by Madison Faye
I’m looking at his sheet, when suddenly another sheet pops up, blinking with a message asking if he wants to turn on autosave. Instinctively, because I fucking hate it when my laptop keeps asking dumb questions like that, I click yes for him. But then, that second document stays up, and I start to read it.
…And my eyes go wide.
Holy. Shit.
The document has lists of accounts and terms, and from my own little forays into check fraud, I can read what it is. The motherfucker is setting up a shell game. He’s got the main “trust,” which presumably is where this almost two-million is being held safe to be put towards his church construction. But then, there are “feeder” accounts. The average sucker would look at this shit and haven’t the slightest idea what it is, or that there’s even anything wrong with this. But, I’m no ordinary rube.
I know what a shell game looks like. Hell, Jasper taught me this shit when I was seventeen years old. And I know damn well, in a second, what Paul is up to.
The trick is, you make the “feeder” accounts look like legitimate business. And when I glance over his sheet, that’s exactly what he’s doing. One is branded as a “construction advisory contracting firm.” The other is a geological surveying start-up based in Florida. The only problem?
They’re all Paul’s companies.
I glance through the windows of the cafe, and Paul is yammering away with the barista behind the counter. Fuck it. I open up a folder, and I start poking around. It takes me all of thirty seconds to find the cleverly named “Contracts” folder inside the equally ambiguous “Shell Corps” folder. Apparently, you don’t have to be a genius to pull this off in a trusting place like Canaan.
I open the PDF named “Main Trust Contract,” and I start skimming. Instantly, I frown.
The Trust is in Paul’s name, and the contract is a standard boilerplate one, like pretty much every Trust contract I’ve ever looked at. There’s even the subsection that mentions that in the event of a marriage where finances will be joined, the trust is to be dissolved to avoid compromise. That’s standard shit, but then, Paul is getting married.
My frown deepens. What the fuck is he up to? But then, it’s pretty damn clear what he’s up to: Paul’s about to scam this whole fucking town.
There is no church, that’s pretty clear. In fact, he’s got pre-approval contracts for buying property in Costa Rica. I roll my eyes at how brazen and obvious he is, but then, Paul is from Canaan, which is exactly the type of town a con man would pick. I mean, that’s why I’m here.
I scowl at the contracts and some of his other scheming before I glance back inside the cafe. Paul’s being handed two to-go cups, and I quickly close everything down and bring his original spreadsheet up. He steps out of the cafe and grins as he sits and hands me the coffee.
“So, where were we?”
I smile thinly. “Paul, I’m afraid I do have to run. But, let’s put a pin in this.”
He frowns slightly, but he nods. “Yeah, yeah for sure, Gabriel. We’ll revisit soon? Before you leave town?”
I smile. “Absolutely.”
Not. Absolutely not.
I want no part of Paul’s bullshit. I’ve got my own shit to figure out—with what I am, with what this thing with Delilah is, and going along with that, what it means with her and I when I leave town in a few days’ time.
Later on that afternoon, I’ve got one last sermon for the day scheduled at the tent. The place is packed like it’s been since I got here, and I give ‘em a standard dazzler about “being the light” and “illuminating the Way for the unsaved.”
But, there’s no collections plate, and it’s not an oversight, I just don’t pass any along. I also don’t set up a collections bucket, I don’t do any baptisms, and I still don’t sell a single bottle of snake-oil.
When the crowd leaves, I sit on the edge of my stage, scowling. I’d ask myself what the fuck is wrong with me, but I already know what it is.
It’s her. It’s Delilah. But then, I’m not sure if what this new me is with her in my life is such a bad, or wrong, thing.
Chapter Twelve
Gabriel
“I brought you something.”
I look up, startled, from my notepad to see Delilah leaning against the post by the back-flap to the tent, grinning at me. I smile back, and a warmth melts over me, like it always does when I see her.
She nods at my notepad. “What are you working on?”
“A sermon.”
She giggles. “You actually try?”
I roll my eyes. “Hilarious. And yeah, I do.”
“See I thought you just pulled stuff out of your…” She blushes adorably, and I love that she still gets all ruffled when she’s about to try and use an actual cuss word.
“Your ass.”
I chuckle. “You’re starting to get a mouth like a sailor, hanging around me.”
She giggles.
“But yes, I try.” I shrug. “You know, sometimes.” I grin and nod at the paper bag in her hand. “What’s that?”
She grins. “This.” She reaches inside and pulls out a huge mason jar filled with something orange and amber colored. My brow perks up.
“Is that some of that peach moonshine?”
“Yes indeed.”
“And you brought enough for the whole class?” I tease.
But she just rakes her teeth over her lip. “Yeah,” she breathes. “I did.”
I smile curiously. “Are you actually joining me in a drink for once?”
She nods, chewing at her bottom lip as she grins. “Just for once, though.”
I make a tsking sound and shake my head. “Naughty, naughty.”
“Well, I’ll be praying extra hard tomorrow.”
I laugh, but inside, while I drink her in, I’m trying to ignore the fact that I’m gone in three days. In three days, I’m leaving, and that means leaving her. And I’m not so sure how I’m going to deal with that quite yet.
“Well, Ms. Somerset, pull up a stool.”
She grins as I grab a couple of coffee mugs off a little shelf and pull over a second folding chair. She twists off the mason jar lid and sniffs before she giggles. “That actually smells delicious.”
I pour us two small cups, and hand her hers. “You sure about this?”
“Of course,” she shrugs nonchalantly.
I grin. “You’ve never drank before, have you?”
She smiles bashfully. “Well, not exactly.”
“Go easy,” I murmur, and click my mug to hers. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
We both bring the cups to our lips, and I watch her take a sip. She sputters a little, but she grins as she swallows it back.
“Wow, that’s pretty good.”
I knock mine back and grin. “Shit, that’s going to go down way too easy. I’m serious,” I eye her. “Go easy.”
She grins at me shyly and pours us each another hefty splash. Shit. This is dangerous, but it’s a fun dangerous.
“I’ve been thinking about something.”
“Oh?” she purrs, leaning close and sipping her drink. “What’s that?”
“There’s a chance I might be a bad influence on you.”
She giggles, and before I can say another thing, she leans close, pushes my mug away, and kisses me deeply. I growl and kiss her back, and her lips part for my tongue eagerly. She whimpers into my lips, and our tongues dance before she pulls back gasping, her cheeks glowing.
“Maybe,” she breathes. “But I’m a big girl and can think for myself.”
“And what do you think about this,” I growl. “You and me, and this whole thing.”
Her eyes spark, and she knocks back her drink. “I think I want more.”
She slides off her chair and into my lap, and I groan. I knock back my drink too and push both of our mugs onto the table. My arms circle her waist, and I growl as I feel the muscles at the small of her back roil as she arches into me. She kisses me slowly, and her hips rock on me,
grinding against the thick erection in my jeans.
Someone is a very, very fast learner.
Her hands go to my shirt, and she starts to feverishly undo the buttons. I help her peel it off my arms before I grab the hem of her t-shirt and yank it up over her head. I peel her bra away next, and she whimpers as her nipples press like two points against the muscles of my chest, dragging electrically over my skin.
She pulls away, panting, her eyes wild.
“Hot tub?”
“Fuck yes.”
We scramble up and yank the rest of our clothes off. She’s still peeling her panties down when I growl and come up behind her to grab her. She squeals and giggles as my arms circle her from behind, but then she moans as she feels my thick cock hot against her ass. She kicks the panties away and twists in my arms.
I grunt and grab her ass, pulling her up into me as her legs entwine around me. I kiss her deeply as I reach out with one hand and turn on my little bubbling heater, and the tub begins to bubble. I keep kissing her, and slowly, the steam begins to rise from the tub. I keep my mouth glued to her lips as I climb over the edge of the tub and settle in with her on my lap, those long smooth legs wrapped tight around me.
She grinds eagerly against me, and I hiss in pleasure into her mouth as I feel her slick little cunt drag against my cock. I obviously haven’t fucked her yet. In spite of her newly found wicked ways with me, I know that’s something that’s still important for her. She wants to hold onto that for marriage. Frustrating? Yes, but I respect it too, in a weird way.
In another weird way, it infuriates me to think that some other asshole will have that part of her. I know me leaving means this is done, whatever “this” is. And I know despite the fun we’re having, and me “teaching her sin” or whatever bullshit name we’ve attached to this thing so we have as an excuse to fool around with each other, it will be another man who makes her his forever. The thought enrages me, but I push it aside as I grip her tightly and kiss her fiercely.
My hand slides down between us, and she cries out and I easily slide a finger into her. She grinds against my palm and kisses me widely as I curl my finger deep, and her own hand drops to my cock.
“Gabriel…”
I growl, and she gasps as I lift her from the pool and set her down on the edge of it. I move between her thighs, spreading them wide before I lean in and drag my tongue over her hot little pussy. Delilah moans deeply, and she gasps as my tongue pushes deep into her. Her hands slide into my hair, gripping it tightly as I tease my tongue up and down her lips. I slide to her clit, and she cries out as I suck her little bud between my lips and swirl my tongue over it.
She’s already close, and I know it. I push her further towards that edge, and my tongue teases her clit faster. Her moans fill my ears, and her fingers claw at my shoulders. I slide a finger into her pretty little pussy and curl it against her spot just inside while I suck her clit, and Delilah begins to tremble.
“Oh God! Gabriel! Gabriel…”
My name falling from her soft lips makes me so fucking hard, as does the sweet taste of her hot little cunt. I groan as I eagerly drink down her honey and suck on her clit, and her thighs begin to squeeze my head.
“I—I’m—! Gabriel!”
I curl my finger faster and swirl my tongue around and around her aching bud, until suddenly, with an aching, broken cry of pleasure, she shatters for me. She moans wildly as she comes hard against my tongue, her body arching and grinding against my tongue until she collapses, panting. She grabs my face and pulls me up to kiss me fiercely, and I growl as her legs wrap around me.
“What do you do to me?” She whimpers, kissing me heatedly. She reaches down and wraps her small fingers around my big, throbbing hard cock, and I grunt. She pulls away, grinning coyly before she slides off the edge of the tub, and slowly turns. She’s still holding and slowly stroking my cock, and she looks back at me over her shoulder, her hair across her lust-smoked eyes.
She pulls my aching cock against her ass, and I groan as she strokes me against her thigh. She spreads her legs a little, and with a soft moan, she guides my cock between her thighs. My swollen head pushes over her slick pink lips, and I hiss in pleasure as she whimpers.
“I—I wish we could do more,” she whispers. She frowns and looks at me over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to tease you, I just—”
“You’re waiting,” I growl. “And that’s fine.”
She melts against me, her back to my chest as I lean over her, twist her head to the side, and kiss her deeply. My cock throbs against her forbidden little pussy, and she whimpers.
“But you feel so good,” she moans softly. “I just wish there was something else we could do.” She blushes. “Something else I could try.”
She slowly pushes her ass back against me, and I groan as her soft little cunt teases over me. Delilah gasps and whimpers, shivering as she rocks on my cock.
“I—I just want to feel you a little,” she moans. Her hand is still wrapped around me, and she strokes my cock as she rubs the crown over her clit. She slides me up over her lips, not pulling me inside, but making my eyes roll back as my head glides over her silky wet pussy. She pushes back a fraction of an inch, and I groan as I almost push inside before we both catch ourselves.
“Whoa,” she breathes, panting. “That was close.”
“We should stop, Delilah,” I growl.
She nods. “I know, I just… I want to feel you so bad. I want you to just have me.”
She strokes my cock back and forth, rubbing my crown over her slick pussy lips until suddenly, she drags my head higher.
And then higher.
When my fat cock head teases over her tight little asshole, I hiss darkly in pleasure, and a whimper catches in her throat.
“Oh fuck,” she gasps.
“Delilah…” I groan.
“What about here?” she breathes out so quietly I almost don’t even hear her. But, I do, and my cock fucking lurches.
“Fuck, Delilah,” I growl darkly. She whimpers and strokes me, and gently, she pushes back. I can feel her tight little ring press against my head, and she gasps breathlessly.
“I—I want to,” she moans softly. “I want to try it.”
I groan. “You’re drunk, beautiful,” I purr into her ear, nibbling at her earlobe as she whimpers.
“I am not,” she breathes. “Well, a little, but I’m…” she half turns to me, grinning. “I’m not not drunk, to quote my favorite preacher.”
She twists her head further towards me, and I growl as I lean in and kiss her slowly and deeply before she pulls back breathlessly.
“I know what I want, Gabriel,” she whispers with heart in her voice.
“Delilah, I can’t—”
“Do you want me?” she breathes.
I snarl. “Fuck yes.”
“Do you…” she moans as she pushes back, her ass pressing against my swollen, fat cock head. “You know,” she breathes.
I stiffen, and my eyes slide down to where my big cock is pressed against her tight little ring.
“Know what?” I growl.
She whimpers and pushes back a little more, her eyes fluttering shut. “Gabriel…”
“Tell me, Delilah,” I groan
She whimpers breathlessly, her face crimson red and her hips pushing back a little more before she gasps.
“Do you want to fuck my ass?”
Fire roars through my veins, my muscles clench, my jaw grinds, and my hands tighten on her sweet body. A red mist of lust descends over my eyes, and I snarl deeply as I press my cock against her perfect little asshole.
“You’re…” she gasps. “You’re really big…” she moans and pushes back. “Just—”
“Hang on,” I groan, leaning down to kiss the back of her neck. “I’ll be right back.”
I’m amazed I’m actually able to pull away from her, but I hurdle the edge of the tub and run for the Winnebago. I grab what I need from my bedside table, and
I’m back in tub behind her with my hands on her in record time.
She giggles. “What—”
“In a second, beautiful,” I growl with a grin. I push her long hair away from her neck and lean down to nibble at the skin there. She’s panting and trembling as I kiss my way lower, kissing every single bump in her spine as my hands trail down her skin. I sink into the water behind her, and my hands grip her tight, curved ass. I growl as I spread her open for my hungry gaze, and I move in with a groan.
My tongue drags over her pussy, and Delilah gasps. She moans as I push my tongue deep, slowly fucking her with it as she squirms and pushes back and whimpers in pleasure. I wrap my lips around her clit and swirl my tongue across it, and she cries out, gripping the edge of the tub tightly. My tongue drags up through her lips, and then higher, and my cock twitches as I spread her open even more.
My tongue slips over her asshole, and Delilah shivers in heat. She’s moaning and pushing back against me as I rim her ass with my tongue, making her whimper in pleasure.
“Gabriel!” She moans. “So… oh God, so dirty!”
I growl and swirl my tongue over her tight, untouched, forbidden little hole, and she squeals in pleasure.
“Reach back, angel,” I growl. “Reach back and touch your pussy for me.”
She shudders, and I know her face is bright red as she slowly pushes her hand down between her legs, until her fingers slide over her clit. She gasps sharply, and I growl as I start to tongue her asshole again.
My cock is achingly hard, and I know she’s ready. Slowly, I pull away and stand behind her, and I reach over the edge for the lube I’ve brought out of the Winnebago. I squeeze a fuckload of it out onto my cock, and I grunt in pleasure as I stroke myself until I’m slick and glistening. She glances back, and blushes when she sees it in my hand.
“Do you…” she bites her lip. “Do you do this with a lot of girls?”
I frown. “Delilah, I haven’t been with a woman in a year. More, actually.”
She blinks and looks up at me. “You… really?”