Page 31 of Ceremony of Lust

“You’re Zev’s mother. You know him best.”

She shakes her head. “Zev is a complicated man. He has a dark past, but I think . . . well, I hope at least, you will be good for him. You’re not weak like some of these women. My only advice to you, Yael, is to do what is best for your marriage. Take everything you’ve heard tonight with a grain of salt because what works for Frida or Annabelle will not work for you and Zev.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Landau. Truly.”

She pats my hand and then leaves. At that point, the curtain dividing the room is removed, and the shadowy figure of my husband appears through the crowd.

As if my body already knows where it belongs, I rise and automatically make my way through the guests until, at last, we are reunited.

His hands slip around my waist as he pulls me close, but he doesn’t kiss me. “Have you missed me?” he asks.

“I cannot miss what I haven’t had for very long,” I answer, which makes him laugh.

“Smart girl with a smart mouth,” he chastises me.

The band begins to play, and a spotlight lands on us. Hadassah says something from the stage, but I’m too caught up in my husband's eyes to care. I’ve never noticed the ring of gold around them before, but somehow, in the near dark of the reception hall, I can see it shining brightly. Shining for me.

He captures my hand, holding it tight against his chest, and I can feel his heart beating under it. We sway to the music, and everything seems to fade into the background. There is only us now and this moment when we’re able to finally touch.

Those seven minutes alone together hardly seem real. In fact, I’m certain they never happened until Zev places his lips beside my ear, and whispers, “The taste of you is still on my tongue.”

I freeze and back away slightly, but he refuses to let go. “What’s wrong?”

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” I hiss before I drop his hand and leave the dance floor.

Immediately, I regret walking away because I lashed out at him when really, I was angry with myself. My own inexperience makes me reliant on him, and I’m not sure I like it. I want to say things like that, to be able to verbalize my desire for him, but I don’t know how to do that, and I don’t want my silence to be confused with indifference.

A strong arm hooks mine, halting my departure. “Trouble already?” The Chief Elder’s sinister smile is followed by his drunken, cackling laugh. “Just like your mother. Sweet, innocent, and ready to run.”

I pull myself free. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” What does he know about my mother?

He reaches up and brushes a stray piece of hair away from my forehead before he looks down his nose at me and licks his lips. “Lips like a cherry, just like Aviva. I bet you taste just as sweet.”

My stomach turns, and bile rises up in my throat.

“It’s the end of the night, Yael. You know what that means. It’s time for the Blessing of the Elders.”

18

Zev

All of theElders line up, with Anders at the end. Yael and I stand in front of them, holding hands. Hers is clenched so tightly around mine I think she might break it.

“Brothers and sisters, tonight we have come together as one community to celebrate the marriage of Zev and Yael Landau. May their new life together be as sweet as the wine we’ve shared tonight and as plentiful as the food we’ve enjoyed. May their life be filled with generosity. May they become supportive and loving individuals. And may they begin their new life together with our blessing.” Michael Robeson, the oldest of Ripley’s Elders, finishes the blessing, and those guests who remain raise their glasses in a toast.

One by one, they share their private blessings with us. Michael kisses Yael sweetly on the cheek and shakes my hand. They all do this, except for Anders. He’s the youngest of the Elders and clearly the drunkest. Yael shifts closer to me as he approaches.

“My blessings to you both,” he slurs with his arms extended wide. He latches on to Yael and drags her forward. His mouth covers hers in a sloppy kiss. She struggles as he overpowers her until, at last, she’s able to push herself away. “Like a fucking cherry.”

He steps toward her again, but this time, I intervene. “You’re drunk. Back away.”

“No need for a pissing contest,” he says with a wave of his hand. “You marked your territory. She stinks of you.” He looks around the room, and all eyes are on him. No Elder has ever acted this way; jealousy is considered a sin in Ripley. Something tells me Hadassah will choose Anders at the next Match Ceremony as a way to appease him.

When he’s gone, Yael sighs in apparent relief, and her forehead presses against my back.

“It’s time to leave,” I tell her.

She’s quiet as we depart and slide into the back of the Town Car waiting for us. The ride back to the penthouse is short, so I let her have her silence.