AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can’t do this, even if she’s made it crystal fucking clear it’s consensual.
Especiallynot if she wants this just as bad as I do.
I won’t repeat my past.
I’m not trusting another pretty face, leading her into temptation, waiting for her todiebecause I’m that goddamned toxic.
“Shepherd... at least say something,” she pleads.
“Get some sleep,” I growl over my shoulder. “We have a long day ahead—if we still have one at all.”
She halts just past the circle of stones around the fire.
“I mean, of course. Shepherd?”
“Go to bed, Destiny. We need to get started before sunrise.” Without waiting for an answer, I march back across to the sleeping bag I laid out before and stuff myself inside.
I zip the thick fabric up to my chin like the miserable human caterpillar I am, keeping my back to her.
Here we go again.
Silence.
Only, this time it’s like the grave.
Then I hear her cleaning the bowl that toppled over when I threw myself at her, rinsing it out with some water she’s collected.
I grit my teeth and close my eyes.
I, Shepherd Foster, am master idiot of the known universe.
A horny, impulsive, goat-brained dimwit—and apparently, I’m still led around by my cock after all these years.
What the fuck?
I’m too old for this shit.
Sighing, I wrestle my phone out and squint at the eye-killing screen.
Barely nine p.m., but the exhaustion is natural.
I’m sure Destiny feels it, too, that weight turning her bones to lead.
No more good will come from talking tonight.
My eyes drop from the time to my notifications.
That’s where I see a new text from Vanessa, asking to meet and talk this out like ‘civilized people.’
Like hell.
My lips curl into a snarl as I text back,I don’t negotiate with anyone who makes their disputes public. Never contact me again without your lawyer.
The end.
I just wish I’d grown a bigger pair and faced her games head-on, without being talked into playing my own.
I never should have agreed to Hannah’s reputation management scheme.
