“But of course, brother Jedediah,” I say gently, thinking of the most gruesome shit I can think of to will my dick down. I start going over baseball stats in my head as he kicks his shoes off. He’s wearing a bathing suit and a long-sleeved black shirt with “Canaan Auto Repair” on the front of it over his rounded belly, and he starts to climb the steps. Luckily, by the time he’s easing his big frame into the water, my cock is no longer in danger of starting some very awkward conversations.
“Brother Jedediah!” I bellow, more to the crowd than to him. “Do you renounce Satan and his wicked ways!”
“I do!” he bellows so loudly it takes me back a little. They’ve all screamed it, but Jeb here has the performance of the day, by far. Shit, he’s even getting a little misty-eyed.
“Then come and be cleansed!” I roar. I grab him, and I grunt, my muscles straining to lower him back into the water. Jeb here might have a beer-gut, but the guy is pure bear muscle. It’s just the final reminder I need to get my hungry fucking eyes off his goddamn daughter.
Jeb goes under, and I grunt again to drag him back out. He comes out sputtering and actually crying, and before I can stop him, the guy’s got me in big, wet, manly bear hug.
“Bless you, Gabriel,” he chokes against my shoulder. “Bless you for reminding this sinner that we can all share in His light.”
I nod stiffly. Once again, if I did still have a soul, I might even feel a little guilty about this one. Good thing I don’t, though.
Jedediah climbs the steps and steps down from the tub. Some of the other townspeople come forward to shake his hand and embrace him warmly, and I just smile down over the whole thing, hoping to God he gets her out of here before she fucks with my head any longer. Besides, now I really need to start drinking.
“Well, folks,” I drawl in my best southern twang. “I’ll be here for the week, with daily sermons, offerings, and Holy healings available to all—”
“What about me?”
Her voice is so soft and gentle that it takes me back. I blink, and even though I try, I can’t stop myself. My eyes slide over to her, and I instantly groan. My muscles tighten, my jaw clenches, and that fierce hunger explodes through me again. I look at her—at that long blonde hair, those pretty blue eyes, that tight little body cloaked in the soft white dress—and I want to devour her.
“Sorry, I—”
“Do you have time for her, preacher?” Jedediah says eagerly. “Please? We can pay.”
No. No no no, fuck no. No fucking way am I putting hands on—
“Is this enough?”
Fuck. He waves that green in my face, and I’m helpless to resist.
“Yeah, uh…” I swallow, and I take a deep breath to try and get my shit together. “Of course, brother!” I beam. My eyes swivel back to hers, and my jaw clenches.
“Please, won’t you step right up…”
“Delilah,” she says softly, starting into my eyes.
“Delilah,” I smile back. “Come,” I beckon with my fingers again, and she blushes. She starts to climb the stairs to the tub, and my cock is already thickening. Baseball stats, and multiplication tables, and pictures of car wrecks flit through my head. But goddamit, none of it helps. None of it does a damn thing to stop my cock from swelling to full thickness in my bathing suit.
Delilah gasps quietly as she steps into the water. The dress begins to billow out around her, and she blushes and pushes it back down. The water soaks it, and she steps all the way in until the water is just above her waist.
“Like this?” she whispers, standing next to me.
“Like, yeah…” I growl, fumbling. “Stand this way.”
I reach out before I can stop myself, and my hands circle her waist. She tenses for a second, and my cock just fucking throbs. Shit, this is going to be bad. I turn her to face the right way, and my hands assume the position of holding the small of her back and the back of her head. Her long silken blonde hair teases my arm, and I grit my teeth.
I’m so fuckin’ hard, but I’m also straining to stand a bit back from her than I normally would. The last thing I need is this girl coming up from her baptism sputtering that the preacher’s got a boner.
“Delilah.”
Her name tumbles quietly from my lips, and I groan. Fucking hell, it’s like a switch getting flipped. My hands tighten on her just a little, and my pulse thunders a little louder in my ears. Her soft, tight body melts against my big hands, and she smiles and closes her eyes. I start to dip her back, and my eyes sweep over her.
Fuck.
I want to scream at whoever the fuck thought it was a good idea to let a girl who looks like this wear a white fucking cotton dress to a goddamn baptizing. She’s clearly wearing underwear, but as the water soaks through her thin dress, I could almost tell you the fucking brand name of them. My eyes look hungrily through the water, and I swear I can almost see a little shadow between her legs, through the soaked dress and panties.
Get ahold of yourself, dumb ass, I growl to myself.