Page 130 of The Souls We Claim

Lola uses my shoulder to pull herself to her feet and wobbles the few steps to her turtle-shaped sand box. That’s the other thing that’s had us both a bit panic struck. Lola is now even more mobile.

“Dadda, box.”

“In a minute, Lollipop. I’ve got something for your momma.”

Ari wiggles beneath me. “And Momma wants it, Daddy,” she whispers.

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Ari,” I warn.

Ari’s laughter is contagious, and I can’t help but chuckle as I lift myself off her and kneel between her legs.

“We talked about this, and I’m hoping you still feel the same way about it now.” I can’t believe I’m feeling nervous about this. After everything we’ve already been through together, this feels like it should be the easy part.

I think I’d rather face down a fully armed militia than watch the look on Ari’s face as she holds her cut for the first time.

Because I can’t help myself, I kiss her softly on the lips. “Fucking love you, Ari. It’s as simple as that.”

I hand her the cut. There’s no ring to go with it. Not yet. The divorce isn’t finalized yet, and I’m not putting a ring on her finger until that’s done.

As she opens the package, my heart skips a fucking beat. Ari touches it like I touch my own, with a reverence that it stands for something important.

“Oh my gosh, I need to put it on.” She climbs to her knees, slips her arms through the armholes, and then brushes her hands down the front. Then she glances over her shoulder to see the back. “I can’t see it. I need a mirror.”

“Wait,” I say when she moves to stand. “Turn around.”

She shuffles around on the blanket on her knees.

Property of Halo.

A wedding ring won’t make her any more mine than seeing those words on her back.

I rub my hand over my jaw, suddenly filled with emotions I can’t name that I swear to God threaten tears. Swallowing deeply, I shake my head to clear it.

“Stay there.” I whip out my phone to take a picture. I’m glad she’s got her hair up today so I can see the patches properly. When she glances over her shoulder to see what I’m doing, I take another picture.

“Let me see,” she says, and I show her.

“You could have told me the strap from my bra is showing,” she complains.

“It’s perfect, Ari. Utterly perfect. Like you are.”

She throws herself at me so I’m on my back and she’s on top of me. “I love it. And I love you. So much, Jax. I hope you always know that. Thank you for giving me this life.”

I wrap my arms around her, feeling the patches beneath my fingers, and hold her to me as we kiss.

“Glad to hear it, kitten. If you want that other gift from me,” I mumble against her lips, “you’re gonna need to tire Lola out.”

Ari wriggles against me again, my cock in its happy place between her thighs, nudging her clit. “As tempting as that is, she’s had her nap and been awake for about fifteen minutes before you got home.”

I groan. “Until later then.”

Lola waddles over, occasionally falling forward and putting her hands on the grass before finding her way upright again. When she gets to Ari, she tries to climb on top of her.

Ari and I laugh as she tries to step onto various bits of both of us, and somehow, we manage it.

Ari on top of me. Lola on top of Ari. Probably some kind of symbolism that I’m on the bottom. I’ll always be the solid foundation these girls can count on. And I’ll always catch them if they slip and fall.

A bit of drool from Lola hits my cheek, and I grimace as I wipe it up. Ari and I laugh. Something we do a lot.