Mating Rituals

by Tina Gayle

  “Can anyone else hear them?”

  “I don’t know.” She shook her head. No one ever mentioned hearing them, but she’d never really asked anyone either. She didn’t discuss the subject.

  His lips curved into a smile.

  “Don’t laugh at me, Stihl. I’m not imagining it.” She fought the allure of his broad chest and got ready to strike.

  He leaned closer to her ear. “Then I’d have to laugh at myself too.”

  She jerked away. “What? Can you hear them, too?”

  His arms slid along her back. He drew her deeper into his embrace. “No, I hear or communicate with a larger animal.”

  “What . . . what type of animal?”

  “A billow-bird,” he said with a grin.

  “Are you telling me the truth?” She struggled to free herself from his embrace.

  “Yes, some people are able to communicate with animals. At least the experts say it is a form of interaction. My brothers lead alba-oxen with their minds, but they both hate the animal. They’re city boys.”

  “Then, I’m not a freak?” She searched through her mind for proof of his statement.

  “Well, some people do find you a little freaky.” She glanced at him, and he added, “But not me.”

  The wicked grin on his face forced her to question whether to believe him or not. “Stihl, why don’t we head back to the camp? It’s cold out here.”

  “I could warm you up.” His dark eyes sparkled with desire.

  She giggled at the unexpected suggestion.

  Marohka Taunton Fermesium giggled. She never giggled, but she couldn’t help it. The man was impossible. Here they were, in the middle of nowhere, in weather to turn flesh into an icicle, and he wanted to get naked.

  “Yes, but there’s a warm bed back at camp.”

  “There is that”—his grip tightened—“but it’s so far away. I’ll never make it without a kiss.”

  “Think of it as a challenge,” she teased and wiggled in his arms to gain her freedom.

  “I do every time you come close enough to kiss.” His mouth swept down and covered hers.

  The man has no patience.

  She melted against his chest. She worked her arms around his neck. His tongue drove all thought from her mind. Her own patience fought the limits of her control.

  He stepped back, and she clutched his coat with her fists.

  “I think we better head back to camp.” He gripped her hands and tugged them free of his coat. He kissed each one then walked back toward the jet.

  After straddling the seat, he helped her settle behind him. She slid her arms around his waist, and he groaned.

  “Make it fast,” she said.

  His laughter rumbled against her chest.

  * * * *

  The day didn’t want to end.

  Marohka sat listening to the men gathered around the table in the rest-din. Stihl sat next to her talking to Cyd, Guilio, and Upton about the ceremony for Zook. Gang had retired earlier. She wished she could do the same, but her job demanded she stay involved in any discussion involving the camp.

  After reviewing the bad reports again, she’d talked to every man in the camp and assured each that every precaution was in place. No more cave-ins would occur. Now, she longed to go to bed.

  “Girly, you look tired. Why don’t you head on off to bed?”

  Guilio’s words rang through her exhausted mind. “Good idea.” She rose to her feet.

  Stihl stood. “I’ll walk you to the cabin.”

  “Why? I can get there by myself.” She turned and marched away. Did he think her incapable of getting to their hut by herself? If not so tired, she would have punched him, but it wasn’t worth the effort right now.

  She stepped inside the cabin, and warm air hit her in the face. The heating unit hummed. Light from the window showed her rumpled bed from her earlier lovemaking session with Stihl. Cyd’s bed appeared untouched. Marohka still wondered if the man planned on sharing their cabin, but from what she’d learned, no other place was available.

  Too tired to care, she sat to remove her boots. Something shifted behind her on the bed. She jumped up quickly and twisted around to stare at the blanket. A long, ropelike body slid out from under the covers.

  “Jeez.” Her heart pounding, she leaped back until her back hit the door. “What is it about this place?”

  Every nerve ending tingling, a rapid beat sent fear pulsing through her veins. Pictures flashed in her mind of snakes slithering over her skin. She shivered and gripped her arms with her hands. Oh, how I hate the disgusting things.

  With the door behind her, she could make a fast escape. She grasped the handle. A voice echoed from her memory. “Oh, what a baby. You can’t even handle a little snake.”

  She recalled the last time.

  The sweaty hand on the doorknob fell away.

  “Handle this,” she whispered to herself. Even though her heart begged for her to let Stihl take care of it. “Why do they always choose snakes?”

  On the bed sat the slithery creature, wrapped in a dangerous coil near the head. Every instinct screamed for her to run. She forced her feet closer. Slitted black eyes stared at her from a round head. A long forked tongue flicked in and out. The snake advised her to retreat. The colorful body of red and orange coiled tighter, like a spring ready to strike.

  She pounced. Each corner of the blanket flew over the snake, her target quickly covered with leg-lengths of cloth. With her heart pounding in her ears, she gathered the batt around the snake. With each wiggle, an answering pulse knotted her stomach. Her hands trembled. Her brain scrambled for what to do next.

  All the ends secure, she clutched the batt and hauled the snake-filled cover from the bed. Victory lay within her grasp.

  She opened the door and saw Cyd walking down the path. Stihl sent him to check on her, but at this point, she could not care less.

  “Great.” She shoved the bundle into his hands. “Get rid of this.”

  She quickly stepped back. “I don’t care much for snakes.”

  “Snakes?” Cyd juggled the blanket and its deadly contents. “Where did you find it?”

  “Stihl’s bed. I guess someone doesn’t like his charm.” With no desire to be anywhere near their uninvited guest, or anyone else, she stepped back inside the cabin and closed the door.

  * * * *

  Stihl glanced at the door a few times before it squeaked opened. The room was quiet. Most of the men had retired for the night. Only Guilio remained at the table. Cyd stepped through the door.

  “What took so long?” Stihl asked.

  His friend glanced around at the people near them. “Marohka received a visitor.”

  “Someone we know?” Guilio raised an eyebrow in question.

  “No, Marohka found him in her bed.”

  “What?” Stihl jumped to his feet.

  “I got rid of him without much trouble.” Cyd held out the quilt on his arm. “But she’ll need her blanket back.”

  “Where is this guy?” Stihl stepped forward to rip the batt from Cyd’s hands.

  “He’s probably slithered off into the woods by now.” Cyd grinned and laid a restraining hand on Stihl’s shoulder. “Someone put a poisonous snake in her bed.”

  “Was she bitten?” He held his breath, waited for Cyd’s answer to run to her aid.

  “No, she’s fine. Bundled up the snake without a peep, then handed it to me.” Respect glowed in Cyd’s eyes. “Luke, that girl’s got guts.”

  “That girly never has scared easily.” Guilio yanked a chew stick from his pocket. “The men tried to frighten her the same way when she first started coming here. She didn’t even blink an eye.”

  Stihl wondered about Marohka’s true feeling. She was skilled at hiding them. “Where is she?”

  “In the cabin.”

  “All alone?”

  “I think so. I didn’t see anyone else.” Cyd drew out a chair. “And I checked the area around the cabin before returnin
g.”

  Stihl shuffled his feet. His thoughts centered on Marohka.

  “Go ahead and check on her. You won’t be satisfied until you do,” Guilio encouraged, his stained teeth showing through his grin. “We’ll wait for you here.”

  Stihl glanced at the door. “No harm in checking.” But as tired as she was, she’s probably asleep. He walked toward the exit.

  “Yell, if you need help,” Guilio added.

  The twilight hours of the second sun cast a soothing glow. Stihl strolled across the camp, gravel crunching beneath his feet. The late-night air moistened his skin. The lights in the cabin were off, the shutter closed. He opened the door quietly, hoping not to disturb her sleep. The dim sunlight from the open door led him to where she rested in the middle of their bed, her eyes closed.

  He added the blanket to the one covering her and stood gazing down at her silky hair. The innocent look on her face captured his heart. Untouched until this morning, she’d woken him with a hot desire, which burned through her body and forced her into uncharted waters.

  With a little gentle persuasion, she’d blossomed into a woman capable of setting him on fire with a single glance. Now, truly his mate and a vital part of him, he had to protect her. He bent and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.

  “Stihl?”

  “Yes, starlight, go back to sleep.”

  Her eyes remained closed. Her brow wrinkled. “Are you coming to bed?”

  Stihl kissed her again. “In a little bit.”

  She nodded, and then turned onto her side.

  The desire to join her almost kept him from returning to talk to Cyd, but he wanted to work out a plan where she’d not be alone again.

  When he returned to rest-din, Cyd and Guilio sat in the same place. Everyone else in the room had left. Stihl walked to his seat. “We should arrange for one of us to be with Marohka at all times.”

  “I thought we were already doing that,” Cyd said.

  “Then we need to tighten it up.” Stihl sat down, planning not to stay long with Marohka in the cabin by herself.

  “Cyd’s been filling me in on what’s been going on. I think you fellas better let someone else know what’s happening.” Guilio switched his chew stick to the other side of his mouth.

  Stihl shook his head. “We have no proof. It’s just a gut feeling.”

  “That feeling seems to be going around,” Guilio argued, “but sometimes it needs to be voiced to the right people.”

  “As much as I hate to mention it”—Cyd studied his hands—“we might want to tell your dad, Stihl.”

  “No.”

  Guilio jerked his chew stick out of his mouth and pointed it at Stihl. “Now wait, the boy’s got a good idea.”

  “I know why you don’t want to tell your dad, but if you kept it simple,” Cyd said.

  “There’s nothing simple with my dad.”

  “Look, Luke, just tell him Marohka had a few accidents.” Cyd stared at Stihl. “Let him know we’re not sure what’s happening, but that you’re worried.”

  “And how will that help?”

  “Boy, you’ve got an attitude. You think her dad’s not gonna blister you if you let anything happen to her? Vin will petition the council of elders to roast your butt,” Guilio barked.

  “And how will telling my father about the accidents change that?” Stihl resented the old man’s comments.

  Guilio shook his head. “Are you dimcoco? He can protect you and her if you give him a chance.”

  “How? By locking us up in his house?” Stihl tapped his fingers impatiently against the table.

  “Hold up.” Cyd laid a hand on Stihl’s arm. “We’re just warning your dad about the problem. We’re not turning it over to him.”

  “And what do you expect him to do?” Stihl argued. “You know him, Cyd. He’ll demand control and place us firmly under his thumb.”

  Cyd frowned and nodded. Stihl stared at the door. He wanted his father’s help, but the question remained, how to obtain it without the results creating more trouble?

  “Put him to work,” Guilio spouted off.

  “What?” Stihl glared at the older man.

  “Give him something to do.” His wrinkled face held a grin. “Tell him to ask around, see if she has any enemies. Let him play detective.”

  “Keep him busy.” Cyd nodded. “Then he wouldn’t bother you.”

  Could it be that easy? Stihl checked his timepiece. His father might still be up. “All right.” He pointed his fingers at both of them. “But if this doesn’t work, you guys are in trouble.”

  He stood, yanked his ECD unit out of his pocket, and slipped it over his ear. “May I use your office?”

  “Sure, boy, I’m heading to bed.” The old man shoved his round belly away from the table and rose to his feet.

  “Cyd, you go check on Marohka,” Stihl said before he left the room. He hated asking his father for help, but he didn’t know what other choice he had.

  * * * *

  “Hey, son, the survey came in today from the Morrison brothers,” his father said right after the hellos.

  Stihl tuned out the information about their land-raping idea. The guest chair was again covered with papers. He shoved them to the floor and sat down.

  “That’s great, Dad, but it’s not the reason I called.” He knotted his hands into fists. He forced himself to tell his dad about Marohka being poisoned at the theater and about her accident on the trail to the mine. “Dad, I’m concerned. She might be in some kind of trouble.”

  “Now, son”—his father drew the two words out—“just because the girl has a little bad luck doesn’t mean someone is after her.”

  “Yes, I know, but . . .” Stihl paused and searched for a plausible solution. “Maybe someone doesn’t like her being with me? Another man might have wanted her for his mate?”

  “Never would’ve happened.”

  “Why not?”

  His father cleared his throat, a sure sign of him hiding something.

  “Dad?”

  “Now, son, I was only looking out for you,” Zarro hedged.

  “Tell me what you did.” Stihl raised his voice.

  No answer.

  He waited. “Dad?”

  “Marohka has skills I wanted to have in our family so I arranged it so no other man could select her from the mating ball.”

  “Dad.” Stihl lowered his voice to keep from screaming out his frustration. “How long have you denied Marohka the right to have another mate?”

  “Stihl, we need her.”

  “Dad?”

  “Eight years.”

  “Oh, no, you mean every year she attended the mating ball?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, Dad.” Stihl dropped his head to his chest. This news would infuriate Marohka. She’d view it as another reason not to trust him.

  “Look, I’ll ask around.” His dad rushed on. “Don’t worry.”

  “You’ll be discreet.” Stihl forced his fingers to release their death grip. “Right? I don’t need any more trouble.”

  “Yes, no one will suspect why I’m asking. I think you’re overreacting, but I trust your instincts and will investigate.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Stihl worked to calm down. His father, as usual, had only been trying to help. “I appreciate it.”

  “Also, I’ve heard a few rumors. You may have some competition for the Trisar deal. Good luck, son.”

  “Thanks, Marohka and I will probably be leaving for the ranch in the next day or two. Call me there if you find out anything. Night.”

  Stihl clicked off his ECD and left. He walked across the courtyard and wondered if he’d pay for this call with more help than he wanted from his father.

  Right now, too tired to think of any other plan to protect Marohka, he headed for bed.

  * * * *

  Zarro threw his ECD on his desk and sat staring at it.

  His study, his quiet haven, violated earlier by Tankton’s family, now lay quiet. He’d gott
en a ziton of work done before Stihl’s call.

  Now, his peaceful retreat crumbled around Zarro again, torn apart by his son’s doubts. Not one to spook easily, Stihl’s concern held some element of truth.

  Yet, Zarro couldn’t believe anyone would want to hurt the girl. From what he’d learned about Marohka, she performed her job and didn’t bother anyone.