Free Full Moon on the Lake by D. M. Angel Page A

speak and her eyes landed on Jacob.  His eyes were lit up with pride. In her? He nodded once and smiled as if he heard her thoughts.
    Derrick after gaining momentary control again continued, “Let’s eat.”  “Oh, and let be on our best behavior!”  At this, everyone at the head table rose and walked over to the buffet.  Daniela just sat there confused as to what to do.  Jacob walked over and held his hand out to her.  Derrick started to protest but Kyla grabbed his arm and pulled him away before he could speak. 
    “No one will eat if you don’t get your food dear.” He looked down at her and realized there were enough people here to help keep Jacob in line shook his head at Kyla’s manipulations, grabbed up a plate and filled it.
    The laughter and friendship filled the air as everyone ate and visited with each other.  Daniela watched noting the camaraderie was more like a large family than it was a small community.  She smiled feeling she belonged here, but not quite sure just where she belonged. She had never felt so happy being anywhere before and yet strangely out of place too.  For the first time in what seemed like forever, she did feel it was home. When everyone ate more than what Daniela had thought anyone could eat the women got up clearing off the buffet table, only for others to bring large coolers of fruits, pastries, pies and cakes and set them out.  A separate plate of cakes, pastries and pies where set at the head table as well as a bowl of fruit.
    Some of the men had left coming back with two very large coolers filled with beer and wines setting them down to either side of the table.  The younger men gathered large platters filling them with the bottled wines and beers. Daniela realizing they were going to serve started to rise to help.
    Jasmine set a hand on hers to keep her from rising whispered, “This is how the men thank us for the great meal.” She giggled mischief in her eyes, “Watch.”
    The men attached or mated served the women they loved first; it was strange to watch especially when Derrick got up to serve Kyla.  Daniela could see the love in their eyes, mate to the mates they were devoted to. The unattached males took care of the unmated women and the younger men served the younger women.  Even the kids followed suit as young boys served the young girls.
    It was almost poetry in motion, like a dance performed with devotion. Daniela was so mesmerized she did not notice Jacob standing next to her until he cleared his throat.  “What would you like?” he asked her softly. 
    Their eyes met and she blushed, “White wine?” she barely whispered and was surprised he had heard her. The boy holding the tray stood behind Jacob; when Jacob took the wine and his preference, he left to go to the next person waiting. Jacob sat in Jasmine’s chair, Jasmine conspicuously gone.  When the plate of pastries was handed to Jacob, he looked at her expectantly, “Chocolate?” Was all she could squeak out, being the center of his attention.  He smile and picked out several small pastries and set them on the plate between them, passing the platter to Derrick.
    She sat looking at him lost in the attention he gave her freely, openly.  He picked up one of the small pastries and held it to her lips waiting.  She opened slowly and bit the pastry. The explosion of raspberries in chocolate wrapped in a sweet flakey, buttery crust filled her mouth her eyes closed in ecstasy and she moaned. It was a dance of seduction in her mouth.
    Forgetting where she was for a second, she was jolted back when Jacob placed his hand softly on her cheek; he seemed lost gazing into her face. She licked the pieces of crust from her lips as his eyes followed her tongue. His thumb itched to follow the path her tongue took. He lifted his hand to give her the rest of the pastry; she took it licking his fingers accidently as he slowly pulled his hand back. His breathe hitched at the touch of her tongue on his