MatingRitual

by Ruby Storm

She watched the changing planes of his face. First his eyes widened at her rebuff. Then his jaw tightened. When he swung her around and dragged her from the path and into the dense brush, Kella knew she had pushed him too far. He shoved her against a tree and pinned her body against the rough bark.

  She had never seen him this angry. Kella waited for his hands to circle her neck, expecting the worst. Instead he dragged her sarong up over her hips and clamped his hand between her legs.

  “You push me, woman, and I will prove you wrong. I have been kind and patient. I have fed you and sheltered you instead of tossing you to my men.”

  “You mate me against my will!” she screamed at him as he shoved aside his leggings and his cock sprang free to rest against her naked belly. Her scream ended abruptly when his finger entered her. She struggled against the instant quake of desire that rushed through her limbs.

  “I have never forced you, only guided you along the way.” His mouth dipped closer and Kella rolled her head to the side. Effortlessly, Jaggar chased her lips until he captured them, his finger plunging in and out of her now wet tunnel, stopping to linger with a roll of her clit, then back deep and hard inside.

  Kella groaned as she opened her mouth to allow his tongue. His magic drugged her. His finger coaxed her to the flame she knew would soon burn bright. She couldn’t fight it, no matter how she hated him at the moment.

  He lifted her from the ground with her back now against the tree. Automatically her thighs curled around his waist, finding secure anchor. Her eyes opened and she stared into the blackness of his steady gaze.

  “You are mine,” he whispered as he adjusted both their bodies and his cock slipped inside her cunt…deep and throbbing. He held her there, filling her completely, stretching her wide.

  The fight completely left Kella when she grasped his broad shoulders. He clutched her slim hips and stroked upward, filling her time after time. The bark of the tree bit into the tender flesh of her back. The heat of his body grinding against her clit with each stroke, urged her on until her mouth sank open and her head sank to the side. Her body burned and Kella welcomed the intense heat.

  “Say it, Kella,” Jaggar grunted out as his body pierced her. “Say it. Say you are mine…”

  Her head lolled from side to side, but she remained silent. In answer, Jaggar stilled his strokes.

  “Say it and we will go over the edge together.”

  She squeezed her muscles around his cock and moved her hips to no avail. The flame was there, ready to engulf her. She needed his magical heat. Kella licked her lips and opened her mouth.

  “Say it.”

  “I am yours…”

  His wide hips jerked upward with her three words. She gasped with delight.

  * * * * *

  Kella hurried to keep pace with Jaggar on an unfamiliar trail. She realized they were still within the Stonemen compound, but each step took them farther from the ditch and the sexual encounter that still made Kella’s stomach lurch with remembrance.

  When he was done mating her, he kept her body pinned against the tree, his cock still inside her, and dallied with his lips upon her neck. He’d even managed to do all this and divest himself of his shirt.

  Kella swallowed hard. Her gaze settled on his hard muscles rippling beneath his black skin as he walked in front. From there, her gaze traveled lower to take in his buttocks and long legs. She felt herself flush, thinking again about the hot mating against the tree.

  Time was running out for Kella. Jaggar’s hold on her emotions was building, was becoming too strong. If she did not find a way to escape soon, his magic would bind them forever. She needed to remember she was Magya. She needed to never forget she was a chosen one, no matter how his lips felt against hers and how his huge cock made her blood sing with joy.

  She nearly ran into him when he paused at the end of a trail. A warrior guarded the wooden exit. She waited as the man opened the door for her and Jaggar. Quickly she followed him through, realizing with excitement they were now outside of the compound. It was the first time she’d been allowed since being taken captive.

  Jaggar stepped aside and immediately she saw Crete and Marte in an open field. Crete leaned against the trunk of a tree, seeming to enjoy the cool shade, his eyes on his woman as she moved about in the tall grass to bend and pluck greenery and stuff it inside a basket she carried.

  Kella raced headlong in her direction, calling out her friend’s name. Marte turned, set the basket down quickly and ran to Kella. They embraced, ignoring the men who spoke quietly beneath the tree.

  “Marte! I despaired of seeing you today! What is happening? They actually let us out of the fortress!”

  Marte grabbed her hand, pulled her away from the men and picked up her basket. “We don’t have much time. Here…” She reached inside her tote and a second later shoved some greenery into Kella’s hand.

  Kella’s gaze snapped from her fist to Marte’s eyes. “You found ragweed? How did you talk Crete into bringing you here?”

  Marte’s guarded gaze darted to the men and her voice softened. “I told him I needed medicine because I did not feel well. I have pretended to be ill and finally he relented and brought me here. I asked that you join me and Jaggar consented. We need to eat the ragweed, Kella! Today! Or there is a good chance we will be cast aside by our own clansmen when we escape.”

  Kella glanced at Crete and Jaggar. “How are we to ever escape? They watch too closely.” Jaggar’s magic raced through her brain and once again, Kella felt the indecision overtake her. Panic filled her but she wasn’t sure of the exact reason. Was it because she needed to escape as soon as possible, or did she want to stay in his arms always? Her knees shook thinking about the many different things he did to her body. She needed to show strength! She had to do what was right no matter how her body betrayed her.

  She grabbed her friend’s arm. “Yes! We must make plans, Marte. The Stoneman’s magic is strong. He is casting a spell on me. Soon it will be too late.”

  Marte tipped her head and studied her friend. “What magic do you speak of?”

  Kella could not meet her eyes and Marte shook off her hold. “What does he do to you that you think this way? Tell me now! You are my friend and I will help somehow.”

  Kella shrugged silently. “He does things to…me. He makes me forget that…that I am a chosen one. He touches me…”

  A sudden realization dawned in Marte’s eyes. “He mates you… His mating makes you forget? Kella! You cannot let it happen!” She grabbed Kella’s clutched fist and forced it tighter around the ragweed. Her voice lowered when the warriors turned to look at the women. “You must eat the weed. You must not let his magic change you. We will escape,” she hissed. “Kella, Crete mates me. I say nothing, I do nothing. Now instead of being wary, he has allowed me to stray from his home. We are here, Kella, in this field because I play at being stupid! Even your Stoneman is less wary now or he would never have let you join me here! And we will continue to visit the outside world and our escape will happen.” Her gaze cast about as her thoughts suddenly took a different direction. “We are chosen Magya. It is an honor we prayed for since we were young. I will never forget and I will never let you forget. This is what we must do. You must also insist they let us journey outside the gates. I will tell Crete I need other herbs and greens. He is stupid and only thinks about what is between his legs. I will insist you come with me. It will happen, Kella. We will be able to make our escape.”

  Kella stared at the woman, amazed at the change since their capture. No more was Marte the frightened little mouse, the woman who always turned to Kella for direction. She now took the lead and she now insisted that somehow they would return to their former life. Her shoulders squared. Yes, she would look for only one thing in the future and that was to escape, to live her life as a chosen one. For once in her life she would follow Marte’s lead.

  “They are coming,” Marte hissed again. “You must fool your warrior so we can continue to meet. Be stro
ng, Kella. Do not forget the Magya blood that spills through your veins. Always be ready. Always be prepared to run.”

  Kella hugged her friend one last time before the men reached them. When she turned to face Jaggar, she suddenly understood the journey to her true fate would be a hard one.

  * * * * *

  That evening Kella paced across the floor of Jaggar’s den. He had brought her back to the room and left her and now as the sun dipped behind the mountain ridge to the west, she wondered if he would return any time soon. Even two of the woman servants, with their black hair pulled tight around their heads, had arrived earlier to escort her to the ditch. It was the first time anyone other than Jaggar had done that and she wondered why. She’d had to endure their poking and prodding as they walked the trail and their scornful remarks of how ugly she was with her white hair and blue eyes. They’d watched her squat over the ditch, allowing no privacy or the chance for her to escape. Kella doubted she would have been able to outrun them anyway. Their legs were much longer than hers, sleek, dark and muscular, and if Jaggar had entrusted her care to them, they most likely would not want to arouse his anger by losing his captive.

  The door creaked and Kella spun to face it. Her heart dropped when the same two women entered her room. She watched them come and go as a male servant stood in the open doorway to assure Kella did not leave the room. After three trips, the bath was half filled and they ordered her to strip and get into the tub. Kella was about to refuse but remembered Marte’s pleading eyes. This must be something Jaggar wanted her to do. She had no choice but to play at submission if she was ever to see her way back to the Magya people.

  Stepping into the warm water, she seated herself and watched one of the women approach. Water was poured over Kella’s head and her scalp scrubbed. Then the same sweet-smelling oil was added to a cloth and both silent women cleansed her from her neck to her feet, even washing between her legs as if she were a babe. They only spoke with an order to leave the tub before being dried. Kella pressed them for a reason why they were helping, but their silence reigned.

  They ignored her and soon one left the room and returned with a white sarong in her arms. She gently put it atop the bed and smoothed it out. Kella eyed them as they left. When the door locked and she heard the latch pulled down on the outer side, she hurried to the sarong. A soft breath left her rounded lips. It was of the most luxurious fur her fingertips had ever touched. She plopped down naked beside it.

  What to do? Did she dare slip it on? Jaggar could be the only person who would have gifted her with such a beautiful garment. But if she clothed herself there was a good chance she would draw his anger in her direction. Not knowing for sure, she finally decided to wait naked in the chair across the room.

  She watched the sun move across the sky outside the window for quite a while before finally hearing his footsteps. Her body tensed and she clutched the arms of her chair, waiting.

  Jaggar stepped into the bedroom, his eyes immediately setting on her. His brow quirked for a moment as his gaze moved to the sarong, and then back to the naked woman. “You are not clothed,” he stated.

  “I…” Kella clasped her fingers in her lap. “I did not know what to do, so I have waited for your command.”

  One of Jaggar’s eyebrows tipped up as he watched her closely. “You waited for my command? Well then, here it is. Put it on.”

  Kella rose and halfway across the room his voice halted her in her tracks.

  “Kella, come here first.”

  She pivoted and took five steps to stand directly before him.

  He said nothing, but his eyes softened. Reaching out, he rubbed a coarse knuckle over one nipple, his eyes widening when it budded hard. Letting his fingertip drift over warm skin, he slowly circled around, his gaze moving over her breasts, to the soft skin of one shoulder, the firm rounded globes of her ass, and then her lightly furred mound as he came to a stop before her once more.

  Kella trembled at his gentle touch. She gasped when the same fingertip that taunted her only seconds earlier now slipped between her cunt lips. He teased her clit and Kella struggled to keep her feet planted firmly. Only days earlier she might have slapped his hand away. Now? All she wanted was for him to reach up inside her and bring back the hot magic. She closed her eyes, waiting…

  She felt his warm breath against the skin below her ear and swallowed hard. The fingertip continued to tease between her lips but he would not put it inside, even when she thrust her cunt forward.

  “We must go,” he whispered and moved away. Instantly the warmth of his body was replaced by the cool evening air that filtered through the window.

  Kella nearly toppled to the ground. A pearl of liquid slipped down her inner thigh and she sucked in a ragged breath to gather her wits. What sort of game did he play? Kella needed to stay strong but with one touch of his finger, she turned to mud, her entire being soft and pliable within his arms. Shaking her head, she watched him move to the bed to collect the sarong, turn and hold it out to her.

  “Get dressed.”

  “Now? We are leaving the room?”

  Silently he nodded.

  With shaking hands, Kella took the sarong and slipped it over her head. Even the inside of the garment was soft and velvety again her skin. “It is beautiful,” she conceded as she looked up at him.

  “There is one more thing. Where is the shell necklace?”

  “Here,” Kella replied and hurried to the corner of the room where the item hung on a peg. “Do you wish me to wear it?”

  “Yes. Bring it here and I will tie it for you.”

  Kella set it into his outstretched hand, turned and lifted the white length of her hair from her neck. Her teeth captured her bottom lip when his fingertips grazed the back of her neck. She struggled to keep her breathing even. “May I ask you something?”

  “Yes.”

  “It is late and we are leaving the room. You have not allowed me to do that in all this time.”

  “You will join me in the Great Hall at the market.”

  “Why, is there—”

  “Silence, Kella. No questions. It is time to leave.” Jaggar opened the door and left the room.

  She hurried behind him, the shells of her necklace tinkling against the white skin of her chest.

  Chapter Seven

  Boisterous laughter and the booming voices could be heard even before Jaggar and Kella even entered the Hall. Jaggar stopped and waited for her to reach his side as a door opened. It surprised her when he tenderly took her elbow and urged her forward through the heavy crowd. Warriors hailed Jaggar, clapping him on the back while leering at Kella. The noisy confusion was nearly too much as she shrank against his hard length to shield herself from the unknown.

  Finally they managed to make their way across the large room and the crowd parted. Seven huge pillows were lined one beside the other on a raised platform, each with a couple perched on the fluffiness. Jaggar led Kella to the one pillow still empty. He sank into the center and pulled her down beside him. Her harried gaze darted about, trying to understand what was happening. Besides Kella, only one other woman residing on a pillow was Magya, a girl named Allat, and the two stared silently at one another. The rest of the females were of the Stonemen tribe, their dark skin shining in the glow of fired torches. Each of the seven women wore the same beautifully furred sarongs.

  She turned to glance at Jaggar, surprised to find him studying her. “Jaggar, what is this place? What are we doing here?”

  He took her hand and gently held it, surprising Kella more.

  “It is the Seven Night Joining Rite. Look around, Kella. We are seven groups. Tonight and for the next six nights, the warrior from each couple will declare before all who their chosen woman is. We will wait our turn until tomorrow night, but we must respect each couple and their rite to become mated for life. We must witness it.”

  She shook off his touch. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She inhaled deeply, swallowed and finally stuttered a
response. “Cho…chosen woman? Are you choosing me?”

  Jaggar’s mouth curved upward. “Yes, all those here know you are my chosen one even though I will not speak formally until our turn tomorrow.”

  “You cannot, Jaggar,” she gasped. “I am chosen already, chosen by a Magya warrior. I am Magya!”

  The smile left his face in degrees until his eyes darkened thunderously. He took her wrist and it was all Kella could do to not wince and cry out in pain.

  “You will lower your voice. Now,” he ground out. “I will not be embarrassed in front of my countrymen. Do…you…understand?” Each of the last three words he uttered was punctuated with a small shake to her arm.

  His actions frightened her. Of the many times they’d spoken, this was the first time Kella had absolutely no doubt he would snap her arm in two if she did not obey. There was nothing she could do except submit. There was still time to escape. Still time to flee at the very first chance, but she could not do it if he watched her every movement. Her gaze flitted over the crowd, searching, yearning to see Marte’s face for reassurance, but besides Kella and the other Magya woman on the dais, the rest of the crowd were of the Stonemen clan. She halted her gaze on Crete as he laughed with the group of large men around him. No Marte.

  “Do you understand?”

  She dragged her gaze back to Jaggar’s and searched his angry features.

  She swallowed again, trying to wet her suddenly dry throat. “I understand, Jaggar.” Her chin sank to her chest in a show of meekness. His grip on her wrist lessened.

  “I have never played false to you, Kella. You are my chosen one and by my Gods, we will be declared mated for life on the Second Night.”

  Before he could say anything else, a large gong resounded across the room and the crowd hushed. Kella watched wide-eyed as the crowd reverently parted and a costumed holy man entered the hall. His painted face of red and white was frightening to her, his feathered clothes making him appear much larger than he already was. She peeked up to see Jaggar with all his attention clearly on the beginning of the ceremony. She closed her eyes and gathered her strength, vowing to take each day in stride until the moment of escape. The most important thing right now was making Jaggar believe she could be trusted. It was the only way.