her small ones above her head.

  “Oh, Rhett…” She trails off. Her soft voice hitches. I look down and see her eyes are locked tight behind closed eyelids. Tears slipping down the sides of her face. Soaking into her hair.

  I stop moving and let go of her hands. Bracing down to my elbows to hold her gorgeous face in my hands. My thumbs working to erase her tears. “Angel, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” My voice giving away my worry. My heart close to shattering as her tears continue to flow.

  “N-no,” she hiccups slightly. “You didn’t hurt me. I’ve just never felt th-this before.”

  From what she’s told me about her past, I know she isn’t a virgin, far from it. Her need to be wanted and loved leading her down a path with men I refuse to even fucking think about. None of them mattering because Kennedy is mine. Plain and fucking simple.

  “What do you mean, baby?” I question as she opens her eyes to finally look up at me.

  “This. Us. Our connection.” She swallows thickly. Fighting back more tears. A small smile lifting her unbelievably plump lips. “I’ve never felt this before. This feeling of belonging. Of being wanted. Not ever.” She finishes on a whisper. Her words plowing through my heart like a fucking wrecking ball.

  “No more, angel. You hear me? No more being alone. No more feeling lost. You’ll always belong right here with me. Right here,” I reply, bringing her warm hand up to lay across my heart. “Always. You belong with me. Just like I belong with you.”

  She takes my right hand, kisses my rough palm, then places it against her bare chest. Over her rapidly beating heart. “We belong together.”

  With those three words, she shatters any resolve I had left. I slam my lips down on hers. Sliding my tongue along the seam, forcing entrance into her mouth.

  Taking.

  Claiming.

  Owning.

  Devouring her. Kissing and licking and nipping.

  Tasting those words between us. Feeling the love sink into each of us.

  I pull back on a harsh breath. Our lips still touching. Allowing her to breathe in the air I give her. “Always. You and me. We belong together. You with me. And me with you. I love you, Kennedy. With every piece of my inked soul.”

  Fresh tears well in her eyes. My eyes misting over with this moment of pure fucking love I never knew I’d have. “I love you, too, Rhett. All of you, with all of me. Together.”

  “Together.”
/>
  AS SASSY AND FORWARD AS she is with the rest of the world, Saylor didn’t want a lot of fanfare for her birthday. She wanted it treated as any other day, working as usual. Never expecting we’d close the doors an hour early, shut down the lights, and drag out a cake to celebrate her turning another year older. But we shocked the heck out of her when we did just that.

  From talking with her, I knew she didn’t want anything crazy, telling me that ever since her parents passed, celebrating her birthday has never been the same. I wanted to honor that but also wanted to make sure she knew she was cared about, that her birthday was remembered, something I so rarely got through the years. So when I went to Gus mentioning my plan, he jumped right on board. Not caring about closing down a little earlier than usual to have a little party for Saylor.

  So that’s what we’re doing now.

  While the candles burn bright, illuminating her smiling face and cranberry hair, I take in the people in the room. The few regular patrons I know she’s become close with through the years and two other waitresses, Daisy and Liv, who she’s friendly with at work. They all stand near the few tables we pushed together to make one long one, mingling together and laughing with Saylor.

  Then I move my gaze to Gus, Nash, Saylor, and Rhett. I see how they interact, how much they care, how they’d do anything for the other. I take them in and realize for the first time that this is what a family looks like. This small, unorthodox group of four that creates a family based not on blood alone, but on loyalty and choice.

  I watch as Gus and Nash stand to Saylor’s right, teasing and poking fun at her as she thinks over her wish. But I also see so much more than that. I see how Gus watches on as I think a father would, pride and care shining bright in his pale, blue eyes. He stands tall at her side, watching over her with adoration and a smirk because Saylor is always full of sass.

  Then I see Nash, all six-foot-seven of him, standing heads above the rest of us, and barely an inch away from Saylor’s side. But more than that, he can’t take his eyes off of her. Every move, every smile, every word and laugh and flutter of her lashes. And those blue eyes of his? They’re full of possessiveness and want, like she’s his and he dares anyone to question him.

  Neither of them have admitted it, but I wonder how long it will take before they come clean with whatever they are…

  Finally my eyes track to Rhett on her left, standing no more than three feet away as I stand at the head of the table, taking it all in. I watch him there, arms crossed over his wide chest, as he waits on her, complaining she’s just trying to soak up all the attention—that she’s a diva.

  I laugh as she tosses her hair, then says, “It’s my birthday, big brother. I’ll damn well delay if I want to.”

  Then she looks up at me. “Girl, what are you doing all the way over there? Get over here and help me out. Calm my big brother down a notch.”

  I laugh again and shake my head. I can feel my cheeks heat a little at the attention the room is giving me now. “Make a wish,” I reply.

  “Yeah,” Rhett interjects. “Just blow ‘em out already.”

  “Okay, okay.” She gives in. Then, smirking, says, “If there’s anything I know, it’s how to blow.”

  Rhett groans as his words backfire and the room erupts in laughter before settling into darkness as Saylor finally makes her wish.

  Lights flick on, and there he is standing right in front of me now.

  “Say was right, what are you doing all the way over here?” Rhett asks before wrapping his arms low around my waist. His large hands spanning my lower back, fingers just barely palming my ass.

  “I just wanted to give you all some space.” I shrug.

  He sees right through me, just like he always seems to do. “You belong, too, angel. Never doubt that. With us—me—you always will.”

  Sometimes I wonder if my heart will ever not be able to take how perfect he is. The often erratic and thunderous beats caused by his words, his smirk, his touch—him—becoming so frequent it must be on its way to combusting at any moment.

  A large, tattooed fist gently taps under my chin, making sure he gets my eyes. “We may not be the most orthodox family there is, but that’s what we are. A family. And baby, that includes you. Since the day you walked in this place, you won Say and Gus over. And as soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew I’d found my reason for breathing.”

  And there it goes. Boom.

  “So don’t ever distance yourself, not from us. Never from me. You belong, angel.”

  After he seals his words in a brief kiss that I feel to my toes, I pull back wishing it never had to end. Basking in everything that he is, that he said, that he makes me feel. Letting it settle in my bones, in my soul.

  I gather my wits and look up to see him smirking that smirk down at me that tilts one side up higher than the other, knowing the effect he has on me.

  Shaking my head with a playful tap to his chest, I turn to the room to see Saylor opening the few gifts brought in for her. Walking over, I see she’s just about to open the gift bag from me, the card already in hand.

  “Love Kennedy,” she finishes reading when I step up next to her. Rhett right at my back. “Oooo, can’t wait to see what it is!” She beams.

  Anxiety rushes through me, nervous my gift may not have been the right choice after all. I begin worrying my lip between my teeth when she rips the teal tissue paper from the bag, then pulls out the small photo album.

  “What’s this?” she asks before flipping through the pages. Then she gasps, lifting a hand to cover her mouth while the other continues to flip through each page.

  Because Saylor has done so much for me and has come to mean so much to me, I wanted to do something meaningful for her. So after seeing the pictures the photographer had taken at the Blues and Brews charity event the other week, I had the idea of getting some of them printed and putting them into a small photo album. “Family” embossed on the front.

  The pages are full of a dozen or so pictures of Saylor, Rhett, Gus, and Nash, with myself making an appearance in a couple because the shots of the others were too good to pass by. Moments captured between them talking, laughing, smiling.

  There’s a picture of a stolen moment between Saylor and Nash. Innocent to the naked eye, it just looks like two people catching the eyes of the other, but I can see the longing and want they both convey as she smiles coyly and he stares on.

  Another consists of all of us. My and Saylor’s arms wrapped around each other as we all laugh at the banter between Nash and Rhett.

  The rest a mix of them sharing moments throughout the day. Working together and mingling with the crowd.

  The second to the last page is a picture of Saylor, Rhett, and Gus. The three of them sharing a moment. Gus is hugging Saylor, while Rhett has one hand to her back and the other on Gus’s shoulder. The moment of the makeshift family celebrating another successful year.

  And the last filled page…it’s a copy of a picture that hangs in our apartment. One of her and Rhett when they were kids with their parents, the whole family together. Although she already has it, I knew it needed to hold a place in that photo album because though tragic, the loss of their parents was the catalyst that brought them all together.

  When Saylor just sits there after sifting through every page more than once, I get worried that I overstepped. Tears well in my eyes, but before I can apologize, Saylor stands and wraps me up in a fierce hug. “Thank you,” she whispers. I can hear the tears in her voice. When she pulls back, I see them in her eyes as she smiles. “This is the best gift I’ve ever been given, Kennedy. It’s perfect, thank you.”

  I smile, now through happy tears, not knowing what to say.

  Bulky, tattooed arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling me back into his hard chest all tight and snug. Warm lips drop onto the crown of my head before pecking my cheek, then neck. Dragging them up, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake, Rhett whispers in my ear, “See? Family, angel.”

&nbs
p; And I’m finally realizing I belonged in those pictures all along.

  In Front of In Ruins

  THEY ALL CROWDED AROUND UNTIL everything went black. Then the lights flicked on and there he was, standing in front of her. Looking down on her as if he’d never seen anything better.

  My blood boils because she ruined everything, yet she has a smile on her face.

  She’s happy and I’m furious.

  She has him and I’m alone.

  I watched them at the bar. Then on the dance floor.

  Holding each other close.

  I took it all in. Laid out my plan.

  Ready and waiting.

  “MIND LOCKING UP?” I ask Nash as he finishes up on the books he continues to bitch about until we find that receptionist he’s hellbent on hiring.

  “Nah, bro. Go get your girl,” he answers with that smart-ass smirk stretching his bearded face.

  “Plan on it, my man,” I reply. A smirk of my own on my lips. Thinking about getting Kennedy alone, wrapped up in my arms, dancing along the bar floor.

  I walk across the street, finding the door to the bar is already locked. I use my key to gain entry and then lock it back up behind me.

  Taking in the expanse of the room, I find Kennedy behind the bar. She’s leaning with her arms braced against the top facing me like she was waiting for me, smile on her stunning face.

  I can’t help but smile in return. This night so much like the very first I surprised her here for our first dance, yet different in so many ways. With the most important being that she’s finally all mine. In all ways.

  Goddamn, I can’t help but think of our first night together a few days ago, and every time since that I haven’t been able to keep my hands off of her. Nothing being enough now that I’ve had a taste of all she has to give.

  Before I can say a word and barely walk into the room, a soft beat starts playing from the surround sound—sultry and low. Guiding Kennedy’s steps as she rounds the end of the bar, the music causing a little extra swing in her step.

  When she reaches me, I don’t waste a second pulling her in. “Angel.”

  “I’ve been waiting on you.”