Page 23 of Turn That River Red

Assuming I haven’t blown my cover enough already.

Rap rap rap.

Max immediately starts barking, claws scrabbling over the tiles. I slick my hair back with some water and go to pull the door open.

There she is.

She’s wearing another one of those shapeless cotton dresses, the skirt voluminous enough that it hides her big hips and soft thighs and the entrance to Heaven nestled between them, and her hair’s up in braids again, a style that makes her eyes seem even more soft and doe-like. She gives me a shy little smile and says, “Sorry. I know I’m early.”

“That’s just fine. You want to come in?”

She gives me a strange look. “I really shouldn’t. I’m not supposed to be alone in a man’s home.”

Thatmakes me want to drag her into the cabin, throw her on that pitiful excuse for a bed, and fuck her until she’s screaming her savior’s name. Because how the hell can she follow a rule like that when Sterling Gunner’s treating her like his own private sex toy?

I keep my mouth shut, though. Preacher. I’m supposed to be a goddamned preacher, and Mercy is clearly trying to pretend last night didn’t happen. And honestly, I probably should, too. I’ve got no business getting mixed up with a human woman, much less a Christian.

“Right,” I say. “Of course.” I flash her a grin, trying to disarm her. “What about dogs, though? Can you be alone with them?”

Mercy smiles. A genuine smile, one that reaches all the way up into her eyes. “Of course.”

“Good. You can keep these two out of my hair while I finish getting ready.” I whistle, and Roxi and Max come bounding out, tails wagging and tongues lolling. We’ve got a whole language of whistles worked out between us. That one means,Play nice.

And they do, running around Mercy and nosing at her hands until she pets them. I leave the door open when I go back inside, and I can hear laughter drifting in from the courtyard.

I finish getting ready—throw on a tie for good measure, work some gel through my hair so it’ll stay put, slap on some cologne. Mercy’s giggles trail in through the open door as I take one last look at myself in the tiny bathroom mirror. It’s been a hundred years at least since I last played preacher, but I think I look convincing. A little rough around the edges, maybe, but that just makes it easier to lean into the aw-shucks backwoods shit that always puts my prey at ease.

“Having fun?” I ask as I step out onto the little cement patio. Mercy has plopped down in the yellowing grass, her skirtflared out around her, as Max—always the charmer—keeps trying to lick her cheek. Roxi watches the whole thing with her usual bored detachment. She doesn’t like theplay nicecommand as much as Max does.

“Your dogs are so adorable.” Mercy fights past Max to stand up, and he keeps nipping around her ankles, his tail a blur. I think he actually likes her, which warms my heart a bit, even though it shouldn’t.

“Yeah, I know. That one can be a pain in the butt, though.” I nod at Max, then whistle to him:Come here.Both of them trot over to me.

“They’re well-trained,” she says.

“Gotta be,” I answer smoothly. “They’re around strangers all the time. They’re a key part of my ministry.”

That, of course, is not therealreason they’re well-trained, but it sounds good.

Mercy flashes me a sweet little smile, kind of shy and soft. I latch both dogs up on their leashes, then squint up at Mercy through the sun. It’s already hot as hell, and it’s not even 9 AM yet. And unfortunately, I have to wear long sleeves to cover up my tattoos.

“So are you going to show me what we talked about?”

A shadow passes over Mercy’s face. I know damn well she didn’t forget about it; I’m not scheduled to show up at the meeting hall until 10. She’s actuallyveryearly. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she might want to see me.

“Well, yes,” she says, her shoulders stiffening. “It’s on the other side of the campus, though. I can get a golf cart if you want.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I pat Max’s head again. “These two need a walk anyway.”

“It’s just so hot,” she says. “And you’ve got a tie and everything?—”

“I’m happy to walk.” I move up beside her, and we set offdown the sandy pathway. “Assuming you won’t get in trouble for being alone with me.”

She blushes bright red, and my cock stirs because it’s the same shade she turned last night before I made her come.

“Not out in public like this,” she says softly. “And I already told Reverend Gunner that I was going to give you a tour of the grounds before your prayer session.”

“Clever.” And I mean it. Gunner might have her under some fucked up kind of control, but she’s working with what she’s got. I admire that in a human.

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