Page 59 of Virgin Lust

Prudence lay beneath a gray cover in the center of the bed. My chest cracked open and all the longing I’d ignored came flooding out. I wanted nothing more than to slip beneath the blanket with her, but I hesitated. Maybe the time we spent apart was enough for her to realize I was unworthy.

Those weren’t Prudence’s feelings. They belonged to me, and I wanted to let them go. I had to stop projecting my emotions onto her. She hadn’t spoken ill of me since our first encounter. Instead, she was open and sweet to me. Not to mention my princess gave me what little existed of her free time. Her life as a Reaper was hectic, and yet she allowed me to stay by her side.

Crawling onto the bed, she stirred. A breath escaped her lips as I loomed over her, my legs straddling her hips.

“Shepherd?” she called out in a sleep-filled voice.

In the darkened room, Prudence’s eyes were vibrant and so beautiful. My body trembled under her weighty stare. I wanted her all to myself. Her affection was mine alone because no one else could adore her as I would. It didn’t matter what her father said.

When she turned onto her back, I said. “Aren’t you worried I’ll devour you while you’re asleep?”

“Hmm?” she hummed softly, then curled her arms around my neck.

Suddenly, I breathed easier. Just like that, we were okay. Whenever I experienced heightened emotions around Prudence, I had a deep desire to change forms. My soul begged to touch her.In time.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I dropped beside her and pulled her toward me.

Her palm flattened against my chest. “No, I’m sorry. I should have explained myself better.” She traced a finger over my muscle, causing goose bumps even though I still wore my shirt. “As a Reaper, we usually read a person within the first few seconds of encountering someone. But I didn’t with you. I was afraid of what I’d find.”

“You can do that to anyone you meet?” I asked, burying my nose in her hair. Her familiar scent soothed something deep inside me. It was more than sexual. With Prudence, I experienced a sense of belonging.

“Yes. It’s how we learn a person’s death date. For us to pass judgement on where a human goes in the afterlife, we need to know their past.”

“That can’t be easy. I’m sure you’ve experienced some bad memories.”

“Oh, I have. I’ve also been inside the heads of a few soul reapers too.”

I stiffened, and she paused a second before resuming her trail over my shirt.

“But you’re nothing like them.”

I exhaled loudly. “I’m not?”

“No. But when I first saw you, I was angry andscared.”

I lifted my head. “Why?”

She froze above me. First my mate’s fear pressed down on me through the bond, then it was her nervousness that bubbled my stomach. “As soon as I saw you, Isensedyou were going to be a part of my life and that terrified me.”

My heart swelled. Prudence had more to say, but her worried expression kept me from pushing her to continue. What was she too nervous to say?

I brushed my fingers through her hair, hoping the princess didn’t wait too long to open up completely. She had given me so much, but I needed more of her.

“Not reading you on our first encounter made my curiosity worse. My desire to discover your secrets grew. Not that it was okay to peek at your memories,” she murmured.

“You kept going back for more,” I stated.

Pushing up on her elbow, she looked at me. When her breath tickled my chin, a rush of excitement hit me.

“No more. I promise,” she whispered.

“Mm-hmm,” I hummed. “Curiosity normally kills the cat.”

Prudence laughed lightly, but it broke off when I abruptly pushed her on her back and climbed above her. Her cheeks reddened as she watched me.

“You’re lucky you’re my princess.”

Her happiness flowed across the bond. Prudence brushed her fingers down my cheek. “Soul Reaper, your shadows are coming out.”

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