Page 165 of Forbidden Hockey

“Uh…” Shit.

He smirks. “Lemme guess, pouting because I wasn’t here? Too single-focused to think about anything else?”

“I was not pouting.”

“He was,” Penny says unhelpfully from the prep room.

“Maybe a little,” I admit. “We need a better system. My bed was missing an occupant last night.”

It’s something I have an increasing amount of beef with. I know we talked about how moving in together was a bad idea, but watching him move out of his old place and into a new place without me is giving me visions of abducting him and moving all his stuff into my place anyway.

His lips crack a brilliant smile. “Don’t worry, I’m staying here tonight.”

“You damn well better be.” Why wait until tonight? “C’mere.” I abandon my chopping station, something I’d never have done in the past, but I have to have him. It’s a need. As soon as he’s past the threshold of my apartment, I’m tugging the hem of his shirt up and over. Nimble fingers undo my belt, and teeth scrape my jaw.

“Get on your knees, baby. You’re gonna show me how much you missed me, and how sorry you are for leaving me all alone last night.”

A husky chuckle leaves his throat as he sinks to the floor, engulfing my cock with his hot mouth.

“C’mon,” I say, grabbing his hand. “I’m taking you somewhere.” I lead Dirk out of the restaurant, walking in the direction of one of my favorite places. I hold his hand, proudly, the whole way, Dirk’s lips actually sporting a half smile in broad daylight.

“What are you up to, Trav? You’ve got a scheming look about you.”

Maybe a bit, but it’s a scheme I think he’ll be down for. It’s a bit of a walk to the other side of town, but when we get there, I stop in front of the place, looking up at the sign, letting him digest what I might be thinking. I hope he likes it because we have an appointment.

“A tattoo parlor, Trav?”

“Not just any tattoo parlor, the one that’s done most of my tattoos.” I don’t just come here for tattoos either. I’ve gotten to know the people who work here over the years. Initially, I stopped by to watch them work, but we became friends. They showed me a few things. I got a few years of practice, and it became a hobby.

“What are you getting this time?” he says.

“Me? Nuh-uh. You.” Gripping under his jaw with one hand, I pull him to me and run my other thumb over the hipbone I had in mind. On the left, the only one free thanks to his Calder Cup tattoo on the other side. “I want something right here.”

I move my thumb down, tracing the path of where it would start and end.

“I’d have to open my pants for that one, Trav. You sure you’re okay with that?”

“Yep.” At least, it is for what I have planned. “You game?”

“You really wanna test Hunter’s patience, eh?”

Testing his patience would be doing what I really wanna do and taking him down to the courthouse, putting a ring on his finger, but we decided to let Hunter get used to us as boyfriendsfor a bit. He’s trying, making an honest effort to accept us, and so our compromise is not getting married—yet—or moving in together.

I’m a grumbly asshole about it, but I’m not mad. If everyone gives a little, we’ll reach common ground, because we want the same thing. But I’m only waiting so long, Hunter’s got a year.

“He still doesn’t know about the other one,” he says when I haven’t responded, a clear indication that with some of Hunter’s rules, I just don’t give a fuck.

“That a no, pretty boy?”

Dirk ducks his head, eyes flicking down, the buttons of my shirt becoming all too fascinating. “I, uh, um…” He clears his throat. “For some reason, I find this unbearably hot—getting tattooed for you. Are people gonna watch?”

“I have a setup in mind.” I’ve already picked up on his penchant for exhibitionism. I dunno if I’ll ever be okay with going full throttle on that one, but I came up with what I think’ll be a happy medium.

He nods, still sporting the adorable fucking shyness he gets just for me. “I wanna do it. Will you get something for me?”

“Still want my dick tattooed?” It would fucking hurt, but I’d do it for him.

He laughs. “I do, but I don’t want someone else touching your dick, so we’ll have to talk about it.”