Prologue

POV – Stella Grace.

"Sister Stella, please double-check if we have everything we need. If not, we'll have to buy it now; our next trip to this city isn't for another month," Sister Ophelia reminded me, her words carrying the weight of a long wait if we forgot anything.

We lived in a quaint town a couple of hours away from this small city called Gramvale, so whenever we needed supplies, a trip here was essential. Since regular outings were forbidden for us, the Head Nun had arranged for us to visit the city just once a month.

"I've checked the list, and we have everything necessary," I assured Sister Ophelia, whose face creased into a warm smile as she noticed my dimples.

"I never realized how much you've grown over the years," Sister Ophelia sighed, affectionately patting my head. I was merely a newborn when my parents had abandoned me at the church gates. The Nuns found me, took me in, and raised me as their own. Sister Ophelia had been my primary caretaker from a young age, and over the years, she and the other older Nuns had truly become mother figures to me.

"Well, now you do!" I playfully teased Sister Ophelia, and she flashed me another radiant smile, revealing her pearly whites. My heart swelled with warmth as I looked at the selfless woman before me, who had cared for me like a mother while diligently serving God.

"Sisters, make haste! The Head Nun will worry if we don't reach Caradoc – that's our small town where the church is – before dawn," one of the Nuns called out.

"You're right, we should make haste," Sister Ophelia agreed. There were six of us, so we always walked in pairs when roaming the city. It was easier to stay together that way, though it wasn't frowned upon if we wanted to wander alone. We formed our usual two-by-two line and headed towards the car that awaited us.

"It seems those lawbreakers are at it again," Nun Barbara sighed, shaking her head sadly. Granville was known for its troublemakers, and witnessing street crime wasn't uncommon here.

"Something big must have happened if there are so many police officers," Sister Ophelia remarked. I curiously watched the commotion: several police officers were chasing people in various directions. While I was engrossed in the chase, the Nuns chattered amongst themselves. I was so absorbed in the scene that I suddenly bumped into someone.

Before I could even register what was happening, the man swiftly pulled me into a nearby alleyway. He was incredibly tall and broad, like a towering mountain. He loomed over me like a tree, casting a deep shadow, so immense that I couldn't even see past his shoulders. When I finally came to my senses, I realized just how close he was standing to me. Uncomfortable with the proximity, I opened my mouth to ask him to move, but he glanced over his shoulder and muttered something under his breath. Then, he turned back around and pressed himself against me.

"Let me borrow your lips for a while, princess," he said in a hurried whisper before slamming his lips against mine. Shocked by his brazen behavior, I gasped, opening my mouth to criticize him, but he took that as an invitation to snake his tongue inside. Baffled by his audacity, I punched him hard on the chest, but the man didn't budge. If anything, he closed the distance between us even further, deepening the kiss as he took off his jacket. When my punch had no effect, I tried pushing him away, but he grabbed my hands, pinning them against his chest.

"He's not here either," a police officer peeked into the alleyway, but quickly looked away when he saw us. The moment the officer left, the man released me.

"You taste divine, sweetheart," he whispered, gently stroking my lower lip. I glared at him, but instead of showing any guilt, his eyes sparkled with fascination.

"What have you done?" I growled, clutching the rosary in my hand.

"What did I do?" he feigned ignorance, leaning forward and trapping me once again between him and the wall. Arguing with him seemed like a waste of time, so I huffed, "God will not forgive you for this sin," and stormed out of the alleyway, leaving the chuckling man behind.

I quickly found the other Nuns; they didn't suspect a thing, thinking I had just stepped away to get something for myself. Only Sister Ophelia noticed how flustered I was. She pulled me aside and softly asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I just came across a rogue," I said, frowning as I remembered the immoral act that rogue had committed with me. Sister Ophelia nodded, letting the topic drop. Not long after, we returned to the church, and I spent the entire night trying to wash away my sin, completely unaware that this was just the beginning of our story.

~.~

POV – Ryker Lance. 

"God will never forgive you for this sin," the feisty little thing pushed me aside and stomped away, leaving behind her soothing scent and my lips tingling.

"What to do? I don't want to be forgiven for this sin," I whispered to myself, a smirk playing on my lips as my gaze lingered on her retreating figure. Her gown was too loose to reveal anything, which only made me more curious to unwrap her. Judging by how she felt pressed against me, I knew I'd love to unwrap her and reveal all her curves for my eyes.

"Don't worry, little Canary. I will find you one way or another," I silently promised her back, though she couldn't hear me. I thought I'd have to pull some strings to track her down, but not a week later, we bumped into each other again at the Church, where the Head Nun had invited me. As our eyes met, my little canary looked at me with wide eyes before her expression hardened, and she turned her head away.

"You have nowhere to run now, princess," I mouthed to her when our eyes met again, making her frown deepen. As she glared at me with that annoyed face, I couldn't help but imagine stripping her naked and having her against the church walls. Indeed, God wouldn't forgive me for that sin.

~.~