Chapter 1 - The Departure

Sister Mona comes through the door already half out of her habit, eyes low, mouth set tight. Mother Superior sits on the edge of the bed, hands open, expecting. The warning hits quick: Mother Joan runs her abbey strict, always has. Mona flinches. She knew Joan when they were younger, and every memory still burns. Still she swallows the old grudge, leans in, kisses Mother Superior hard, eyes shut. A second later she smiles like nothing hurts and turns away. While Mother Superior kept the doors loose, letting the nuns love who they wanted, Joan does the opposite. So Charlotte gets the keys now. Keep the bed warm, keep the shame out. Veronica finds Gabrielle in the garden, bare knees on dry brick. Sun’s high and sharp. Veronica eats first. Slow drags of tongue. Gabrielle’s stomach jumps every pass. Veronica licks straight through her, lips slick, thumbs pinning Gabrielle’s thighs open. Gabrielle drags Veronica higher, bites under her breast, sucks the nipple stiff and greedy. Both push their bodies flush. Skin against skin, wet rubbing, shaking breaths, fingers curling hard. They trade places again, tasting fresh. Moans slip, louder than prayer. Sun marks every movement.