Page 18 of Sinned

He stormed closer and shoved the cot towards Ava. It pushed her into a shelving unit. As he reached for her I came in from behind, grabbed him by the shoulder, and spun him around to face me. His face contorted angrily, his eyes were bloodshot and crazed. There was only one way to deal with him.

I closed my hand into a fist and punched him square in the jaw. His eyes rolled back immediately. As he teetered on his feet, I walked over to Ava and wrapped my arms around her. He fell to the side, crashing into a chair as he collapsed to the ground.

“Oh my God,” Ava said as she looked towards him. “I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“He’s fine,” I said, keeping my arms around her. “He’ll wake up any second now.”

As Ramon knelt beside him the man woke and his eyes blinked rapidly. He moaned and rubbed his jaw as he looked around the room.

“He’s fine,” Ramon said before turning towards the crowd and waving his arms. “The clinic is closed for the rest of the day. Please come back tomorrow.” He patted me on the back and whispered, “I’ve seen this before. You a boxer, Father? You hit him right on the button.”

“I was the Interstate Champion of our boxing club in seminary school,” I said.

“I learn something new about you everyday,” Ava said.

“Sit,” I said. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Take her to her room,” Ramon said. “I don’t want her here when this guy realizes what happened.”

I nodded and with my arm still around her, I pushed through the crowd and out the door.

Whenever I fought, I felt like an uncaged animal had been released. Punching that guy out for how he treated Ava made me feel even more alive. Every part of me wanted to toss her over my shoulder, carry her to bed, and claim her as mine.

As I opened her door, I pulled her tighter against me. Our eyes met and I could hear her gasp softly as she melted against me. Her lips silently called to me, pushing me beyond temptation.

I lowered my face to hers and softly brushed my lips against hers. It wasn’t enough. Cupping her face, I brought my mouth over hers, then sucked in her lower lip and growled. I needed more.

With my foot, I pushed her door closed and then pressed her against it. As her arms wrapped around me, I slid my tongue into her mouth.

As I pulled away from her lips, I waited for her to open her eyes as she smiled. I slid my thumb over her cheek, to her soft, full lips. She opened her mouth and my mind went to places it hadn’t been to in years. I needed to have her body.

I picked her up as my lips closed over hers again, but caught my reflection in the dresser mirror. I was still in my black slacks and button-down shirt, the clothing I wore when I was on duty. But what I wore didn’t matter. Whether I was in black, vestments, or in jeans, I was still a priest. I shouldn’t be there and I shouldn’t have kissed her. No matter how much I wanted to.

As I put her down, her eyes searched my face. I was conflicted, but I knew what I needed to do. I looked away from her knowing that if I looked at her sweet lips one more time I wouldn't be able to do the right thing.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I have to go.

I turned and walked out of her room, quickly closing her door behind me. As I entered my room, I locked the door and leaned against it, using myself as a barricade.

What did I do? After all these years, after all the work I did to become a priest, how could I let it all go?

There was a soft knock on the door. Ava didn’t have to say it was her, I knew. I wanted to throw the door open and take her like the man she reminded me I was. But I couldn’t.

“Charlie? Are you in there?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, Ava, but please go back to your room. I’m sorry about what happened. I should have never kissed you.”

“No, don’t blame yourself. I’m just as responsible. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for earlier at the clinic.”

“Please go back to your room. And if you hear a knock later, don’t open the door.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t promise that I’ll control myself. And I really need to. How I’m feeling, what I’m thinking about is a sin.”

“What are you thinking about?” she whispered.

Just hearing her voice through the door was torture. Knowing she was so close, that I could have her in less than a minute made my mind spin.