Page 2 of Spare the Rod

“I don’t plan on going back, Father. I leave here with the best of intentions. When the theme nights come around, I try to stay home, I try to go out. To do anything but go to Club Wonderland. I just… I just can’t.”

“Are there specific theme nights you struggle with more than others?”

“Yes. The themes of them do something to me. Sometimes the days change, but mostly they are on Tuesdays and Fridays.”

“Have you tried to pray through it? Instead of going to this place, come to church? We are open. Let us help you. Find support through God.”

“You would do that?” She seemed surprised.

“Absolutely, child. We are children of God, and when you struggle, we all struggle.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Our conversation had done nothing to ease the ache in my thighs, but at least I had done my very best to help lead her back from the path of temptation. Knowing that, I prayed with her and said goodbye as she left the confessional.

The door closed softly behind her and I leaned my head against the wall, taking long steady breaths. It was going to be a long day and an even longer night. I wasn’t sure if I hoped to see her Saturday or not. If I didn’t, it would leave me wondering if she were there, doing the things she had described in her previous visits, or if she were home, struggling by herself. Then again, if she came, it would be next to impossible to control the reaction I had around her. Something I had to pray on a daily basis to have control over.

The sound of the small door sliding open drew my attention back to the present, and despite my own battles, I had to focus on the person next to me. No matter what internal issues I fought, they deserved my full attention.

The week flew by quickly, and before I knew it I realized it was already Friday. She had never shown up Tuesday, but I hadn’t expected her to. Yet, for some reason, I found myself watching the door for her Friday evening, but she never appeared. It was worse knowing this was one of the nights she would be visiting the place she called Club Wonderland. Even the name brought visions of sin to mind and I found myself growing irritated, more at myself than at her or even the situation.

I tried to sort through the myriad of feelings racing through me and why I was growing more and more agitated at the thought of her being there. The reality of it hit me when I realized it was not because I was disappointed in her returning there, but it was because it aroused me. I wanted to be there to help her feel free, to lose myself in her like I had not done since I had taken up the cloth.

Something told me it would be unlike anything I had experienced before and the very thought of it had me growing rock hard. Images of her pinned beneath me, in the dark den of sin, calling my name while everyone watched, no care in the world as I sent her soaring, had me nearly doubling over as I clenched the pew in front of me for control, praying for strength for what I knew was my worst test yet.

“Father Christoph, are you well?”

I shifted, using my robes to hide my very erect member from Father Rinaldi as he laid his hand on my arm. “Yes, thank you. I was just thinking about one of our parishioners. Hoping she is okay. It brings me great concern and I took a moment in prayer.” Nothing I said was a lie. Not exactly. Ugh, this was a slippery slope.

“You care so deeply. If you are that concerned, perhaps you should go check on her?” His words rang in my ears, both what I wanted to hear and the very last thing he should have said.

I shook my head. “I’m not sure my intrusion would be a good thing.”

“You are clearly concerned, Father Christoph. Your intrusion might be exactly the thing she needs.”

“But the church.” I looked around, trying again to fight the need that coursed through me.

“Can handle one evening while you look after one of our own.” His words were kind. If only he knew.

I ran my hand over my face, my indecision racing through me as I tried to figure out what to do. If I just went to check on her, there was no harm in it. Walking through the door of the club didn’t mean I had to partake in whatever they were doing. It simply meant I was there to help someone find their path back to God.

“Okay. Thank you, Father Rinaldi.” He smiled and walked back toward the front of the church, leaving me standing next to the pew. Thankfully, no one else was present as I made my way out of the church and into the night, one wrong shift of my robes and it would quickly become apparent where my thoughts were.

She had mentioned the club name, Club Wonderland, and a quick search on my phone brought up the information I needed. It was on the other side of town, but I could take an uber there and be there within a half hour. First, I needed to change out of my robes. I knew I would stand out among the crowd that would be there, but I didn’t need to make it worse than it already was.

By the time I changed, my ride had arrived and I used the quiet to gather my thoughts while they navigated through the city. I needed to be in a good headspace if I were going to be able to resist any sort of urge when I arrived.

“Sir?” The uber driver had stopped and I glanced through the window at a very classy building, much to my surprise.

“Thank you.” I added a nice tip, hoping for his discretion as I got out and looked around.

A few people were trickling in through the club doors, some in long coats, covering what they wore beneath, others unashamedly wearing leather outfits, chatting happily as they entered the building. She hadn’t been lying, people really felt free to be themselves here.

I looked down at my fitted black jeans, torn on the thighs, and fitted black tee, revealing my biceps. Working out was something I had never given up over the years, believing my body was as much a temple as the church and I needed to take care of it. The outfit was the best I could do given what I had and I hoped it was enough to get me in. I highly doubted telling them I was a clergyman here for one of my parishioners was going to get me through the door.

“Bienvenue au Club du Pays des Merveilles. Welcome toClub Wonderland,” a butler greeted me as he opened the massive mahogany double-doors with white-gloved hands. I arched a brow in surprise at the opulence of the place. I didn’t know what I was expecting when she mentioned her den of sin, but what I saw before me wasn’t it.

“Monsieur,you must wear a mask to enter,” the butler stopped me from moving forward.

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