Enticed: An Erotic Sacrifice by Colette Gale Page B

night. He might not last at all.”
    “He knows how to protect himself,” Jane replied. But she felt Zaren sway against her, and the blood that had been flowing from his side now seeped all over her torso, wet and warm. More blood had pooled on the ground, spattering her leg and foot. Was he even leaning on her now, ever so slightly?
    Her heart thudded harder, and uncertainty weakened her resolve. He was badly injured. He needed treatment and care. And if his blood would attract predators…
    Cold Eyes seemed to recognize her concern. “Your savior interrupted our ceremony. We must finish it, or they will be sorely disappointed.” He gestured to his spear-toting companions. “I do not wish to face their wrath should I allow their goddess to go free.”
    At that moment, Jane realized Cold Eyes had only tentative control over his people. One false move and they would rebel—likely violently. No wonder he had grasped at the opportunity to present to them a fertility goddess. It was his only hope of retaining leadership over the unhappy, desperate villagers.
    He and she both knew that her presence would make no difference in the procreation aspects of these people. But Cold Eyes didn’t care. He, like every other man, wanted power and control. He was greedy. Just like Jonathan had been.
    Jane narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “I will go willingly with you and will…submit…to whatever you require of me, short of bodily injury. If ,” she added, holding up her hand to forestall his triumphant speech, “you allow me to administer to him, and to tend to his wounds. Provide me anything I require to make him well, and you may do what you will to me. If you do not—or if he dies,” she said, stepping closer to him while holding his gaze, goddesslike, with her own, “I will show your people that you have brought my wrath upon them…and an angered goddess must have a sacrifice in order to appease her fury. I shall make certain to make my choice of sacrifice known. If you agree to my terms, you must bow to me. Now.”
    Cold Eyes recoiled as if he’d been struck, and black fury burned in his gaze. But he kept his lips in that flat, cool smile and bowed deeply to Jane.
    All at once, there was a shift in the place, and bows and spears descended along with their owners as the rest of the men made their obeisance to Jane.
    Yet Cold Eyes was on his feet almost instantly, giving sharp orders to his men.
    Zaren started as they moved toward him, his arm tightening around Jane’s waist. He bared his teeth like a ferocious beast and she felt the unyielding shift of his muscles against her.
    “We will go with them,” she said, turning to look up at him. “I will see to your injuries.”
    “No.” The sound was little more than a growl.
    She pulled away—that in itself was a testament to the disturbing fact that he was becoming weaker. “Zaren, we must go with them. You cannot bleed all over the jungle.” She smiled, forcing her expression into something light and unconcerned.
    But he was very experienced with reading the slightest body language of the wildlife he’d faced, and it was clear from his expression he didn’t fully believe her. His mouth was taut with pain and she felt the renewed surge of blood from his side. His eyes had dulled, and that worried her the most. He could just as easily die from a fever as from his injuries.
    “Please,” she said, aware that the villagers were watching with naked interest. She must remain goddesslike, and yet she must somehow convince Zaren this was the right thing to do. “Come with me. I will care for you. And then we will leave,” she added softly.
    She pulled away, heart thudding as she waited to see if he would follow. He made another of those warning noises, scoring their captors with an equally feral gaze, and nodded once.
    But behind the dullness, the darkness in his gaze told Jane he had little patience for her so-called bargain with Cold Eyes. Zaren would not be caged