The Sisters of Saint Petronille, the patron saint of mountaineers, were hosting the entire party of soldiers hailing from Saint Sebastian's and did so with glee. Apparently this was a newly established order created by Iscariot. Most of the women were young, novice nuns in training, clueless as to what they had stumbled into and probably did not care because they were eager to escape the world. Desperate and naive was the perfect combination to make the girls easy targets for the indoctrination into whatever nefarious roles they would play in Iscariot's clandestine agenda. The women were thrilled to see their brothers-in-arms were so incredibly handsome who would be staying with them for the next few days. When the extermination party returned, instead of being appalled and disgusted, the gracious little sisters set about running baths and preparing food for their battered and bloodied guests. The older nuns, the teachers and ladies in charge of the convent, stood along the edges of the hallway as the exhausted people made their way to their rooms. These women shook their heads sympathetically, lowering their eyes as the worn and weary soldiers passed.

Eva turned into her room to take a much needed shower. She scoured her skin with the washcloth and rose scented soap until her entire body was red and raw. Seeing Alucard, having him touch her, made her feel tainted, dirty, and violated. At least he had been prevented from harming her this time due to Father Anderson saving her - again. Like always, her knight in shining armor who wore a snow white cassock stepped in at the last minute to save her when she could not save herself. Alucard had caught her off guard by showing his face here. He was supposed to be in London for God's sake, not the Swiss Alps where they were hunting werewolves. His mere presence, always terrifying and unwelcome, shook her to her core. At some point, she had to conquer her fear of him. She sighed loudly to vent her frustration. Taken unawares or not, it was time to get rid of the excuses. Would she ever be able to protect herself? To not need the priest's assistance to save her? She sighed again, allowing the hot water to boil her a bit longer before she stepped out of the shower to wrap herself in a fluffy white towel. Slathering the thick white lotion on her body, she rubbed the moisture into her skin to rehydrate it. She put on her her silky white nightgown that tied under her breasts to keep it from looking like she had just donned a flour sack. Poking her head out of her door, she glanced around to see if anyone was in the hallway. Seeing that it was devoid of people, especially her comrades, she scampered across the hall to knock on Father Anderson's door.

Father Anderson grunted as he pushed his big body up from the bed where he had been laying. The wounds on his shoulders would not stop bleeding, and he was feeling a bit sick and dizzy. Swaying unsteadily on his feet, he gradually made his way to the door. Upon opening it up, he saw Eva standing in the hall wearing a little bitty gown held up by nothing but spaghetti straps and the bottom barely covered her behind. He grabbed her by the arm to pull her into his room. After giving the hallway a quick perusal to make sure none of the superior nuns were there to see what had happened, he closed his door and locked it. He turned to look at her, grabbing her by her bare shoulders. His eyes swiftly skimmed over her body from head to toe checking for damage.

"Is there something wrong? Are you all right? Were you injured?" he inquired in a rapid gush of words as he eyed her carefully.

"No, I'm fine. I just wanted to check on you," she said, reaching up to touch one of the wounds that was still bleeding. "You're hurt."

"Kobungo sank his claws in a bit too deeply," he rejoined, hissing when she carefully poked at the tender area around one of the puncture wounds.

"You weren't wearing the leather shoulder guards that were made for you to prevent that," she stated rather than asked.

"They constricted the movement of my arms too much," he complained, backing away from her. "I couldn't use my swords properly."

"Let me help you. You helped me after all since you were able to use your swords properly...and got injured for it. I owe you, I suppose," she shot back with a snarky attitude. She noticed he appeared to bit a bit unsteady on his feet so she tucked herself under his arm to guide him toward the bed. "They trained me to be a weapon. I can take care of myself."

"Not against him you can't. Not yet," he muttered, sitting down on the bed at her urging.

Without asking permission to do so, Eva dug around in his duffel bag to find the first aid kit that they had been instructed to bring with them. After the first mission, they had learned an emergency kit would be a good idea. It was different than a standard first aid kit. It included holy water, herbs and powders that would seem more at home in a witches medicine cabinet, and a needle and sutures for stitches among other unusual items to care for wounds inflicted by the particular kind of unusual enemies that they faced. Once she had gathered towels from the bathroom and opened the suture kit to lay out the items, she set to work performing minor surgery. She poured hydrogen peroxide over the wounds to clean them. While letting that dry, she opened one of the medicine bottles to shake two of the painkillers into her hand. She held out her hand to him, growing annoyed when he stared at them in disgust as if she were handing him Alucard's head on a platter. However, Father Anderson would probably like that gift.

"I don't need those," he growled grumpily, pushing her hand away.

"Fine," she muttered, tossing them into her mouth. "I'll need them for this."

"That's not very comforting," he groused, just a tad irritable from the pain. He watched her hand shake as she threaded the hook shaped needle. That wasn't comforting either. He handed her the glass of wine that he had been drinking. Not only did she need something to drink after taking those pills, the alcohol would cease the trembling of her hands.

"Are you trying to make me pass out?" she asked, taking another sip of the wine. It tasted horrible. She grimaced then braced herself for a third swallow.

"If you pass out, do it now before you begin. Ow!" he yelled when she stabbed the needle into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, gritting her teeth to keep from shedding the tears burning her eyes - and to keep from throwing up. A soothing warmth settled into her body and her hands suddenly stopped shaking. She felt Alexander's hands on her waist, positioning her to stand between his legs.

"That will make it easier for you to reach both shoulders," he explained unnecessarily.

Eva pushed the needle through his skin using the using the needle holder until the sharp point exited the skin on the other side of the wound. She was not surprised Kobungo had been forced to exert so much pressure on Father Anderson's shoulders to carry him. The injury had been unintentional yet expected which is why the leather vest had been made for him to wear. In the end, the fault lie with the obstinate priest because he had neglected to take the necessary precautions. The man was huge and outweighed Kobungo, even in his gargoyle form. Biting her lip to concentrate and continue to keep her tears at bay, she kept sewing up the deep and wide puncture wound on his right shoulder before moving the left one. Occasionally her eyes would glimpse at his face to judge how much pain he was in. The muscles of his jaw fluttered as he clenched his teeth to hold back any utterances of discomfort. His eyes were closed and his face was set in a deep scowl so as to not betray exactly how much misery he was experiencing. When she was half way through stitching the second wound, she felt his head drop forward to press against her belly just below her breasts. The sweat from his forehead soaked through the fabric of her nightgown, and she could feel him trembling.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, taking a minute to gather her nerves that threatened to shatter. She hated causing him undue pain, but she took comfort in the fact that she was helping him. "Just a little longer. I'm almost done." Her head was beginning to feel a little swimmy. She counted the stitches as she made them. One, twist and pull...two, loop and pull the knot...three, tie that and almost done...last one, four...done - thank God. After wiping off the excess blood from the freshly stitched punctures with hydrogen peroxide soaked gauze, she wrapped the needle in the gauze then stuffed it all in the little plastic tray the suturing implements had been in before throwing it all away. She went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Father Anderson pulled himself up the bed to be able to stretch out in hopes of gaining some relief from the pain. A deep, gnawing ache radiated from the wounds on his shoulders traveling down his arms and across his chest. He regretted being so prideful and pigheaded. He should have taken the damn pills. He had been through worse, much worse, and had endured the torment without stitches or medicine. But since he had help available he should not be so stupid as to refuse it.

"I think I want two of those pills now," Father Anderson told her when she walked back toward the bed.

"Stubborn," she snapped, getting the painkillers and handing them to him. "These would have worked better if you had taken them before the pain became so bad. Stubborn ass."

"Takes one to know one," he mumbled, swallowing them down with what little wine remained in the glass.

Eva sat down beside him, checking the sutures. They appeared suitable to hold and keep the wounds closed. She was pretty happy with the job she had done. Her fingers moved from tentatively prodding the flesh around the injuries to roam briefly over his chest. She raised her eyes to meet his that were fixed on her face. A smile curled her lips. He was not wearing his glasses. She was able to hold his gaze without the irritating glare on his glasses that would inevitably hide his gorgeous green eyes from her view. Leaning forward, she kissed his forehead.

"I'll leave now. You need to get some sleep." She stood up to leave, her body half way turned away from him when she felt his fingers enclose her wrist.

"Don't go," he said, his voice hoarse and gruff. His words had distinctly sounded like a command. Clearing his throat, he requested,"Please...stay with me."

"Are you sure?" she asked, swiveling her head around to look at him without moving her body.

"I'm sure," he responded, pulling her down onto the bed beside him. He settled her next to his body, his arm encompassing her shoulder and lying along her side.

Eva made sure to lay her head on his bicep to stay away from his injury. Her hand cautiously moved across his abdomen, tracing the ridges of muscle on the way up to rest on his pectoral muscle.

"Father...Alexander, are you sure?" she repeated the question, still feeling quite uncomfortable. Being close to him did things to her. It made her want to do certain sinful things to him, and he should know that by now. Pressing her body closer to his, she inhaled the distinct, aromatic scent of him. There was something different. An extra smell, like leather and wet earth, mixed with the clove like aroma of his skin. Myrrh. He had bathed in myrrh, possibly to take advantage of its healing properties in addition to its purported abilities to cleanse the blood. Had Alucard injured him, and she had not seen it? "I'm sorry if he hurt you. One day I'll be able to protect myself...and you, from him."

"Eva," he murmured, placing his hand over hers on his chest. "He didn't hurt me. I've been hurt a lot worse than this I assure you."

"I have no doubt in my mind that you have experienced a veritable hell on earth before...probably several times," she returned, her body beginning to vibrate with excitement as he pressed his hand to her cheek. Her eyes closed, and she pushed her cheek into his palm. She delighted greatly in the simple touch of his hand. She felt his body shifting as he turned sideways to face her, pulling her up to lay her head on the pillow next to his. The puff of warm air from his lips drifted across hers making her body shudder with anticipation.

"My beautiful, lovely Eva," he murmured, his lips brushing across hers lightly.

"Alexander," she whispered, placing her hand against his thick neck. She could feel the prominent artery under his skin pulsing beneath her fingertips. The sound of his blood flowing through his veins was like the sound of a wave rushing to shore to never crash on the sand. His heartbeat thundered in her ears like primal drums beating out a cadence that rose and fell with her own. She moaned as his lips covered hers. Her body heated gradually from the teasing kisses he was giving her. Her lips tingled with each stimulating peck before he would quickly give her another one.

Alexander kissed her again and again, progressively lengthening the amount of time his lips remained on hers. His hand meandered over her belly, sliding along the smoothness of her gown on the way to her breast. What was he doing? He should have let her leave. But he had not wanted her to leave. He wanted to be close to her, to kiss her, to touch her - to keep doing exactly what he was doing. His hand covered her breast, feeling the nipple harden against his palm through the diaphanous layer of fabric.

"A-A-Alexander," she stuttered, pushing her breast into his hand that was cupping it. "We can't...we shouldn't..."

"I know...we shouldn't," he agreed, claiming her mouth again to stop her from talking. His groan mingled with hers as he groped her firm breast while tasting her wine flavored tongue with his. With the arm that was around her body, her pulled her down to lie flat on her back beside him.

This can't be happening. This shouldn't be happening. I want it to happen, but...oh, god... Eva could not think anymore when his hand touched her knees, his fingers spreading to push them apart slightly. She tried to hold them together but her legs automatically opened for him. The muscles in her thighs quivered as Alexander lifted her leg closest to him, hooking it over his hips to spread her legs apart further. Her breathing hitched, starting and stopping with multiple little gasps as his hand drifted down her thigh. A moan escaped her when his fingers brushed across her panties, rubbing her gently through the fabric that was already quite damp.

"Oh, Eva," he groaned, his lips slipping from hers down her chin. His body ached. The pulsating pain in his shoulders was forgotten due to the agony caused by his throbbing erection. He rubbed his swollen member against her thigh to gain some small degree of relief from the discomfort.

Eva yelped and jumped when his fingers skirted the side of her womanhood, tickling the delicate skin at the edge of her panties. She knew she should push him away, make him stop before things went too far. However, the painkillers had dulled her inhibitions and her willingness to do what was right. Instead she wanted to follow her body's yearning, to fulfill her the desires that had plagued her for months. She lifted her hips when he tugged at her panties to pull them down. Too afraid to speak, not wanting to break the spell and bring all of this to a halt, she smashed her mouth against Alexander's as he removed her underwear. Her hand flattened against his chest, relishing the sensation of his heart thumping against her palm. She turned her hand until her fingers were pointed downward. Slowly, she slid her hand down his torso, enjoying every taut muscle, each bump or hard line that her fingers encountered on their downward slide. Her fingertips stalled at the waist of his pants. When he sucked in a deep breath creating a gap between his hard abdomen and the fabric, she pushed her hand lower. Her fingers wrapped around the hard shaft, bringing a moan from his lips. Pulling her hand upward, she gasped when her fingers contacted the velvety soft head of his manhood. Tugging gently, she brought forth a groan from him that caused the fire in her to flare up so ferociously she was sure she would spontaneously combust from arousal. She held her breath as his finger slipped between the moist, hot folds of her womanhood. When his thumb pressed against her clitoris, she threw back her head and cried out his name.

"Oh, Alexander," she moaned against his skin as he stroked the stiff projection under his thumb. Her hand stroked him from base to tip, gripping him tightly as he massaged her in the most pleasurable way.

Alexander thought he would explode instantly in her hand. He reached down with his free hand to unbutton and unzip his pants so she would have easier access to him. With his other hand, he rubbed across the rigid little button to make her squirm and sigh his name once more. He groaned in pleasure as her soft hand firmly squeezed the base of his member before moving upwards. The friction of her hand stroking his agonizingly stiff manhood felt wonderful. His forefinger slid along the inside of her until he discovered the source of her enticing wetness and heat. Tracing the little hole with the tip of his finger, he pushed inside feeling the fluid heat cover his finger up to his first knuckle. She was so soft, warm, and wet. His hips pushed at her hand, wanting her to stroke him faster.

Eva relaxed her grip on him as she prepared for the downward stroke on his throbbing cock. She slid her fingers down, grasping him loosely in her hand. When his finger penetrated her, her fingers tightened around him.

"Not too tight," he moaned in her ear. His lips hovered over her ear, kissing the outer rim of before nibbling on her earlobe as he delved inside of her.

"Mmmmm, that feels good," she groaned, moving her hips slightly. So was this his answer to her masturbation question? She had the sneaking suspicion that mutual masturbation carried a lot more sinful connotations than a solo act of self-pleasuring. She gasped his name when he sank another finger inside her. Her hand moved faster on his erection, pumping him harder. Tiny little pulses of ecstasy were racing through her body with each push of his fingers deep inside of her. They were both nearing orgasm. She pressed her face to his chest, keeping her lips against his skin so it would prevent her from being too loud as she helplessly writhed with the beginning of her orgasm.

"Oh, Eva," he groaned, grabbing a handful of her hair. Her plaintive whine and the muscular contractions around his fingers told him in no uncertain terms that she was climaxing. He did not know a lot about sex, but he did know what it meant to reach that ever so crucial and titillating peak of pleasure. Pulling her head back, he crushed his mouth against hers as he came. His hips thrust at her hand, pushing his cock through her fingers while he squirted thick, creamy jets of fluid onto her pristine and mockingly virginal white gown.

Eva could feel the warm spurts of semen hitting her hand and her bare thigh. She continued pushing her hips as his hand, impaling herself on his fingers as she finished off the fabulous orgasm. Afterwards, she closed her eyes. She did not want the cruel reality of her sin to infringe upon this enchanting sensation of floating, flying, as she rested on the wings of elation given to her by orgasmic bliss. When his lips tenderly kissed hers, she concentrated on the warmth and softness of his mouth against hers. She was safely ensconced in his arms where nothing could hurt her, where only pleasure and love abides. This was the reality she wanted. She wanted his touch, his kisses, his body, and the ecstasy he could give her. Her body was pleasantly tingling, every nerve ending feeling as if it were standing on edge with stimulation.

"Alexander," she said, opening her eyes to see him. "Did we do something wrong?"

I'm sure of it. I'm sure I'm going to hell one way or another whether it be you that drags me there or that damned demon Alucard, Father Anderson thought to himself as he looked into her eyes. The last bit of gold color was just draining away from her irises returning them to their usual mix of green and brown. "No," he lied, kissing her lips briefly. "We did nothing wrong."

Father Anderson was not intentionally lying to her. He wanted it to be true. He didn't want it to be wrong to love her or to want to be with her. But it was. Satomi's offer replayed in his head. He could be released from his priestly vows. He would be free from his vow of chastity and free to openly express his true feelings for her in the sight of God and man with no retribution. Glancing down at the woman in his arms, he realized she was asleep. There was something he had wanted to tell her before she had gone to sleep. There were three very important words he had been waiting to say to her. Kissing her on the forehead, he cuddled her lovingly and protectively without letting her go as he began to drift off to sleep.

"In case I never get another chance to tell you, and I hope you hear me, I love you, Eva," he whispered, nuzzling his nose into her silky, rose scented hair. "I love you with all of my heart."