Page 4 of Ceremony of Lust

“What are you doing here?” I ask him.

“Same as you, I suspect. Looking for a warm body.”

The irony of his words makes me laugh because Henry and I definitely aren’t here for the same reason. However, someone is waiting in the crowd for me. “Already found someone,” I tell him, pointing at the blonde wearing next to nothing, who is currently the center of attention out on the dance floor. Leann Devereaux.

For the past three months, Leann has been a constant by my side and in my bed. She’s sexy and adventurous. She likes Zev the Wolf, the demanding dark side of me. We manage to make eye contact through the hundreds of bodies, and she smiles, shakes her head, and shimmies against the writhing figures around her. Her eyes remain locked on me, reminding me to hurry and claim her. Except I’m not in a hurry. I want to enjoy tonight because tomorrow, everything could change.

“I heard another Match Ceremony is happening in Ripley tomorrow.” Henry’s voice catches my attention, and I turn away from Leann back to him.

“How do you know?” I ask as we both sip our drinks.

“It’s my brother’s first year of eligibility, and he’s nervous. He enjoys his freedom a little too much.”

“Tell him he has nothing to worry about. The odds are in his favor.”

“What about you, Zev? It’s been ten years since your first ceremony. Is the wolf nervous about finally being selected?”

I snort with derision. “Oh no, Henry. I’m not nervous. For a decade, I’ve escaped the eye of Hadassah. I think my freedom is secure for a little while longer.”

Even as I say the words, I doubt them. I’m not entirely foolish to believe I’m safe. There’s always a chance I will be chosen.

Henry reaches into his glass and fishes out the olive garnish. He pops it into his mouth, and one corner lifts slightly. “If you love your freedom so much, then you should leave Ripley.”

I shake my head. “You know that’s not an option for me.”

I left once. I was reckless and wild—a magnet for trouble—and the Elders of Ripley bailed me out, demanding little more than my life as payment. They wanted me to be Zev the Wolf, to do their dirty work. But they keep me on a short chain, allowing me small bits of freedom in exchange for a job well done.

“Good luck,” Henry says, tipping his glass against mine and shaking me from my thoughts.

“Thanks, man. It was good to see you.”

“Invite me to your wedding,” he says with a wink before getting up and leaving.

I turn my attention back to the dance floor. Leann has her arms wrapped around a frat boy, but her eyes are still on me. She wants to make me jealous, but in order to feel envious of the men with their hands all over her, I’d have to care, and I don’t. Leann has been fun. She’s made my bed less lonely, but tonight, I don’t have the energy to play her games.

I reach into my pocket, pull out the fold of Shane’s money, and pluck out a few bills. With my bar tab settled, I head toward the front of the club, but Leann is quicker than I anticipated and intercepts me.

“Where the fuck are you going?” she screeches.

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. I hate drama. “Good night, Leann.”

“You’re just going to leave?” She follows me out into the humid night. “Zev, please!”

There’s no need to make a scene, so I stop. “Listen,” I begin. “We had fun, but it’s over, okay? Go back inside to your little boy toy and suck on his cock tonight. We’re done.”

Leann is persistent and doesn’t take no for an answer. She bites down on her full bottom lip and takes one deliberate step toward me.

“Come on, Zev,” she purrs as her hands wrap around the metal of my belt buckle. “Let the Wolf out.”

I look away and growl in frustration. I was a fool to underestimate Leann. Her desperation shows her true colors; she is nothing more than a gold digger, and I am her meal ticket.

Her hand grazes the front of my trousers, teasing and tempting my cock into a reaction. Slowly, it hardens. One more night couldn’t hurt, right?

The street is brightly lit, but there’s a dark alley next to the club. If she wants the Wolf, then her wish is my command.

“Come with me,” I command, latching on to her arm and pulling her into the black shadows. I lean against the cool brick, and say, “Get on your knees.”

“What? Here?” she protests, her head swiveling in every direction.