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“I’m already deceiving them.” His voice has regained some of its firmness. “I don’t want to compound my sin.”
I nod rapidly as I pull away from him. “Let’s get to the office. I want to enjoy our last day together.”
And I mean it. Even though there’s a physical ache in my chest that feels like it might never leave, I don’t want to spend our final moments wishing for something that can never be. If he’s set on living in black and white, at the very least, I can give him a few hours of vibrant color.
Brandon
“Mariana,” I say, my voice husky. “I have a job for you in my office. Come now.”
A smile tugs at her lips as she stands up from her computer, but I turn away before I’m tempted to return it. I don’t want to be soft with her right now. Not yet. Not until after she’s behaved herself.
This is so wrong, and somehow, I don’t even care. Sin has made me reckless. I sent Harper home early today, and it’s now just another dead Monday evening. No worship practice or Bible studies. My associate pastor and worship leader are already home with their families.
It’s just me and Mari.
After she follows me into my office, I gesture at my bookshelf. “The top shelves are a mess. I need you to organize them for me.”
She follows my hand with her gaze. “Why does it look like they were messed up on purpose?”
I take a step in her direction, gripping her chin. “What did I say about talking back to me?”
She smiles. “It won’t happen again, Sir.”
I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Good girl. Now get to work.”
Just as she walks toward the bookshelf, I grab the stepladder I fished through the storage closet to find. Just for this.
“You’ll be using a ladder this time,” I say through clenched teeth. “And you’ll be taking off those shoes. If you do try anything like you did on your first day, I’ll bend you over that desk.”
Mariana’s beautiful dark eyes grow huge, but then she slowly bends and starts removing her shoes. “Maybe I want you to.” Her words are faint, whispered.
“What was that?”
She purses her lips, as if to fight a smile. “Nothing, Sir.”
I narrow my eyes. “Good. Get to work. I’m going to be reading my Bible, so you’d better not distract me.”
She grins like a naughty little kid. God forgive me, if anyone walked in on us right now, they’d think I was committing blasphemy.
Mariana climbs up the stepladder, giving me a view of her toned calves. She has such a lithe, athletic body with delicate curves. I love having the pleasure of gawking at it as much as I want. After sitting in my desk chair and setting my Bible in my lap, I turn to the side to get the best view of her.
For the next few minutes, she slowly arranges books on the shelf. Occasionally, she glances over her shoulder and smiles mischievously at me.
“Mariana.” I say sternly.
Her eyes grow hooded. “Yes, Pastor?”
“What did I tell you about distracting me?”
She widens her eyes in mock innocence. “How am I distracting you?”
I lean back into my chair and set a hand behind my head. “I’ve told you how much I like your neck. You’re drawing attention to it.”
Her smile grows. “Am I? By turning it toward you?”
I frown, though I can’t stop my lips from twitching. “Watch it.”
“I’m sorry, Sir.”
