fully aware and unable to stop myself. Making matters worse, I acted without a conscience. It wasn’t until after Lust was done with me that I cared.
So shameful!
I had to leave before he woke up. There was no way I could face him. How could he understand what I experienced? Why would he even want to?
Because he has my mark.
My heart skipped a beat as I recalled how I went to Shepherd because he was my marked mate.
He inhaled, and I stiffened. Was Shepherd waking up? My pulse grew louder in my ears before I finally opened my eyes and glanced up. His dry lips were an inch from my forehead. A soft puff of air heated the spot. Waking up beside a man was strange. For a moment, I forgot my embarrassment, letting his breath fan over me.
When I moved my leg, there was soreness from Shepherd stroking my pussy all-night. The memory made my clit tingle. The burst of sensation was foreign, but not undesirable. Oddly enough, I didn’t think it was my curse. It rested inside me. The slight hum of pleasure came from what I felt—what I could feel. I closed my eyes, hoping it would shut off my mind too.
It only lasted a second before I was staring again. I scooted up slightly. That aligned our lips. His breath blew out, which tickled mine. I can’t see him very well. Scooting back, I rolled to my side and studied him. His dark blond hair curled at his ears while his long lashes fluttered while he slept. His nose was strong and prominent, and his dark pink lips fuller than mine. The stubble on his jaw enhanced his rugged, yet handsome, appeal.
Shepherd Donavan.
A dreamy sigh escaped me. My curse wanted him, a soul reaper, as my soulmate for eternity. I had yet to read his past. Honestly, I was afraid to do so, but after witnessing what happened with my siblings, there might not be a way out of the whole marking business.
Fate wasn’t fair. Humans didn’t know how lucky they were in that department. They were able to choose their lovers, make their own mistakes, and experience everything else when it came to love. Not immortals.
Maybe there could be something beautiful about destiny. If my curse would just let me be…
My eyes widened as two green eyes stared back at me. Then I remembered why I wanted to run—to avoid humiliation. Not that we had sex. Did we? I didn’t think so. So why didn’t he try?
While I panicked, he casually murmured in a sleep-filled voice, “Hi.”
I blinked, and then blurted out, “Hi.”
We stared at each other for a long while before he reached out and rubbed his thumb beneath my eye. I held my breath as he gently caressed me. “Your eyes are blue again. I’m glad you’re back to normal.”
Normal? I didn’t know my eyes changed when Lust took control. I’d only fallen prey to my curse once before with the retired Reaper. Averting my gaze, I sat up quickly and dragged my fingers through my tangled hair. What on earth did I look like? Those knots came courtesy of the soul reaper. Shepherd had pulled out the hair tie, then gripped my black mane in his hands. My body had arched as his fingers stroked me. The memory made my skin tingle, and my clit throbbed.
I stared at his parted lips. Not helping.
“You gonna talk to me, princess, and tell me your name?”
Out of everything he said last night, that had been the one thing he asked the most.
With my fingers snagging in my hair, I whispered, “Prudence.”
“Prudence,” he said slowly, his brow furrowing slightly. Then he smiled, and it brightened his entire face. “That’s your name?”
I nodded. “Prudence Reaper.”
He sat up. “That’s why I sensed you in Grim’s woods. You’re his daughter?”
“Sensed?” I tilted my head. How could a soul reaper sense me?
Shepherd rubbed his jaw. “About that—”
“Prudence!” a familiar voice called out, and I jumped. Looking toward the tailgate, I saw Kitty and Payne.
Payne moved away from the truck and sighed. “Get dressed. We don’t have time for this.”
My stomach tightened. Shepherd and I were still partially naked. I glanced over at his slightly erect cock and licked my lips. What am I doing? Stop ogling him. Shaking my head, I materialized pants on both of us. Shepherd must not have noticed what I’d done since he was too busy glaring at Payne.