Page 4 of Hotter 'N Hell

My cock decided to remind me just how well he worked.

I shifted slightly, glad my jeans could keep my reaction somewhat hidden. “My parishioners call me Father Jude. Some of the older members prefer to be more formal with my last name and refer to me as Father Rayne. You’re not Catholic or my parishioner. You can call me Jude if you prefer.”

The corner of her lips curled up slightly. “I don’t know. I kinda like Father Jude.”

Another jump from my dick.Great. Just great.

She held her hand out to me as she stood back up. “It was nice to meet you, Father Jude.”

I looked down at her hand for a moment too long before sliding mine into hers and standing up, hoping like hell she didn’t notice the bulge in my pants.

“It was nice to meet you too…” I paused, waiting on her name.

That dimple appeared again, but with it came a second one. She had them in both cheeks. The tiny gap between her otherwise perfect teeth had probably started a trend in her high school, girls wanting one just like it.

“It’s Saylor”—she paused—“Rice.”

Her eyes seemed to study my face for a reaction to that name. As if she was almost concerned I would recognize it. Or maybe I was reading too much into it.

“Miss Rice,” I replied with a small nod.

“Saylor, please. I’m not as elderly as you. I am just fine with my first name.”

I smiled, biting back a laugh, and then she let my hand go and started for the door.

I dropped my eyes this time, unable to help myself. I wished I hadn’t looked. Because the sight of her barely covered butt in those shorts, her long and tanned legs, and cowboy boots was going to be hard to wipe from my memory.

I waited until she was gone, the doors closed behind her, beforeI gripped my cock through my jeans and squeezed, letting out a low groan.

It wasn’t like I was perfect. Over the years, I had jacked off on occasion. But it had been a while since I’d felt the necessity to. I wouldn’t though. That would lead to more thoughts, and with that girl, it could be dangerous.

Guilt slowly sank inside my chest as I realized that my body had reacted to her in a way it had never responded to Delana. But what I’d felt for Delana had been pure. Every choice I had made since her death had been because of the time I’d had with her here on earth.

A gorgeous face and man-slaying body weren’t going to change that. I had fallen in love at fourteen and loved hard enough for a lifetime in the four years I had her. Those last two years, watching her battle the leukemia that eventually took her from me, had been the hardest times of my life.

She had made me promise not to blame God, even when I wanted to. But for her, I made that promise. I couldn’t love another woman. Delana was it for me. So, I had given my life to God completely, and until today, there had never been a temptation like the one who had just walked out that door.

We all were tempted. Even Christ. Perhaps He felt as if the time had come that I face my own Mount of Temptation.

Two

Saylor

Pretending to read a book while lying out beside the pool seemed like something someone who was emotionally stable would do. It was a normal activity on a late Saturday morning. Dodging my mother and her inquiries about my not going to the wedding of Bane Cash and the baby momma of my dead boyfriend had been my main goal. Thankfully, I’d been asleep when they arrived home last night, and I hadn’t been forced to endure a lecture about moving on.

I had moved on. I wasn’t in mourning. It was my choice to decide who I did and did not let into my life. I chose not to let Bane, his wife, and her child into my world. There was nothing wrong with it.

“You don’t read.”

Gathe Bowen’s voice didn’t surprise me. I’d expected to see him this morning. He was later than I’d thought he’d be.

He had texted me ten times last night, and when I finally responded with,You’re driving me nuts. Stop, or I will block you, he’d stopped.

Gathe meant well. Truth was, he worried about me more than anyone else in my life. I hadn’t asked him to choose me over being with the other guys, but he had. Where Crosby Cash was the boy I had been in love with all my life, Gathe was my very best friend. When I needed to vent or talk, it was Gathe I went to, not Crosby. He just got me. Everyone thought he had a thing for me. I thought even Crosby had assumed that was the case. But it wasn’t. We had never had any romantic feelings toward each other.

“I went to the wedding, and now, you’re gonna pretend to read and ignore me?” Gathe asked, sitting down on the edge of the lounger I was stretched out on.

I lifted my eyes to meet his. “No. I don’t care that you went. And I am reading.”