I nodded my head even as I crossed my arms over my breasts. I had turned sixteen the month before, and I felt I was as ready as I would ever be. “What better day than Valentine’s day?” I joked.

“Your wedding day,” he answered. His face turned down with guilt, and he backed away, but my hand shot out to stop him.

“I know. I was only kidding, but I want you now. I choose you. I choose this moment.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Well, I am pretty amazing.”

“I’m sorry, okay? It will never happen again. I don’t want to hurt you like that again.”

As much as I didn’t want to risk this night, I couldn’t hold back my feelings. “Why did you do it?”

His head fell forward and his shoulders shook as he gripped the sheets. I watched the veins in his hands bulge and stretch. “I wish I knew.”

* * * * *

PRESENT

He’d lied. After the first time, he hurt me much worse each time after. The pain yesterday didn’t heal with time. It only festered.

“Where did you go?” I felt myself being lifted until I was now sitting upright. I felt the soreness on my ass and looked down to see what he had done but found it wrapped.

“What?”

“Where did you go just now? You were as stiff as a board.”

“In my memories, Keenan. It’s my only comfort. What did you do to me?”

“I told… I needed to right a wrong.”

Realization hit, and I was left shaking with anger. “You tattooed your name again?”

“Not quite.”

“What. Did. You. Do?”

“I left a reminder of who you belonged to. It’s more for me really.”

“Your arrogance is unattractive.” I may have sounded petty, but it was all I had at the moment—short of killing him.

“Are you saying you don’t want me?”

“More or less.”

“Let’s test that theory out.” In one fluid motion, he flipped me over and had my shorts around my ankles.

“Is this how it’s going to be? I’m not your toy, Keenan.”

“No, baby. You’re not. You fuck too well to be a toy.” I could feel him peeling the wrap away from my ass. “Mine,” he growled and palmed me.

“You keep saying that.”

“I mean that’s what the tattoo is. It says ‘Mine.’”

“Please tell me you didn’t.” I attempted to stand up, but his hand on my back kept me in place.

“I did and I enjoyed.” He peeled down my panties with his thumb and kissed down my back.

Somehow, I found the strength I didn’t know I possessed.

“Keenan, let me go.” I turned my head to look into his eyes and let him see how serious I was. “I don’t want this.”

He stared at me frozen for so long that, for a moment, I didn’t think he would let me go. He shoved away from me and kicked away his chair until it banged into the wall violently. The next second, his fist flew into the glass frame nearby, and I watched in horror as it shattered and fell to the floor. Without a word, he stalked toward the back of the shop and disappeared behind a door.

I spent the next few hours confined to a corner of his shop while he saw countless clients. All of them were female. I watched them flirt and touch and shamelessly throw themselves at him. A few even had the gall to grab onto his cock and he just smiled.

Always smiling and welcoming.

I hated him.

He promised I would and he succeeded.

“So, Keenan, I was wondering if you would finally take me up on that date,” a platinum blonde with a body full of tattoos asked. Seriously, where could she possibly have room to fit another tattoo?

“I don’t know, Missy. I’m kind of busy. Maybe next time,” he winked, and I almost threw up in my mouth at the way she gushed.

“How am I going to ever steal your heart if you won’t let me take you out?”

“That’s because my heart has already been stolen.”

The platinum turned her nose up at me and snarled, “Her?”

He laughed. “Don’t be silly.” My heart plummeted at his blatant disregard for me. “I’m talking about my daughter.”

“Oh, I bet you make pretty babies.” She brazenly sat in his lap and ran a finger down his chest. “I bet we could make some pretty babies. So how old is she?”

“She’s three and as sweet and cute as a button, unlike her mother who is a viperous bitch.”