Page 24 of My Forever Sin

“Welcome to the house of the Lord,” Mother chirps as she extends a metal donation bucket with ‘For the Blackcastle Church’ engraved on it that clinks every time coins are dropped inside it.

“Hi.” A smooth, feminine voice attracts my attention to a woman with light, blonde hair, perfectly waved down to her waist, with stark green eyes and a kind expression on her face. She surveys us both and smiles warmly at me as a man wearing a white button up shirt follows, eyes wholly fixed on the back of her. He has to be about six inches taller than me. Tattooed all the way up to his neck, and dear lord, he looks like he was carved by Jesus himself.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.” They stop when they hear Mother addressing them. She carefully examines the woman’s emerald dress as it swishes over her thighs when she turns, and the white shirt of the man. Not town colours. They’re outsiders. And Mother doesn’t like that. What happened to being welcoming? ‘Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God.’

Green Dress eyes the bucket but makes no attempt to find coins. She entwines the man's tattooed hand in hers. I don’t think he got in trouble for those, considering they’re covering his entire body. “Oh! We’re just visiting the town and heard about this church. We wanted to stop by and see if we could see ourselves living here…”

Her partner wears a hard expression but doesn’t involve himself in the conversation between her and my mother.

“I hope you’re not staring too hard.” A low murmur causes goosebumps to rise on the side of my neck. I suck a breath in and take a step forward, away from the culprit of the voice.

“You’ll love Blackcastle! It’s truly the best tight-knit community,” Mother gushes. She’s none the wiser about Kain standing behind us.

The stranger’s icy blue eyes catch him, though, and they study him from head to toe. He’s… intimidating to say the least. I hope they’re not here to cause problems.

I want to turn around so badly, but I can’t. And Kain knows it too. A sting of nervousness takes place in my chest at the fact Mother could catch us right at this moment. All our stolen kisses and secret nights would be over.

“Well, we look forward to the service!” The woman flashes one more smile before dragging her partner to one of the middle pews.

I dare a glance behind me, but no one is there. I release a very silent breath and scan the room, searching for any glimpse of Kain. And like a phantom, he appears on the other side of the room—black, silky hair flopped over his forehead, that boyish smile he always wears plastered on his face, and his gaze fixed on me. I can’t help how my cheeks heat. He’s miles away but feels like he’s right here next to me, his breath still caressing my neck.

I don’t realise the doors have closed and the organs have started playing until Mother pinches me under my arm and I spin to face the front immediately. A choir starts as Father Michaels slowly makes his way up the altar. After a while, the music fades and he adjusts the microphone.

“Welcome everybody. The Lord is proud you’re here for another weekly sermon—”

I glance to where I know Kain was, and he’s still there. But he’s not paying attention to anything that’s happening at the front. He only has his eyes on me. Dorrian stands next to him in a burgundy suit, arms folded in front of him, facing the altar, completely unaware his little brother is paying no attention. Cassie and her parents sit in the pew second from the front.

Kain’s head tilts slightly to the side. I know exactly what he’s implying and my heart jumps in excitement.

“Today is a special day. The Lord wants to forgive all your sins…”

Toilet. That’s a fair enough excuse, right? I shuffle closer to Mother and whisper, “I’m going to the toilet.”

“No, you’re not.” She spins and pins me with her eyes. It’s like they’ve taken on a darker shade in here. They look more soulless than usual… like she’s just not in there. “You will stay the whole sermon. It’s not a choice.”

I shake my head as she turns towards the front again.

I can’t stay here. I want to see Kain. Even when my knees are shaking and I contemplate what my punishment might be if she notices I’m gone.

Rounding the back row of pews, I quietly open a door which leads to the other side of the church. Kain’s presence is calling to me and I can’t ignore it. I need him. The sound of the priest's voice muffles as I shut the door. I make it to a set of worn, stone stairs that lead to a balcony around the back of the church. Taking one step at a time, I make my way upwards as the service fades out to an inaudible mumble. A row of arches comes into view, no windows, just a long balcony with open arches. Branches from the surrounding trees poke through some of the structure, vines wrap around the stone.

Echoing footsteps pull my attention to the other end of the walkway just before Kain leans on one of the pillars, hands shoved into merlot-coloured slacks, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his tattooed arms. He looks deliciously sinful, and everything I’ve been taught not to indulge in.

I waste no time in running across, knocking into him, causing him to grip my waist to find his balance. I grab his face and place my open mouth on his and let our tongues intertwine.

It’s a moment of forgetfulness because I realise that anyone might see us and pull away, my hands still holding his face.

“What?” he breathes, all air from his lungs lost from our kiss, wide lips parted slightly.

“Not here,” I reply, glancing down at the floor.

His sharp features drop. His hand finds its way to the back of my neck and weaves through the hair on my nape. “Jordie…” His eyes—pools of hazel—desperately plead with me. He leans down again, pulling my head closer to him, and God forgive me, I can’t resist him. I doubt he would anyway for everything I did. I crash my mouth to Kain’s again as he leads me backwards. My hands desperately claw at his smooth hair, his arms and anywhere I can get my hands on him.

“I missed you,” he confesses through kisses as his hand squeezes my waist.

“You only saw me last night,” I reply, biting his lower lip.

“That’s too long to be away from you.”