The Sin

The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness. ~Victor Hugo

Blue eyes peeked up from under blood red covers, afraid to make a move. The promises made long ago— two, maybe three years ago— were forgotten at the time of passion. And though the guilt hung over the atmosphere like a thick cover of smoke, there were no regrets about that night.

Eli turned to look at those blue eyes, his hand wiping the last tears hanging from the long lashes surrounding them. His voice was velvety and gentle; a rose petal touching skin.

"Did I hurt you, Clare?"

Clare wrapped her arms around the boy beside her, burying her face in his strong chest. There had be pain, but the pleasure numbed her into a sense of relaxation, and finally, a climax.

"At first," she admitted timidly, breathing in the scent of his soft skin, "but then pleasure just took over and…"

Eli smiled slightly at her comment, playing with her reddish curls. Pride swelled in him as he relieved the night in his mind, but he couldn't help but deflate with the guilt eating at him on the inside.

Tempting the most virtuous angel into such sweet, unholy sin was a cold crime. And to enjoy it as much as he had… Eli Goldsworthy had sure bought himself a one-way ticket to the lowest pit of hell.

"Do you regret what we did, Clare?"

Clare responded without hesitation, her voice confident. "Not at all. And though I made a promise to God not to indulge in this before marriage, I love you and I was ready to give myself to you."

Eli remained quiet for a thoughtful second. "Do you feel guilty?"

Clare bit down on her lip and stared up at his lips and the sharp curves his cupid's bow. Why was he questioning her about this now? The guilt was beginning to cut deeper and deeper into her mind as he asked her these things.

"I am," she stated simply, pulling him closer to her body.

Her response earned a frown from Eli. He was the guilty one for luring her into such things, his bed in particular. She had no reason to be guilty of anything.

"You shouldn't be the guilty one, Clare," he whispered against her shoulder, "I pulled you into this."

Clare looked up at him with a mischievous smirk on her lips. "I really didn't need much convincing, Eli."

And Eli had to admit that was true. Though he had given her a small shove, she was the one who had taken the leap.

"So who is really at fault here then, Ms. Edwards?"

Clare bit down at her lip thoughtfully, her eyebrows knitting together.

"I'd like to think it's my fault."

Eli chucked softly at her words. She was trying to be a bad ass, wasn't she?

"Then you can be the instigator and I'll be the helpless virgin," he purred with a smirk.

Clare's eyebrows rose for a second. Even if Eli didn't know it, he had given her a great idea.

"And you can be the helpless virgin next time too."