The Billionaire Ritual (4 page)

Lynn woke to find them on a path deep into a forest, dots of late noon light filtering through the canopy overhead. The bus slowed to turn onto a dirt path, and many of the other people on the bus were looking out toward the trees. Every now and again, they would pass a cabin. Lynn wondered if those were the cabin’s they’d be using, and how they were assigned. She looked over at Cameron. Would he assume they were shacking up together? It would be wildly inappropriate, but not an altogether unfair assertion considering what had happened recently.

When they arrived at the camp grounds proper the bus stopped, allowing everyone to get off the bus and gather their bearings. There were nearly thirty of them in all, and after bidding goodbye to the bus driver (and Lynn got the impression that he and Cameron knew each other well - was the driver like Cameron?), the bus driver left them.

“Everyone, gather your things. Someone will be here shortly to guide you to your quarters for the next few days. I have to go handle some arrangements, but I’ll be meeting you all, later,” Cameron said. He, of course, had no intentions of meeting them later. Time was of the essence as that night would be the last full moon that he would remain both unmarried and unchallenged. Before the sun rose the next morning, he would be one or the other.

Lynn was thankful that she would have some time apart from Cameron at the grounds. It made her feel more relaxed about her decision to come on the trip. Nevertheless, she missed him even as she saw him go and, secretly, hoped he would call her aside soon.

Cameron had every intention of doing so, but had a few errands to run first. There were a few wolves that were on the retreat His father had finally relented that the retreat not be cancelled, though he had no idea why his son was so attached to the idea. When he approached, a wide grin on his face, he knew that whatever it was his son was sure he had won. That was perfect: he would finally find up what was going on.

“Hello father. Time is short, so let’s not argue,” Cameron began, staring his father straight in the eye. The old man’s only reaction was to raise a solitary eyebrow.

“I’m in love with a woman. She’s agreed to go through the ceremony with me. Yes she’s human, but so what? This insipid isolationist policy of ours is only going to cause us to die out as more and more wolf shifters choose human society over ours. Survival can happen only through integration. That is a statement I intend to make with this marriage.”

He eyed Cameron closely, narrowing his eyes. Resisting him directly would do no good. Cameron’s father was nothing if not wise. And Cameron was right: time was short and it was no time for them to have a dispute. But if Cameron wanted it his way, he would have to pay the price associated.

“Do what you like Cameron, so long as the problem is solved and our family’s position is protected. You do understand that now you must break off your courtship with Sheila - however short it was. And you do understand that if she becomes bitter then down the line our position will be even worse than if you remained a bachelor and fought Richard, yes? Well then, one day you will have to handle decisions that affect the entire family. Let this be your first learning experience. I hope, my son, that it is not a hard one.”

Now it was Cameron’s turn to eye his father closely. When he saw that the old man meant what he said they embraced in a hug for the first time in years.
Wordlessly, they parted ways. Cameron’s father understood: there was nothing left to say and Cameron had much to do.

Racing to the other side of the retreat area, to the cabins where the wolves would be, Cameron didn’t bother to ask for directions to Sheila’s room. Merely, he used his nose to guide him, having memorized Sheila’s scent upon their first meeting.

She had a relatively small single cabin near the furthest portion of the grounds. This was to ensure that if she and her groom wanted to discuss things privately, they could. The real reason was so that the two lovers could meet in congress early if they wanted.

When Sheila opened the door to her cabin, a wide smile formed on her face, and expectation of what Cameron had come for. It made what Cameron had to do all the more heart shattering.

“Sheila, we need to talk,” he said, his eyes full of sorrow. Sheila knew at once something was wrong.

“Come in. Let there be nothing between us,” she said.

“You might want to sit,” he said. He was not looking forward to the next few minutes.

“That face can only mean one thing: the wedding is off,” she said. Seeing Cameron become visibly relieved confirmed it, and her eyes began to tear up.

“I’m so sorry,” he said.

“There is another? I can live with it if it is just that your heart chose, already,” she said, dabbing an eye with her shirt.

“Yes. But for that, I would gladly give myself to you. But I already belong to someone else,” he said, genuinely sorry for the pain this was causing her.

He sat with her, comforting her as best he could. After a while he decided to leave her. It was terrible, but already the sun was setting. He needed to start courting Lynn if he had any chance. His chances were already small, so every second counted.

“Wait,” she said, as he neared the door.”There is something you must do for me,” she said.

Cameron dreaded what she might say, mostly because he knew he probably couldn’t refuse no matter what it was.

“I will accept the ending of our engagement, but only as long as you allow me to be one of your witnesses.”

Cameron’s heart sank. Deep inside him, the human part of his soul wanted to argue that they were hardly betrothed, and he himself had given her no such idea. But the wolf understood that it was useless. For one, Sheila herself was clearly not as familiar with her human side as he was. And secondly, Cameron’s father had promised him to her as a mate. The promise of the head of family was as binding, if not more so, as the promise of any individual within that family. Cameron was stuck.

As he left her cabin to meet Lynn, he forced himself not to sulk. If anything he should be grateful. Cameron’s father would be his first witness but he had no second. There had to be two witnesses for the consummation of marriage was accepted. Now he had the second.

Lynn was unpacking her things when the messenger arrived. When she answered the knock to her one-bedroom cabin she found a young man in a white t-shirt and jeans.

“Ma’am, Mr. Caine wanted to see you when you’re done getting settled. I’m to take you to him as soon as possible.” With that, the young man bowed and turned to sit on the steps.

Lynn couldn’t help smiling when she was alone, again. She’d hoped this would happen, though she found it a little presumptuous of Cameron to request her presence. On the other hand, it
was
pretty romantic.

Lynn finished unpacking her things, and selected a green dress from among her things. The cabin was rustic but well furnished and had running, heated water, though she doubted that there was any air conditioning aside from the small fireplace (which thankfully had a small stack of wood next to it).

After taking a shower and changing into sexy underwear (she figured, better safe than sorry), she put on her green dress and did her hair in the bathroom mirror. When she finished, she alerted her messenger and guide.

“I’m ready,” she said. The messenger smiled appreciatively but, remembering himself, straightened his back and nodded for her to follow. Lynn thought it was cute and blushed, flattered. She hoped Cameron felt the same way.

They walked for a while along a mulched path and Lynn was grateful that she’d had the foresight to wear normal shoes over high heels in case their rendezvous was outside. She’d been right, and the messenger guided her to a small hill a quarter of a mile from her cabin.

There sat Cameron, who lit up when he saw her. Lynn herself smiled brilliantly.

“Thank you, Chris,” Cameron said, dismissing the messenger. The messenger nodded, unable to help himself from glancing at Lynn once more, and left. Cameron suppressed a chuckle.
I know how you feel, young man.

“So, what’s all this?”
she said, motioning at the scene lay out before her.

The top of the hill seemed flat, and a blanket was laid out. Cameron sat comfortably on it, visibly pleased with himself
as he poured two glasses of wine. Lynn sat down next to him, taking her glass in hand and sipping daintily. Cameron enjoyed her every movement, stroking her arm as they sat silently enjoying the setting sun and their wine. In the distance they could hear the rambunctious noise of their colleagues drinking and eating near the camp center.

“
Lynn, I know everything is moving extremely fast. I never meant for it to. But I want you to know that
I
know how you feel about me. And I need you to know that I feel the same way, too.

Lynn looked at Cameron carefully, absorbing what he said. There was no use denying it. She felt so strongly about him that she wasn’t sure she
could
deny it, even if she wanted to. She couldn’t help but feel a warm blush spread through her face when she heard him utter his own feelings aloud.

“
How long have you known?” she asked.

“Since the first time we locked eyes,” he said, doing the action even as he spoke.

They were locked in an embrace before she knew what was happening, kissing passionately under the emerging stars. She had meant to keep her distance, but simply couldn’t. There was something strong between them, a bond that seemed to exist for reasons neither could explain. They were compelled to be as close to one another as they could and, though Lynn had tried to resist, it was useless. She managed to casually check her peripheral vision without breaking from him, checking to make sure no one was around.

Had she looked into a patch of trees in the distance, and thought to look into them, she might have not
iced two figures. Cameron himself hadn’t realized it yet. He was so desirous of her that he had nearly forgotten about the ritual, entirely. If he really had to, he would just put Richard down. Sad as that made him.

Lynn wrapped her arms around Cameron’s neck, pulling him down as she lay back on the blanket. She felt wonderful in his arms, and grinned at the mere thought of having an entire lifetime with this amazing person. They kissed as their hands explored each other innocently and playfully. Cameron ran his large hands over her waist and arms, caressing her neck and kissing it lovingly. Lynn ran hers along the length of his shoulders, enjoying their broadness, their thickness. She curled her arms under his, feeling an urgent need to have him close.

A lover’s heat and urgency took hold of them, and they explored each other more and more eagerly. Cameron’s hands ventured further and further up her inner thigh, into her dress. Her hands rubbed his waist, venturing toward center. It’s was daring, thrilling, as if they were two high school lovers pushing a boundary. Each wanted to savor and enjoy every second, yet neither could wait for the next as their passion took more and more momentum. Cameron’s hand was up her dress now, feeling out the pattern on Lynn’s lace underwear. Lynn’s hand rubbed atop Cameron’s groin over his pants, preparing him to meet her need.

Clothes came off.
They made love softly in the warm breeze under the emerging twinkling stars. In the distance, Cameron became aware of being watched. A jolt ran through him as he realized what was probably happening. Both his former betrothed and his father were witnessing this bond. He stopped a moment, pulling back from Lynn. Should he tell her? He stopped, looking into the distance for the eyes he felt upon him. He thought he saw something at the tree line….

When he looked down at Lynn beneath him, she looked up with a quizzical expression, smiling. Perhaps she thought it was merely his
hunter’s sense, and he had smelled or heard an animal in the distance. She would have been half right. He opened his mouth to tell her that he thought they might be being watched, but she placed a finger over his lips before he could utter a word.

“No more talking. Make love to me,” she said. He realized then that nothing else mattered in the moment except her and him, and forgot about the two witnesses amongst the trees.

As he pushed into her, he felt himself snug against her, the contrast between the cool air on his cock and her warm wetness as he pushed in and pulled out making the experience more intense.

She could feel his breath on her cheek and on her neck, the panting of his rough passion as his hands slid up her arms, holding her down. Lynn was sure people in the surrounding cabins could hear
them; sure someone had come to see who exactly was getting it on at the top of the hill. She didn’t care. This sex was brilliant, consequences be damned. They tumbled on top of one another, switching sexual positions as they went. Cameron had perfect control, stopping them from ever getting to close to the steep end of the hill.

When Cameron finally spent himself inside her, his inner wolf bubbling to the surface in sprouting hair over his body, they collapsed into each other’s arms
satisfied. They slept for hours on the hill, before the sun rose up and they decided to head back to their cabins before anyone noticed they had left.

When Lynn had been gone some minutes, Cameron saw two hooded figures emerge from the
tree line at the hill bottom.
I knew it,
he thought.
My father and Sheila, making sure I don’t have to kill one of my oldest friends… Or else making sure I don’t get myself killed.