Page 181 of Prey for You

“Whoa, Bridget—”

“C’mon,Pastor Priestley—that still makes me laugh every time I say it—I said, we don’t have much time.”

“Bridget, we can’t—”

Light suddenly cut through the dim little room. “Sam, that was—oh!”

I leaped away as Sam spluttered and one of the elders, the sweet, gray-haired guy who’d asked Sam to start preaching some and to tell the church about the prison ministry, turned half away, shading his eyes, and chuckling.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but it’s probably for the best. The children will be released from Sunday School soon.”

“Richard, I’m so sorry,” Sam started.

“No, no. It was me. He didn’t know I’d be here!” I wailed.

But Richard—who I definitelydidn’tcallDick—waved us both off, smiling. “Stop, both of you. There’s no better gift in this world than a wife who wants you. Trust me, I know.”

I buried my face in my hands.

“I’m just saying, this might have been divine intervention. The kids are going to come looking for you, Sam. I heard something about coloring?” He winked.

Sam ran a hand through his hair and looked at me with a sheepish smile. He’d been letting the kids color in the lines of his tattoos and they loved it. I was less excited when I got him home and took his clothes off, only to be smeared in rainbows. But it was a small price to pay for the twinkle in his eyes right now.

He nodded at Richard. “I’ll be right out.”

“Very good. Both of you have a wonderful day. God bless you.” He turned to walk out, then caught himself, peering quickly out the door before turning back to us and lowering his voice. “Can I offer a word of advice?”

Sam swallowed and nodded. “Of course.”

“Stay in love with each other,” Richard said, eyes twinkling. “Forgiveness is easier when you… want to stay connected.” He winked. I was mortified. Then he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Also, if you’re here after hours, it’s a lot more comfortable over in the gym—they have mats. But Bev and I also discovered the delights of being on the rotation for cleaning and refilling the baptismal.”

My mouth dropped open.

Sam’s eyes bulged.

Richard chuckled. “Making love to your wife is an act of worship, Sam. It’s in the bible. Read Song of Solomon. It’s…daring. And inspired by God. Never forget that.” Then he disappeared out the door.

I was still staring, half-embarrassed, half-delighted.Sam coughed, but then he laughed. “Well, I think we found the place they won’t judge us, babe,” he said softly.

“You think?” I spluttered. “At least I feel better about being horny for you while you were preaching. I wondered if that was a sin, or not.”

Sam’s eyes widened and his grin grew wider. “I mean, if you’re alreadyready,I might have an idea?”

I tipped my head. “He said the kids would be looking for you.”

I whooped in surprise as he picked me up and pinned me back against the door so no one could open it and see us, then he kissed me. But when I lifted a leg to curl around him, there was some shrieking outside the door, which meant the kids were coming. We both groaned.

Sam dropped his head and traced a finger down the V-neck of my very vanilla button down that I was wearing. “I have to go be withchildren,” he said with an amused huff. But even that simple touch had me quivering…

I blew out a breath. “Sam is this ever going to stop?”

He lifted his head suddenly, frowning at me. “What?”

“This…need?I mean, how many times have we had sex? How many positions? And I swear, I can’t look at you without getting wet. It doesn’t help me be godly.”

“Apparently it does—act of worship, remember?” he quipped, arching one brow.

I traced the lines out of his forehead and leaned in to kiss him. “I hope it never stops.”

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