Sweetest Sin

Chapter Five- Patience is a Virtue

Instead of sitting upon the dinner table with Tessa and my other peers, I was subjected to scrubbing floors on my hands and knees until they were spotless. I had to do so with an old rickety brush that gave splinters upon use and had permanent indents from the pressure used when working. My gaze focused upon my task ahead as I hoped it would get me noticed by Gabriele at some aspect. However, as I had scrubbed a hall outside of the dining room itself, I was forced to hear his voice speaking in prayer as I found myself almost hypnotized by his words. It wasn’t touching my heart or making me believe in the method behind this crazed religious facility, but there was something intoxicating about the way he spoke. Maybe it was the perfect cocktail of dedication to his job, the sexy French accent, and the naive confidence he held in thinking he was above the pleasures I can give him.

I had been so in awe of him that I had failed to notice Mother Rhoussar make her way toward me, after I had scrubbed that part of the floor.

“Has something distracted you?” she knew very well what had soothed me and yet tested my honesty.

“I enjoy listening to Father Romano's prayers.”

“And yet you have managed to miss your purpose for being here…” she paused for a moment before taking a mop from a nearby storage closet and bringing it to view. She rang it out with her fingers and forced the dirt to fall back onto the floor where I had nearly broken my wrists in trying to keep clean. As if this hadn't been evil enough, as she passed the bucket I had soapy water placed in, she accidentally kicked it over.

I remained silent in fear of what I would be punished with next as I simply made my way to the same supply closet she pulled the mop from and got a dry mop and scrubbed until the floors sparkled. By the time I had finished, curfew had been set in motion as the entire area was vacant. As I returned the cleaning supplies to their rightful places, I then made my way to the dining hall where I had a plate kept in the refrigerator for after I had finished. Part of my punishment had been eating by myself as I took a seat in the center of the dining hall.

I set my food down in front of me and began to pick at the cold mashed potatoes. It was at this moment that the door came open to reveal Gabriele. I had thought for a moment perhaps I had been dreaming, but then I had seen that angelic smile as he made his way towards me.

“May I join you?” he asked as he pulled some fruit and a salad from his side and sat across from me after I had nodded.

I found being in his presence to be exciting yet relaxing as I was wanting to just slide across the table and jump into his lap, but I also wanted him to be the one to make the move. I could tell by the way he looked at me that there had been a desire for me in his mind. I just had to find a way to get him to act on it.

“Is France a lot different than America?” I asked while slightly dabbing the corners of my mouth with a napkin as dainty as possible.

“Many things are different…” he seemed lost in his thoughts for a moment. What I wouldn't give to know his thoughts at that very second…

“The food seems odd, the people are nicer, and the weather is a nice change. Sometimes it feels as though it is only humid or only rain. Here, you get a bit of everything.”

“I have always wondered what it would be like to go to France….” I became lost in my own fantasies as I imagine Gabriele and I walking hand and hand down the Parisian streets. We would kiss every second we were not sightseeing and stop by the Champs-Élysées and of course the Eiffel Tower. We would sit outside of a cafe with the most delicious pastries and he would translate to me in English what the others were saying. I became lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize I had been staring at him as he tried to speak to me.

“Miss Sacramon?” he asked with a curious stare.

“I'm sorry...I was just imagining Paris.” I spoke with a blush, embarrassed at my childlike wonder and inability to focus.

“I enjoy it here but France is home. However, it is nice to see the young women here as they hold themselves to a standard of being classy. They do not feel the need to remove their clothing to gain attention…”

“You...do not like that?” I asked with disappointment as I felt as though my body was my most attractive feature.

“It does not matter what I like.” he said with a blush. “I cannot marry.”

“You never want to? You never want kids?”

“I did for a long time but then I felt a calling within my soul than beckoned for me to go to Christ. I have never felt more at ease or tranquil with myself...and I have seen the world differently...as if all these miracles he made before us were taken for granted before…”

I felt as though my hope had been crushed right on the spot. The only man in the entire world that made me believe in marriage and he didn't even want it...But I also got an idea as he spoke to me. He didn't want the girl who would strip to get his attention. He wanted the one who shared his passions. That would be more alluring to him, and so that is what I would be.

It would begin now as I moved to button up my sweater one button at a time to try and be what he would want. Perhaps innocence is just as seductive as being sexy.

“Can I be honest with you?” I asked him as he seemed to cease any humor and become fully focused upon my words.

“Of course.”

“I feel so lost here…” I spoke in true honesty.

“There are always times when we feel lost. We must find something to hold onto in order to feel grounded.”

In a fracture of a second, I saw him place his hands on top of the table as if going to take grasp mine. Right before doing so, however, his hand stopped and lingered just an inch or so within mine. I was so desperate to feel his touch that I had nudged forward and played it off as an accident as I saw his eyes lift to me.

The sudden opening of the dining room doors had made him retract his hand fully. He turned to see a figure dressed in all black while holding a rosary in their hands. It was only when I looked passed him that I saw it was Mother Rhoussar.

“Mother Rhoussar?” he called to her in his sexy accent as she didn't even flinch as she continued to walk throughout the room. She was speaking in what Gabriele commented beneath his breath had been Latin.

“Is she possessed?” I asked before finding him to smirk at that comment. My gaze fell to his lips as his mouth curved and dimples formed on his cheeks. His lips were full and plump as they parted just slightly to let out a deep inhale. He stuck his tongue out to moisten them and then rubbed them together as if he was trying to make me watch him.

“I think she is sleepwalking…” he confided his thoughts to me before he began to move towards her.

“Isn't there something about not waking them up?”

“I am just going to guide her.” he moved to her slowly, careful to not startle her, as he set his hand low on her back and pulled her in the direction of her room. With it having been only a few yards away, he kept her close to ensure she didn't run into anything before bringing her to the door. I stayed close to help as I followed behind and learned what resided within her room. A cross hung directly over her bed as a photograph of a young girl sat in a beautiful frame beside her bed. There had also been a trunk at the edge of her bed and a small library in the far corner. A standing wardrobe and a small desk was placed on the otherwise bare wall , as I placed myself further in the room.

Gabriele had managed to place her back in bed by the time I had analyzed the room in full.

“I think we can sneak out without her waking up..” he spoke quietly as he then set his hand on my back, leading me from the room. As we left the room, I could have sworn that I saw Mother Rhoussar’s eyes look to us, but within a final look back, I realized it must have been my imagination as they were certainly closed.

“You should get some sleep, Miss Sacramon…” he lingered upon my last name as if saddened in our parting.

“I suppose…”

“If you ever need to speak to someone about how you feel, I hope you know you have an entire congregation of people that want to help.”

“Do you want to help me?” I asked while I looked up to him with puppy dog eyes.

“Of course.” before he could fully finish this response, I felt him pull me into a small dark corner unseen by most who would pass. His breath was hot on my lips as his hands remained on my hips. His chest was pressed against mine and pinning me to the wall as I could then hear the sound of steps passing in the hall. When he looked back to me, I swear the moment froze in time. I felt my own breath hitch as his gaze dropped to my lips. I wondered if he wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss him. For a moment, I imagined him pulling me against him and lifting me against the wall. His hands would outline my figure until one hand fell to my back and was used to control me as his other cupped my breast. He would unbutton my top and then bring his kiss to my chest and take me within his mouth as I would feel him excite against me. But my fantasy came to a close when he pulled from me and disappeared after wishing me a good night.

Of all my time here, I had never felt my heart race like this. And the dreams I had that night were sinful enough to sprout horns on my head. However, I awoke only to find myself flushed and aroused, something that would be consistent when thinking of him.