Page 90 of Forgive Me Father

“Is that Eden?” Luca yells in the background, his words slurring.

Roman’s grasp tightens. His mouth gravitates toward my breasts.

“Get your fucking hands off my phone—”

“Eden?” Luca’s voice is filled with regret and confusion, but I can barely focus on it as Roman’s tongue swirls over my nipple and then sucks the delicate skin into his mouth.

“Mmm-mhm,” I force out, my voice betraying a mix of a moan.

“Oh, Jesus, Eden, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me when I touched you like that—”

Roman bites my nipple, and I let out a gasp, leaning into him as my legs shake uncontrollably.

“Keep going,” Roman whispers, guiding my hips as he moves his mouth to the other breast, his hand massaging the one he’d bitten.

“You’re a fucking a-asshole, Luca,” I whisper, marveling at the sight of Roman dragging his tongue across my skin. “I don’t need you—”

“Whereare you, Eden—”

“Someplace I should have been all along,” I whisper. “Lose my fucking number.”

“Wait, Eden—” Luca’s voice pleads, but I end the call and toss the phone to the floor. I grab Roman’s chin, pulling him away from my breasts, and latch my lips to his, devouring him in a hungry kiss.

“Did you mean what you said?” He questions between kisses. “Do you feel like you should have been here with me all along?”

Pausing, I press my forehead to his, our breaths mingling.

“What does it mean if I say no?” I ask, his voice shaky.

“That this is... this is purely physical. Emotions aren’t involved.”

“And if I say yes?”

“Then things are much more complicated than I could have anticipated.”

I stare into his eyes, the intensity between us palpable.

“Then things are complicated, Roman, and that’s fine by me.”

He says nothing, only cups my face and gives me hard, passionate kisses. I ride him until we’re both convulsing from release once more.

As the evening fades into dusk, Roman pulls me into his arms, a sense of peace washing over me. In his embrace, I feel a rare safety, as if this is where I’ve always belonged—right here, where even God would smile upon us, knowing I’ve finally found my sanctuary.

Proverbs 5:19: "A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”

Chapter 24

Eden

Reaching my arms out in a large stretch, I feel around for Roman, my fingers meeting only the cool, empty space next to me. Confused, I pry open my eyes, wincing at the soreness that radiates through my body. Last night’s passion has left its mark, every muscle aching, my core throbbing as if it had been ripped apart and sewn back together.

I reach for my phone, still off from the night before, knowing that the countless messages from my brother and Zoey are waiting in my inbox. The early morning light filters through the room, painting the space in soft hues that remind me of the stained-glass windows in the church, the ones that catch the sun just right.

Sliding off Roman’s bed, I wince slightly as my feet hit the floor, the soreness making every movement clumsy and torturous. I rummage through his drawer, finding one of his larger tees, the fabric soft and comforting against my skin as I slip it on. Thefamiliar scent of him clings to the cotton, a mix of sandalwood and something darker that sends a shiver down my spine.

Nudging open the bathroom door, the remnants of his recent shower linger in the air, steam clings to the mirror like a memory. I wipe away the condensation with the back of my hand, my reflection coming into focus—disheveled, raw, my makeup smudged from the night’s intensity. My eyes trace the faint bite marks along my neck and the way my hair falls in tangled waves over my shoulders. I look like a woman who’s been thoroughly claimed, a thought that sends a flush of heat through me.

Peering down, I notice a new toothbrush resting on the counter, along with a bottle of face wash that I know costs more than two of my paychecks combined. Next to them, a note catches my eye. I pick it up, a smile tugging at my lips as I read the familiar scrawl.