Imprinted Tattoos (The Lost One's Book 1) Read online

  I'm making the most of it!

  "What are you making Darling?" Levi asks curiously, as he watches me make the dough for the pasta before placing it in the fridge to chill.

  I then start to prepare the sauce before seasoning and shaping the meatballs.

  "Homemade spaghetti and meatballs, with garlic bread and salad" I say slightly nervously. I'm hoping I made the right choice.

  Levi grins widely his eyes sparkling in happiness.

  "My favourite" he comes up next to me and kisses my forehead the electric sparks coursing through me. He never takes his eyes off me as he says, "ahh so those are the sparks my brothers get to enjoy."

  My face flushes.

  Jax comes up to my other side and plants a kiss dangerously close to my mouth and once again the sparks do their happy dance and I smile broadly.

  "Holy shit" Jax exclaims, startling a laugh out of me and the rest of the guys.

  "If you aren't going to help get out of kitchen" I say to the two gorgeous guys either side of me. I point to where the large kitchen island splits the room, the other side of it holding a large mahogany dining table.

  They both smirk before bowing grandly. Making the guys hoot with laughter.

  "At your service Lady Sage" Jax says in an awful fake British accent.

  "Why thank you kind sir, if you please, could you make a salad?" Replying in kind through my giggles.

  "But of course," he ambles off to make a salad and Levi brings my attention back to him.

  "What about me Darling?" his husky voice is sending shivers of pleasure through me. He smirks at me as if he knows what his voice his doing.

  Bastard, I grin at him.

  "Can you make the garlic bread please?"

  He nods and goes off to the other side of the kitchen to make it. I turn to face Hunter, Kai and Maverick. They all look at me expectantly as if waiting for me to give them orders. Definitely used to be military.

  "Can you guys lay the table please?"

  "Of course, Sweetheart."

  "No problem Titch."

  "Yeah, Beautiful Girl."

  All follow my question and a huge smile overtakes my face. I love that they have nicknames for me. I've never had one before. Not a nice one anyway. I frown and shake my head refusing to let my thoughts wander down that dark path. I focus back on cooking and it's not long until everything is ready. The guys all take everything to the table and leave me with nothing to carry.

  Everything smells really good even if I do say so myself. I just hope it tastes good too. It's been a while since I've cooked and I'm hoping I haven't gotten too rusty.

  Everyone digs in and soon they are all complimenting the food. I'm happy they all like it and I'm glad they like my way of saying thank you. It's not until nearly the end of the meal that Hunter brings up the topic, I was hoping he had forgotten about.

  "Sweetheart, how did you know the fighting style that Kai was doing?"

  All of the quiet conversations that we're going on around the table suddenly coming to a halt and they all start glancing between me and Hunter. I swallow hard. I don't want to share this yet.

  "I will tell you one day soon. Not today though" I say firmly. I will not be sharing this part of myself today.

  "But. . . " he starts respond.

  Levi puts a hand on his shoulder.

  "We understand Darling. You didn't ask for details about Kai. We respect that you will tell us when you're ready."

  Hunters tense form relaxes at Levi's words realising he is right.

  "Thank you" I say sincerely.

  "You're welcome, Darling."

  "I'm sorry Sage Sweetheart. I had no right to question you when we've hardly told you anything about us. Thank you for trusting us as much as you have" Hunter tells me sincerely.

  I reach across the table and grab a hold of his hand squeezing it gently and silently loving the callouses that adorn his fingers.

  "What instrument do you play?" I ask absently. "Wait, you play guitar, right?" I ask smiling.

  "Holy fuck how did you know that Beautiful Girl?" Kai exclaims loudly.

  I glance up slightly embarrassed.

  "He has callouses on his fingers that you only get from playing a guitar or a similar instrument. I took a guess" I shrug.

  "Your talents keep getting more and more intriguing Sage Darling" Levi smiles at me.

  I blush a deep red at the compliment. We all finish our meal, talking about much lighter topics.

  After clearing up the table, I finally turn towards the guys.

  "I need to get back."

  "Ok Sweetheart. I'll take you" Hunter says.

  I have a feeling him taking me home is a premeditated choice, but I don't have the energy to think on it too hard. My extremely long day is starting to catch up to me. I say goodbye to the others getting a kiss on the cheek or forehead, the sparks following every time, making me smile. When it's Kai's turn, he hugs me fiercely but making sure still to be careful of my ribs. He tucks his head into my neck.

  "Stay safe Beautiful Girl, please?" he almost begs.

  My heart stutters.

  "I will, I promise to call Kai."

  He nods before placing a light kiss where my neck meets my shoulder just like before the sparks with him are stronger. Both mine and Kai's knees give way slightly at the sensation. The only thing that stops us from falling to the floor is the wall behind Kai that he slumps heavily back on. Pulling me flush against him. My eyes find his, and I'm shocked to see his grass green eyes darkened with desire that must match my own.

  "Holy fuck" I exclaim.

  We both start to lean in closer to each other. Kai's hands landing on my waist and bringing me flush against him. It's still not close enough. My hands are still wound around his neck and I drag my nails lightly down it. He shudders and groans low in his throat; the sound sends ripples of pleasure through my body causing my breaths to quicken and making me clench my thighs in an attempt to soothe the ache. Our lips are merely a hairbreadth apart when the moment is shattered by Hunter. Bringing me unwillingly crashing back to my senses. Disappointment courses through me but I suppose it's for the best. I have strong feelings for all of them.

  I can't choose.

  My cheeks heat as I realise, they all witnessed what just happened.

  "What the hell just happened?" Hunter questions, although he doesn't seem angry, more confused.

  "It seems that the sparks between me and Sage have gotten stronger" Kai explains whilst setting us upright.

  I step away from him slightly and even though it's not too far, I feel the loss immensely and have to force myself not to move back towards him.

  This is extremely weird.

  It's starting to get uncomfortable like an itch under my skin that I can’t scratch. I grab Hunters hand as he holds it out to me and It seems to marginally calm the ache in my chest caused by Kai. Before the ache comes back, I wave quickly to everyone and drag Hunter out the door to take me home.

  The drive home doesn't take long, and we spend it learning a little bit more about each other. I learn that his favourite colour is dark blue, he loves pizza and likes working on cars and motorbikes in his spare time. The further away we drive the less the ache in my chest becomes, it’s still there but I don't have the overwhelming need to be close to Kai anymore.

  What the hell is going on with me?

  All too soon we arrive back at my house. I have Hunter park the car further down the road from the house just in case my mother is still awake.

  "You have your phone?" Hunter questions.

  A suddenly serious, a dark glare etched onto his face.

  I nod.

  "You remember how to use the app?"

  "Yes Hunter, Levi showed me how it worked before we left. I'll be okay and if I need you, I will ring. I promise."

  "Ok stay safe Sage Sweetheart" he leans in and kisses me gently on the cheek lingering a while and making the sparks last longer.

  I sigh in contentment b
efore I gather myself. Put my wall back up and exit the car. I turn once to wave at him before I make my way to my house and silently through the door.

  I breathe a heavy sigh of relief as I notice my mother passed out on the couch. I make my way quickly upstairs taking a quick shower before locking my bedroom door and collapsing into bed. I send each of the guys a text saying that I'm okay and that I'm going to sleep.

  I fall into a deep sleep before I can get their replies.

  Kai

  "What the hell was that?" Maverick asks me.

  "The fuck if I know brother."

  "What happened exactly?" Levi asks as Jax just watches silently observing.

  I run a hand through my red hair.

  "I kissed her and like what happens with all of us the sparks came but they were stronger, a lot fucking stronger. So strong they made my knees buckle. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling in the slightest." I scrub a hand over my face, "as soon as she pulled away though I had this incredible need to have her closer to me. I had to force myself to stay where I was. It was becoming an incredibly uncomfortable feeling but then she grabbed Hunters hand and the ache dimmed slightly. The longer she's been gone the more it has lessened. The ache is still there but it's not overwhelming or uncomfortable anymore."

  They all stare at me in shock and confusion.

  "What the hell is going on?" Jax questions Levi.

  "I'd like to know too. We all feel the sparks with her, and I don't know about you guys but that has never happened to me before. She knew Kai's middle name and the triplets last name. She is supposed to be here with us. With all of us" Hunter finishes quietly but firmly, having just come through the door whilst I've been explaining what happened.

  He's right. I've known since the second I laid my eyes on her that she belonged with me, with us.

  How is that possible though?

  "Did you notice that the same side that she was hurt is also the same side that we all kept having those strange intense pains and bruises, then having them disappear?" Maverick asks.

  "Holy fuck he's right" I exclaim.

  "They're linked they have to be" Jax adds.

  "I may have a lead about what's going on but it's purely speculation at the moment" Levi informs us.

  "Well what is it?" Hunter asks impatiently.

  "One second, I have to get something first" he replies.

  I shrug as we watch him sprint up the stairs two at a time.

  "Anyone want a beer?" I ask.

  They all nod and I go to the kitchen to grab them. I can't stop thinking about Sage. She is on a constant loop in my mind and ever since I first met her, she hasn’t left. I don't want her to. She makes me feel alive. She makes my heart beat harder and I get flutters in my stomach when she's near. She saw me at my worst, and she didn't judge. She offered me comfort. She helped me. No one has been able to bring me out of my memories when I've gotten that lost before, not even my brothers and we shared a womb.

  She managed it though.

  She already means the world to me and the feelings that coursed through me when the sparks flared to life earlier were unbelievable. It took every shred of self-control I possess to stop me from taking her right then and there. Oh, my fucking God did I want to though. It didn't help that it was obvious she wanted me too. I could have punched Hunter for interrupting us but looking back it was probably for the best.

  I take a sip of my beer and wander back into the living room. Wondering what Levi has found. I hand the beers out to the rest of the guys and take a seat on the couch leaning back. All of our phones go off at the same time. I sit up quickly pulling out my phone as I panic that something could be wrong with Beautiful. I smile broadly when I see she's just saying she’s ok and that she's going to sleep. I send her a text back and notice the guys doing the same all with smiles on their faces even Hunter.

  We are all absolutely smitten with her.

  I can only hope that it will all work out. We have no problem sharing her. I know there will be issues, but we will work through them like a family because that's what we are. I just hope that she likes all of us. I don't want any of my brothers’ hearts to get broken. I don't want my heart to be broken. She doesn't realise the power she holds over us. She could break us all. It's terrifying how close we already feel to her and It's only been a few days, yet it feels like I’ve known her all my life. Levi comes down the stairs holding a large ancient looking book.

  Time to get some answers, hopefully.

  Jax

  "What's that?" Maverick asks.

  "A book" I reply grinning.

  "Well no shit Sherlock, I can see it's a book." He growls back.

  "Guys stop" Levi admonishes us. "So, I have been looking for something to help explain our reactions to Sage, ever since we first met her. I searched multiple databases that are only available to us at our clearance level and came up with absolutely fuck all. I then remembered that before we came on this mission Mr S gave me this book." He holds up the large tome, "I had completely forgotten about it. He told me that I'd need it." He frowns, "It was very odd now I think about it. He wouldn't give me anymore information just told me that I'd know when I needed it. We were just about to board the jet, so I just shrugged it off and forgot all about it."

  "Do you think he knew we'd find her?" Kai asks.

  "It would seem like it but how?" Levi asks.

  It seems all we have are questions and no answers.

  "What does the book say?" Hunter asks gruffly.

  "Not as much as I'd like and I haven’t got through all the information yet" Levi sighs frustrated "but it does say that a thousand or so years ago, Soulmates existed. They weren't common and were a part of the ruling council. There was a war between the Soulmates and the regular people, they claimed that the Soulmates were too powerful and posed a threat. Although it doesn't explain exactly how they were too powerful. Most of the Soulmates were eradicated with the help of the mages, shifters and vampires. The rest were thought to have gone into hiding. No Soulmates have been seen or found in the future generations since the war."

  I just stare at him, did he really say mages, shifters and vampires, those exist? And Soulmates? What exactly were they?

  "Vampires?" Kai asks.

  "Yes, according to this book, they were real and might still be" Levi answers.

  "That's fucking insane" Hunter exclaims.

  "You can say that again brother" Maverick agrees clapping him on the back.

  "That means that shifters and mages could still be real too?" I ask.

  "Yes, now listen to this, you're all focusing on the wrong part of the book" he looks at us sternly. "One of the ways you knew you had found your Soulmate was an instant connection, they felt familiar to you like you had known them forever even though you might have met them only an hour before. The other way was that the Soulmates would feel sparks, like electricity."

  We all sit in shocked silence whilst his words soak in.

  "How the fuck is that possible though?" Hunter exclaims, "we all feel the sparks."

  "Does that mean we are ALL her Soulmates?" Kai asks.

  "According to this book, yes." Levi answers "it also says that the Soulmate that is the centrum regardless of whether they are male or female gets an Imprint Tattoo just before they meets their Soulmate. The connected Soulmate won't get theirs until the bonding is complete."

  "So, Sage could already have our Imprint Tattoo?" Hunter asks.

  Before Levi can answer Maverick cuts in.

  "Hang on the book keeps saying mate not mates. So, it's not usual for someone to have more than one?"

  "I honestly don't know. The only other thing in the book that is written on the subject of Soulmates is that when the bond starts to strengthen it will become harder to stay away from each other. So much so that it becomes extremely uncomfortable. Once bonded fully the effect will calm down considerably. Also, as the bond strengthens the physical need for each other increases." He glances over at Kai whose shock
ed expression would be comical if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation, "this would explain your reaction to her earlier."

  I’m shocked when Kai's cheeks tint red and I can’t help but start chuckling.

  "Hey!" Kai says pointing at me, "like you would have been able to hold it together any better than I did. You didn't feel the sparks. Holy fuck man" he lets out a heavy sigh and runs his hand through his hair.

  "You’re right brother, from what I saw and her reaction to you too, I would have fared no better." I tell him honestly.

  Levi glares at us for interrupting before he gets us back on track.

  "Hunter, if this book is right then Sage will have our Imprint Tattoo. I have a feeling Mr S knows more about this, but we need to talk to Sage first before involving him. I want us all to be on the same page. There's still a chance this is wrong."

  I raise my eyebrow sceptically at him. He knows full well that this is the real deal. I can feel it in my soul and a quick look around at my brothers tells me they feel the same.

  "Are the sparks stronger with me because of how she helped me earlier?" Kai questions suddenly.

  "That would be my top guess" Levi states before continuing.

  "We all talked years ago, when we first became a team, then family. We all agreed that none of us wanted a woman to come between us and that the potential of our individual partners to fall out with each other was too high to risk. We decided that if we found the right woman that we would share" Levi looks around at us judging our reactions, "now that it is a very real possibility, do you still want to do it this way?"

  He's right we did decide that long ago. Now that it's an option my views haven't changed. I don't want to lose Sage she means too much to me already. I also don't want to lose my brothers.

  "I still agree to it. I understand that there are going to be difficulties that we will have to overcome but I know as a family we can overcome any obstacles. I don't feel jealous when any of you kiss her or touch her. I don't know if that will change as the relationship progresses but right now it doesn't bother me" I finish.

  "I agree as well and feel the same as Jax it doesn't bother me" Kai tells us a grin on his face.