Chapter 6
SHOCKED, YET COMPELLED to watch, Carolyn didn’t move. Her gaze swept the carnal ritual. Surprised at her response she opened the top of her robe so the night air could cool her heated skin. Immediately her nipples grew taught. Her body hummed with desire. Aroused and wet, she was tempted to join in, but she never had been into group sex.
Then the man standing behind the woman lifted his head and made eye contact with her.
A jolt of fear mixed with excitement slammed into her. She felt her face flush and tore her eyes away. She glanced around the fire. The other couples, completely entranced in their ritual lovemaking, moaned and cried out in sheer ecstasy.
One man from the threesome fondled and stroked the woman as he continued to watch Carolyn. A fluttering in her stomach inched lower. Afraid of what she knew was coming next and surprised that she was becoming aroused, she stepped back into the shadow of the megalith feeling self-conscious for watching the intimate scene. Would he come for her? And what would she do if he did?
A slight breeze sent a chill across her exposed breasts. Her cleft ached and throbbed. Still in the shadows, she touched herself, feeling wetness between her legs. No, if anyone saw her she’d only encourage them to approach her.
With the corded belt, she cinched the front closed, but her nipples remained taut and sensitive.
Carolyn’s pulse quickened, igniting her intimate nerve endings until they began to throb and ache for attention. She should stop watching. She should leave, but where would she go?
The drumming continued slowly, softly by one man sitting on the ground while a naked woman caressed him, kissed his mouth, his neck, his chest and moved lower to his groin. His mouth opened in pleasure as she took his cock in her mouth, but he managed to keep drumming.
Fina and Allin’s carnal display had gone beyond caressing and kissing. He roughly massaged her breasts and Fina held his shaft in her hand. She groaned, spreading her legs and bending her knees to grind her mound against his thigh. He grabbed her bottom and was about to lift her and penetrate her, then he stopped, closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead with his hand as if he had a headache.
Fina touched his shoulder. “Allin, are you all right?”
He shook his head, then looked in Carolyn’s direction. After several moments, he smiled, then whispered something in Fina’s ear. She smiled, kissed him and nodded, glancing at Carolyn with a wicked smile.
They walked toward her. Carolyn struggled with the need to run from something so strange and a desire to surrender to the sensual pleasures aching to be released. Allin followed behind Fina.
“Bree, ye look ready to join in the celebration,” Fina said in a sultry tone as she took Carolyn’s hand and placed it in Allin’s, then kissed her cheek. “Celebrate with us. In honor of the goddess.”
“No, I don’t want to…intrude,” Carolyn said nervously. In the back of her mind, she thought why not? If this was a lucid dream, why shouldn’t she go along for the ride?”
“No intrusion, lass,” Allin said as he stroked her hair, then kissed her cheek. Deep brown eyes studied her with lustful heat. “I know this be yer first time, I be kind to you. ’Tis the most precious sacrifice to the goddess. It will secure the safety of our coven.”
His hand massaged her shoulder, her arm, her back. He urged her body against his. His cock, hard and thick, pressed against her sex beneath the coarse robe. A twinge throbbed between her legs, and she had to stop herself from rocking her hips into him to ease the need building there. She wasn’t sure if she should give in to the craziness of the moment. Was she in a dream-like trance or was she caught up in the heightened sexual energy? She let out a breath and relaxed as Fina untied the belt and slipped the robe off her shoulders. The robe fell to the ground.
Fina moved behind Allin, but stayed and caressed him while his attentions turned to Carolyn. His hungry gaze ignited the heat inside her.
“Yes,” he whispered huskily. He curled his hand around her neck and pulled her into a kiss.
He tasted hot and sweet like cider. Startled, but caught up in the rhythmic drumbeat, the scent of sea and sex, the sensual temptations surrounding her, she willingly lost herself in the kiss. Hands squeezed her breasts, pinching her sensitive nipples and drifted lower to her pussy. Carolyn groaned and pressed herself against Allin. She felt his fingers probe her slit and slip a finger inside.
She opened her legs to allow him access. With the movement of the heel of his hand on her swollen nub, her body shuddered, hovering on the delicious edge of release. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “Yes, yes.” He took her mouth again, their tongues dancing in circles. Then thoughts of Rory drifted in and a hollowness filled her. She pulled back.
“Oh, Allin is she wet and ready for ye?”
Carolyn shoved against Allin’s chest and stepped back. “Sorry, I…I can’t.”
She couldn’t do this, she had to get away. Grabbing the robe, she ran into the darkness.
“Bree, you’ll get lost. Please come back,” Fina shouted after her.
“Bree, stop girl. No man may force ye!” Allin cursed.
She ran along the raised coastline, stumbling over loose stones, slipping on damp grass. She ignored their shouts. Soon the light of the bonfire was out of sight and she didn’t see or hear anyone following her so she slowed her pace.
The moonlight shone a silvery path over the ocean. A million crystal stars sparkled in the black sky. What sky, where, when? Tears stung her eyes. Rory. Was she trapped here?
She wrapped the robe around her, crossed her arms tightly around her waist and slowed to a walk. Now what? Where was she supposed to go? She dropped onto a mossy patch several yards from the edge of the cliff and stared out across a white-capped ocean.
Along the silvery moon path in the ocean, tiny orange dots bobbed in the water and floated closer to shore. She blinked and tried to focus on them. The dots became boats, about four in number filled with people holding torches, chains, ropes and clubs. They rowed up onto the sandy shore and several men jumped out. She doubted they were here to attend the ritual.
Then shrill screams rang out from the direction of the stone circle, chilling Carolyn’s blood. Jumping to her feet, she ran again. First toward the bonfire, then in the opposite direction, then toward the hills with large jagged boulders. She needed a place to hide, but where?
She raced uphill, not slowing even though her chest hurt and throat burned. A disturbance several yards below made her freeze for a second. Swinging her head around nearly sent her sprawling down the steep hill. A man in a black robe ran toward her. She flung her hand to her mouth to stifle a scream.
Allin? Or one of the men from the boat?
Carolyn wasn’t sure, so she ran into the darkness toward the hills of jagged rocks. “Stop!” the man shouted. “Carolyn, stop. It’s me, Rory.”
Carolyn looked over her shoulder, then froze. “Rory?” The man in the black robe reached her and flipped his hood back.
Allin? In the moonlight he looked like Allin, but something about him…his voice, his eyes were Rory. And he had called her Carolyn.
“Rory?” she asked, her voice still unsure.
He ran up and pulled her into his arms. “Yes, I know. It be me, lass. Thank God and the Sidhe King, I found you. Hurry, we must hide.”