A Guy Walks Into My Bar - Lauren Blakely Page 0,42
about his family that a grin takes over my face. “You’re good to them,” I say, keeping it simple.
“They’re good to me. And hey, it’s no hardship to travel to some amazing places. I loved all that stuff in Tokyo too, since I was a history major.”
“Then I definitely will show you some of our sites here in London, and I’ll pretend I’m not jealous that you’ve been everywhere.”
“I’m lucky I’ve been able to travel. Have you ever been to the States?”
I shake my head. “No. Haven’t made it that way yet. But it’s all good,” I say, then trace my fingers down his arm. “I keep meaning to ask you about your ink, but every time we get naked, I’m distracted by other things.”
“My dick is super distracting.”
“It actually is. But I won’t be sidetracked now. So, what’s this?” I draw my finger across the tribal band on one arm, barbed lines woven intricately across his biceps.
“Strength, family, wisdom,” Fitz says, letting out a soft rumble as I touch him. It’s heady to know even a curious trace can make him tremble.
“Your pillars?”
“Yup. Exactly. They’re what matters.”
“Couldn’t agree more. And this?” My fingers follow a geometric design like spokes spiraling out from his biceps, winding around his shoulder and upper back.
“Passion. Intensity,” he says, shutting his eyes, breathing out hard as I map his ink.
“And is that for the way you play hockey?”
He opens his eyes, those blue irises glinting. “Yes. That’s how I try to play. Give it my all every time I hit the ice. Nothing less.”
“Your teammates are lucky to have you.”
“Goes both ways. I couldn’t do what I do without them. They’re my guys.” He lets out a low growl as my hand spreads to cover the sunburst. “And this one?” I lower my face, pressing a kiss to the ink.
“Light, truth. It was Emma’s idea.”
“Yeah? Why’d she suggest it?”
“She said I was like that. That I was always outgoing, always up-front, always open.”
I smile. “Sounds like you.”
“It came from a quote she found when she was studying religions in college as part of her core curriculum. ‘Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.’ Buddha said it, and she shared it with me. I like it.”
“And then this last one?”
My fingers travel to his chest, where his skin bears an inscription under the left pec. It’s small and simple, just two words—No Regrets.
“That’s how I try to live. It’s a good mantra,” he says.
“I can’t disagree with you on that. I like it. I like them all. I like the way they look on you. So much that I don’t mind mopping the floors or scrubbing the toilets.”
Fitz snakes a hand around my body, squeezing my ass. “You’re going to have to do so many chores after the things I plan on doing to you.”
“At this rate, I think I might be building a new bar from scratch.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “I should feel guilty, but I don’t.” He pauses for a beat. “Do you want me to help you though?”
I scoff. “You’re not going to pitch in and clean the floors. I make my own choices.”
“I’d do it for you. If you wanted me to.” The earnestness of his offer is almost too much. It tugs on my heart, the sweetness in his voice. I believe he’d really grab a paintbrush or a hammer and happily work off my debt with me.
“I’m sure you’d look fantastic with a tool belt, but let’s focus on these tools instead,” I say, sliding a hand under the covers and squeezing his cock.
“You can use that for anything you want.”
“And I plan to. Since evidently you need to get all these horny penguins out of your system before you go whack some moles or whatever it is you do on the ice.”
He cracks up as I let go of him. “I will get you to like hockey, I swear.”
“If it’s the last thing you do,” I tease, shaking a fist.
“I’m going to make sure you love it. Mark my words, Dean.”
“And I suppose I’d better make sure you like London. So, on that note, I should shower and change.” I glance at the clock on the bedside table. “I’ll meet you at Tower Bridge at twelve thirty.”
“That’s two hours away. How will I make it until then? I’m like a penguin, and in penguin time, that’s years.”
Laughing, I toss the covers aside. “So rub one out in the shower. That’ll tide you