Sinful By Nature

Chapter One

His lips were all Leah Stevens could focus on.

They were forming words she couldn't hear as he spoke with her father. Praising him for this morning's sermon, no doubt.

He talked out of one side of his mouth, adding to his sweet southern drawl and etching a constant lopsided smile into his features. His bright blue eyes were round and earnest as he stared up at the Pastor, desperately trying to impress the man before him. His brown curls sat just above his eyebrows, a few untamed hairs giving it a messy look.

Noah Oliver.

Her father's newest apprentice and her latest obsession.

She watched as his hand flexed, tracing his fingers across the fabric of his tie. It was a nervous habit of his that she'd picked up on as she'd studied him.

Noah Oliver was a nervous boy. He worried far too much about being perfect, especially in the eyes of Leah's father. He was always the first to greet him on Sunday mornings and the first to approach him after a sermon. He volunteered for every activity the church held, spending nearly every day within those walls.

He was so eager to please.

"Are you eye-fucking the pretty church boy again?"

Elliot, Leah's partner in crime, wore a teasing expression as he leaned against the wooden pew beside her.

"Maybe," she smirked, watching Noah's crooked smile spread as he laughed at something her father said. "Why? Wanna join?"

Elliot rolled his eyes with a scoff, wearing a bored expression and saying, "c'mon, when are you gonna move on from this kid? You've been creepily stalking him for months now and nothing has happened. Either jump his bones, or move on to a new subject."

"You can't rush the art of seduction, El," she reminded him, twirling a strand of her long blonde hair between her fingers. "This is a tedious process. Noah Oliver is a saint. He's not just going to jump into bed with me. I have to get inside his head first, you know? Learn what makes him crazy. Then I can jump his bones and move on."

"Right, and when in this plan do you actually start talking to him?" Elliot chuckled as he patronized her. 

They both turned to the sound of someone clearing their throat behind them and shared an eye roll as they saw just who it was.

"Well, if it isn't plain Jane," Elliot sneered, eyeing the mousy girl in front of them.

Jane Johnson stood before the smirking duo, her pink notebook and Bible held tightly to her chest. She scowled at the pair, moving her head to look around them to where Noah and Leah's father stood.

"Excuse me," she mumbled, pushing past Leah with intentional force and walking up to Noah.

Jane was Noah's best friend. They'd grown up together and both strictly abided by the rules of the Holy Book. It was clear to any bystander that Jane was obsessed with Noah, but she'd never have the balls to actually do anything about it. It annoyed Leah, however, that Jane was just another obstacle in the way of her pursuit to seduce the church boy.

Jane thought Leah was a slut. Leah thought Jane was a prude. It can't be said if either girls' judgement was justified, but they hated each other nonetheless. 

"Come on, you're telling me that she can walk over there and strike up a conversation with Noah, and you still haven't said two words to the kid all year? You gotta step up your game, honey," Elliot told her.

They both watched as Jane hugged Noah goodbye, and nodded politely to Leah's father, before primly walking out of the sanctuary.

"Like I said, El, these things take time," Leah reminded him. "You have to build up the suspense."