Page 50 of Sins of the Flesh
"I'm sorry, Mayor Hendersen," the cowering man stammers, his voice pitched high with anxiety."The files were mislabeled in the rush to evacuate the town hall, and I've been trying to…"
"I don't want excuses," Charlotte cuts him off.God I feel like I should go in there but what would I say?The contrast between this Charlotte and the one who I see with Caleb is sharp; it hardly feels real.
Her face is twisted into something ugly and cold, all pretense of warmth evaporated."I want results.Do you understand the concept of results, Richard, or is that too intellectually challenging for you?"
Richard's shoulders hunch like he's trying to make himself smaller."Yes, ma'am.I understand."
"Do you?"Charlotte's voice drops to something almost silky, which somehow sounds more threatening than her shouting."Because I'm beginning to think I might need someone more...capable.Someone who doesn't waste my time with incompetence."
She picks up a thick stack of papers from his desk and suddenly slaps him across the head with them.Hard.The sound cracks through the room like a whip.
"What the fuck?"I mutter under my breath, shocked, I didn't see that coming.But apparently Richard did, he doesn't make a sound when the papers hit him, which tells me this isn't the first time.His glasses are knocked askew, but he doesn't even reach up to fix them.He just sits there, staring at his keyboard, taking it.
Who the hell is this woman?And why did he just sit there like he had no choice?
Twenty-Seven
Caleb
Play With Fire - Sam Tinnesz (Feat.Yacht Money)
I
wander into the kitchen where Cole is working and run my fingers along the metal prep table.“Good morning,” I say letting my fingers trail up his muscular arm as he shivers.He turns his head and smiles at me.
“Good morning, yourself.”I reach my hand up ready to cup his jaw as the tell tale clicking of Charlotte’s stiletto approaches.Cole sighs and I drop my hand.I already know what's coming because over the last two weeks it has inevitably happened every time.
“Caleb, are you in here?”Charlotte calls as she rounds the corner.“Oh there you are!Good morning Cole, you mind if I borrow Caleb for a minute.”She loops her arm around mine, causing Cole’s eyes to darken as Charlotte drags me away yet again.
In two weeks I have managed to kiss Cole twice and if I thought I craved him before, I was sorely mistaken.But with Charlotte clinging to me it's nearly impossible to get a moment of peace.I know she is grieving and I know she needs support so that's what I do, I support her, it's my duty as a priest and a friend.
Cole however, doesn’t seem to think Charlotte is clinging to me out of grief.He is jealous and I see it.I try my best to maintain some level of distance but it's not always successful.I don't know how many times I can tell him I’m sorry with my eyes before he gets sick of it.
It’s Friday, our regular day to hold confessionals, and Charlotte is out of the office today, timing couldn't be worse. Because even with Charlotte gone, I still can't have time alone with Cole.
At one o’clock, I head towards the front of the chapel to unlock the door when I turn around and run right into Cole.“Oh shit, you scared me.Is everything ok?”I ask him.His eyes are dark and sad.
“I wanted to see you, I’ve missed you” He says.I walk to the confessional booth, and Cole follows me; I turn around, and he steps in close.
“I can’t right now, Angel,” I say, caressing his face as he closes his eyes, leaning into my touch.
I hear someone coming and I grab the front of his shirt and pull him into the booth with me.We stand face to face and chest to chest.I place my finger on his lips to keep him silent as I hear footsteps approaching.Then, someone enters the booth.There is a knock on the partition, and I place a finger to my lips, gesturing for Cole to stay quiet.
I slide the divider between the booths open.The space between is covered in decorative wire mesh, obscuring our identities.Of course, we know who one another is in this small town.
I clear my throat softly.“Yes, my child.You may begin.”As the parishioner starts confessing, I feel Cole’s warm breath on my neck.His hands slide under my shirt, caressing my stomach.I try to focus on the confession, but Cole’s touch is intensely distracting.
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” the voice says.“It’s been two weeks since my last confession.”Cole’s lips brush against my ear as he whispers,
“I have a confession too, Father.”His hands roam lower, fingertips teasing along the waistband of my pants.I struggle to keep my breathing steady.
“Go on,” I whisper, both to the confessor and to Cole.As the parishioner continues, Cole slowly unzips my pants.I attempt to push his hands away unsuccessfully.I bite my lip to stifle a gasp as his hand slides inside, wrapping around my stiff cock.My eyes flutter closed as I try desperately to focus on the confession.
“I’ve been having impure thoughts,” the voice in the booth says.“About someone I shouldn’t.”Cole’s hand starts to move, stroking my cock slowly.His lips trail down my neck, teeth grazing my skin.I grip the edge of the confessional booth, my knuckles turning white.
“That’s...that’s natural,” I stammer, fighting to keep my voice steady.“We all struggle with temptation.The important thing is not to act on those thoughts.”Cole chuckles softly in my ear.
“Too late for that, Father,” he whispers.His thumb swirls over my tip, spreading the precum there.I have to bite back a moan.
