ISAAC

 

I never knew life could be this sweet. The day I was placed with Mum and Dad is still burned into my brain. I was six, but I wasn’t stupid. My parents saved me then. For five years I lived my life making sure Via was safe… saving her. A year ago today, my life finally started when she saved me.

“Do you know what you want?” Helena asks arching her eyebrow at Via, there seems to be a story there.

Via looks at me and winks. “So, a while ago I wanted a tattoo that Helena temporarily talked me out of getting. Then you came back into my life, and things got a little… crazy for a while.”

I grind my teeth remembering her being kidnapped, but she soothes me instantly by pushing her dainty hand in my large one. “It slipped my mind, and so to Helena’s delight, I never got it done.”

“Yes, it was a stupid tattoo and not right for my best friend,” she states with her hands on her hips.

I look between the two and decide not to ask what it was.

“Anyway, I know what I want.” Helena nods at Via’s statement, and that’s my cue.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours, baby, okay?” I murmur, leaning down and kissing her hard on the mouth.

“Mmm,” she purrs back, and I can’t help but chuckle.

 

 

Two hours later and with all my errands run, I head back to pick up my girl. My anniversary present to Via was her tattoo. What she doesn’t know is I got Helena to tattoo me last week. Luckily, as the new career path I chose was to be a gardener, when she asked about my bandage, I said that I had been attacked by a stray bush. She thought that was hilarious and hasn’t commented on it again. This morning, before my shower, I finally removed the bandage ready to show her later.

“Hey, all done?” I ask, walking into Eternal Sin Ink and seeing Via and Helena chatting on the sofas at the front of the shop.

She looks up at me and smiles huge. This is what makes me tick, I live for her smiles.

“All done.”

“See you later,” Helena calls as we leave.

“So, what do you want to do?” Via asks, pouting and looking up at me with hooded eyes.

“Well, it’s obvious what you want. Shall we go home and have lunch before our meal out with the family tonight?”

“Yes,” she replies excitedly, and I chuckle.

I moved in with Via a couple of months after we got together. The house I lived in held too many memories of being alone and of me becoming Kane to continue living there. Plus, my lies about Shelly and me as a couple and us living in that house together held too many memories for Via. So, I sold it and moved in with my girl. One day, we’ll buy somewhere bigger, but for now, it’s perfect for us.

The moment we’re in the flat, I start tearing her clothes off until she’s naked—only a square white bandage covers her hip.

“Come on, take yours off.” She gestures to me. I slip my jeans and socks off, my boxers going with them, and I watch as she licks her lips unaware of her movements. I stand still for a second and then reach behind my back grabbing my top and dragging it over my head.

Her voice catches, her hand covers her mouth, and her eyes shine with teary happiness. She takes a step forward and touches my tattoo with her fingertips.

“You did this?”

I shrug. “It belongs to you.”

“For me,” she whispers to herself.

Via lays her hand flat over the tattoo on my chest like a shield across my heart. Underneath her palm is my tattoo. It’s a simple feather. Inscribed through the centre is the word Via. Not Olivia, not Liv, but Via… only mine. Above the feather, it says My Forever and underneath are the words For Always.

“Oh my God!” she shouts, making me take a step back in confusion as she pulls her bandage away from her hip.

“Careful,” I order.

Smiling up at me, she teases. “Not my first tattoo, new boy.” I laugh, but it gets caught in my throat when I see the design. Across her hip is a birdcage, the door is open, and a bird flies free from it. Above the cage are the words—Love is forever, for always.

Now it’s my turn to feel like my breath has been sucked from me.

Gently, she grasps my hand. “You gave me your love and made me believe in forever, for always,” she whispers.

I’m naked, she’s naked, but at this moment, there’s something else I’m thinking about. I reach down to my jeans, which lay crumpled on the floor, and pull the small blue box from my pocket.

“What is t-that?” she stutters.

I don’t answer her. Instead, I open the box and pull out the platinum ring holding a black diamond and slip it on her finger without saying a word.

“Is this… I-Is…” Her words fade away.

“This is me securing my forever, for always. You can say yes, baby, but honestly, I’m not giving you a choice, you’re mine, Via.”

She looks down at the ring and then back up into my eyes, emotion covering every inch of her face.

“Yes, forever,” she whispers the words out.

Via’s agreement affects me more than I expect. Immediately, I grab her naked body, throwing her on the bed. The control in me has almost slipped completely, and she shivers with anticipation.

“Hard or soft, baby?” I ask.

“Hard,” she murmurs.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply.

 

 

 

The years slipped through open fingers as their paths travelled different directions, they forever held onto the love that was created as children.

Years later he saved her, finally, she returned the favour.

-Maria Macdonald

 

 

Toby and Shelly’s story will be coming in Book Two