Once Samaria managed to divert Lei’s attention away from her prospective mating, the small group of women turned to gossip as they chattered with one another. Someone with a pitcher came over to offer refills of their drinks, and they all accepted with great enthusiasm. The wine warmed Samaria from the inside out, making her senses blur. As she drank and watched the rest of the crowd, she fingered the feather necklace around her neck that marked her eligible as a wife.

She had pushed off getting it as long as possible. She had purposefully ruined her cooking more times than she could count, and whenever the elders had wanted to meet with her to discuss her lessons, she had “conveniently” been busy with warrior training. But she was only able to stall for so long. The Elders had more or less given up, and awarded her her necklace in pure exasperation. Admittedly, it was nice to have. Samaria felt like a full woman now. She had felt left out when all of her friends began receiving their beautiful feathers, parading them around like a flock of peacocks. Many of them were already wives now. Most women got chosen fairly soon after reaching eligibility. Fertility was prized in the tribe.

But not for Samaria. Even if she had the supid necklace now, the Elders couldn’t force her to accept any proposals that came her way.

… Right?

Samaria clapped along with the other women as they watched Kaipo dancing with some of the eligible women. Even a couple of his friends who had not earned their furs yet dared to join in, grabbing their own choice of young woman by the waist in an attempt to woo them. Even though laying with another was strictly confined within a mated bond, there were plenty of other amorous activities juveniles could get up to.

She didn’t notice Kaipo coming towards her until it was too late. He held his hand out to her, a dazzling grin showing off his white teeth. The women around her giggled, and Samaria shrunk an imperceptible inch.

“Samaria, come dance with us!” he said, his voice low and smooth.

Samaria clutched her drink tighter. “Ah- Kaipo, I’m just a little tired…”

“You sat down ages ago! Surely you’ve regained your strength by now?” His handsome features twinkled with cajoling mirth.

Samaria opened her mouth to offer another protest, but several pairs of hands were shoving her from behind. She had no choice but to take his hand and let him pull her to her feet and back to the fire.

The drums had slowed to a more sensual beat. Not letting go of her hand, Kaipo pulled her closer until their chests brushed. Samaria was of average height, maybe even slightly taller than average. But Kaipo seemed to tower over her. He dropped her hand, instead sliding his fingertips down her sides until he found the curves of her hips and held them with a steady grip.

Heat instantly flooded Samaria’s cheeks. Completely out of her element, she lifted her hands awkwardly to his shoulders. This seemed to please him greatly.

“You look beautiful tonight,” He whispered in her ear, rocking his hips with the beat and using his hands on her hips to guide her to follow. His warm breath tickled her neck. “The Elders did well with your necklace. Parrot feathers. Rare… just like you.”

Samaria’s eyes widened and she made the mistake of looking up at him. His lids were heavy with drink and from their position their noses almost brushed. His gaze dropped to her lips.

Biting the inside of her cheek harshly to keep the startled shriek from escaping her mouth, she wrenched her body around, giving him her back instead. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind. His arms snaked around her and he started to grind his pelvis into her back side with a groan. His face nuzzled into her neck with a low chuckle of amusement.

Features colored in panic, Samaria searched out her friends. They, of course, were no help, only giggling and shooting her thumbs up. Lei made a suggestive gesture with her hands, and Samaria sent a prayer to the gods that lightning would strike her down this very moment.