You supposed it didn't quite make sense.

Until that fateful day that your dad had enlisted his help in readying the church lawn for Easter breakfast, Dodge had been a stranger to you. A stranger to most really. Never an active member of the church, but the only boy available that was deemed strong enough for the tasks.

All you'd done was go out to offer him some water after catching sight of him setting up tables, but from then on it was decided. He would be yours, and you would be his.

The boy you'd never so much as seen walk in front of your little church was attending midweek service, letting you teach him hymns, and accepting when you asked him to stay for bible study. No matter how many looks you got together, your father approved when Dodge asked to take you out, and that was good enough for you.

Dodge was respectful, though you had your suspicions that having Carp's preacher as your dad may slightly influence his actions. For a long time, he kept it simple: soft kisses, never more than five at a time, and a hand somewhere inoffensive.

It slowly evolved into more, you'd let his hands wander and anything above the collarbone became fair game. There was never fear of him pressuring you, but when he'd sit himself up and turn away to cool down, you couldn't help but wonder how long a boy could wait.

Not that you doubted him, you really couldn't after everything he'd done, how careful he was. You don't think anyone's ever said the words 'is this okay' more in the history of speech.

Maybe him being a gentleman just made you even more open to going further. But even if it didn't, you knew you were ready, and you also knew he'd need convincing of that fact.

And so you found yourself in his room, laid carefully across his bed with his hand on the small of your back, his lips kissing across your cheek. You loved him, and there wasn't any doubt that he loved you. So the words just slipped out.

He picked his head up, eyes flicking between you and your cross necklace. "What do you mean you're ready?"