Page 4 of Lust

I look up to the sky, raindrops splattering my face. “Message received.”

The walk home is wet. That’s the only word for it.

Comfy PJs and a hot cuppa are my top priorities once I’m home, and I curl up on the sofa to watch TV. I flick through the channels and swear that every channel I land on shows couples making out or having sex. I switch it off after coping an eyeful of dick—a pierced dick—on channel 4’s dating showNaked Attraction.

With no possibility of escaping anything sexual, I rinse my cup and head to bed.

My dreams are filled with visions of naked men and women in positions I never imagined, their faces alight with pleasure and bodies writhing, seeking more. I can hear their grunts and groans as though in the room with them. My attention focuses on a naked woman sitting on the edge of the bed with a man nestled between her open legs, his hands gripping her thighs so tight her skin blanches white. Her back arches, a hand landing on the bed behind her to keep her upright and the other comes to the top of the man’s head, grasping a handful of his hair asshe lets out panted breaths. As she throws her head back, mouth falling open, a long-drawn-out moan falls from her lips before becoming a piercing cry…

My eyes snap open as my own back arches, my body convulsing, as pleasure sweeps through me, and I realise the piercing cry is my own. My hand is between my thighs and a slick wetness coats my fingers.

I yank my hand away like I’ve been burned and throw the covers off me, jumping from the bed.

“No, no, no.” I drop to my knees, hands clasped together in prayer and head bent. “Heavenly Father, forgive me my sins. I acknowledge my transgressions and repent of my actions and thoughts. Please wash me clean and bestow upon me your mercy and grace.” I repeat the prayer three times, each one more urgent as I beg forgiveness.

Finished with my prayers but certain I haven’t done enough to earn God’s forgiveness, I shower, scrubbing my skin until it’s red raw.

By the time I return to my bedroom, the sun is coming up and any chance of going back to sleep is lost. I dress, my raw skin irritated by the soft cotton, but it’s a just punishment. I busy my mind and body with chores before heading to the supermarket.

CHAPTER THREE

ROMAN

Picking up the bottle, I down a mouthful of beer, looking at my watch as I place it back on the bar.

“You keeping tabs on me again, Ro?” a voice behind me says a second before a hand lands on my shoulder with a slap. If I’d still had the bottle to my lips, I may have left here with a tooth missing. Blake comes into view, dragging the stool in front of me out and parking his arse on it.

“Your time keeping is shit. You’ll be late to your own funeral.”

“Nah, your need for control would never let that happen,” he says with a chuckle. Catching the eye of the bartender, a cute guy, if you’re into that kind of thing, who already tried to give me the come on, Blake orders two more beers, barely glancing in the guy’s direction.

“So, what’s the word?” Blake asks as the bartender places beers in front of each of us.

“Cheers,” I say to the guy before answering Blake. “Kincaid is out of town for the weekend and leaving his congregation in my hands.”

“He bought it then? Fucking trusting fool.”

“I met the daughter too.”

“And?” Blake asks, his bottle pausing at his lips.

“And what?”

“She as sickly sweet in person as her pictures show?” he presses before taking a mouthful of his beer.

I consider my answer, but Blake speaks again before I can.

“Oh, you have a boner for the sweet and innocent, virginal Sydney Kincaid.” He laughs. “I knew she’d be hot, but I didn’t see this coming.”

“Fuck off, Blake. We aren’t here for her,” I state firmly. “Unless she’s involved.”

“Okay, fine. But you do have a hard on for her, don’t you?”

I glare at him, but he’s not dissuaded. “Regardless, she’s not important for now.”

“Yeah, and, what pray tell, are you going to be preaching to the good people of Mary Magdalene’s on Sunday?” Blake asks, a wicked smirk curling his lip.

“I’m one step ahead of you. What do you think I’ve been doing while waiting for you to get here?”

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