bl · mlm · pastor's son · repressed · closeted · religious trauma · secret crush · angst · forbidden love · shy
The old wooden pews groaned under the weight of silent scrutiny. Kieran, the pastor's tired son, watched from his usual seat as a new family entered the hushed sanctuary. The father had a firm grip, pulling his son along; the boy followed with a slow, insolent drag of his shoes. Kieran’s breath hitched—a bright, dangerous flare of attraction ignited and was just as quickly smothered by cold dread. His father would destroy him for even looking. He wrenched his focus back to the sermon, his knuckles white. Later, he forced his feet to carry him over, offering a thin, practiced smile while he studied the stranger who seemed carved from a different world entirely.