Chapter 0

Prologue

Sian’s body was pulled in as if dragged, then shoved back again.

Thud. Her back hit the wall with a dull sound. A man’s arm shot past her head and pressed against the wall, boxing her in.

He was excited and completely unruly, jerking her close only to push her away slowly, as if to tease at distance. He gripped and shook her at will, refusing to let go until she finally reached for him.

“It hurts.”

She muttered the complaint under her breath, but instead of stopping, he pressed his knee between her legs in provocation. When she twisted her body to get away, his upper body collapsed down toward her. In a panic, she raised her arms and shoved at his chest. Beneath her palms she felt the thin shirt, the solid muscle beneath, and the heat of his body.

When he drew in a quiet breath, his swelling chest pressed firmly against her hand.

Sian squeezed her eyes shut. The sensation under her palms rattled her composure. Her breathing threatened to grow ragged, so she bit down hard on her lip. She didn’t want to feel anything sexual, but the feeling pushed its way in anyway.

“Hm?” His voice, laced with amusement, rumbled low as if testing her.

She couldn’t give in here.

Tucking her chin and shrinking her shoulders, Sian struggled to push herself as far from him as she could.

But the more she resisted, the closer he drew, closing the gap with a mocking, intimate ease. He lowered his face until their cheeks nearly touched.

Whoosh. A deliberate breath scattered hot across her ear. Her mouth went dry, her cheeks burned. The warm trace of air tickled her earlobe, damp enough to make her shiver. While her body trembled under the teasing, he pressed closer, even below the waist. His terrifying arousal ground against her stomach with frightening insistence.

The contact turned her mind white.

Inside, Sian prayed desperately. O Lord, do not let Your servant falter before such petty temptation…

“Sister.”

He whispered the dizzying title as he rolled his hips against her, slow and deliberate.

The heavy pressure made her flinch, eyes flying open. It grew to the size of a flagship and brushed up and down her body. Past her stomach, her navel, up to just beneath her chest.

Ah, ah… She nearly let out a moan. Each time he dragged across her, her core twisted tight. Fire licked through her insides.

With every obscene roll of his hips, the white priest’s robe draped over his shoulder slid down her back.

Sian’s gaze followed the garment as it slipped to the floor. The owner of that swollen outline pressing against her, his identity was unmistakable.

Damn it.

He had deliberately worn the robe only over his clothes, revealing his impure intent. As if to say: strip away one layer of conscience, and there’s nothing left to stop us. She could almost hear his voice, whispering filth. The palms of her hands, the space between her thighs, her stomach, they all burned where they touched him.

“No…” Sian shook her head violently. She couldn’t be swept into this. Her arms trembled with the effort of pushing him away. At last, his upper body pulled back a fraction, but still his lower half pressed hard against her belly.

“As a priest, you swore an oath of chastity…”

“As if I care.”

“Actarachion!”

Sian glared up sharply.

The man’s handsome face tilted, watching her as he brazenly unbuckled his pants.

“I’ve already laid it out for you.”

With a smooth pull, his belt slipped free.

“So open your mouth.”

He leaned down, closing the distance.

Could this be the devil’s incarnation himself, made perfect in form and sent to tempt the faithful?

His beauty was overwhelming, forcing Sian to clamp her eyes shut in haste. She refused to waver.

“Enough. No matter what you do, I—”

“Or should I open first?”

Open… what?

Her eyes snapped open despite herself. His expression had softened, almost playful, filling her vision with temptation.

“Will you suck it for me?”

“…What?”

She shouldn’t have asked. She shouldn’t even have wondered. But she had fallen for it, lured into curiosity.

He smiled, lips parting to reveal his tongue. Red and wet, like ripe fruit, it stole her breath.

Ask me. Then I’ll make it fun for you.

His voice prowled inside her mind gently, to brainwash her, yet relentlessly.

To seduce her.

To make her fail. To ensure she fell short of her purpose. To make her surrender in the end.

Open. Swallow.

His low voice echoed again and again, shaking her thoughts.

Sian’s lips trembled as she exhaled. Her breathing quickened.

She cursed herself for knowing his intent and yet still being drawn in.

Just open up.

His tongue still out, his voice slid into her mind in a tone even more familiar.

She wanted to obey. Her resolve blurred. Her weak spirit teetered on the brink, ready to collapse into temptation.

Slowly, her lips parted. He tilted his head, moving closer. His tongue brushed against her mouth.

Ah—

Please.

No…

“M—!”

With a strained cry, she jolted awake from the dream.

Sian exhaled a long breath, rubbing both hands over her face. Her forehead was damp with cold sweat.

She had been plagued by these dreams for days now. And always, the target was the High Priest. The man bound by vows of chastity. Dreams of him.

“Enough already!”

She shouted the words as if to banish them, sitting up in bed. Her voice rose, even though he could never hear it.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock fell at the door at the worst possible timing.

Sian glanced warily at it.

“Who is it…”

“The High Priest is calling for you.”

* * *

A summons, like always.

After washing up and fixing her appearance, Sian headed to the High Priest’s office. She didn’t want to go, but in the temple, ignoring his call was impossible.

Knock knock. She rapped twice, then opened the door.

And there he was. The man from her shameful dreams.

“Did you have a pleasant dream, Sister?”

His morning greeting was fresh and polite, unlike the sticky, cloying voice from her dreams. And yet, his choice of words seemed to hint otherwise.

Sian flinched, halting before forcing herself inside.

He smiled with the serenity of a devout believer. His white robe was buttoned to the throat, the gold cord wrapped neatly around him, his appearance radiating chastity. As if her lewd dreams had nothing to do with him at all.

“Enough.”

The word slipped out just as she’d shouted it in her room.

His eyes curved in a sly smile.

“What did I do in your dream?”

“You know perfectly well.”

“I really don’t.”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re the one making me dream it!”

“Oh, am I?”

He chuckled lightly, as if amused by some private joke, and rose from his chair.

As Sian narrowed her eyes with suspicion, he strolled casually around the desk and perched on its edge. He leaned back slightly, spreading his legs. The white robe pooled between his thighs as he met her gaze, dangerous laughter glinting in his eyes.

“Did I tempt you like this?”

He threw the words out like a challenge and began unfastening the buttons of his robe.

Click, click. One by one, they came undone. The cord slipped away. His throat, his sleek neckline, then his collarbones began to show.

Is this still a dream?

Sian’s lips parted soundlessly before she shook her head hard.

“No?” he asked, pausing with his hand on the buttons.

“Then how did I do it?”

“….”

“Show me.”

His once gentle tone deepened into the same voice from her dreams. Tempting.

Sian swallowed dryly.

“I’ll take it all… if you do.”

His smile was even filthier than in her dreams.

As though he wished her straight into hell.