Page 82 of Chasing Lynda

She immediately complies, but a moan escapes her mouth.

She isn’t supposed to enjoy this. I almost go soft at the thought that she isn’t acting like the empty vessel she needs to be.

“Shut up!” I grind out, pulling on the sheet to cover her face.

That’s better.

I resume my hard thrusts, imagining that my Lynda is back. Thinking about my wife does the trick and I come with deep shudder. “The Light is now in you!” I grunt, this time loud enough to be heard by the members of my church.

I rise as soon as my orgasm fades away, letting the attendants tend to Delaney.

***

“WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS that?” The young Peter immediately asks, advancing toward me, without even giving me the chance to tie my robe.

“That,” I bite out harshly, “was your fiancée being made whole again by receiving the Light. That was you being given the opportunity to marry a pure woman who just achieved enlightenment.”

The foolish boy shakes his head, his jaw tight and his fists clenched at his sides. “She achieved enlightenment by letting you fuck her? I was promised a pure bride, a virgin! How is this—”

“Berger!” I bellow. “Rein your boy in!” I see the conflict in the good doctor’s eyes. He probably agrees with his son, but frankly, it’s not my problem.

Greggs steps in too and the two men hold the boy back. “I normally would just have you thrown out and banned from the community, Peter.” I chastise him. “But since this is a new doctrine and your father served our previous preacher with unwavering loyalty, I’ve decided to cut you some slack. Be aware though, that this is your one and only ‘get out of jail free card.’ Any other insubordination will be punished harshly and swiftly. Are we clear?”

I don’t wait for his acknowledgment, but address the two adult members of my inner circle. “From now on, ‘mission’ for women will be redefined into hard work for the community and will be available to all women, wed and unwed. What you just saw is an ‘Enlightenment Ceremony.’ All women who wish to reach enlightenment—to the highest level possible for a woman—will have to attend a ceremony just like the one Delaney and I just performed. That’s regardless of passing a virginity check. The ritual will be mandatory for all the church’s sanctioned unions from today.”

Dr. Berger’s voice is laced with incredulity, but I smile when I recognize the rightful submission in his tone. “So you’re telling us that any union, even if approved by the elders will—”

I snort, annoyed by my subjects’ shortsightedness. “If a woman fails her virginity check, and wishes to marry within the enlightened community, this is the only way to receive approval from the council. Delaney is now a virgin. She’s actually achieved the highest level of purity a woman can aspire to. If a woman passes the virginity exam, she can marry, sanctioned by the church. However, any man who marries a non-enlightened woman will be prevented from ever reaching the highest level of enlightenment and accessing the inner circle.”

My smile widens when Judge Connelly asks his own question. “So you’re saying you are the Light?”

Bingo! These men might have fancy college degrees and important jobs but they’re so ordinary. That’s why they’ll always be nothing more than followers. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I’m the only member of our community to reach the highest level of enlightenment. I’m the vessel for the Light. Only I can bestow the Light onto others.”

Mrs. Berger raises her hand and I’m in a good mood, since I’ve revealed this important piece of doctrine for the new chapter of our church. I nod, allowing her to speak. I always say it, a man’s spouse can be his greatest asset or his ruin. I’m pleased that Dr. Berger’s wife is the first.

“Pastor Lawrence, forgive me for asking this, but ... You said that Delaney is now pure again and has reached enlightenment through the ‘union’ with the Light ...”

I nod at her prelude, pleased that she understood my intent.

“I didn’t see you using any protection, what if you just got her pregnant?”

I struggle to keep from laughing at her shortsightedness. That’s why women can’t reach the same enlightenment as men; they’re naturally limited. “Sister Berger,” I say with my mildest tone. “Imagine the honor for your family and for your son, if Delaney has a child from the Light. The children born off the ritual will be born pure, on a fast track for enlightenment. And as the father of that child, that would also elevate Peter’s status within the community. This is why, to have the certainty of which children will carry that special status, every union with an enlightened virgin will have to take place no sooner than ninety days after the Enlightenment Ceremony. A medical prior to the wedding will confirm if the enlightened virgin is carrying a child of the Light.”

Delaney and the two families leave, ushered out by the attendants. I’m not surprised to find Andy waiting for me when I return from the changing room.

I walk out of the indoor pool building with my father-in-law hot on my heels. I’m not sure if I should still refer to him that way now that Lynda is gone, but he’s still my deputy.

“Aaron, wait!” He tries to stop me but I don’t intend to hold a discussion about my doctrine in the middle of the courtyard.

I invite him to follow me home and this time, he takes the drink I’m offering.

“Is there anything you want to ask me?” I say after he takes a big gulp of his whiskey.

“I—That was ...”

He doesn’t finish the sentence and I level him with a hard but honest stare. “You said it yourself that Lynda is gone and I needed to get laid.”

Andy sighs. “I’m not arguing with that. I know you miss my daughter. I just—I’m not sure I understood what I saw. Did you imply that you’re the Light? That you’re God?”

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