For all the many things that Liam knew would tear a soul apart -- would stain it so there was no hope of salvage or salvation -- love in any of its forms was not one of them. So for all that yes, he was certainly trying to tempt this priest away from the vows of chastity that he'd made with his ordination, he didn't believe he'd actually be putting Riley's soul at any real risk. He wouldn't have wanted to do that, not to this man with his gentle nature and kind eyes.

Not that he wanted to do any of the harm he did. He was good at it, make no mistake, could read people and find the smallest cracks for darkness to slip into, could finesse doubt and pain into something sharp and lethal. But he hated it, hated himself for it, more and more with each successfully ruined person he left in his wake.

There was a moment when Riley spoke those words that Liam was caught off-guard by how true those words struck. Riley saw to the core of him already. For the briefest flash there was a falter of the facade of ease and charm. A sadness in dark eyes and the distinct sense that he'd just been dealt a physical blow.

The moment passed and the smile was back in place like it had never left. "Why Father, I think you're too sure-footed spiritually to worry about taking that sort of tumble."