Page 49 of Ceremony of Lust

I’ve never seen Yael happier, not even on our wedding day. Her cheeks are rosy pink and her smile is bright as she lets out a joyful hoot. I quickly change out of my suit and into more casual clothes. Yael changes, too, and secretly, I watch her as she removes the long dress she was wearing and puts on something much shorter. For a moment, I get a glimpse of her body. She’s wearing one of the matching sets I bought her. The cream lace blends into her skin so well I have no idea where the fabric ends, and she begins. My fingers itch to feel her, and my mouth waters to taste more of her.

I have been patient with her, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep the wolf inside me at bay.

27

Yael

As we driveacross the bridge connecting Ripley to the rest of the world, my heartbeat picks up and my knee bobs with nervous excitement. The city sparkles in front of us like glittering jewels towering in the sky. The late afternoon sun reflects off the mirrored buildings, bathing everything in bright orange. The buildings are a mix of old and new, blending together seamlessly in a perfectly modern merger. The people who live here are reminded every day about where they came from and where they are going. The farther we go, the more the landscape changes. A large, sprawling urban jungle soon turns into lush neighborhoods lined with trees and large, stately homes.

It’s the complete opposite of Ripley.

Zev drives with ease, navigating the streets with familiarity. The entire time his hand is warm and firm on my thigh, inching higher and higher, teasing me, tempting me, reminding me of what we started and didn’t finish.

When we stop outside a drugstore, he tells me to stay in the car while he runs inside. He returns minutes later and hands me a bag with a single box inside.

“Do you want to do this now or wait until we’re home?” he asks. There’s a tremor of something in his voice. Excitement? Impatience? It’s hard to tell.

“I can wait. I’m enjoying this moment of freedom,” I tell him as I continue to watch this new world pass by me.

“You look like a little girl with your nose pressed against the store window,” he jokes.

“That’s because I am! All of this has been denied me. Now that you’ve given me a taste, I’m going to want to experience more.”

Zev heads back into the lush neighborhoods. I’m fascinated by the houses and wonder about the people who live in them. We drive down street after street until, at last, we arrive in a bustling little neighborhood where shops and restaurants have their doors open wide to welcome patrons.

He parks the car, gets out, and jogs around to the passenger side. He helps me out, and as we walk down the street, his hand remains locked with mine. I breathe in deeply and exhale slowly. This is where real life exists, unlike Ripley where we only pretend to live. This is a place full of life, love, and family.

We meander down the street, and every so often, I stop to peer in the window of a store, marveling at the displays of clothes and jewelry. Zev drags me into one or two of the stores, and despite my protests, he purchases a few things.

“You don’t have to buy me anything,” I state. “I have too much already.”

He holds up the black bag with gold lettering. “I didn’t buy this for you. It’s for me.”

My mouth pops open, and the words on my tongue are full of naïvety and innocence. The lingerie in the bag pleases him. He wants to see me in it, and the thought of his eyes on me, watching me, makes my skin tingle with delight.

“Then I shall wear it with pride,” I whisper, popping up onto my tiptoes to tease him with a slow kiss. He groans against my lips and tightens his grip on my waist, pulling me incrementally closer to him. He’s hard against my belly, and while I ache with desire, I’m acutely aware of our surroundings, and I stop what I started.

When our stomachs growl in unison, Zev takes me to a tiny Italian restaurant tucked on the corner of the street. We’re seated at a tiny bistro table on the restaurant’s patio. The sight of Zev sitting at such a small table makes me laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he asks as he shifts on the equally tiny chair, wearing a scowl on his face.

“You! You’re huge, and this table is so small,” I tell him, continuing to chuckle as he struggles.

“It’s worth it. This place has the best food.”

He’s not lying. Every dish is delicious. We indulge in freshly baked bread served warm, and homemade pappardelle pasta with a creamy, peppery sauce.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when I notice him staring. He seems comfortable now, leaning against the chair with one leg crossed over the other and a glass of wine in his hand. “Do I have sauce on my face?”

“No,” he says with a half-smile. “You just seem different.”

“I feel a little different. It’s being outside of Ripley’s confining walls.” I wave my hand at the other diners. “Look at how relaxed they all look, so free and happy.”

“Is it really so terrible living in Ripley?”

“I never thought that until we were married. Until you brought me here.” I glance around the patio, enjoying the magic of being someplace new. Lights strung above us cast a romantic glow over the space, and I can hear water bubbling from a nearby fountain. But my eyes land on a woman, clearly pregnant. She looks happy and relaxed as she rests one hand on her bump.

“Let’s move,” I say suddenly. Zev looks at me with raised brows. “Can we move?”