Live Without Regret (A Touch of Fate 3)

So here I am letting the man I love give me a tattoo, and I have absolutely no idea what it’s going to look like or what it’s going to say. I gave him two stipulations; the tattoo had to be in a different language, just like the other two, and I wanted it on the underside of my forearm, straight down from my pinky.

Time passes quickly, and before I know it, Connor turns off his tattoo gun. “All done,” he says, running a cloth over my skin to wipe off the blood. “You ready to see it?”

I nod excitedly, and he turns my arm so I can see the three beautifully scripted words he’s permanently etched into my skin. “Vivere senza rimpianti,” I whisper, trying my best not to botch the pronunciation. “It’s stunning,” I say, looking at Connor. His smile is beaming, and just like always, it melts my heart. “What’s it mean?”

“That’s the best part,” he says, bringing his lips to mine. He kisses me gently a couple of times before pulling back. “Do you remember when I promised that no matter what happened between us, you would never regret this or me?” I nod, my eyes welling with tears when I remember the heartache I caused that led to that moment. Grateful isn’t even a strong enough word to describe how happy I am that he decided to forgive me.

“No crying.” Curving his hand around the back of my neck, he tugs me in close. “It says ‘live without regret’ in Italian. I thought it would be perfect.”

My breath hitches in my throat. “It’s more than perfect.” Mindful of my fresh ink, I wrap my arms carefully around his neck.

Connor nuzzles his face in my hair. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Not like. Love,” I say, emphasizing the last word. “I love it. Almost as much as I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. More than you know.”

“Why don’t you take me home and you can show me just how much.”

Connor growls, his eyes eating me up from head to toe. “That’s a brilliant idea,” he says, pulling back so he can perform his aftercare on my tattoo. “You’re so damn smart. Just one of the millions of things about you that turn me the fuck on.”

“Connor. Hurry,” I say, wiggling in my seat. My need for this man hasn’t waned…not one bit. In fact, it’s grown to epic proportions.

“And Brittany,” he says, wiping salve on my arm, “just to give you some warning so you can prepare yourself…” I look at him questioningly, wondering what he’s going to say next. “I’m going to ask you to marry me and it’s going to be soon.”

My heart stutters to a stop, flops around inside my chest, and then restarts, kicking into high gear. “Not if I ask you first.”

Connor’s head snaps up, a shit-eating grin plastered to his face. “Well played, babe,” he says. “Well played.”

Pursing my lips, I give him a smug little smile.

I think I’m going to like playing this game.

THE END