Confession

By Lily Harlem

When Reverend Mark encounters a beautiful woman in his new congregation, he can’t begin to imagine what secrets and desires will be revealed when the church falls silent. Because Clara is no ordinary member of the flock. She’s temptation personified, sin wrapped up in pleasure. Living his Earthly life without her at his side isn’t something his heart or soul can contemplate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Aug 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781773393872

Lily Harlem

Lily Harlem is an award winning, multi-published author of erotic romance and erotica. She lives in the UK and since giving up a career in nursing has been widely published on both sides of the Atlantic. Her stories are made up of colourful characters travelling on everyone's favourite journey, falling in love, and with the bedroom door left well and truly open readers are warned to hang on for the ride, or rides as the case might be.

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Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2017 Lily Harlem

ISBN: 978-1-77339-387-2

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CONFESSION

Romance on the Go ®

Lily Harlem

Copyright © 2017

Chapter One

Mark

On any given Sunday morning in Southwark sinners were ten a penny as they flocked to St. Agnes church. Wearing their best blazers and frocks, deviances hidden up their sleeves like worn handkerchiefs, they greeted one another with gentle murmurs. Then, after a round of worshipping hymns sent up to the Lord, and prayers of confession, their consciences were freshly laundered, ready for another week of sloth, gossip, and in some cases dalliances with the wrong side of the law.

Reverend Mark studied the congregation, their faces a sea of expectancy and curiosity. He was new, and as such it was his first service with this London flock and his first chance to absolve their sins and share his teachings.

But not yet. He had to be introduced first.

As everyone waited for Reverend Gerald to take to the pulpit sounds from the outside drifted in. The ornate, stained-glass windows were no match for the London traffic. Mark’s attention turned to the elderly vicar as he gripped the wood before him and puffed up his chest, generating a slight wheeze as he did so.

God bless all who come here to worship and pray with us on this glorious spring morning. It’s wondrous to see old friends and new friends. Reverend Gerald cast his attention from left to right seeming to catch the eye of everyone, in every pew.

Reverend Mark admired the older vicar’s skill in making each individual feel special with just a glance. It was how he wanted to be. Mark had done the training and was a fully-fledged member of the clergy. But what Reverend Gerald had just done couldn’t be taught. It was the product of many years of caring for others and opening his heart to their needs.

As Lent draws to an end, Reverend Gerald went on, placing his arthritic hands on the pulpit. We begin to think of the resurrection and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who overcame hunger and thirst, and all the needs of the physical being, while alone in the desert.

Mark drew his finger around his white dog collar, a stiff new one, and settled back to listen to the story he could recite in his sleep but still loved. He took strength in the teachings of the Bible. It calmed his soul—a soul that at times was tormented with his own physical needs that went beyond shelter, food, and drink.

As the sermon continued, his attention drifted to the congregation once more. It was a mixed bunch, about half male and half female, several different skin tones, both old and young. There was a small area near the back archway for children, and a few sat quietly playing with toys, though most were with their parents and apparently captivated by Reverend Gerald.

Mark’s last position had been in the Yorkshire Dales, a delightful village where everybody knew everyone’s name and business. He’d been there for two years, which he’d discovered was long enough. So when the chance to come to the City had been presented to him, he’d grabbed the opportunity to experience the bright lights and the challenge of a diverse, multi-cultural flock.

Perhaps it would do him good to have more distraction in his life.

His gaze settled on a woman, about halfway back, who was staring at Reverend Gerald. Her lips were a delicate shade of pink and her hair startling red and curled as though it had been twisted around pipe cleaners. She