Page 835 of One More Kiss
Anders
If Rhys didn’t stop distractingher, touching her, making her laugh, I was going to kill him.
“Rhys…” I trailed off, letting my voice hold just a hint of censure.
I hadn’t seen my brother like this since high school. Since before that bitch broke him and we lost Papa. Before that, Rhys smiles, laughed, and carried on like the world was a stage.
In the decade since then, it was rare he indulged in performances. His retelling of Mom, Dad, and Papa meeting was the only exception, and even then, that lacked depth at times.
But not with Jenika. Odin’s ravens, she was stunning. A slightly dark sense of humor that suited both of us perfectly.
Her love of Loki would thrill Dad. Okay, I needed to stop thinking about introducing her to my parents.
I focused on her tattoo, making each line perfect as the image started to take shape, even through the outline. When the color was added, it would look even more spectacular.
Two hours passed in a comfortable silence. I was so focused on Jenika and the way her skin felt beneath my touch. How stoic she was while I covered her forearm in ink. The worst she did was wince or let out a sharp exhale when I hit a tender spot.
“You’re doing much better than Rhys did.” I smirked as I wiped away the excess ink and surveyed my work. “He cursed and grumbled the whole time. Almost had to stop halfway through his line work.”
“You swore you’d never tell anyone,” Rhys grumbled, glaring daggers at me over Jenika’s head.
Jenika’s rich laughter filled the air and the melodic tones went straight to my cock. I laid the machine down on the side table and wheeled my stool away to grab the ointment and plastic wrap.
I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jenika was ours. The light in our souls. The beacon of hope that kept us grounded. Just watching her with Rhys, teasing him and poking him in the ribs, it was perfection.
“All done for today,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. I didn’t want her to leave. I couldn’t let her leave.
This was how Dad and Papa described how they felt when Mom wanted to go back to the states.
It was as if she was going to rip my heart out if she walked out that door without me.
Fuck.
Jenika rose, admiring the line work in the mirror. She turned her arm this way and that, a huge smile spread over her face as she inspected each and every line. “This is so amazing, Anders. More than I could have ever imagined.”
The depth of emotions in her voice had a lump forming in my throat. My gaze caught with Rhys’ in the mirror, his face reflecting the same play of emotions as mine.
“Don’t leave,” he whispered so low, I don’t think Jenika heard him the first time he said it.
“Stay,” I echoed, moving closer to snake an arm around Jenika’s waist. “Stay with us. I know this is fucking insane, but just like our parents, I know this is meant to be.”
Her eyes widened in shock. Her perfect lips formed a perfect O as her gaze danced between Rhys and me.
Then she uttered the most beautiful word, and I felt my soul finally feel complete.
“Yes.”
