Page 11 of Sinned

Shadows moved across the ceiling with the rising sun as I laid in bed. Since meeting Father Charles two weeks ago, I hadn’t been able to think about anything but him. I didn’t want to and since we spent every day together, I didn’t have to.

There had to be some kind of crime against nature to have a priest be so incredibly hot. But it wasn’t just his pale blue eyes or perfectly tousled dark hair that got to me. There was something in his gaze and his touch that resonated deep within me.

The first time we met when he walked into my room played over and over in my head. I remembered how our eyes met and it took my breath away. I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my skin and I wondered how I lived for so long without knowing that touch.

At first I was being selfish when I went to see him the next day in the church. I went there to convince myself he was just looks and nothing more. But once we started to get to know each other and I realized how much we had in common, I had to remind myself more and more that he was a priest and could never be mine.

I closed my eyes tightly. Get a hold of yourself, Ava! Don’t be such a sap. It must have been the heat of this place or extreme boredom. It wasn’t like me to think about a man that way, no matter how gorgeous he was.

The problem is he’s too hot, I thought as I got out of bed. If only he didn’t have that dark hair that made his blue eyes look even paler. Or if his closely cropped beard didn't make me wonder what his lips felt like. I must be having a seizure. That’s the only way to explain why I’m thinking like this. Or maybe I just need to get laid. What I wouldn’t give to see him naked. Stop that!

Dressed in jeans and a purple scrubs top, I went to the makeshift clinic Ramon had set up. I was in Peru as part of Doctors Without Borders. At twenty-five, not only was I one of the youngest experienced doctors helping the organization, but I was one of the last ones being sent to Peru now that healthcare in the country had improved.

A man I didn’t recognize was pushing one of the examination tables onto an old pick up truck. I rushed into the old store that now housed the clinic. Ramon was moving privacy screens and cots around.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“They didn’t tell you? They cut the funding to the clinic. It’ll be open on a reduced schedule,” he said.

“But what about the vaccinations and the physicals I had scheduled for today?”

“There just aren’t enough people who need the clinic opened daily. We already called everyone and told them the new schedule. I’m sorry, I know you came all the way out here from the States, but this is a good thing. It means things are progressing here and we don’t need as much help.”

“I know it’s good,” I said, feeling disappointed as I looked around the bare room. “Since I have more time on my hands, is there anything I can help with?”

“The storms are really doing a number up here. I was going to drive into town to get a generator so we can continue working when the power goes out. Do you mind picking it up for me?”

“Sure.”

“You can take the Jeep. I already took the back seats out, but take someone with you. You shouldn’t drive alone out here,” he said as he handed me the keys. “Why don’t you ask Father Charles to join you?”

I nodded and exited the clinic. Despite my disappointment, I was excited to get out of Amaru. As I entered the church, the clang of a tool dropping to the floor echoed through the building. I followed the sound to find Charles.

Charles was in a small office off the main hall. He was dressed in khakis and black t-shirt with sleeves that hugged his muscular biceps. He set a box down on top of another, then flicked his eyes over in my direction and stared at me intently. I was usually a good read of people, but sometimes I couldn’t read him at all. If he was any other guy I would have thought he was into me. But Charles made it very clear there was only one love for him, the Church.

“What are you doing here? I thought you get to play doctor today,” he said.

“They cut the clinic’s hours so I guess I have the day off. I’m going into town to pick up a generator and Ramon said I should bring someone with me.”

“A generator? I’ll go with you. You’ll need my help.”

“Oh? I’ll need your help? Why? Because I’m a woman so I couldn’t possibly carry a generator?” I asked with my arms folded over my chest.

“Something like that,” he said with a half smile.

“Great, so you’re a chauvinist. I should have figured that, Father Charlie.”

His eyes narrowed when I used his nickname. He probably thought I forgot how much he hated it, but I was holding it in my arsenal, just waiting for the perfect time to use it.

“You’ve been helping me unpack the church for weeks and you could barely move these boxes. Or what about that night you tried pushing me out of your room? What makes you think you could load a generator onto a truck?”

Dammit! He had a point. I wasn’t even sure what I was doing, but I enjoyed being a pain in his ass and I only had one surefire trick up my sleeve.

“Okay, okay,” I said as I started walking towards the door. “Let’s just go, Chuck.”

“It’s Charles,” he growled.

“That’s what I said.”