Faking Perfection

By Mia Watts

Garth has never regretted his path into ministry...until one night an unexpected kiss has him questioning everything.

Father Garth is a priest with a problem. For years, he's had a fascination with a particular congregant. Though he's never actually acknowledged his sexuality, Garth's definitely more attracted to men than women. Fortunately, he hasn't had to deal with making a moral decision...until the night he is caught in the dark and kissed senseless. Now, he fantasizes that the kiss was from the one man he can't forget—Eli Jennings. For Garth, the man of his fantasies could be his, but how does he reconcile human desire with his vow to God?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784306366

Mia Watts

Mia makes her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she divides her time between a job and spying on people. Mia enjoys long walks in Como Park, daisies, dancing in the snow.

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Faking Perfection

ISBN # 978-1-78430-636-6

©Copyright Mia Watts 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright June 2015

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 1.

FAKING PERFECTION

Mia Watts

Garth has never regretted his path into ministry…until one night an unexpected kiss has him questioning everything.

Father Garth is a priest with a problem. For years, he’s had a fascination with a particular congregant. Though he’s never actually acknowledged his sexuality, Garth’s definitely more attracted to men than women. Fortunately, he hasn’t had to deal with making a moral decision…until the night he is caught in the dark and kissed senseless. Now, he fantasizes that the kiss was from the one man he can’t forget—Eli Jennings. For Garth, the man of his fantasies could be his, but how does he reconcile human desire with his vow to God?

Dedication

To the Totally Bound team, for patience, understanding and daring to take on a story that pushes limits.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Kool-Aid: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC

Motel 6: G6 Hospitality IP LLC

Goodwill: Goodwill Industries International Inc.

Sherlock Holmes: Arthur Conan Doyle Characters Limited

The Cheshire Cat: Lewis Carroll, Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Levi’s: Levi Strauss and Company

Prologue

The man held Garth’s face, a solid warm palm on either side. He touched the top whorls of Garth’s ears, stroked Garth’s bottom lip. Shadows hid the man’s face, dipping his eye sockets, jaw and throat into blackness where the planes were merely lit to charcoal gray obscurity. No features, no facial landmarks to distinguish this man from any of the other guests.

Garth knew what was coming. It was impossible not to, as preciously as he was held and as rigid as the anonymous cock was that insistently pressed his. He knew he should pull away, yet curling his fingers through the man’s empty belt loops came far too naturally.

It was hot, forbidden to acknowledge and accept the invasion of tall, lean muscle into his space, to feel the way the man had difficulty catching his breath and the quick thrum of his heart when their chests met.

Garth dragged his hands up the man’s sides, enjoyed the firm ridges of honed flesh through thin cotton, the hills and valleys of ribcage and the strangled groan his touch elicited in another human being. It had been so long since he’d been touched. It was the only rationalization Garth latched onto, his explanation for why he didn’t pull away.

He was going to hell, for sure.

The man wasted no time, sweeping his head down until his hair brushed Garth’s forehead. It should have prepared him, yet there existed no preparation for the tangled sensations of male lips and Garth’s guilty pleasure at being tasted in the darkness. He humored himself with pretending he hadn’t sought the kiss, that he hadn’t encouraged it until it was brought upon him under the cover of night. The truth beat at the door of his conscience, calling him out as a liar.

Garth wanted this kiss.

The man must have felt his initial hesitation, because he pulled back to allow Garth room, perhaps. The cooler night air touching Garth’s fevered, moist lips proved too much of a loss for him to ignore. With a guttural groan of his own, he drew the man back, lifted his face to him and committed an irreversible moment to tactile memory.

A familiar face flashed behind Garth’s eyelids as he imagined that particular man and this man, joined into the one who was kissing him—and that was the truth of his fall from grace. If it could be anyone, he’d want that man. Imagination spurred his desire, and desire to action.

He slid his hands over the man’s chest, curled them into his shoulders, traced his throat with curious fingers and finally clasped him closer still in a mirrored, urgent embrace.

I’ve wanted to do that all night, the man whispered against Garth’s lips.

Questions stumbled through his mind. None found a voice. He’d assumed he’d been mistaken for someone else. But this person suggested he’d known who Garth was and had sought him out for the brief encounter.

Dread seeped around the edges of bliss. Knowing who he was and kissing him anyway, meant there would always be someone who knew he’d slipped up. Yet Garth didn’t want the moment to end and there wouldn’t be another like it. He knew for a fact this experience was singular, because he couldn’t let it happen again.

Warm lips slid across his. If he’d be condemned, then he’d make the most of this. Temptation scattered his fears to the night. Garth parted his mouth, daring to touch the tip of his tongue to the man’s. His quest met the hard edge of teeth and the guy chuckled. Garth retreated, chagrined for trying to take too much when the kiss he’d been offered gave flight to a lifetime of fantasies he’d never pursue.

Don’t you dare chicken out on me, now, the seducer whispered, gruffly.

His fingers cradled the back of Garth’s head as he kissed in earnest. There was no escaping the forceful molding of his lips or the thrust of the man’s tongue as he penetrated Garth’s mouth with seductive purpose.

Garth’s knees went weak. Trying to regain his balance, he changed his hold to clasp the man’s shoulders. His world spun. Even closing his eyes didn’t keep the spinning sensation at bay. He wanted. Oh God, he wanted.

The kiss ended, and his shadowed seducer pressed his cheek against Garth’s. I meant to take that slower. Forgive me?

Hysterical laughter stuttered from Garth’s chest. Forgiveness? How could the fallen offer forgiveness to anyone? Forgiveness? How could Garth ask for forgiveness when he had no illusion that he’d wanted this? There was no forgiveness without repentance, and with sick dread, Garth realized he’d never repent. Repentance meant moving on, and this stranger, wearing another man’s image in Garth’s mind, had effectively captured him for the rest of time.

Hell would welcome him with open arms.

Chapter One

Three years later…

Father Roderick! Susie Jennings waved from halfway up the center aisle.

Garth adjusted the plastic white tab adorning his black collar, smiled and nodded.

Father, you have to join the wedding party for the rehearsal dinner, Susie enthused.

She walked quickly to him, her white sundress swishing with feminine allure around her knees and her chestnut curls bouncing against glowing skin. She hadn’t changed much in the twelve years since he had confirmed her. Terry, her fiancé, still watched her with adoring eyes, and her smile had stayed sunny and sweet.

She and her brother, Eli, had been Garth’s favorite students.

You should have this night with your family and friends. It’s important to keep them close and appreciate the fact that they’ve all come together to see you marry your childhood sweetheart.

You are family. I’ve known you since forever. You have to be there. Susie pouted prettily and blinked up at him with bright blue eyes.

Garth chuckled. The last time that look worked on me, you convinced me to celebrate your college graduation six hours from here.

"Tell me it will work