Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
It’s almost like they can smell the sinner hidden under the robes and the bullshit bible verses.
In another life, years ago, I fell into this trap time and time again. But age, and a few brushes with almost getting my nuts shot off by an angry father or husband or whoever, have taught me to stay the fuck away from women like this. And that’s without even counting for the fact that every single inch of my head is being taken up by Delilah Somerset.
I smile calmly at Lizzie. “And what can I do for you this fine evening, Ms. Purcell?”
She sighs. “Well, preacher,” she purrs, batting her eyes. “It’s my mortal soul.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Ahh, of course, Ms. Purcell. Well, my tent is open to all, tomorrow morning, first thing.”
She pouts. “Well, Mr. Marsden, I’m just not so sure this can wait until morning. You see, my soul is awfully burdened.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, right, okay.” All I want is peace and quiet. And whiskey. And Delilah slowly riding my cock up and down, I suppose, if we’re getting detailed. I have zero patience or bandwidth for playing stupid flirty games with bored rich girls like Lizzie Purcell.
“Well, what seems to be weighing you down, Ms. Purcell?”
“Sin, preacher.”
It’s so very hard not to roll my eyes again. It’s like it’s the same script, every fucking time with these types of women—the types who want to try and seduce the traveling preacher man.
“Yeah, well, that’ll put a weight on your soul. Tell you what, Ms. Purcell—”
“Please, call me Lizzie.”
“Well, Lizzie, I think first thing tomorrow, you should come on over with some friends, and we can join our prayers together as one and beseech the good lord to unburden you from this sin.”
“It’s carnal, preacher,” she murmurs thickly. “Carnal sin.”
“The world is full of temptation, Lizzie.”
“Tell me about it,” she purrs, her eyes sliding over me again shamelessly. Where the fuck are my pants?
“I surely will,” I smile thinly. “Tomorrow.”
She pouts. “But preacher,” she says softly. “I was surely hoping you could… unburden me tonight.”
“Lizzie—”
She starts to walk towards me, her eyes hooded. “My, my,” she purrs, biting her lip as her eyes slide over me again. “My word did the good Lord do right by you, Gabriel.”
“Lizzie, I need to insist that—”
“Could you unburden me from this sin, preacher?”
“Lizzie—”
“Cleanse my soul?”
“Ms. Purcell—”
“It’s so hot, Preacher Gabriel, being this close to the fires of damnation!”
She reaches for the front tie to her dress, and I groan. “Lizzie—”
“Or maybe that’s just you, Gabriel,” she purrs. She yanks the tie open, and suddenly she shrugs the dress open and off her shoulders to pool at her feet.”
Goddamnit.
She’s got a whole little number underneath, too—this black lace ensemble of matching panties and bra, complete with garter-belts. To any moral man, this should be game over. This would be hello sin-town. I should be ripping my boxers off and tripping over myself to get my hands all over her.
…None of that shit happens, because this is not who I want. Not by a country fucking mile.
“Ms. Purcell,” I say quietly. “I think you’ve got the wrong idea.”
“Uh-uh, Gabriel,” she purrs. “You might say you’re a man of God, but I know a hungry sinner when I see one. Come on, preacher… it’s all for you. Whatever you want, it’s all for the taking—”
“I want you to put your clothes on and go home, Ms. Purcell.”
She stiffens, and finally, that smug, coy smile fades from her lips.
“Excuse me?” she bristles.
“Go home, Lizzie,” I say gently. “I’m flattered, truly, but—”
“Asshole.”
She whirls, grabbing her dress off the ground and furiously yanking it back on. I just roll my eyes at her back as she huffs and splutters.
“You have got some nerve,” she hisses.
“Pardon?”
“Oh, I know your game, sir!” She spits. “Lead the women in town on? Look extra handsome and make them think you’re there for a good time, just so you can lord some morals over them when they finally cave and come to you?”
I wrinkle my brow at the crazy standing in front of me. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m onto your games, sir!” she crows. “And I’m going to tell the whole town about—”
“I’m not sure we want to get into a ‘sharing’ war, Ms. Purcell,” I growl tightly. “Do you?”
She bristles, but her lips purse shut.
“Asshole,” she finally mutters before she whirls on her heel and starts to march across the field.
I just blink and stoop down to grab my mug of watered down, lukewarm whiskey. I knock the rest of it back and shake my head. The town is going to kill me.
I shuffle back to my chair and slump into it. I need to focus. With a frown, I glance around and finally spot my pants on the ground behind me. I snatch them up and dig out my cell phone. I need to call Kane.