“While all cleanses are a Holy moment, this one is particularly special to me, to us, to the Divine.” I can feelhis eyes on me again. “Because Eden here”—he extends his hand to me—“is becoming a wife of the Divine’s Vessel.”
I can hear the smirk in his voice, and it makes my anger begin to boil.
Whatever this is, whatever I am about to have to do for him, I refused to make it easy for him.
“Praise the Divine,” they chant again.
“Eden, will you face me, please?”
A mixture of demand and begging comes from him.
“I need you to accept this ceremony. That you are a willing candidate to me, the Vessel of the Divine.”
I level my stare. Anger and pride making it impossible for me to provide him with a verbal response. I want to tell him to fuck off, to scream the words in his face.
“I need to hear it, Eden.”
His tone reveals his growing impatience.
I narrow my eyes and grit my teeth. “Yes.”
The room echoes with the same chant once again.
He takes my hand, and I tug against his hold as he walks me to the marble centerpiece.
“Sit down.” He places his hand on my stomach, pushing me slowly until the back of my legs touch the cool surface.
Trying my best to challenge his demands, I stare into his eyes.
He clenches his teeth and takes matters into his own hands, not breaking eye contact as he leans in and grabs my legs right underneath my ass. Picking me up far enough for me to have to sit on top of the glossy stone slab.
Joshua approaches Samuel with a white bowl. I can feel his eyes on me as he steps closer, but I don’t bother to look at him.
Samuel steps right between my thighs.
I scoot back to gain distance from the heat his body is giving off.
“Let us praise this sacred moment. Bless this room with the Divine’s words.”
Low whispers fill the silence in the room.
Samuel holds the bowl with both hands above my head.
We stare at each other, and time stands still. His eyes dart between mine, contemplating his next move. I raise my chin and push back my shoulder a bit. With that motion, his eyes lock onto me, as if he had made up his mind.
Hushed prayers continue as he tilts the bowl above me and pours the liquid onto my head. It runs down my scalp and my neck before coating over my oiled skin, seeping into the white sheer fabric of my dress.
He continues to let it drip agonizingly slowly until he empties the bowl. With the last drop, the prayers go silent.
Joshua comes to grab it from Samuel’s hand and discards it before returning right behind him. He places his hand on his shoulders, and Samuel reaches to untie the strings at his collar.
Once the ties are released, Joshua tugs the robe off, and my eyes widen.
Samuel stands there, his bare skin oiled just like mine.
I keep my eyes on him. I can’t look down. The fact that my brother is naked right in front of me, between my legs, has my heart pounding so hard I feel it might rupture.
Fear courses through me at the turn of events. I’d question why he is naked, but my body starts to shake like it already knows the answer.
