Love is what drives us … visceral … animalistic love.
Naked bodies clashing into each other is the ultimate form of love. Two people melting into one, man and woman becoming husband and wife for everyone to see.
This is the ritual of the wife.
When a man chooses a woman, he takes her and makes her his in front of everyone. Tonight, the people celebrate, dance, and fuck until the night is over, and then we all go to our homes in peace, knowing people have been united.
But first, the ritual must be completed.
Our women must bear children, and for that to happen, every unity must be watched over and later blessed by one of the patriarchs or the president. That is why we’re all here, watching over the ritual and the ceremony as a whole.
But my eyes still dwindle away from the crowd and focus on her. Natalie … She’s on my mind so often I can’t remember the last time I didn’t think about her.
Sweet, innocent Natalie … so ripe for the taking.
Yet I can’t. Not yet.
“So many rituals at tonight’s ceremony,” Patrick muses.
“Mmmhmm …” I hum.
“Anyone caught your eye?” he asks, raising his brow at me.
Of course, she has, and he knows, but I refuse to play this game.
“Not tonight,” I say.
“Why not? There are plenty.”
“Not for me.” I clear my throat.
There’s a pause before he continues. “Well, I think I’ll pick the one in the back, with the green eyes and the bright red hair.” He licks his lips in a way that makes me want to hurl. “She looks appetizing.”
“Sure does,” I concur, hoping it’ll shut him up. I’m really not up for listening to his dirty fantasies tonight.
“You know you’re allowed, right?”
I frown at him. “You do realize who you’re talking to, right?”
“I know, but I’ve never actually seen you … you know, pick.” He holds up his hand. “It’s custom.”
“I know, Patrick, but there are plenty of us, and I’m sure none of you would mind if I passed,” I reply with a condescending tone.
“True …” He nods, smiling viciously as he buries himself deeper into his seat. “More for me.”
I roll my eyes. The patriarchal position is truly wasted on a lustful man like him.
I know I can choose, but I don’t want to choose … there’s only one girl who I have my eyes on, and I will do anything I can to make her and only her the one to get on her knees for me.
Waiting is not my virtue, but I must persist. She has to see every inch of our society before I can claim her as mine. But when I finally do, she can be rest assured that I will take her in every way possible, and I don’t care who sees.
Natalie
People watch and cheer and dance alongside the fucking couples as though it’s the most natural thing ever. And I can do nothing but stare and wonder if this is a dream I just can’t seem to wake up from.
I’ve never seen anything like this. For anyone to be so open and wild about sex, without any inhibition, is mind-boggling to me. At a sex club? Yes. But at a community whose whole purpose is to serve God? I wouldn’t ever have imagined this is what they meant when they said “ceremony.” Though it certainly does look like a “ritual.”
But I don’t want any part in this. I spin on my heels, but right there are Emmy and Holly, with those same cheerful looks on their faces as always.
“Where are you going?” Emmy immediately asks.
“Uh …” I have no answer, except for “getting the fuck out of here,” which probably won’t do me any good right now, so I opt for nothing.
“You can’t leave a ceremony. We have to witness the rituals,” Holly adds, smiling happily as if this is normal to them. But then I realize … it probably is.
This is all they’ve ever known, all they’ve ever seen.
But I haven’t. This isn’t normal, and I don’t want it to be.
“This is not for me,” I say.
But when I try to push past them, they won’t let me.
“No, no, Natalie, you have to stay,” Emmy says. “That’s the rules.”
“Why? Why do you do this to yourselves? Why would anyone want this?” I ask.
“Because we get to be wives,” Holly answers.
“It’s a privilege, don’t you see?” Emmy adds.
“No, I don’t see.” I shake my head. “Women are getting fucked like animals.”
“That’s how we show our love to God. We share love with one another. Men, women, everyone. It’s how we become husband and wife. After being blessed, of course.”
“By letting a random man fuck you?”
She shrugs. “It’s not random. If a man chooses you, it means you are worthy.”
Holly rubs her lips together and squeals. “I hope I get picked tonight.”