The Reverend And His Plaything

s PO

What the hell," I muttered under my bre

ever bothers

mming softly as I cleaned, lost in m

.. but gett

ho the hel

d used to reach the upper shelf, the damn th

hit the

into

ir of str

, wide

His shirt was soft against my skin, and for a

I loo

e Reveren

breasts, but not quite touching. His eyes were dar

aid, voice

velvet. Grandma wasn't lying-if he wasn't a rever

k on my feet as I stumb

Reverend..." I muttered quickly.

leg of the ch

he said with

everends look like

nds fidgeted, my skin hot-maybe from

ll warm. "Your grandmother told me. She

tly toward my shoulder-instinct

day," I replied, my v

d, his eyes scanning over me in a way

tioned to a seat

Sit and tell me al

y, nerves flutter

same calm confidence while I sat across fro

his eyes locking onto mine, as

eople. But here I was, talking slo

hat should've been enough of an ex

I said, my voice a little shaky. "I'm her

m. "She deserves that. You must

le closer. I stiffened, shifting just an inch back-but hi

e. I just want to see you better while you ta

t was t

ther..." I

with a faint smile. "It's simp

e. It wasn't a suggestion-it w

grandma wasn't the only reason," he added, voi

fr

m something? Or was

ne," I started, bu

firmer this time. "Especially

feeling the heat

on me," I finally admitted, my voice cracking. "And it was

ed off as a sm

, wiping quic

in front of a strang

e didn't

dn't

t close enough to feel like a pre

start..." I said-but

ead slightly, eyes

ntly, his voice holding something deeper. "If not, you ca

ws lifting. "I mean... would they e

the director for you. He's a senior member of the chur

agining me in their classrooms, already pulling

I replied softly

could happen, a familia

, Mia!" Grandma called out ch

eside her as she gave me a gent

ghter now-Mia. She'll be helping out at

gaze not leaving mine. "That woul

ing me. Like he di

ng's coming, and we've got things to do

o his feet. He extended his hand-

first, intercepting hi

ne said politely, though ha

" Grandma replied a

p forward...

at me-something h

rned

led, my voice sha

. "Yes, Mia?" he asked,

for confession.

lips parting like I'd said somethi

r a second too lon

he said. "Any ti