Page 40 of Keegan's Promise

“We can begin whenever you two are ready,” he says, glancing from me to Keegan.

“What do you say, baby?” Keegan asks. “You ready to be mine now?”

“Yes,” I say, my voice strong and sure. I made my decision in his arms in bed a week ago. So long as he wants me, I’m his. And even if, in some alternate reality, he gets tired of me someday, I’ll still be his. He has every piece of me.

Samara passes Lily to him, and his expression melts when he sees her in the little white dress Elodie found for her. She looks like a baby princess. Not that she notices. She only has eyes for her daddy as she reaches toward his face, babbling.

“My sweet little princess,” he croons, nuzzling her against his cheek. “You look just like your mama, you know that?”

She coos softly, grinning at him.

Keegan tucks her up against his chest, cradling her carefully, and then wraps one strong arm around my waist, leading me toward the judge. Elodie and Samara take their places beside Tate and Coby, who are here to act as our witnesses.

Everyone who has been helping us wanted to be here, but I never dreamed about a big wedding. The only thing I ever wanted was a man who couldn’t live without me, someone who made life new and beautiful. Keegan is so much more than I ever could have expected. How I become his doesn’t really matter to me. It’s not the wedding I’ll remember for the rest of my life, anyway. It’s what the ceremony symbolizes. That he chose me. That he loves me. That hope and happy-ever-after exist even in the darkest, deepest pits of hell.

I don’t hear a word the judge says. I’m too busy staring at Keegan. I think it’s the same for him because he doesn’t take his eyes off me once through the entire brief ceremony. The judge has to clear his throat three times before Keegan even realizes that he’s supposed to repeat after him.

He says his vows with his eyes locked with mine and his voice ringing around me. And I say mine with tears in my eyes and my voice shaking with emotion. But he hears them.

When it’s time for him to put his ring on my finger, he passes Lily to his sister and then grasps my hand, sliding a gorgeous diamond band onto my finger.

“Fuck,” he whispers, his eyes flaring with heat. He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the ring. “You’re mine now, sweetness. My wife.”

Tears well in my eyes, spilling over.

He captures them with the pads of his thumb, wiping them away as Judge Hamilton officially pronounces us married. Keegan doesn’t even wait for permission before his lips come down on mine, his kiss wild and full of emotion.

I sob against his lips, overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

“My wife,” he breathes, holding me tightly.

They’re the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard.

“Are you sure Lily is okay?” I ask an hour later, peering out the window as we bounce along a dirt track, headed deep into the woods a few miles outside of town.

“Positive,” Keegan says, his voice firm. “She has everything she needs at the clubhouse. Tate and Samara will take good care of her for the night.”

I know he’s right, but…

“Maybe we should have brought her with us.”

“Baby.” He chuckles, reaching for my hand. “She’ll be back in your arms first thing in the morning. But I want you to myself for tonight.” His voice drops low. “I want you to scream as loud as you want when I’m inside you, without worrying about waking her up.”

I clench my thighs together, whimpering softly. I want that too, so damn badly. We’ve never had a night where it was just the two of us. At the clubhouse, we had to be quiet because there was always someone else there, or Lily was asleep in her crib across the room. At his place, Lily is right down the hall. Even in Colorado, we were in a hotel, surrounded by other people. I want him all to myself for one night. But… “I’ve never been away from her.”

“I know,” he says softly. “But she’s going to be just fine. You know Tate and Samara won’t allow anything to happen to her.”

“I know.” They’ve been a godsend to me the last couple of weeks. Samara and Elodie may be the first real friends I’ve ever had. Elodie is hilarious, and Samara is so sweet and understanding. It’s helped to have someone who knows a little bit about what I’ve been through. Our histories aren’t the same, but Samara knows exactly how much pain men like Garrick can cause. Men just like him killed her sister.

I peek over at Keegan. “It’s hard to let go. Even though I know she’s safe here, I still worry that if she’s out of my sight…”

“You’re afraid they’ll take her when you aren’t there.”

I bob my head in a nod. It’s so hard to let go of that fear when it’s been the driving force in my life for months. I’ve had to look over my shoulder and be hypervigilant every moment. Learning to relax and breathe won’t happen overnight. I’m trying. I really am. But until Garrick and the MC are no longer a threat, part of me will always be looking over my shoulder, afraid they’re going to snatch her out of my arms.

“That isn’t going to happen, Landry. Tate and Cash have the whole MC staying at the clubhouse tonight to help keep her safe.” He pauses. “Everyone except Giant, anyway. He’ll be out here, helping me watch over you.”

My eyes widen slightly. Giant usually goes home at night, leaving Keegan to watch over me. I guess since this place isn’t wired up, though, they’re taking extra safety precautions. “He won’t be able to hear us, will he?”

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