13. Chapter 13
Harley
“It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine. It was just a kiss. It wasn’t even a real kiss. Our lips touched for like three seconds.” I ran a hand through my hair, the pre-dawn air cool after the thunderstorm last night.
The sun had yet to rise, the woods almost too dark to see where I was headed. But I had to get out of that guesthouse. I’d heard Kingsley leave earlier, then decided to get up, too. Now I was aimlessly wandering the property, trying to convince myself that I hadn’t done anything wrong.
The guilt gnawing at me told me otherwise. I must’ve done something , or Kingsley wouldn’t have pressed his lips to mine.
I groaned. Only Harley Raines could ensnare a monk.
Was he in trouble now? Did our kiss break his celibacy vow, or whatever he was under?
Good thing I hadn't given into the burning desire to kiss him back. And not that chaste, lip-touching peck, but a real kiss that would’ve left us both breathless.
Birds started singing as I kept pacing past trees with thick trunks and gnarly roots. The scent of wet dirt and greenery enveloped me, reminding me of the numerous camping trips I’d gone on with my parents. Soon, the bell would ring for Vigils. Lord, what do I do? How can I fix this?
The underbrush grew thicker, and I fought through it, not caring that branches scratched my skin. The farther I ventured, the brighter it got. Until I suddenly stepped out of the woods. Had I crossed the entire thing? Ugh, I wasn’t supposed to be here.
Serenity Lake stretched before me, the green mountains rising around the back half of it once again stealing my breath. The clear sky slowly brightened as daylight chased away the darkness of the night. This place was paradise.
Movement in the water caught my eye. A lone figure swam in the lake, hands cutting through the surface at a fast pace, the strokes powerful and graceful alike.
Kingsley.
My heart fluttered. Unable to tear my eyes off him, I kept watching. The way he moved, so confident and determined . . . There was no doubt it was him.
Not wanting to disturb him, I withdrew into the bushes just enough as not to lose sight of him. He kept swimming, all the way to the other side of the lake, then came back. Never slowing down, he did several laps. Finally, he swam to shore. I felt a pang of disappointment.
Oh my, never mind. My jaw practically dropped to my chest when he waded out of the water.
I immediately averted my gaze, but it was too late—the image was already seared into my brain.
Despite the lack of decent daylight, I’d had no issues making out the V-shape of his torso and outline of corded muscles. And those strong legs . . .
Pleasure and guilt swirled through me.
No, no, no, Harley. You have no business seeing him in his boxers. Not that he was the first man I saw like this—in my attempt to silence my loneliness I’d seen much more—but he was a monk . Heck, I doubted even his fellow brothers and fathers ever saw him half-naked.
Despite wanting to keep drinking in that perfect, muscular body, I forced my gaze to stay on the leaf-covered ground.
Since breaking up with Craig I’d tried to be better.
Avoid everything and anything that could make me stumble.
The Bible said to flee from sexual immorality.
If I wanted to stop myself from continuously walking down that same road, I had to scram from everything that was remotely connected to it.
Not to mention Kingsley wouldn’t appreciate me watching.
He was trying so hard not to make women stumble.
Crack.
I froze and held my breath. I’d been so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn’t looked where I’d stepped. On a stick, apparently.
I snapped my gaze to Kingsley. Arms shoved in his habit, he turned in my direction.
My heart raced. Please don’t see me. What would I tell him if he did? “Good morning, I’ve been here the entire time, watching you like a creep.”
Oh, brother.
His eyes scanned my area for a moment, then he returned to donning his habit, pulling it over his head. There went that beautiful view.
Something brushed my forehead. No, not brushed. Crawled .
Spider!
I screamed. Swatted at my forehead and fled out of the bushes. “Where is it? Where is it?”
Kingsley came sprinting over to me. “Harley! What’s wrong?”
“Spider!” I screeched, flapping my hands and turning in a circle. “On my head. It’s on my head!”
Strong hands caught my upper arms and stopped me. “Easy. Take a breath.”
My heart raced as Kingsley examined my head. Water dripped from his wet hair onto his black habit.
“I don’t see anything.” Still holding onto me, he drew back, his concerned eyes traveling my face. “Are you okay?”
“Is it gone?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
I nodded. “Then yes.” A shudder seized me. “I hate spiders!”
“I can tell.” A grin ripped across his handsome face. “Nice little dance you did there.”
“That’s not funny!” Laughing, I swatted at his chest. “It could’ve killed me.”
“Now that you mention it . . . I keep hearing stories about spiders swallowing human beings on this island.”
I went for another swat, but he caught my wrist, laughing. When I tried to attack with my other hand, he caught that one, too.
“Not fair.” I pouted, then gave him my sweetest look.
He chuckled. “Doesn’t work on me.”
The bell tolling across the monastery made us both freeze. Kingsley dropped my wrists like he’d been electrocuted.
“You’re not supposed to be back here,” he muttered.
“I know. I didn’t realize how far I wandered from the guesthouse. Then I saw you.”
His green eyes darkened, but not with anger. It was . . . desire.
My breath stalled, and I almost expected him to do something crazy, like last night. Yes, please kiss me.
“It’s time for Vigils.” His voice was so guttural I almost didn’t recognize it.
“Yes. Yes, it is.” I started walking, but when Kingsley didn’t follow, I turned back to him. “What is it?”
His gaze dropped to my lips, then snapped back up. “I’m sorry about last night. I have no idea why I did that. Please forgive me.”
“Yeah, of course. Water under the bridge. I won’t tell anyone, obviously, but are you gonna get into trouble for it?”
He expelled a breath. Ran a hand over his beard. “I don’t know. Haven’t talked to the abbot yet.”
“Maybe it’s better if I leave,” I quietly uttered the words I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to leave. Since being here, I felt closer to the Lord than in a long while.
“Absolutely not.” Kingsley’s expression turned darker than I’d ever seen. “I won’t let you leave these walls until your ex is no longer a threat.”
I sucked in a breath. The man had really gotten it into his head to protect me at all cost, and it seemed nothing could change his mind. Not even the looming danger of sin.
“Let my issues be my issues, Harley. Father Cruz gave me the task to look after you while you’re here, and that’s what I’ll do.” His gaze once again homed in on my lips, then he closed his eyes, torment twisting his features. “Even if it kills me.”
The last words were so quiet that I almost missed them. But I didn’t, and Lord have mercy. The tension between us was so strong, the yearning on both sides so powerful, that every second we spent alone together ripped us closer to the abyss.
“We’re going to be late,” I said before I would do something brainless. Like showing him how a real kiss worked.
“Not if we run.” Challenge flashed in Kingsley’s eyes, his mouth pulling into a smug grin. “Let’s see who’s the faster runner.”
“Oh, so you think you can beat me?” The man had no idea just how fast I could run.
Kingsley took up a starting position, leaning forward. “Ready?”
“Go!” Laughing, I took off.
“Hey, that’s cheating!” Kingsley barked behind me.
I laughed even harder, but kept running across the field, then into the woods as fast as my legs would carry me.
“Spider! On your head!”
I squeaked. Swatted at my hair. Kingsley tore past me with a diabolical laugh.
“Oh, you did not!” Even more determined than before, I chased after him, catching up right when we emerged from the woods. I came up behind him and kicked into his left foot. His legs tangled, and he stumbled forward.
I didn’t stay to watch if he ate grass or not. Instead, I catapulted my body past him, then the main house, then the gate, all the way to the cathedral and up the stone steps.
“Someone’s excited to start the day.” Father Cruz stood by the heavy oak doors, smiling at me.
“Just proving to Kings—Brother Samuel that I’m faster.” I could have smacked myself for the slipup. My heart thudded erratically—even more when something akin to concern flickered in Father Cruz’s eyes.
“Our guest plays dirty.” Oblivious to what I’d just done, Kingsley came jogging up the stairs with a wide grin on his face.
“I doubt you don’t.” Father Cruz’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He turned to me. “I’d like to have a word with Brother Samuel.”
“Of course.” Before I headed inside the cathedral, I snuck a glance at Kingsley. All color had drained from his face.
Uh-oh, this reeked of trouble.