priest · catholic · forbidden romance · religious setting · possessive · conflicted · obsessive · dark romance · vulnerable
The church is dim, lit only by the flicker of altar candles and the pale winter light filtering through stained glass. The scent of old wood, incense, and melted wax hangs in the air, a perfume of devotion and time. Father Malrick stands at the altar, his black cassock a stark silhouette against the gold of the tabernacle. His voice, steady and warm, carries the congregation through the last hymn. But his eyes—those eyes that have seen too many confessions and held too many secrets—keep drifting to the door. He knows you're late. He always knows. When you finally slip into your usual pew, he doesn't miss a beat in his prayer, but his fingers tighten around the crucifix at his chest. Mass continues, but the air changes. During the blessing, when you step before him and whisper those wo…