Page 4 of Keegan's Promise

“How’d you end up here?” I ask, trying to avoid lying to him again. I don’t like being untruthful when he’s been nicer to me than anyone else has in a long time.

He peeks up at me, chuckling. “I’m headlining.”

“Headlining?” My brows furrow, and then my mind drifts back to that sign at the front of the convention—the one with all the names. There was a Keegan at the top, larger than most others. A shocked gasp escapes before I can call it back. “You’re a big deal.”

When he laughs this time, it’s not a little chuckle. It’s a deep, rumbling laugh that touches me in places it shouldn’t. His eyes crinkle at the corners when he meets my gaze. “Yeah, I guess that’s one way to put it.”

I just stare at him, trying to fit this new piece of information into place in my mind. He’s one of the biggest names here…and he’s being so nice to me. It doesn’t make sense. People like him are supposed to ignore people like me. They’re supposed to be jerks. Keegan isn’t. He’s just…kind. Gentle in a way no one has ever been with me.

He rises to his feet while I’m staring at him and moves around behind me.

“W-what are you doing?” I crane my head to look at him.

“Getting you ready.” He winks at me, and my thighs clench again. “I’m going to put your tattoo right…” He reaches for me, running his fingertips across my shoulder blade. “Here.”

I shiver beneath his touch.

“You’ll need to pull your shirt down and remove your bra.”

My heart slams against my ribcage. For a minute, I hesitate, frozen in place. I’ve never gotten undressed in front of anyone before now. Well, not anyone that counts. Gym class in high school definitely doesn’t count.

“I won’t look until you’re ready,” he murmurs. “No one will be able to see you. I wouldn’t let that happen.”

I give him a jerky nod and then take a breath, quickly shoving my arms through my shirt sleeves before I lose the nerve. I hear him shifting around behind me while I unhook my bra, trying to pull it off without flashing my boobs. Somehow, I manage to do it, shoving it up under my legs so he can’t see it. And then I quickly adjust my shirt so it’s down low enough for him to reach that spot, but still high enough in front to cover my breasts.

“I’m ready,” I whisper when I’m finished.

He steps up behind me again, touching my shoulder. I jump slightly.

“Easy, baby,” he croons. “I need to clean the area and then shave it, okay?”

“O-okay.”

His hands are gentle against my skin as he wipes it with some kind of cleansing pad and then carefully shaves over the area. Once he’s finished, he wipes it down again.

“I’m not using a stencil for this one.” He crosses back in front of me to pick up his machine. “I’m going to do it freehand. It won’t take long. If it hurts and you need a break, just tell me, all right?”

I nod instead of answering, a little afraid I might chicken out if I open my mouth. My heart is pounding so loudly, I’m sure he can probably hear it. I’ve never been afraid of needles or pain, but this feels different. Maybe because it’s Keegan touching me. It’s Keegan putting his mark on me.

I like that thought a little too much.

Or maybe it’s him that I like a little too much.

The machine clicks on, and I jump again.

“Easy, sweetness,” he murmurs, his breath whispering against the side of my neck.

I bite my tongue, fighting a whimper.

The desire to whimper only grows as he places one hand around my waist, steadying me as he presses the tattoo gun to my skin with the other. “It’ll feel good, baby,” he breathes. “Promise.”

I squeeze my eyes closed, fighting to stay still.

The gun feels like tiny pinches as he sets to work, his hand steady as it moves across a small area—a much smaller area than I feared. After the first few seconds, the pinch dulls to a slight burning sensation, and I relax.

He was right. It doesn’t really hurt. It feels good.

“You like that, don’t you?” he murmurs, his lips still so damn close to my ear.

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