The Mating Ritual
Chapter 5

The sound of her name seemed to be coming from far away. She resisted the pull and tried to snuggle deeper into the pleasant warmth beneath her. A sigh escaped her when she felt a gentle, intimate caress on her bare bottom.

Toni, wake. We go now.

Go where? She was having the most delicious dream, an erotic dream that she didn’t want to interrupt. But the sound of her name on Cormac’s lips for the first time had a strange and powerful effect on her. Her hand smoothed up his ribcage and defined pecs before coming to a rest on his taut nipple. With the fog of sleep clouding her judgment, she tweaked the nub maybe a little too roughly because the next thing she knew Cormac grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her up his body.

She gasped; wide awake now, her eyes growing round. How had she ended up sleeping on top of him? I’m sorry, Toni said, thinking that she’d hurt him.

No time for mating now, he rasped with a fire in his eyes. He gave her a hard k**s, and then rolled to his feet, bringing one of the furs with him.

Toni watched as he covered his lower body. He helped her to her feet, his gaze making a lingering sweep down her body.

I like mating with you. He touched her hair. You have a nice body. Frowning, his hand went to her breast. I don’t like this. Before she could guess his intentions he took the thin fabric between her breasts and easily tore it apart.

Toni’s breasts bounced free as he tugged the bra away. She watched it float to the floor before having the presence of mind to cover her nudity. Bringing her hair forward, she glanced around nervously to see if they were being watched. Thankfully, everyone seemed busy as they prepared to leave.

Cormac seemed to sense her uneasiness and reached up to run the back of his hand over her cheek. Go with Lila. He turned to join the men where they were gathering.

Toni glanced to where the women were. Lila smiled and encouraged her over. Noticing some of the women were gathering up the unclaimed hides and tying them into bundles, she reached for the hide she’d shared with Cormac, rolling it as she walked to join Lila. Toni knew she wouldn’t be allowed to use it to cover her nudity, but she wanted to keep it in case she got the opportunity to make a run for it.

Lila reached for it.

Toni pulled it against her. I’ll carry it. I want to help.

Lila shrugged her shoulders and turned. We go now.

Didi was on her knees, burying something in a hole. Toni watched her out of curiosity for a moment, returning Didi’s smile when she paused long enough to glance up at them. What was she burying? The answer came when one of the other women brought Didi some primitive looking utensils. Didi took them silently and added them to the hole. It then dawned on Toni what she was doing. She was burying the things they wouldn’t be taking with them. She supposed so that way if someone stumbled upon the cave, there wouldn’t be any signs that someone else had been there.

Toni, come, Lila said with a touch of impatience in her tone.

Before the main fire was doused, several men lit torches to lead the way. Cormac was at the head of the group, so Toni stayed close to Lila. They moved through a maze of damp tunnels and room-like caverns until eventually they reached the entrance to the cave. Toni took a deep breath of fresh air when she stepped outside, not realizing until that moment just how damp and musty the cave had been.

It was dark, but the sky was clear, making the moon and stars appear brighter and closer to the ground than usual. The torches were extinguished and tossed into the darkness. Before they left the area, several men disguised the cave opening with large tree limbs and leafy branches.

Why do you travel after dark? Toni asked. She could barely see anything.

It’s safer for us. Lila took her hand. We are too close to civilization here. After tonight it will be safer and we will be able to move by day.

Too close to civilization? Toni knew that the nearest town was an hour away and decided that Lila must be referring to the people who lived scattered throughout the mountain region. How far are we going?

We go to Horseshoe Mountain.

That didn’t really tell Toni anything. She’d never heard of Horseshoe Mountain, so she assumed it was a landmark that only they knew about. As they walked along an invisible path she realized why Lila had taken her by the hand. It would be easy to step off the path and become separated from the others. She was surprised by how silently they moved through the forest, even the children seemed to know to stay quiet.

Toni knew that if she were going to run she would have to do it before day light. The further they moved away from the cave, the more lost she became, but the cover of darkness would be to her advantage. As Lila pulled her along, she ran through several scenarios in her mind of how she would pull off her escape. The first priority was to get to the very end of the line. Instinct told her that the further away she was from Cormac and the other men, the better her chances of escape were.

Will he come after me? Toni had a feeling that he would and that it wouldn’t have anything to do with his wanting her. Their staying under the radar so successfully had to be the result of making sure that they went undetected and stayed out of sight. Toni doubted that they would allow an outsider to escape. Deep down she knew that if she didn’t make a run for it, and make it count, she wouldn’t get another chance.

She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, wishing that she had on shoes. Lila kept up a good pace for being elderly; she was apparently in good shape. Toni realized that she was going to have to do something to slow her down. She thought that if she pretended to step on something it might work in her favor. Taking a deep breath for courage, Toni knew that it was now or never. She let out a gasp and pulled back on Lila’s hand, causing the other woman to stop. The others continued around them without breaking stride.

I stepped on something, Toni explained to the silent Lila, hopping around on one foot while pretending to examine the other. She sucked in her breath as if she was in pain. Once she was sure most of the women and children had passed them by she put her foot down, and took a couple of tentative steps. Making sure to wait until the last person had walked past, she mumbled, It must have been a rock or something.

Let me feel, Lila said in a low, concerned tone.

Toni had no choice but to lift her foot. Lila’s hands were gentle as they moved over her arch and heel.

I think I just bruised it. Toni felt bad for lying to Lila.

Your feet are soft, Lila said, letting Toni lower her foot to the ground again. They will toughen up soon enough.

Toni remained quiet. Not if I can help it.

They fell back into line, and Toni was thankful the others had moved on ahead. She could barely make out their dark shapes as they tread further into the darkness. It occurred to her that if they were to stop she wouldn’t be able to differentiate them from the surrounding trees. That, too, would be in her favor.

Toni guessed that they’d been on the move for about an hour when she decided the time had come to make her move. She felt her stomach clench with anxiety, which it usually did when she was about to do something she was uncertain of. Not knowing how Cormac might react caused her to rethink what she was about to do, but only for a moment. The sooner she made her escape, the better.

Gradually she slowed her pace. If Lila noticed, she said nothing, adjusting her speed to match Toni. When Toni felt she’d distanced herself enough from the others to get a good head start, she pulled her hand from Lila’s, turned, and broke into a sprint down the unseen path they’d just taken. Lila shouted out an alarm almost immediately, causing Toni to veer off into the bushes. The darkness would swallow her up, but she was exasperatingly aware that the noise she was making would lead Cormac directly to her.

Was it just last night that she’d been running through the woods to escape killers? It seemed like eons ago. Now she was running from a clan of Oh-Mah, who shouldn’t even exist, and from a man who made her feel things as a woman she’d never felt before. Toni knew she had to get Cormac out of her mind, but it wouldn’t be easy.

She ran like hell, thrashing through trees, stumbling over rocks and roots, and anything else in her way. She kept her arms out in front of her in an effort to clear a path, and protect her face. At one point she tore through a thicket, and fell to her knees right into a cold stream. A sharp gasp escaped her, and she took a moment to catch her breath, trying to focus her gaze on her dark surroundings.

It surprised Toni that she didn’t hear anyone behind her, but then something further upstream drew her attention. Is that a splash? She narrowed her gaze, until she was able to make out a large shape poised midstream. What is that? God, don’t let it be a bear! But then it moved, and Toni watched the shape unfold, and slowly straighten to its full height. Cormac!

She slowly got to her feet, keeping her gaze glued to him. Instinct told Toni that Cormac’s gaze was on her, too, watching and waiting. With a sinking feeling she knew that it was just a matter of time before he caught her, but she didn’t let it keep her from jumping across the brook and entering the thicket on the other side.

Toni had no sooner broken into a run than she felt something sharp pierce her heel. She just managed not to cry out at the irony of the fact that this time the injury to her foot was real. Hitting the ground hard, she grabbed her foot and examined it, gingerly poking the area and expecting to find something protruding from it, or at least a foot wet with b***d. She thanked God under her breath that it was neither. She must have just stepped on a rock. Karma, this is what I get for lying to Lila about it being bruised the first time.

Toni got to her feet, unrolled the fur, and wrapped it around her shoulders, before taking a tentative step. Damn! It hurt like hell. There was no way she’d be able to run any further, and hobbling away was out of the question. She could hear Cormac crashing through the forest with no regard for safety or concern of being heard, quickly closing the distance between them. With no other options, Toni sank against a tree in an effort to become less noticeable.

It would be too much to hope that he’d continue past without seeing her. She held her breath and listened, then closed her eyes with the crazy thought that it would keep her from being seen. When the noise of leaves and twigs snapping beneath the weight of Cormac turned to silence, she opened her eyes, and watched as he walked directly up to her without hesitation.

Her heart was pounding loud in her ears. I had to try, Toni said softly, looking up at him.

The next thing she knew Cormac reached down, grabbed her by the arm, and hauled her to her feet. He took her hands into one of his large hands while his other wrapped a rope around her wrist, binding them together, all done without speaking. Toni gasped at the tightness of the rope, but Cormac ignored her. Once he was finished, he swung around, pulling her roughly behind him. The hide around her shoulders slipped down her body.

As soon as her tender heel hit the ground, Toni cried out, lifting her foot. Cormac turned back to her, and with a grunt that sounded like irritation, lifted her off her feet, and arranged her over his shoulder. His anger was palpable. Toni’s instincts warned her not to test him while he was in this state. He snatched the fur from the ground before he began walking, and pulled it over her naked backside.

Toni was uncomfortable as hell, but she knew that things could have gone a lot worse for her. Cormac came from a different world, if what Lila said were true, and she’d already seen him kill two men without hesitation. She sensed he’d do whatever it took to ensure his safety, and the safety of his people. Would he hurt her? Toni didn’t want to find out.

After a while Cormac’s long legged strides turned into a jog as he made his way back the way they’d come. Soft grunts escaped Toni with every jarring step, but she remained stubbornly quiet. They caught up with his people surprisingly fast; making her wonder if he’d taken a different route back. Instead of setting her on her feet where the women and children walked at the back of the line, he continued with her to the front.

Cormac’s hands slid beneath the hide, up the backs of her legs, thighs, butt, and back as he lowered her to the ground. The gesture wasn’t meant to be s****l, yet a spark ignited deep inside Toni. She met the hard glitter of his eyes when he set her on the ground before him.

I had to try, she repeated her earlier comment, not expecting him to understand.

Do not try again. His tone was cold, devoid of emotion. You will get hurt. No one escapes Oh-Mah. It is vital for our survival.

Toni understood why Cormac wanted to protect his people. They hadn’t remained a mystery for centuries by letting the outside world get close to them. She thought about the women Lila had mentioned back in the cave, the ones kidnapped for breeding. Was that to become her fate? She could already be pregnant with Cormac’s child.

Do you understand? Cormac pulled her closer, as if to get her attention. Toni felt a rush of tears burn in her eyes, choked with emotion that prevented her from speaking. I do not want to hurt you, he said in an unexpectedly gentle tone, When mating with you feels so good.

His lips covered hers, surprising Toni and she responded to his k**s willingly as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn’t sure if they were because of her failed escape attempt, or her conflicting emotions. She didn’t want to like Cormac’s mouth on hers, his hands, his body, but the truth was that she liked it too much. In a relatively short time she found her emotions warring with her common sense, something that usually didn’t happen until she was months into a new relationship. We’re not even in a relationship!

Cormac’s gentle, exploratory k**s pulled Toni back to the present and the pleasant sensation flowing through her. When she opened her mouth to allow his tongue inside he deepened his k**s until it turned hungry and needy. She felt his hands move with purpose beneath the fur still cloaking her body, turning Toni warm and tingly wherever he touched her.

Why can’t I resist him?

A voice came from out of nowhere, and Cormac broke their k**s. Come. Taking up the rope dangling between her tied wrists he turned and began to lead the way, pulling Toni behind him.

Apparently he wasn’t taking any more chances, and she realized she would have to earn his trust before she could attempt to run away again. She was grateful that he had allowed her to keep the fur over her shoulders, and decided she could live with the ache of a sore heel if not bringing attention to herself afforded her that one small trade off. She limped behind Cormac as fast as she could, determined to keep up. After a while, he let the rope fall from his fingers.

They traveled for hours, quietly, and didn’t stop for anything. They carried the children when they got tired. Toni wondered who was going to carry her, because several hours into the hike her feet were sore and she knew had to be bleeding. Limping caused the muscles in her legs to ache. She had given up long ago trying to find a safe place to step. The bottoms of their feet must be like leather.

As they traveled further into the mountains, Toni wondered how she was ever going to find her way home. They passed nothing that revealed that they were anywhere near civilization. No noises, except for the typical sounds of wildlife, and occasionally the noise of running water. No lights twinkling in the distance, or fires that indicated a house nearby. No barking dogs or signs of any other domesticated animals.

It had become colder since they started out. She concentrated on putting one foot before the other, and not on the discomfort of being chilled and thirsty beyond belief. She knew Cormac was going to have to stop eventually, and she was determined that it wasn’t going to be because of her.

As the hours passed and they continued to travel upwards, Toni felt her heart pounding from the grueling pace. She gasped for breath because the higher altitude meant thinner air. Cormac reached back and took her by the hand, giving her a pull up the slope they were going. Thank God! When they crested the first mountain, she saw the rising sun beyond. Pausing because Cormac had, Toni took in the breathtaking view of the landscape ahead of them, and that’s when she saw what she believed was Horseshoe Mountain. It was obvious, two mountains side by side, with a horseshoe shaped valley between them. Is that where they live?

A shrill scream drew her attention toward the sky, where she saw a hawk soaring with a fish in its beak. She watched its graceful movements for a moment, envying the freedom it had. Soon another, probably its mate, joined it and they soared away toward the mountain peaks. She watched until they disappeared from view.

Once the others caught up to them, Cormac moved forward again. Horseshoe Mountain looked far away, and Toni had to wonder if they weren’t going to stop until they reached it. No one complained if they were tired or hungry, trudging along as if they already hadn’t been walking for hours. The Oh-Mah seemed to have an abundance of energy and perseverance, and their stamina was amazing.

Finally, daybreak arrived, and Toni was able to make out her surroundings. They’d been traveling single file, she supposed for safety reasons. She glanced down at the ground, not surprised to see that there wasn’t a trail. She assumed that Cormac had been leading them by instinct, and from the experience of traveling back and forth over the years. Toni also assumed that they must have good night vision. What else explained Cormac’s ability to walk directly up to her in the pitch dark when she’d been cowering against that tree?

They came to a stream, and Toni was relieved when Cormac finally stopped. He turned to her. Drink.

She didn’t hesitate, dropping to her knees and cupping her hands for a drink as the others were doing. The cold, running water was so clear that Toni could see to the bottom, and it tasted wonderful. Her long hair fell down the front of her and dangled into the water, but Toni didn’t care. There was no telling when they would stop again, and she was going to drink her fill.

Too much. Cormac wrapped his hand around her upper arm and pulled Toni back to her feet.

Their eyes met. She tried to ignore the flutter of awareness in her belly, pulling the fur closer around her. He was apparently amused at her effort to try to cover her nudity. Her mouth turned up in response to his smile, it seemed the most natural thing to do. He reached out and ran his thumb over her bottom l*p.

The older man she’d seen talking to Cormac back in the cave interrupted the moment by saying something. Cormac glanced down at Toni’s feet and frowned. The next thing Toni knew she was in his arms, and he was carrying her somewhere away from the others. Toni took the opportunity to look Cormac over, now that she was seeing him in the light of day for the first time. His chiseled features showed signs that he’d been in a few fights. From what she could see of his tanned, upper body it was also marred with scars that did nothing to diminish the sexiness of his defined muscles. Toni could understand why he was the Oh-Mah leader. Overall, he was a strong alpha male, exuding danger and confidence.

Her gaze went to his sexy mouth, recalling the wonderful things he had done to her, and how good he kissed. She was beginning to feel aroused again, embarrassed when she looked up to see him staring down at her. It was becoming obvious that she couldn’t get enough of him, and Toni could only hope that he didn’t recognize her weakness.

Where are you taking me?

Cormac just grunted and continued walking until they reached a secluded spot further up in the stream. Maneuvering around boulder-sized rocks, he walked directly into the water and set Toni down. As soon as her bruised and bleeding feet hit the cold water she gasped, but once the initial sting wore off the cold actually felt soothing and helped numb the pain.

Thank you. Her hands rested upon his chest.

Why didn’t you say something?

Would it have mattered? I’ve told you I want to go home, but look where I am.

She was aware that she was beginning to sound like a parrot, but Toni couldn’t help it. She had a life somewhere else…didn’t she? Toni thought about it for a second. Mary was her only family, and other than a few acquaintances, all she really had was a nine to five job that she had only worked for two weeks before being sequestered for jury duty. Why was she in such a hurry to go back to that? It was a sobering thought to realize that her life basically sucked.

Cormac just glared at her. Toni wasn’t afraid of him, not really. So far he hadn’t hurt her. She supposed it could be worse—Malik could have found her first. She would have hated to find herself with him. She’d seen his rough, abusive treatment of the woman he grabbed every time he felt the need for s*x.

Toni thought about the stories she’d heard from the locals. Wouldn’t they be surprised to find out that their myths about wild people living in the mountains were true, and even more surprised to learn that these people were descendants of the legendary Bigfoot. She wasn’t sure that she believed Lila’s story one hundred percent, but the way that Cormac felt about keeping their existence a secret meant that there had to be a good reason why.

Without warning, he lifted her bound hands and ducked into the circle created by her arms. When he straightened, Toni’s feet left the water and she was suddenly up against his hard, unyielding form.

I’m not scared of you, she said softly, trembling from the feel of his naked torso against hers. She knew what the tingling in her nipples meant, and soon the delicious feeling would be traveling down to her p***y

He grunted, pulling the fur off her back and tossing it on top of a large rock. I don’t want to scare you. His arms encircled her body and he placed his hands over the naked cheeks of her butt, squeezing them. Toni closed her eyes and m****d with pleasure. You like Cormac’s hands on you.

The husky sound of his low voice made Toni hot. She arched her lower body against him. Yes, she admitted softly. Too much!

Cormac began to move Toni up and down his body. She caught her breath, and parted her thighs so that her s*x got the stimulation she needed.

You are different from our women. She felt his fingers tug on the fragile thong.

Yes, his women were taller, six feet or more, and bigger than the average women Toni knew. Still she asked, How?

Down here. Cormac’s hand covered her p***y from behind. Toni’s eyes opened to see the growing desire in his. Sweeter. Tighter. You milk my c**k until I’m empty.

She smiled. Since we’re making comparisons, you’re different from the men I know, too. Your c**k is much longer and bigger. Toni’s knee wiggled beneath his hide, rubbing gently over his huge shaft. His great body shuddered. You stay hard after you come, and you have a much stronger s*x drive.

Does that please you?

Hell, yes! The feel of his c**k pushing strongly against her knee spiked the hunger in her b***d. You please me, Toni said, with meaning.

You please me, too. He glanced down. Feet better?

Toni nodded. She’d forgotten all about her aching feet. And why wouldn’t she? She was preoccupied with running her knee up and down his smooth organ and wishing that it were her hand. She cried out with surprise when he slipped a finger inside her cunt.

When will we meet up with the rest of your people? Toni asked softly. Trying to hold a conversation while they were feeling each other up seemed ludicrous.

Cormac growled. No more talk. Apparently, he thought so too.

Toni didn’t resist when he slanted his mouth down on hers and kissed her. She strained hungrily into his protective body, moving her h**s in sync with his thrusting finger. Lord, she wanted him! Soon their tongues were battling, and the air around them filled with their sounds of mutual desire. Toni turned wild when Cormac’s finger began manipulating and teasing her clit. She squirmed against him, but really had nowhere to go. She was under his control.

Toni pulled away from their k**s. Untie me, she said, panting for breath. I want to touch you, too! She nibbled hungrily onto his bottom sensual l*p.

Cormac pulled her arms over his head and lowered Toni back into the water. Lifting her hands, he used his teeth to untie the knot, and then unwrapped the rope until she was free. He put one hand under the swell of her butt and a powerful arm wrapped around her waist. Toni was dangling over the water again, hungrily twisting against him, and reaching for his c**k.

God I want him! She ran her hand up and down his magnificent steel rod, squeezing tightly when his mouth left a trail of fire along her neck and shoulder, branding her.

She had no choice but to let go of his meaty muscle when he lifted her so he could take her breast into his mouth. Cormac! Toni arched against him wildly. He loved both breasts equally, sucking and tugging on her erect nipples until a mini o****m exploded from her. A cry escaped Toni, and she jerked uncontrollably until the tremors dwindled down to an occasional ripple.

Toni buried her hands into Cormac’s long hair, aware on some level that they were moving. She didn’t care where he was taking her, as long as it ended with his c**k buried deep inside her p***y. He

gently lowered her to her feet, ripping the hide from around his h**s and spreading it over the large rock where he’d tossed hers earlier. Before Toni could guess his intentions, Cormac turned her around and forced her down.

He’s going to take me from behind! The thought caused a river of excitement to flow through her b***d. All of a sudden his hands were on her, running up and down her sides and then around to her front, touching her p***y, belly, and squeezing her breasts. Toni responded by thrusting her butt out, allowing him easier access to whatever he wanted.

She felt him lean against her and she cried out with pleasure. While caressing her body he kissed her neck and shoulders, running his tongue over her skin. Toni wiggled her h**s and rubbed her butt against his c**k, feeling the hot steel seeking the forbidden pleasure of her anus. Part of her was frightened—if he chose to f**k her there he would tear her apart, but the naughty side of her grew crazy with lustful anticipation.

Cormac! Toni gasped, at the edge of control. I need you!

He mumbled something low, in his own language, against her shoulder. His seductive tone gave her a shiver.

I don’t understand you.

Then I show you, little one. His tone was deep and raspy, revealing his high level of arousal.

The way he said ‘little one’ made Toni feel special. She didn’t have to wonder what he meant for long. He forced the top half of her body down onto the stone, then slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her bottom out and away from it. His roaming hands caressed her up-thrust bottom before moving between her legs and going straight for her labia. She was sensitive there and slick with excitement. With a strangled sound of impatience, she arched her h**s out further in the direction of his probing c**k. Take me!

As if she’d said the words out loud she felt the bulbous head of his d**k at the opening of her s*x. He ran it over her swollen clit several times before penetrating Toni all the way. She released a cry of ecstasy, pushing backwards and forcing him deeper inside her. She didn’t care that he was already at the core of her. With a savage g***n Cormac began to f**k her, as if sensing that her need was as powerful as his own was.

As he took her from behind Toni reached for her clit. She wasn’t far away from another o****m, and something warned her that Cormac wouldn’t hold out for very long either. They were f*****g like wild animals. At one point, Cormac grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back, which arched her back further and made his thrusts more deeply penetrating. When she felt his teeth clamp down on her shoulder it quickly pushed Toni over the edge, and she came hard and fast. Cormac continued to f**k her with the power and speed of a jackhammer. He thrust one final time, stiffened, and held himself inside her releasing a copious amount of cum.

Toni crumpled against the rock, thankful Cormac had covered it with the soft pelt. She knew that it would be a while before he pulled out. As he rested his weight against her, she felt his lips brush against the spot he’d bitten. Toni turned her face and caught his lips with hers. After a moment, Cormac pulled away and she turned around.

Her gaze fell to his c**k, which had given her such mind-blowing pleasure. Limp, the impressive length hadn’t diminished much, but looked thoroughly used and was glistening and dripping in the sunlight. Toni was totally satiated, but she knew that she wouldn’t remain that way for long, especially if she kept staring at the object of her desire. She raised her gaze to his.

What have you done to me? she couldn’t help asking. Something in her was different because she’d never felt this s****l before. It seemed that she craved it all the time now, even when she should be thoroughly worn out. I’ve never felt this with any other man. It’s like I’ve taken a stimulus and it’s staying in my b***d, keeping me hungry.

It’s my seed, Cormac said, totally surprising Toni. There’s something in it that does this. Not to Oh-Mah women, they are born with the same needs as us, only they have learned to control the constant need to mate. Our seed only has this strange effect on your kind. After a while, you will learn to control it, too.

Toni found what Cormac was saying interesting. A couple of days ago the only thing she knew about Bigfoot, Oh-Mah, was what she’d seen on TV in documentaries, and reports of sightings on the news. It was always left up to the individual whether they wanted to believe that he existed or not. She’d always believed that anything was possible until proven otherwise. Just because you didn’t see a UFO didn’t mean that there weren’t other worlds that existed. Now that she had first-hand knowledge of Bigfoot’s existence, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to believe it.

So your semen makes me want to have s*x all the time?

There was amusement on Cormac’s rugged face. Only with me, little one. The first Oh-Mah to put his seed in you is the one you will crave.

Oh. Toni felt herself blush. He’d put plenty of semen inside her. Well, at least now she knew why she was turning into a s*x maniac.

Without warning, Cormac pulled her against him. You like me. His hands caressed her breasts. You like Cormac touching you.

Yes. I do like him, a lot. He makes me feel safe and protected. And he was a fantastic, rock her world lover. Only Toni knew there was more to life than great s*x, and great s*x didn’t always lead to love.

I want you. He growled softly, bending to k**s a nipple. Tomorrow night we mate, and everyone will know you belong only to me.

Toni wanted to say that she already belonged to him. They’d f****d several times, but she knew about the mating ritual and the reason behind it. That would protect her from the lusty advances of the other men, and she’d be able to move about freely. But did it also mean that the mating ritual would seal her fate with Cormac? What else did the Oh-Mah believe? Were they monogamous?

Movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to turn her head. She gasped upon seeing Malik watching them, but he was gone so fast that she questioned what she really saw. Had she imagined him being there? He frightened her.

Cormac moved, disrupting her thoughts, and drawing her attention back to him. Malik wants you, too.

So, he’d seen him, too. He scares me, she admitted with a little shiver.

I will not let him hurt you. He pulled Toni away from the rock and reached for the pelt.

Their eyes clung as he covered himself. Sensing that they were going to rejoin the others, she reached for her fur, hesitating before putting it on. Would Cormac take it away? Toni waited, chewing on her bottom l*p. He held his hand out and she reluctantly handed it to him. His gaze raked down her body. With her thong gone, Toni was completely naked now.

Cormac surprised her by bringing the fur around her h**s and tucking the loose ends together. Then, taking her by the hand, he pulled her with him back to the group. Toni didn’t intend on making eye contact with anyone, especially the men, feeling as if they all knew what she and Cormac had been doing, but before she could stop it, her gaze landed on Malik. She caught her breath at the expression of pure rage or hate on his face, she couldn’t tell which, as his gaze followed Cormac. Then he looked at her. Toni quickly averted his gaze, worried at what his look meant for Cormac.

A sharp command from Cormac, and everyone got to their feet and they were off again. Either he didn’t notice the look Malik was giving him, or he wasn’t worried. For all Toni knew their animosity might be a normal occurrence, and had nothing to do with her.

Falling in behind Cormac, Toni thought ahead to the next day, and what it was going to be like being f****d in public, with every eye on them. She didn’t know if she could go through with it. As if I have any choice. And what happens after that? She assumed a public mating ritual meant they would become the equivalent of husband and wife. Did they go on a honeymoon? She almost laughed out loud at the thought.

It appeared that in the span of two short days her whole life had been turned upside down.

And with it, her future.