Sweetest Sin: A Forbidden Priest Romance by Sosie Frost Read Free Book Online Page B

in my hand. The conversation discussed one of the most important
quotes and aspects of our faith, but I didn’t hear it. I stared at Honor’s
empty seat and counted the seconds, breaths, aching pulses of my heart until
she returned.
    The confessional
still haunted her, just as it moved me. I’d never purge the thoughts from my
mind, but I longed for the torment of her soft whimper. I knew it was wrong to indulge
in a moment of that agonizing perfection, but I still took satisfaction from
knowing the truth.
    She’d orgasmed at
my command. 
    I read the quote
again, memorized it, recited it to myself in English and Latin.
    For all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God.
    Some sinned willingly. Others
reluctantly. And some fell because they had no defense against the darkness
poised to steal their soul in the easiest, most sensual deceit.
    My lust wasn’t about pleasure. I
was tempted to wield power .
    I wanted to control her.
    The minutes
passed, and I drove my nails into the Bible’s leather cover like it was tender
flesh. My impatience scarred the book. It had been a gift from Benjamin, and I
should have read the words until the urge to see her passed.
    I failed once
more.
    “I think you have
this well in hand.” I stood and glanced over the group. “Excuse me for a few
minutes. Keep the discussion going. I’ll be back to talk about what you think.”
    The two
trouble-makers, Alyssa and Samantha, crossed and re-crossed their legs. They
offered me a glimpse of what was unshielded beneath.
    Lust was a
powerful tormentor…but these corruptible women did not interest me.
    So why did Honor
pain me with such desires? It was simple. She lived a life of virtue, honesty,
and integrity. It made her sin all the more meaningful.
    Irresistible.
    I should have returned
to my office. Or I should have left the church for the rectory and prayed.
    But the heart
wanted what the heart wanted. If only I listened to it and not what lechery
hardened between my legs.
    Honor hid within
the adoration chapel—a quiet room of medication and prayer separate from the
nave. The lights were dimmed so she might have lit a prayer candle if she
wished. Instead, she let the glow of her cell phone illuminate the room.
    She wasn’t crying,
but I didn’t need tears to recognize when someone was lost.
    Vulnerable.
    My greatest
temptation wasn’t a woman whispering my name as she sated her desires. I
resisted then, but I couldn’t resist what called to me now. A beautiful woman who
needed my help.
    She suffered
alone, frightened and confused. And somehow she made me more aware of the man
beneath the collar than any challenge yet to my ordination.
    I should have left
her—recommended another priest to guide her through these feelings. But those
emotions and desires, wantings and memories were mine and mine alone.
    It wasn’t temptation
to desire her. It was an obsession that would bind her to me—physically,
emotionally…spiritually.
    And no matter what
I did, what comfort I gave, or how honestly I denied my own attraction, I lost
a piece of my soul when I surrendered to her in that mutual destruction.
    I hesitated in the
entry and bowed to the monstrance, the displayed body of Christ nestled within
a golden vessel. The communion wafer, consecrated, tucked safely within the
glass for the pious to view and adore.
    Please forgive
this weakness.   
    “Honor.”
    She stood, her
hands tangling in her skirt, checking to ensure it was proper and modest.
    If only she realized
how the motion drew more attention to the heavenly softness of her dark curves.
    “Father
Rafe…Raphael.”
    Any name or title
rolled from her lips as sweet as sugar.
    “You left the
meeting,” I said.
    “Yeah. I needed…to
think.”
    “Can I help?”
    “You?” She shook
her head. Dancing curls cascaded over her face. She tucked them behind her ear.
“No, Father. I doubt you can help.”
    “May I try?”
    Honor crossed her
arms as if it would hide her. “No. I