Love in Purgatory (De La Fuente Family 2)

Switching the jets on now that enough water was in the tub, he walked back out and smiled when he caught Emelia lying on her side, facing him. He knew with every breath he took that he would never regret leaving the church for the woman who held his heart, body, and soul.

“Are you okay?” she asked, sounding sleepy.

He moved closer and picked her up into his arms. “I’m just fine.” He smiled softly. “Your bath awaits.”

“You’re going to join me, right?”

“I am.”

In the bathroom, he climbed into the tub with Emelia in his arms, and kept her wrapped up in him until he was settled. Then he rearranged his girl so that she rested against his chest, between his legs. His arms around her stomach, anchoring them together.

The arousal she caused him was nothing compared to the pleasure of having her in his arms like she was. Her trust in him was total, just like his was for her.

As he reached for a sponge, Emelia chuckled, which had him smiling. “You’re aroused?”

“I am. This bath, though, is to help with the tenderness you must be feeling between your legs.” He let the sponge go and used some Aloe Vera soap on his hands, as he slipped them over her stomach to settle on her trimmed mound.

“Mmm, that feels so nice,” she mumbled.

He grinned against the top of her head, and slipped his fingers between the lips of her pussy in a gentle caress. “Tell me if my touch is uncomfortable…be honest, Em. I couldn’t help hurting you inside, but I don’t want to hurt you again.”

Emelia took his hand that lay against her stomach and brought it up to her mouth, where she placed a gentle kiss on the palm. “The pain of your touch while I’m so sensitive is nothing like the pain of wanting you, and not being able to be with you.”

His breath caught at the back of his throat as his lips pressed a deep kiss to the top of her head. He couldn’t control the emotion that her admission brought so he stayed silent until he was settled. He could show her though.

He dipped his head down, nuzzled into the side of her neck, and let his fingers slip toward her opening. Emelia caught her breath at his touch so he hesitated, but she wrapped her hand around his wrist and urged him to go on.

“Are you sure?” he whispered.

“Yes.”

He kept his face buried in her neck while he lathered his hands up with the moisturizing soap, and gently massaged around her opening.

She enjoyed his touch and spread her legs slightly. The soft sigh that escaped her lips was all he needed to assure him that he wasn’t causing her pain.

“I hurt as well, Em,” he admitted quietly. “Not being with you hurt, but it felt so wrong, and that made the hurt worse.” He brought his hand back up and held her tightly in his arms while they enjoyed the sensation of the Jacuzzi, and each other.

Minutes went by as they soaked in a comfortable silence before Emelia broke into his thoughts, and

asked, “When are we going to tell our family?”

He winced, not really wanting to go there, but they didn’t have much choice. “I want to spend the two nights here with you before I have to head back for Mass on Tuesday evening. Then I’m going to make an appointment with the bishop, and talk to him about my leaving. It isn’t going to go down too well with him. He’s known me from before I became a priest…but knowing that I finally have the one person that I thought I never could is enough for me to go forward with what he suggests. I’ll be totally honest with him.”

Emelia turned and, with some maneuvering, straddled his thighs and caressed along his arms. “I’ll always be here to support you. You know that right?”

“I know.” He smiled and caressed her face. “There is the possibility that the bishop may petition Rome on my behalf to have my ordination vows severed. The Signatura, otherwise known as the Supreme Court of the Vatican, are the ones who would receive the request.” He couldn’t keep the worry from his face, when he added, “We have to be prepared that nothing will be done. It’s the Vatican, Em, and anything like my case could end up in the trash. They may never free me from my vows.” The more he thought about it, the more worried he was. He would still leave if he was refused, but he wouldn’t be allowed to marry. They’d had enough to worry about over the years, surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to refuse his request.

“You’re more worried than you want me to know.”

He sighed, pulled her against him, and delighted with the feel of her against him.

“A bit. It’s a big step so I expect the bishop will have something to say, but I want you, Emelia. I’ve been without you for years, too long, and a lifetime without you is unbearable. You’re inside me, here.” He reached up and pressed the palm of his hand against his heart. “You’ll always be in here, no matter what.” He kissed her on the forehead.

Emelia leaned forward and kissed him over his heart before she met his gaze. “I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please, make no mistake about that.”

“I won’t…but, let’s wait until I’ve spoken to the bishop before we head to Montana. I want to be able to give them answers, and right now I don’t know how to answer them.”

“It makes sense…I wish I knew how everyone would take you leaving the church to be with me. I never grew up around you, but I did the others.”