CHAPTER 1: SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
The black SUV pulled up in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The dark sky had been made darker by the rain that was falling from the clouds above. Two men sat in the front seat of the SUV; the passenger stepped out, opened the back door, and opened the large umbrella. Dominik “Dom” Carver stepped out of the SUV and under the umbrella. Dominik was dressed to perfection from head to toe. His fitted custom Alexander McQueen white suit with lavender pinstripes bolstered his beauty and sex appeal. He had this cool demeanor about himself. Everything about him gave off big dick energy, and he, for certain, had a big dick between his thick thighs.
He was a 29-year-old hunk with broad shoulders, a lean chocolate body that could make any woman cum. His long two-strand twist hung at his shoulders. Dominik had hazel brown eyes that could pierce through the soul of any human. He was complex, generous with those he loved, and ruthless because he had to be. Even the way he fucked was merciless. He was full of rage and cum.
Dominik took a look around. He was always aware of his surroundings. That was something his father had taught him as a child. The streets were unusually empty. The rain had forced people to stay inside. He then inhaled and then exhaled. His breath turned into a cloud, revealing that cold New York air. He placed the expensive shades on despite it being nighttime.
“Is it empty,” he asked the man in a deep baritone voice.
“Yes sir, boss,” he answered quickly.
Dominik began to move, and the guard moved with him. The man made sure to protect Dominik from the rain. The last thing anyone ever wanted was to upset him. Dominik was the son of one of the Three Fathers. The Three Fathers each represented a section of the Tri-State Area of New York. Dominik’s father handled all of the drugs that flowed in and out of the New York City metropolitan area. It was a life Dominik never wanted but was forced to live.
They entered the sanctuary. The quietness surrounded them. Religion was never really important to Dominik. His father had used the church to give himself a wholesome image, and for Dominik, organized religion just reminded him of organized crime. The difference was that people accepted religion as a holy fact, and crime was frowned upon. Things had changed lately, and he needed religion now.
“Wait outside,” Dominik said to the guy as he walked down the aisle.
The guy walked back outside. As he walked toward the altar, Dominik couldn’t help but stare at the crucifix of Jesus Christ. Even in the face of Christ, his cool demeanor never faltered. As he inched closer to the confessional booth, his mind began to race with certain thoughts. There was something to be said about a man who could stand in the face of God and think that God should ask him for forgiveness. That was Dominik—a man with a contentious relationship with God.
“I bet you’re thinking hell must be freezing if I’m here,” he said to the crucifix with a devious smile.
He stepped into the confessional and kneeled like a good penitent. For a moment, there was a brief silence, and then the shade was lifted. Through the screen, Dominik could make out the Korean American priest. His name was Father Samuel Li.
The priest said, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Amen. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It had been eleven years since my last confession,” Dominik said softly.
“May God help you make a good confession. Please, begin.”
Dominik breathed, “Father, I’ve come to confess my sins. I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life, things that most people would never dream of doing. The life I live is not for everyone, and I’ve made peace with who I am for the most part. That was until this morning. This morning, I did something I’ve fought against my whole life.”
“What did you do, my child,” Father Li asked sincerely.
Dominik chuckled slightly as he reflected on his morning. “I lusted after a man. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I struggled all day with what to do, and I finally made the decision. I’m going to seduce him.”
“I see. Have you always had this desire to be with a man?”
“I have. In my youth, I acted on those desires with a special someone. After that, I swore I’d never act on them again. Now everything has changed. The desire to feel the warmth and strength of a man’s body is great,” he answered truthfully.
Father Li hesitated and then said, “Well, you haven’t committed the act for the second time yet.”
Dominik smiled and asked, “No, but doesn’t the church teach us that the first act of sin is the thought?”
He answered, “Sin does begin in the heart and mind, according to Matthew 5:28. Deliberately entertaining sinful thoughts is a sin.”
“I’m beyond entertaining my thoughts. I’m preparing for action, Father. I will fuck him.”
“I can not absolve you of a future sin. I can only guide you from such acts, but that’s only if you want me to.”
“Tell me something, Father Li,” Dominik said, sounding more stern, “have you absolved yourself from your own wicked thoughts and future actions?”
Confused, Father Li said, “Excuse me. What are you getting at?”
“Have you ever thought about a man before,” Dominik asked. “Don’t lie. Remember, God is watching.”
“How dare you? I will not sit here as if this is some sort of inquisition about my life. I answer to God and Him alone.”
“That’s cute. I thought you answered to the Bishop, the Canon Law, the Pope, and my personal favorite, your parishioners, because let’s face it, Father, if we aren’t happy, we can raise our concerns to the bishop.”
“What do you want,” Father Li asked. The anger in his voice could be heard despite his efforts to mask it.
Dominik answered in a whisper, “That’s simple. I want you!”
“We are done here. Never come back,” Father Li said as he lowered the shade.
Dominik sat quietly with a smile of satisfaction on his face. He had no intention of giving up. All his life, he had struggled with thoughts of men. He had been raised to act, walk, and think a certain way. He never imagined he could be queer. That was until he turned 18 years old and met a young man who opened his eyes and heart. He was ready to walk away from the life his family lived for the sake of that young man.
His young lover had helped him to see beyond the tropes and stereotypes of what it meant to be queer. Dominik had been raised to believe in those superficial stereotypes of what a queer man looked like, and Dominik had often told himself that he didn’t fit the mold. Even as an adult, he still didn’t fit the mold. He wasn’t one-dimensional; he was three-dimensional, and he was a villain.
He wasn’t just any old villain. He was the ultimate villain, and like any bad guy, when he set his sights on something, he went for it. There was something so taboo and forbidden about Father Li. The idea of corrupting a member of the clergy sent a tingle through his body and down into his cock.
He heard Father Li step out his side of the confessional. Dominik quickly exited his, and the two came face to face. Father Li was the epitome of conservative beauty. He had sharp, chiseled features. A defined jawline, high cheekbones, and dark eyes. His skin was smooth and warm with a light golden tone.
His black hair was neatly styled, short on the sides with just a bit of length on top. His height was perfect for his athletic build and refined look. The black clerical attire he wore added a quiet sense of authority that only turned men like Dominik on more.
The way he stood there, poised and collected, gave him a subtle bit of sensuality. Whereas Dominik gave off this cool demeanor, Father Li’s was warm. He had a smile that was seen rarely, but it was genuine, and it put people at ease. The two men couldn’t have been more different.
Father Li would be lying if he said he hadn’t ever had thoughts of another man before. He’d be lying if he said Dominik wasn’t beautiful despite being unable to see his eyes. Two things can be true. Father Li could be attracted to Dominik and only want to stay righteous before the Lord. No man had ever made him question his commitment to God since taking his oath. He wasn’t about to let that start happening now.
“You’re really going to stand there and look at me,” Dominik said as he stepped closer, “and pretend you don’t know who I am.”
“I don’t know you. Only God knows you,” Father Li said as he backed away.
Dominik stepped closer to him. With each step, Father Li moved back away from him. Both their hearts were racing for different reasons. Father Li’s heart raced with fear of what was or could happen to him. Dominik’s heart raced because the person he wanted was directly in front of him. How could he not touch him?
Father Li looked around the sanctuary, searching for a quick exit. Dominik followed Father Li’s eyes. He knew he was looking for a way out. The fear and anxious trepidation coursing through Father Li inspired passion inside of Dominik.
“No one is coming. We’re all alone, Samuel,” Dominik said with hunger in his voice.
“How do you know my name,” Father Li asked as he backed up against the wall.
There was nowhere left to go. Father Li had his back up against the wall, both literally and figuratively. His breathing increased as Dominik closed in on him. His beautiful face showed signs of angst. Dominik finally had him right where he wanted him. He placed both his strong hands on the wall, trapping Father Li.
Dominik whispered softly, “To be this close to you makes my cock throb.”
Father Li responded condescendingly, “I pray God has mercy on your soul.”
“Me and God have an understanding. He stays out of my way, and I’ll stay out of his way.” There was a harshness in the way the words came across.
Dominik took his left hand and placed it gently on Father Li’s cheek. He began to caress him lovingly. The firm yet gentle touch of a man sent a warmth of light flowing throughout Father Li’s body. The gorgeous priest found himself closing his eyes and letting old, familiar feelings surface within himself. The slow caress of the hand felt like that of an old flame.
“Nik,” Father Li asked as he opened his eyes.
Dominik didn’t say anything. His body language, however, conveyed the truth. Slowly, Father Li lifted his hands up. He reached for Dominik’s shades. Their breathing slowed down as a small fire began to burn between them. Father Li removed the shades, revealing Dominik’s heavy hazel eyes. Instantly, he felt Dominik looking deeper into his soul than any bishop ever could.
Father Li gasped, “Nik.”
Dom replied, “I’ve missed you, Sammy.”
Father Li was hit with a variety of emotions. He felt lust, joy, disbelief, and then rage and hatred. The latter two emerged as the more prominent emotions. He couldn’t believe that after all these years, he had returned back to his life and that of all the ways Dom could reveal himself, he did it in such a disrespectful manner.
“You,” Father Li began, “HEATHEN!”
He finished the last part of his sentence with a slap across Dominik’s face. The strike left a sting that made Dom’s body ache for more. In the outside world, such actions would result in death. Father Samuel Li could get away with anything, though. As far as Dom was concerned, the priest could do anything he wanted. All that mattered was that he was back.
“How dare you come back into my life after all these years and berate me like some sinner,” Father Li shouted.
Dom rubbed his face and said, “Because I am a sinner, Sammy.”
“That’s Father Li to you, Dominik Carver,” he said as he pushed Dom away.
“I’m not Nik anymore,” he asked.
The two stared at one another. There was so much history there. They had found each other in their youth when both were in search of love and acceptance. What blossomed was pure love, affection, and trust. They trusted one another to explore and discover themselves. Life pulled them in different directions, or so they believed. Dominik went on to become a ruthless killer, and Samuel found love through salvation and became a man of God.
“You need to leave now,” Father Li said as he pointed toward the exit.
“I can’t. Not yet. Not until I feel your body pressed against mine, Sammy,” said Dom.
“Don’t. I’m a priest, Dominik.”
“You think you’re the first Catholic priest to have an affliction for men,” Dominik asked in a sensual voice.
Father Li argued, “I have no affliction. God saved, healed, and delivered my soul.”
Dom smiled, “Prove it. Show me I don’t turn you on.”
“Please leave now.”
Dominik gently pushed Father Li back against the wall. He closed the space between them, filling it with the heat from his body. He pressed his forehead against the man he lusted after. They both let out a deep sigh that trembled with passion.
Dominik began to sang, “The Stars. The moon. They have all been blown out. You’ve left me in the dark. No dawn. No day. I’m always in this twilight. In the shadow of your heart.”
Dominik placed his hand on Father Li’s chest. He could feel his heart beating rapidly. He placed the priest’s hand on his heart. Father Li felt Dominik’s heart beating just as fast but to a different rhythm. In the quietness, something happened. Their heartbeats synced up, and they were suddenly beating as one.
“And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat. I tried to find the sound, but then it stopped, and I was in the darkness. So darkness I became,” Dominik spoke the lyrics.
Their heads slowly lifted, and their eyes met. Chills ran through both of them, flowing like waters from the Arctic. Their lips inched closer together. The lives they lived didn’t matter. All that mattered was the spark growing between them and passion pulling at them.
“Father Li,” the voice came.
Father Li pushed Dominik away just as Father Black entered the sanctuary. He stopped in his tracks and observed the scene before him. Dominik and Father Li were side by side, but it was evident that something was amiss. The tension in the room was thick.
“Is everything okay here,” Father Black asked.
“Yes, just finishing up with a troubled soul,” Father Li said as he shot a knowing glance at Dominik.
Politely, Dominik said, “Thank you for providing me with the confirmation I needed. I’ll be seeing you again soon, Father Li.”
Dominik knew the moment had been ruined, but the chase was far from over. Dominik exited the church. His guard was waiting for him at the door. Once again, the guard let up the umbrella, and the two men walked down the steps, and Dominik got in the SUV.
“Everything good, boss,” the chauffeur asked.
“My mother once said, “The Lord may not come when you want Him, but He’ll be there right on time. In time, I’ll have what I want. I am the lord around here, after all.” Dominik said with a cocky smile.
TO BE CONTINUED
© Grayson Rose 2025. All rights reserved.
** 1st Love: Breathe Again begins in five days! I hope you're ready, and more to come with Dominik and Father Li. **
