Page 5 of Keegan's Promise

“Yes.”

“Good girl. Stay real still for me.”

I try. Really, I do. But he’s touching me. I feel him moving against my back, his heat searing into me. I feel his breath whispering against my ear. His scent—like leather and ink—envelopes me, lulling me toward the edge of something I’ve never felt before. It bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and soars through my veins.Desire,potent and raw.

“You’re doing so well, baby,” he praises me.

“I…like it, Keegan.”

“Yeah?”

I hear the smile in his voice and nod, leaning back against him slightly. “Feels good.”

“The ink already looks beautiful against your skin.”

“What is it?” I try to turn my head, but his is right next to mine. All I manage to do is bump into him.

“Sit still,” he murmurs, his lips gliding across my cheek.

This time, I can’t fight the whimper that escapes my lips. It just tumbles out without my consent.

Keegan hears it and groans softly, stirring pieces of hair along the side of my face. “How’d you get so fucking sweet, Landry baby?”

“I-I don’t know.” I curl my fingers around the side of the table, gripping it hard. Not because I’m in pain but because I’m not. I feel better right now than I have in a long time. He’s pressed up against me, his lips against my skin, his tattoo gun humming against my shoulder blade. The little burning pain of the gun, coupled with the way his breath rasps against my skin, has me on the verge of sensory overload.

“Do you belong to anyone?”

My heart thuds against my breastbone in a painful thud. Does he know about Garrick and the Sons of Loki? About my uncle? How?

“Do you have a man, Landry? Someone waiting for you at home?” he clarifies, allowing me to take a little breath. He wasn’t asking about Garrick and the MC. Of course he wasn’t. I doubt people get sold to cover debts in his world.

“There’s no one. I’m all alone.” The admission comes out wistful and…lonely.

Good job, Landry. Let him know how pitiful you are.

“Not all alone, sweetness,” he rumbles as the tattoo gun moves to a new spot. “You’re here with me right now, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“So you aren’t alone. You’ve got me.”

“I like you.” I squeeze my eyes closed on the admission. Why can’t I stop talking? “I mean, I like being here.”

“Yeah? Well, I like you being here too.” His lips graze my cheek again, sending another wave of heat through me.

I try so hard not to whimper this time…but it’s useless. The sound comes anyway.

“Sweetness,” he groans, the tattoo gun going still against my skin. “You gotta stop making that sound.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, biting my lip. “I don’t mean to.”

“I know.” He groans again. “It’s so fucking sweet. I can’t focus when you make it, Landry.”

My eyes flutter open. This time, when I turn my head, my eyes meet his. Another whimper slips out before I can stop it because he looks so beautiful right now. His eyes are dark and full of hunger, like he’s looking at something he’s dying to sink his teeth into. And that something is me.

“Keegan, I…”

“Turn back around, baby. Let me finish this.”

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