RUTHLESS HOLD (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel)

Eden had nothing to say to it. It was maybe far from romantic, but the gesture was romantic.

Trev started to pull away and Eden grabbed him again. “Trev… I really do trust you. I care about you. You really hurt me though.”

“I know, beautiful,” Trev said. “But I’ll do anything to protect what I love.”

That left Eden in shock. And it left her with one question.

Does he love me?

__



eighteen.



Eden gripped the chair as Trev straddled it. Her shirt was pulled up but not too far. She stared at him with her eyes full of fear. Her knuckles were white and she looked a second away from passing out.

Trev never met someone in his life that was a tattoo artist who didn’t have a tattoo. It was sort of sexy for Eden, but that was long gone now. She was getting a set of angel wings and a skull tattooed on her lower back. Trev’s ink. Trev’s mark. A notion to the rest of the MC and the rest of the goddamn world that Eden was his.

What did that really mean? Trev wasn’t sure yet. But for now, it meant protecting her, taking care of her, and then giving her a chance at something greater. Once this internal shit was exposed and settled, Eden would be finally free to do what she wanted.

“You’re doing great, beautiful,” Trev said, chasing away all future thoughts. He was better kept right in the present.

Eden forced a smile. “Yeah. Right.”

“Almost done, darling,” the tattoo artist said. Everyone called him Smith. He was supposed to be the best in the area, inking up more than half of the Back Down Devil MC Daurian charter. He was there all night to ink up anyone who wanted it. He’d already done half a dozen tats in honor of Giovanni.

“How’s it feel?” Trev asked with a grin.

“I don’t know,” Eden said. “Burns a little.”

“I can’t believe you’re a tattoo artist and never had the needle touch you.”

“Never had a reason to get ink,” Eden said.

The needle whirred behind her. She flinched and shut her eyes, swallowing.

“This is what needs to be done,” Trev said. “A guy like Rocky ever comes near you, you have my ink. He thinks about talking to you or touching you, I’ll fucking have every right to kill him. Not fight him, Eden, but kill him.”

Eden nodded.

The needle kept whirring for another few minutes.

“Okay,” Smith said. “All done, darling.”

“Turn around,” Trev said. “Let me see.”

Eden turned, holding her shirt up.

The ink was fresh and perfect. The white and blue of the wings and the black and purple of the skull were so contrasting. Exactly what Trev wanted for her.

When Eden saw the tattoo, she let out a gasp and actually started to cry.

Trev rose up and slipped an arm around her. “Hey. Don’t cry.”

“No. It’s… perfect, Trev. It’s beautiful. I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” Trev said. He looked at Smith. “Give us the room, okay? Go take a break and have a few drinks. Make sure nobody comes in.”

“Okay. Sure.”

Smith left the room.

Trev locked the door and walked to a table. He watched as Eden held a mirror up and continued to look at her fresh ink. The smile on her face proved she really did like it.

Trev took his leather cut off and placed it on the table. He then lifted his t-shirt up over his head. He climbed up on the table and cleared his throat.

When Eden saw him, her eyes went wide. “Again?”

“Oh, beautiful, I’d fuck that sweet * of yours every hour, every day for the rest of my life. But it’s your turn now.”

“My turn?”

Trev touched his chest, right at his heart. “I’ve saved this spot for you. Ink it up.”

“Trev…” Eden shook her head. “I haven’t…”

“No. Right now.”

“I have no designs.”

“Use your mind. You can do it.”

“No. You don’t get it. I haven’t tattooed since what happened…”

“Can’t let that ruin your life, right?”

Eden looked at the tattoo gun, then at Trev. “You’re sure about this?”

Trev put a hand out and then pulled Eden right to him. “Eden, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my wild life. When it comes to you…”

Goddammit, beautiful, I’m falling in love with you.

*

Watching her was maybe one of the sexiest and most beautiful things Trev had ever seen in his life. The way her eyes were intense. The way her hair kept falling from behind her ears. The way she approached him so delicately.

The way she just tattooed him without a design at all.

And it turned out to be fucking perfect.

It was a tattoo of a heart with chains, barbed wire, and thorns.

When she finished, Eden looked at Trev. “Be honest. There’s nothing I can do about it if you don’t like it.”

“I love it,” Trev said. “Tell me the story behind it.”

“You know, it’s usually the people getting the tattoos that have the stories.”

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