☆*⁀‧₊˚ religious imagery and (some) metaphor, blasphemy, religious and grey line theme, best friends to lover, heavy angst, forbidden romance, morally messy but consensual intimacy, ownership language, infidelity-adjacent tension, mdni
the news of you going to marry the pastor's son from the metropolitan is not only breaking your heart but also your one and only best friend, james. growing up together in the seaside village, building sandcastles together after bible's reading sessions, cry and sleeping on each other's arms, it's impossible for him to let you go.
and it's not one-sided. both of you knew, though none of you officially confessed. as both of you grow, both of you try your best to not spend your time until late at night alone; both of you try to limit the skin contact, and both of you try to not get nervous when one catches another staring. you believe, it was hormonal changes that made both of you not behave like a child anymore. and for james, he believes both of you were cowards, thinking that one confession might ruin the 'bestfriend' title.
until one night, the day before your wedding, you ran to the old beach cottage where both of you used to stay after collecting seashells, and if you were lucky, you would find an ammonite and asked james to turn it into a charm.
the cottage still looks the same since james always keeps it clean while you're busy doing diakonia. he's not surprised that you still doing charity or any services for the name of god, he knows how devoted you are to your religion. sometimes, he wished he was as devoted as you, but he can't see himself forgetting god for slowly taking you from him and trying to unite you with one of his pawns, that pastor's son.
and that's a thing he never wanted you to know.
"you're not supposed to be here. you're about to be someone's wife tomorrow."
james told you as soon as you entered the small cottage. watching you casually walk in and sit at the edge of his bed stings his heart. as if you just want to rub in his face about the fact you're getting married. and that's just what he thought because there's no way you're going to marry someone that is a stranger and unknown to you.
"james?"
you called. how he loves the way you always called his name in the softest voice ever. he take a quick glance at you and pretends to be busy making a seashell bracelet at his desk. his action hurts you more than you expected. waking up from your seat, you walk to him, pushing his shoulder so hard that he almost falls off from the chair.
"what is wrong with you?"
your voice starts to croak as your tears burst like a broken faucet. seeing you cry is one of james's weaknesses. he tried to not care, pretending as if you were absent until you got on your knees, taking his hand and putting it on your left chest, where he could feel your heart race.
"don't get on your knees for me. i'm not your god you always prayed to."
"then, stop pretending you don't hear nor see me."
your words hit him hard. he finally looks at you before he immediately pulls you into his embrace, hugging you so tight and letting your tears stain his pale blue shirt. it's hard for him to ignore you when you're emotionally fragile like that. both of you don't say anything. just inhale each other's scent. hands roaming and caressing each other's clothed skin. james hugs you tighter when the sounds of thunder and lightning are breaking the sky. the rains come after, fall down heavily and marred the broken glass window. as if god doesn't want you to go back to your place and get ready for tomorrow's wedding.
"why it take you so long to finally hug me?"
"because your god won't allow me to touch you. unless we're married."
the thunder strikes louder on the outside. most likely a sign from god to stop bringing him in any conversation you both have. you pulled away from the hug slowly, taking his wrist with you so you could sit on the bed together. the mattress dips under both of your weights. james sits stiffly beside you. his hand still in yours, warms and trembles a little bit, most likely from the unexpected hug. his eyes darted to your delicate hand instead of your eyes now.
the rain and thunder grow heavier on the outside. james take a quick peek at the window.
"god might send a flood to punish me."
"because i'm planning to ruin your wedding tomorrow."
and for a moment, your breath stuck in your throat. james look back at you awkwardly, as if he regrets saying that out loud. but there is no apology behind his eyes. he clears his throat, walking back to his desk.
"once the rain is over, so are we."
you flabbergasted at his words. you knows he just wants to mess with your feelings and make you regret coming to this cottage. but you didn't take him seriously. not until he actually ruins your wedding dress.
"i come here because i don't want to get married to that man why are you so slow and can't take the hint?!"
the pearls and the seashells fall down from his grip before he turns to you. he walks to you once again. the cold weather increases the heavy tension between both of you.
"then, what do you want me to do? kill that man?"
james must beyond dumb you thought. you're tired from keeping your feelings, as it is an actual big sin and you're exhausted from keep on praying to god to erase them, so you decided from now on to ensure it is painfully visible to both god and him that you want nothing else but to be together with him.
you pulled james by his collar and crashed your lips with his. the kiss acted as a symbol of your fragility at first, with your tears laced in between both of your lips along with james pulling your dress ribbon around your waist to make you glued to his chest. he kissed you back passionately as if the world were about to end. both of your hands tremble against each other fabric. you gasp in between the kisses; you look up slowly, matching gazes with james.
"don't use me to escape your wedding."
you replied with your lips trembling against his.
"then what am i to you now?"
the question breaks you like the lightning breaking the night sky.
you stare at him. the raindrop slides down on the window like his invisible tears that he believes only he can see. the cottage is quailing under the storm as if it were about to get swallowed by the sea along with the rain.
"make me yours,james. i pray to god daily to make me yours."
his thumb swiftly caressed your cheeks as well as your tears that had fallen non-stop. he cup your cheeks after, forcing your gaze to meet his.
"say it again. say it louder."
his voice demanded. his tone came back rougher.
you uttered. eyes never leaving his.
"and what about tomorrow?"
"it will never exist when you claim me as yours now."
james stare deeper into your eyes, searching for clarity and confirmation in your words.
and that's the word he's been waiting to hear for so long. he pulled you instantly into a deeper kiss this time, making sure every inch of his lips touched yours, his tongue smoothly entering your warm mouth, ensuring every space he got to was explored, leading you to tug into his collar tighter. the kiss is getting hotter and messier as his saliva is dripping all over your chin, mixing with yours as well.
"i truly love you too. i love you so much."
james whispered before his lips travel down to your neck. carefully, he guides your body to land on his bed and pins you down. his hands roaming all over your body, not knowing where to touch because he wants to hold everything and feel everything that's yours.
"don't you think god will be mad at us?"
james asked, almost sarcastically, knowing how faithful you are to god. you shook your head.
"better than married to a man i don't know."
his lips hover against yours before they move to your neck and your shoulder. your answer slightly annoyed him because you still mentioned that man.
"don't talk about that man. don't make me feel i've been compared."
your breath catches. you didn't even mean it in that way.
"don't choose me just because he is a stranger."
a clear hurt painted his face, though he told you in a monotone. your eyes soften, and hands slowly reach to his face before you caress his cheeks gently.
"you're the one i prayed and asked for, not anyone else. i swear."
james closed his eyes, as if your words were pulling him into another dimension, swallowing him whole.
his hands then find yours on the bed, fingers locking together; it almost hurts.
"i choose you, james. i'll forever choose you."
and he finally gives in. james kiss you again but this time slower and more gently. he kisses you tenderly, appreciating you when he finally believes you're his and can never be claimed by others. his lips hover to your jaw next.
"tell me you won't regret everything after this thunderstorm stops."
james commended as his fingers finally land on your thigh, fingertips subtly making contact with it. you let out a dim moan as a response.
he stroke your thighs, his hand moving higher and he stops just right on your clothed core and his lips move along down to your throat, giving it a peck.
"tell me whose you belong to."
his touch and his sayings make your whole body tremble, including your lips and it's not because you're scared but because of how small he makes you feel and how good it feels.
though the storm is getting worse minute by minute, with the sounds of rain slicing the sky, he heard your word the most. it was the loudest sound he ever heard that night. the sharp smell of sea salt, the sounds of intense waves crashing combined with thunderstorms, and the smell of familiarity of the shared cabin lead both of you to think that this might be doomsday.
and both of you regret nothing, even if a flood takes everything else to keep you together eternally.