Page 8 of Chasin' Cole

Chapter 3 – Sunday Best

"Rose," I hear my sister-in-law, Lacey, whisper-yell in the middle of the Sunday mornin' church service. "Scoot down!"

"I can't!" I whisper-yell back as Mrs. Hudson turns in the seat in front of me, sending a tight-lipped death glare my way. I mouth an apologeticsorryto her before turning back to the petite, blond-haired woman who won't quit pesterin' me. But she's not the one sittin' next to me.

Dark, soulful, charcoal eyes. Handsome face. Lips that were kissin' mine yesterday. Lips that didn't want to stop kissin' mine yesterday. Lips that showed up on my front porch last night, beggin' me not to chase him.

I swallow nervously, my heart beatin' like horse hooves against the hard earth. "Hi."

Cole eyes me apprehensively. "Morning, Rose."

Morning,Rose?

He didn't call meRing Around the Rosie.

It shouldn't, but it makes my heart somersault in my chest. Oh, Cole Strickland. Why did you have to show up at the creek yesterday? Why did you have to make my heart go all haywire at the sight of your delicious body?

I press myself as far as I can against the edge of the cool, wooden pew, silently cursin' whoever designed these uncomfortable benches.

Cole moves closer to me as Lacey continues with her incessant whisperin', the side of his body flush against mine. There isn't enough room for everyone now that Lacey's friend, Ashley Jo, and her husband showed up. I should probably speak up and tell her that the pew can't hold all the people she's tryin' to fit on it, but I drown everythin' out as Cole's fingers innocently graze mine.

A burst of heat spreads across my hand, zips up my arm, and twists around my heart. Then, he does it again. His fingers brushing up against mine.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I know Pastor Frank is talkin' about purity and chastity today, but all I can think about is how good Cole's bare skin felt against mine in the creek yesterday afternoon. The feel of his muscles beneath my palms. The curls of hair at the base of his neck. His lips movin' against mine like they were dancin' to a melody only we could hear.

My body might catch fire in the middle of this sanctuary if he doesn't stop touchin' me. Both God and me know he's doin' it on purpose, too.

Cole shifts his body slightly, his strong thigh moves against mine. It's torture as I keep my gaze on the podium.

I place a hand on Cole's leg when he bumps into mine again. I will him to stop makin' my body feel things it should not be feelin' in the middle of a Sunday mornin' sermon.

"Chastity," Pastor Frank's voice booms through the room, "is the quality or state of being chaste. Celibate. Refraining from any sexual activity outside of marriage."

Chaste.

None of my thoughts are chaste right now.

Sinful, sinful, sinful.

I want to sin with Cole Strickland really bad right now.

I don't realize my hand is still restin' on Cole's thigh until his fingers cover mine. My heart thumps and thuds and thunders against my rib cage. I want to kiss him again. Have him hold me against him. Run my fingers through his hair. Yeah, I might combust in the middle of a sermon. I'm surely goin' to hell right now.

"Flee from sexual immortality," Pastor Frank's eyes meet mine.Oh no!Can he read my thoughts? I sometimes wonder if God gives Pastor Frank supernatural powers to know when I'm thinking things I shouldn't. "All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."

Corinthians 6:18.

Dang it! I know that verse. Mama ingrained it into my head as a child, along with hersave yerself for marriagetalk. I don't think Brock got that one, though. Explains so much.

The sermon continues while I try to squash all sexually immoral thoughts from my head. I didn't know temptation could be this...strong. The temptation to sin against my own body. With Cole. With Cole's body against my body. With Cole's naked body.

Lord,helpme.

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