Page 37 of Virgin Lust

“Some servants.” I scoffed. “You don’t listen or behave properly.”

“But we’re loyal,” Dirk said. “Wallis knows not to harm a living creature. Sire would kill him if he did.”

“I’m shameful and don’t learn easily, my lady. Kill me if you must.” Wallis was on his knees with his head lowered. Dirk slapped his palm over his face.

“Stop calling me my lady!” I shouted. Every muscle in my body tensed.

Great. Even Shepherd’s pets made me lose my cool, and I still had a few more stops before I could relax a bit. No way could I put up with the gremlins for the rest of the day. But Dad would send Payne or someone to babysit me if I sent Shepherd and his pests away.

I glanced at Shepherd, running his fingers through his blond hair. My fingers let go of my cloak as my stomach fluttered. Despite my irritation with the vermin, I still wanted to be around Shepherd. Almost as soon as the thought came to mind, he whirled around and our eyes locked. Heat blossomed in my chest. It started faintly, but grew as my gaze lingered to his lips.Never been kissed.Never beenanythingbefore Shepherd. My curiosity became lust, making my clit throb, and my pussy clench with a desperate need to be filled.Not good.It wouldn’t take much to bring out my curse.

Shepherd’s nostrils flared as he obviously picked up on my emotions.Oh, Hades. I squirmed, squeezing my legs as if that would stop the dampness. Nothing, however, would ease my burning cheeks.I’m not normal. I can’t stare at him without getting turned on.

“Do you have to pee?” Dirk asked, green forehead crinkling.

“Dirk,” said Shepherd through his teeth. “Leave if you can’t shut the fuck up.”

Mortified by the outpouring of lust, I covered my face when Shepherd looked at me again. I was no different from a bitch in heat. Once the gremlins walked away, I blurted, “I’m sorry. I know you can smell it.”

“It’s not strong enough for the gremlins to notice, so don’t worry,” he said, slowly approaching me.

Dropping my hands, I said, “I’m not trying to seduce you.”

“I never said you were.” Shepherd stepped closer. I held my breath as he grasped a lock of my hair and twisted it around his index finger.

“It happens randomly.”

“I’m attracted to you, too. At the human festival, you literally stole my breath with your beauty. Don’t apologize to me, but stop explaining yourself. You’re very bashful for someone who kills demons daily.”

“You’re the only person who would say that.” I admitted.

He scratched his brow and then smiled. “Ah, well, you did give a very calm and cool aura when I first saw you,Princess.”

Is that why he called me that?

I pressed the hilt of my blade against his chest. “So you’re saying I’m no longer cool?”

He grinned. “You’re a badass withthis,” he pushed my weapon away. “But you also blush almost every time you look at me.”

I scoffed. “I do not.”

I did.

“I like it.”

My heart raced. I couldn’t remember the last time my chest felt so light.

When I said nothing, he asked, “Where do you need to go next, Princess?”

Ten

Prudence

Shepherd took me by surprise again, but it wasn’t really about him. It was more about my reaction as I watched him in his reaping form. As a shadowy mass, he swept through a smoldering warehouse and gobbled down the souls of an entire group of ogres. Yes, I was impressed that I didn’t have to lift a finger. More importantly, I was stunned at how he could do so much with so little effort.

Throughout the sweltering building were giant kettles. The blazing fires burning beneath them turned the warehouse into a smoldering hell. According to rumors, they were most likely filled with human body parts. Flesh stew, something ogres once peddled, was a popular commodity on the black market, but I thought the trade had stopped when we got rid of human trafficking.

We’d only been inside the structure a few minutes, but my clothes clung to me with sweat. Shepherd caught my eye as I wiped my neck. His violet gaze was bright within his shadows. Thank Hades! Otherwise, he would have appeared like a whirling black cloud. The way he undulated fascinated me. I found it bizarre to be so ensnared by something nonhuman. But I was more than curious about the man trapped in the darkness.

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