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Heat crept across my cheeks as we lingered in silence. My mind was spinning out of control, filled with crazy thoughts of what his lips would taste like, how it would feel to be beneath such a huge, powerful man. This was all so bizarre, so out of the ordinary. Suddenly, I understood what Lily was saying about the impact these priests were having on the women.
“I should probably get to dinner,” I managed to say, trying to break the awkward tension. The truth was, I was floundering. What was happening to me?
Forcing my numb legs to move, I started to sidestep him, eager to escape before my cheeks got any hotter and they self-combusted, but he was quicker. In one fluid movement, he stepped into my path, sliding an arm across my lower back, halting my retreat and sending my heartbeat into a frantic rhythm. A delicious surge of electricity buzzed through me at his touch, causing my stomach to clench and my breath to hitch in my throat.
He watched me as though he was drinking me in, as if he could feel the same tangible tingle of energy between us, the invisible thread tugging us closer. With a soft chuckle that seemed to vibrate in the very air around us, he gently twisted me away from him. His breath was warm against my ear, the intimate contact sending an unexpected shiver down my spine.
“Katerina, this part of the Institute is reserved for teachers only,” he whispered, his voice breathy and a stern warning with a splash of playful banter. “Please remember that. Or else I might have to enforce a punishment next time.”
His words, both tantalizing and promising, left me lost for breath. The suggestion of discipline completely undid me and turned my legs to jelly. Even as I felt an inferno creeping up my neck, I couldn’t help but wonder what a punishment from Father Logan would entail.
My thighs squeezed so tightly, I swore I might have just had a tiny orgasm.
I was going to hell for fantasizing over a priest.
“This way. I’ll accompany you,” Father Logan offered, gently steering me away from the off-limits hallway.
Despite him lowering his touch, I was hyperaware of his presence beside me. Feeling a sudden urge to fill the silence and unable to keep ogling at the muscles pulling his robe taut across his biceps and chest, I said, “Do we have a gym here? Is that where you work out?”
My gaze took on a life of their own, sliding over his broad chest again before traveling up to where his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. The hearty laugh that erupted from him echoed off the corridor walls, a sound so beautiful, my cheeks flushed in response.
“Nature is our gym here,” he replied, his emerald irises glinting with amusement. “She provides the best area for both exercise and meditation.”
“So, where did you teach before this?” I asked to redirect the conversation away from the physical since I had zero control.
“I’m a bit of a nomad,” he admitted casually, his attention wandering to the tall, arched windows lining the hallway, letting in the last rays of the setting sun. “I go where I’m needed.”
As we neared the entrance of the bustling dining hall, my skin tingled, and my nipples hardened. Stealing a glance his way, a wave of excitement tingled through me. Stepping into the lively dining hall, my mind raced with one troubling thought—how was I expected to concentrate on anything with a distraction like these Fathers?
The hum of conversation abruptly died down at our arrival, every female in the room staring at Father Logan. They watched him with an intensity that bordered on worship. It was bizarre, to say the least.
Shaking off the odd sensation, I scanned the room for Lily. She was sitting at one end of a long, wooden table that dominated the room, her hand raised in a wave. She’d saved me a spot next to her.
Turning to Logan, I said, “Thanks for helping me out.”
The curl on his lips melted my knees.
“Anytime.” His voice broke the spell. He headed to the end of the table, so I quickly made my way to Lily, taking in the rustic charm of the hall.
Heavy wood beams crisscrossed the ceiling, while weathered stone walls were adorned with an assortment of paintings and tapestries. The place was far from what I had envisioned for a religious institute. There were no crosses, no statues of saints, nothing that screamed religion.
“Are the Fathers... real priests?” I asked Lily in a low whisper, sliding onto the bench next to her just as I noticed Louise enter the room. She was carrying several plates of food, which she placed in the middle of the table, then hurried to take her place at the long table. When I smiled at her, she looked away.
What was her problem?
“Does it matter?” Lily shrugged, her lips curling into a wry smile. “I’m just here to serve my time, and if that means getting to enjoy a little eye candy, I’m not complaining.”
Her words made me choke on my laughter, drawing a few curious glances from nearby girls. As my giggles softened, I turned back toward Father Logan. He was watching me, his stare intense and unsettling.
Turning around, I focused on the feast laid out in front of us. Platters were heaped high with several roasted chickens with crispy golden skin, colorful salads, and bowls of creamy mashed potatoes. Were we really being punished here? The smell filled the air with a mouth-watering aroma. There was also a pot of what smelled like homemade soup, its steam curling upward.
I rarely got to eat homemade food at home since my mom passed away, which was a long time ago. I still missed her and her cooking. My stepdad’s meals were either takeaway or came right out of the freezer and into the microwave.
Father Logan said a few words, drawing my attention. It could have been a silent prayer since it was hard to tell from my distance. None of the girls joined in. Once he finished, everyone dug into the food, and I helped myself.
“So, what’s the general schedule around here?” I asked.
“We all have roles here, Kat,” Lily explained. “Aside from lectures and group sessions, everyone pitches in. There’s a schedule in the living room every week for who does what. You’re lucky it’s mid-week, so you get a few days grace without having to do any work, but next week, expect to be added.”
