“Why? Why did you kiss me that night and run off? You’re the Head Reaper, you can travel all the realms, you could have sent a message.”
“Can we talk somewhere private?” he asks.
I swallow and steel my spine. Do not give in to his charms. Not yet, anyway.
Instead, I nod and turn on my heel, hoping he greatly appreciates how my ass looks in this tight dress. Without a wordleave the hall and head outside, and I take a seat on an empty bench.
Mortem follows me dutifully, unbuttons his jacket and adjusts his pants before sitting down. I don’t have to break my neck to look at him now, but unfortunately for my resolve, he’s even prettier in the moonlight.
He’s obviously slightly uncomfortable as he looks around us, making sure no one is eavesdropping.
He clears his throat, adjusting on the bench multiple times.
Do I make the Head Reaper nervous?
I decide to make it worse by crossing my arms under my breasts and pushing them up even more, which I didn’t think was possible. It works as he glances down at my cleavage, his throat bobbing again.
Mortem scratches the back of his neck, and it’s almost like he can’t find the words. It makes me feel guilty, even though I’m still annoyed with him.
“I’m not with Doom, or anyone else,” I blurt, and his brows knit together.
“What about Krampus?”
I sigh heavily. “I didn’t hear from either one of you after that night,” I admit.
Mortem’s face falls, the most emotion I’ve seen from him so far tonight.
“Fuck, Candy. I didn’t know.”
“Well, now you do. So what do you have to say?” I demand.
Wow, I’ve gotten incredibly good at being a bad bitch in a short amount of time. Ladybird should run a bad bitch academy.
“I’ve been alone a long time, maybe not in my bed, but…”
I spring up from the bench. “If you’re here to tell me about everyone you had sex with over the last six months, I’m out. Because you know what I’ve been doing over the last six months? Pining after you and Krampus, wondering what I did wrong, whyevery other cupid can find love yet I seem to be unlovable. So if you’re here to tell me you moved on… well, you can… you can kiss my ass, Mortem.”
I storm off, my heels clicking against the cobblestones as tears threaten to ruin my perfect makeup.
“Wait a hot fucking second,” Mortem says, his long legs easily outpacing my heels and tight dress can.
He blocks my path, creating an imposing figure, and he firmly grabs my chin, his long fingers cradling my face as he forces me to look at him.
“There has been no one since that night. I’m just trying to explain.”
“Oh,” I reply, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“May I continue, little cupid?”
My lip must tremble slightly, and Mortem’s hand leaves my face only to take off his jacket and place it over my shoulders.
“I’m listening.” I clutch his jacket around my body. It smells like him. Like cedarwood and musk, wholly masculine. It’s actually doing wonders for calming my nerves.
“I’ve had reapers in my bed, but never in my heart. I never let myself get close to others because if I do, it gives them the ability to ruin me. That night was the first time in a very long time I felt anything. Frankly, it scared me to death,” he says with a smirk. Even I have to appreciate his good pun. “I ran away because I knew if I let you in, if I let him in, there would be no going back.”
I accept his reasoning, but I’m still a little pissed.
“A message saying you weren’t ready or your heart wasn’t open would have gone a long way.”
