Page 48 of Virgin Lust

My ears burned as blood rushed through them. He heard me? I should have known the man wasn’t slumbering. “You weren’t asleep?”

“Hard to nap when someone keeps running through my memories.”

I clasped my hands together, unable to deny it, but watched adamantly as he stretched.

When I didn’t speak, he added, “I thought you were setting limits with the gremlins?”

“Ah, yes, the rules.” I was grateful Shepherd didn’t say anything more in front of the vermin. “I need boundaries, especially with you, Wallis.” I jabbed my finger at him. “You’re forbidden from humping anything in front of me. Also, no sniffing anything of mine. That includes me.”

Immediately, Wallis lowered his gaze to the ground. Geez. It was like disciplining a pet. I kind of felt bad, but then remembered how disgusting he was.

Marty, just as guilty as the other two, rushed under my bed.

“You.Warn someone before you release a stink bomb! Better yet, run far, far away when you feel the urge. And you…” I pointed at Dirk. “Lose the attitude. Yoursireis here by choice, so stop being so grumpy around me.”

“He’s here because his soul has shitty taste in women,” Dirk said patiently, making me grind my teeth. “You’re only irresistible because of your stench. You’re like a bitch in heat all the—”

“Dirk!” Shepherd cut him off. “If you’re disrespecting her, you’re disrespectingme.”

“How could you say that about our lady?” Marty shouted as he climbed from beneath my bed.

“I don’t care what any of them think of me,” I said, glowering at Dirk. “I’m more than a stench, Gremlin. I’m a fucking Reaper, and you’re just a fiend. You’ll never understand anything about my life, so don’t act like you know me.”

With that, I materialized some clothes, replacing my pj’s and faded to my first destination for the day.

______

Lifting my sword, I blew air through my cheeks. “Stop eating them all! I’m not getting the chance to kill anything,” I grumbled as Shepherd swooped through the rat demon I’d targeted. While I enjoyed the soul reaper’s help the day before, I desperately wanted to release some tension with my blade, but he kept intervening. Where were the vampires when I needed them? The soulless fiends would be all mine.

“You’re still upset about what Dirk said earlier.” That wasnotwhat I wanted to hear.

Shifting from his reaping form as he approached, Shepherd pushed his blond hair off his forehead.

“A thirteen-inch-tall demon with a penchant for abusing the dead can hardly irritate me,” I muttered as I dematerialized my blade.

“And yet, Dirk did.” Shepherd reached out and caressed my cheek in his large palm. “What part angered you?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “Why do you keep them? I can barely tolerate them.” Thankfully, Shepherd took them back to his place before we left the castle.

He smirked, taking my hand in his. “Are you complaining, Princess?”

“I don’t get it. I’ve seen enough of your memories to know you’re nothing like them.”

When Shepherd’s smile waned and released my hand, I realized I shouldn’t have mentioned his memories.

“I asked you not to do that,” he said.

“What you went through… Another of your kind would have already spiraled out of control, but you—”

“I’m not good like you. You saw the things I’ve done.Things,by the way,I didn’t want you to see.”

Ignoring his words, I said, “I saw a demon clinging to humanity, who tried to protect his sister while making mistakes.”

“Prudence.” Shepherd’s jaw tightened. “Please, stop searching through my mind.”

My gut churned as I reached for him. I hesitated at first… Would he reject me? When he let me grasp his hand, I exhaled. “I can’t help it, Shepherd. I go to you when I’m sleeping, even if that means into your past.”

“Try to see me for who I am and not who I was. You’ve viewed enough of my mistakes. Don’t go looking for more.” The veins on his neck jumped as he searched my face. “You’remymate.”

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