Page 129 of Brutal Reign

“Just so you know, it burns like hell,” Seb tells her as I retrieve my kit and get right to work setting up, laying everything out on the bedside table and checking the consistency of the black ink I plan to use. “There’s liquid silver added to the ink to bypass our shifter healing, and that shit is no joke.”

“I’m not afraid of a little pain,” she scoffs, shifting positions on the bed and folding her legs underneath her as she patiently watches me get my tools ready. “Where should I get it, though? I’m not sure I can rock a neck tattoo like you can, Ace.”

I chuckle to myself as I swing around to face her. “I’m pretty sure you could rock a tattoo anywhere, babygirl. But Seb’s getting his on his chest, and for you, I was thinking right…” I lean in, reaching out to wrap a hand around her hip. “Here,” I say, rubbing my thumb in the divot beside her hipbone.

“Perfect spot,” Seb agrees, wetting his lips with his tongue. “It’s gonna look hot as fuck on you, babe.”

River’s cheeks pinken in a blush as she reaches for the hem of the oversized t-shirt she’s wearing, slowly dragging it up over herhip and glancing down at the spot I indicated. The fabric shifts as she does, giving us a glimpse of that pretty pussy, and suddenly I’m conflicted over which I want more– to ink her skin, or to sink inside her again.

“I want mine first, but you have to get yours after,” River says, looking to Seb.

He scrubs a hand over his face like he’s trying to ward off dirty thoughts of his own, nodding. “Deal.”

“Lay back, I’ll get everything ready,” I mumble, returning to the nightstand as River reclines back against the pillows. Seb climbs over to lay on her opposite side, giving me room to work.

Riv hums along to the music playing from the speaker as I prepare her skin, flinching at the buzz of the tattoo gun when I flip it on. Dipping the needle into the ink, I glance up to meet her eyes, my pulse picking up speed.

“You ready?” I ask, gazing into her eyes and arching a brow.

She rolls her lower lip between her teeth nervously, but her hazel eyes sparkle with anticipation as she nods her head in affirmation.

Sucking in a breath, I lower the needle, a shiver of delight running through me as I press down into her skin.

“Shit,” she gasps, her muscles tensing at the hit of pain.

I ease up on the pressure, lifting my gaze. “You alright?”

“Mhmm,” she hums, her features twisting in a grimace. “Keep going.”

Seb reaches out for her hand, threading his fingers with hers as I refocus on her hip and press the needle down again, slipping into a meditative state as I get to work. I don’t plan on making this very big, so it shouldn’t take long. Keeping my hand steady, I complete the outline in just a few minutes, then begin the process of filling it in.

“My wolf,” River grits out, shifting her weight uncomfortably on the mattress.

I lift the needle from her skin, glancing up again. Her irises are illuminated with copper shimmers– a telltale sign that her inner animal is close to the surface. It’s not an unusual response to pain, but considering her issues with her wolf…

“Maybe we should stop,” she chokes, a sharp edge of panic in her tone.

I flip off my tattoo gun, reaching out to set a comforting hand on her thigh.

“You’ve got this, Riv,” Seb soothes, tightening his grip on her hand. “Try pushing her back.”

She blows out a slow breath as her eyes slip closed, Seb and I looking at each other, then back down at her. She takes a few more measured breaths, and when she opens her eyes again, they’re back to the stunning hazel color I’m so fond of, devoid of the metallic glow of her wolf. Her lashes flutter as she blinks a few times, brows pinching together in confusion.

“Weird, she actually listened for once,” River says, chuckling wryly. “Appreciate the assist, boys.”

“We didn’t do anything, that was all you,” Seb murmurs, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile.

“You guys just being here helped,” she replies, turning to give me a nod. “Keep going.”

I nod back at her, flipping my tattoo gun back on. Before I lower it to her skin again, I glance over at Seb again, and when our eyes lock, I can tell he’s thinking the same thing I am.

What if sealing our bond affected her wolf?

Riv’s stomach dips in with her gasp as the needle makes contact with her skin again, but she manages to keep her beast at bay as I finish the tattoo, wiping off the excess ink and taking a second to admire my work. I’ve done many tattoos at this point, but this is by far my favorite to date, even if it’s just a simple black heart.

Because it’s onher. And because she’smine.

“All done,” I remark, the buzz of my gun abruptly cutting off as I flip the switch.

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