by Susan Stoker
“Yes, Mazi. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.” I actually had, but he didn’t need to know that. He still had a hold of my chin, and I shrunk under his shrewd gaze.
“My girl is far too beautiful and smart to speak such lies about herself.”
“I can’t be your girl, Mazi,” I whispered thickly. “You’re the Prince of Osei, and I’m just the simple reporter. Surely the powers that be will have something to say about that.”
“Do I seem like the kind of guy who gives a fuck what people think or say? I’ve changed my life as much as I am planning to. Who I choose to spend time with is not up for discussion.”
He was saying all the right things. I wanted to believe him, to think that everything would be okay, at least for a little while.
“We need to be discreet. See each other outside the castle, and act normal inside.”
His eyes narrowed, and I could see that he wanted to argue. But for me, for now, it was a non-negotiable point.
“It’s my job, Mazi. My livelihood. I’m not going to lose it for a fling. If we get found out, you’re still the prince, but I’ll just be the slutty reporter who used to work at the castle.”
From the slant of his eyes, I could see that he didn’t like my word choice. The expression on his face had my butt cheeks clenching, but he only nodded.
“I suppose we both need to spend some time outside the castle anyway. Acclimate to our surroundings, so to speak. Get to know the culture, explore the land, and meet the natives.”
I grinned, thinking of all the fun places for potential hook-ups. “Yes, we do,” I agreed mischievously. “I have a list.”
“I can’t wait.”
Chapter Seven
Mazi
It was Norah’s insistence upon discretion that had me hiking up the side of a mountain in the middle of the afternoon in one hundred and seven degree heat in search of a waterfall whose existence I was seriously beginning to doubt.
“We’ve been hiking this trail for hours,” I grumbled, pausing to sip water from the canteen Norah had insisted I bring. At least she had the foresight to pack provisions in case we happened to get stranded out here, wandering lost for hours. Maybe even days.
“We’re almost there. I feel it. The guide said two miles up the mountain and past the stream.”
“What fucking stream?” I huffed. “We’re lost, I’m telling you. We are way more than two miles up, and I haven’t seen even so much as a dewdrop.”
Norah paused, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on my sweaty cheek. “You know,” she said, grinning mischievously, “you’re kind of being a baby. I’d have thought you would be in much better shape than this.”
I was too hot and crabby to respond to her cheekiness appropriately. “I’m in plenty fine shape, thank you very much. I’m just not used to the outdoors like this. I prefer to do my working out in an air-conditioned gym.”
“City boy,” she scoffed, jogging beside me, egging me on to get moving. “This is your home now. Better get used to it. It’s only going to get hotter.”
“Maybe tomorrow we can find a nice indoor activity to do.”
“Maybe. Or at least something at a lower altitude.”
“Maybe something with food,” I countered. I was starving. Norah had packed us a lunch, but she refused to stop and eat, insisting that it would be more romantic if we had lunch after we reached our destination. I had been doing my own research, and I couldn’t wait to sample the local fare.
“Oh! Maybe the outdoor market!” Norah exclaimed enthusiastically.
“Great idea. Let’s go now.” I pivoted on my heels and made like I was going to start down the mountain, grinning when she grabbed the strap of my knapsack to halt me.
“Maaazzzi!” she whined. “Just a little farther, please. I know we’re getting close; I just know it.”
I didn’t want to go farther. I didn’t care about the stupid waterfall. But I had a hard time saying no to her, and she was beginning to catch on.
“It’s 12:15,” I announced. “If we haven’t found it by 1:30, we are going back.”
Norah liked getting her way. And I liked the way she smiled when she did. Her eyes scrunched into her smile, and she smirked, like she was holding in a giggle. And every time those perfect lips parted, I pictured them around my cock.
I screwed the cap back on my canteen and hung it around my neck. “Okay, let’s go.”
We had walked for fifty-nine minutes when we found it. There had been no hint or warning. I hadn’t even heard the sound of water flowing off the cliff and into the surrounding pool. We came around a corner, and there it was.
“Wow.” We breathed the word simultaneously. We had been hiking through what was essentially a forest, and all of a sudden, in the middle of nowhere, was our own private beach. Lush greenery highlighted the crystal-clear water, and the sand shone gold in the sunlight.
I knew exactly where we were. I recognized it from the painting. The painting that had hung in my room since the day I was born.
I dropped my knapsack, and ran to the water’s edge, grabbing Norah around the waist as I ran, and pulling her with me into the water, clothes and all.
She didn’t yell or complain when the cold water hit our toes. She was just as hot as I was. The sun would dry our clothes in minutes once we got out.
Instead, she leaned in, pushing her ample breasts against my chest as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I told you it would be worth it,” she whispered.
I exhaled deeply, letting the hours of pent-up frustration, heat exhaustion, and hunger leave my body in one deep sigh, as I pushed my lips against hers.
“I’m not quite convinced yet,” I mumbled.
She took it as a challenge, just as I hoped she would.
Jumping into my arms, she wrapped her legs around my waist, knocking me on my ass in the lake.
I laughed as her eyes widened when the cool water rushed over our bodies. She scrambled to get up, but I didn’t let her. My hold on her was tight as I closed my lips over hers, rearing up on my knees so she was on her back in the shallow water and I was kneeling over her.
“Mazi!” she shrieked. “Stop! I’m getting all wet!”
I grinned devilishly as I straddled her hips with my legs, pinning her down with my weight. “Good. That’s kind of the point. I like making you wet.”
She glared at me as she worked through the double meaning of my words. She had walked right into that one.
She had worn running shorts and she playfully fought as I worked them over her hips and down her legs, taking her panties with them. I smirked as I tossed them onto the shore. In this heat they would be dry in minutes, and we would have dry clothes to put on after I was done ravaging her to my heart’s content.
I did the same with her tank top and bra, and then my own clothes.
Naked under a waterfall with the woman I dreamed about. This day was getting better already.
Chapter Eight
Norah
The week Mazi and I spent exploring Osei had been heaven. After the waterfall, we had stayed closer to shore, having learned that heights and heat made a grumpy Mazi.
The island was magnificent. I could only imagine the beauty it had held in its heyday. Each day was a new adventure, and the articles flowed from my fingertips onto my computer screen every night. They were not only being run locally, but being picked up by travel sites from all over the world. Mazi took pictures to accompany my stories. He was quite skilled with a simple iPhone camera.
Writing about the island and its charming scenery was the easy part. Writing about the royal family was a different matter altogether. Being discreet while on the castle grounds was proving to be much more difficult than I’d anticipated.
Sitting there in press meetings, listening to them discuss Mazi’s future while I tried to act like the things I heard had no bearing on my life, was excruciating.
Today was one of those meetings. The emotions in the room were
raw as King Ona-Mazi informed us of his prognosis. Looking at him, it didn’t come as a big surprise. In the days since Mazi had agreed to stay, the king’s health had deteriorated at a rate that was rapid and alarming. It was as if he had been holding on until he knew the future of his beloved kingdom was safe.
Today, as he sat at the head of the conference table, his skin was sallow and his eyes bloodshot. I could just tell he wasn’t sleeping much these days. The pain was getting to be too much.
Mazi saw it, too. It was evident in the lines of his face, in the way his eyes filled with pain every time he looked at his father, and in how he had to look away just as quickly.
Today’s meeting was a larger one. The entire castle staff was present, as well as press from all over Africa. There was even a news crew. I flinched as the cameras clicked away, unashamedly documenting a family’s pain.
I watched as the king drew a ragged, pain-filled breath and opened his mouth to speak. Mazi quickly stood and moved to stand behind him, flanking his father’s left shoulder.
A shiver went down my spine. This was it. I knew what was coming. I was officially in bed with a prince. A prince on his way to becoming king. A hell of a lot sooner than I originally thought.
“When I realized I was sick, it forced me to come to terms with my own mortality. To do that, I knew I needed to find an heir for the throne—somebody who would take care of my beloved kingdom and restore it to greatness.
“Luckily, I didn’t have to look as far as you might have assumed. You see, a long time ago, years before I took my place on the throne as the King of Osei, I met a woman who, second only to my beloved Irina, was a true love of my life. Her name was Patrice and though our time together was brief, she bore me a son.
Unbeknownst to me, I was already promised in marriage to Irina, an arrangement made by our fathers when we were still young. When Patrice and I found out, she implored me to do what was best for my country. She knew she was pregnant, but she did not tell me until she was safely back in America. She had already lost me; she couldn’t bear to lose her son as well. I kept her secret for many years, allowing her to raise our son in America, where she sacrificed selflessly and tirelessly to give him as good a life as she could provide. I recently reached out to my son and had the pleasure of getting to know him as a young man, and I can tell you with certainty that she did a fantastic job. I can die in peace, knowing that my kingdom is not only safe, but that it will thrive under the fresh eyes of new leadership.”
He paused, and I looked at Mazi, who was currently a little green around the gills, no doubt as he realized the magnitude of responsibility being placed upon his shoulders. I met his eyes, and he forced a smile.
The king smiled out at the staff that he loved, and the many constituents that had gathered in the massive room. “I do not have long. I wish to live out the remainder of my days in retirement, spending time with my son and loved ones, and teaching him the ways and customs of this beautiful land that I love. It is with great pride and honor, that I introduce you all to my son, Prince Mazi of Osei, the future King of Osei.”
The king stood then, with Jax helping him to his feet, and took a large, opulent, jewel-encrusted crown from somewhere behind him, placing it reverently atop Mazi’s shiny locks. While the room erupted in loud yet respectful applause, Mazi’s eyes bugged out of his head.
I hid a chuckle behind my hand. Poor guy. He wasn’t ready for this. Not yet. He would get too hung up in his own head. He was a lot like me in that way.
I had not a doubt in my mind though, that when the time came, he would step up to the plate in a way that would blow even his own mind. Now I just had to wait in the wings as the supportive girlfriend while he figured that out for himself.
Everyone was watching Mazi expectantly, and it took me a minute to realize they were waiting for him to speak. Oh shit. I held my breath and poised my pen above my notepad, ready to record what I was sure was going to be the shortest speech in the history of Osei.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared out at the crowd, and I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat softly in an attempt to get his attention. I knew if I could just catch his eye, and get him to see me, rather than the crowd of expectant faces and the gaggle of reporters, he would be okay.
He cleared his throat, and I saw the tell-tale glint of sweat on his forehead. And finally, he looked at me. I gave him the biggest, most encouraging smile I could muster, and waited.
“Public speaking has never been my thing. Being a king isn’t something I ever imagined myself doing, obviously. I don’t think I could say anything more eloquently than my father already has, and I just hope that I can live up to the faith that he has shown in me. I ask that you are patient with us in this time of transition, and I am excited to serve you all as your king in the not-so-far-off future.”
I saw him exhale in relief as he finished, and I did so with him, releasing a gush of air I hadn’t realized I had been holding in.
I assumed the conference was over. Jax was the next to step forward and address the room.
“Thank you all for coming and giving us your time and attention today. This will be our last press conference for a while. The family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
The room grew somber again, remembering the illness of their beloved king. I closed my notebook with a long sigh, wiping tears from my eyes. Even if I stuck to the facts, this was going to be a difficult story to write.
I stayed behind with the family while the room cleared, and nobody objected to my presence. I lived on the grounds, and reporting this story was my job.
I was scribbling notes on the speeches, wondering how in the hell I was going to write this story without crying my eyes out when Mazi approached, standing over me.
My heart pounded in my chest, just like it did every time he was anywhere in the vicinity. He was my drug and I needed a fix.
“So,” he began, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. “I guess it’s more or less official.”
“It appears that way.”
“Doesn’t every little girl dream of dating a prince?”
I frowned, considering. The little girl inside me was long gone. “Maybe so. But a grown-ass woman knows that the complications are real, and perhaps insurmountable.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk, and I knew what was coming. “Insurmountable, hmm? That’s too bad. I was just thinking how I’d like to mount you later. I find you very mountable.”
I rolled my eyes at his lame come on, even as the blush rolled up my cheeks. “Mazi!” I hissed. “Not now! We’re supposed to be discreet. Your father isn’t but five feet away.”
“He’s busy, going over some official this-or-that with Jax. They’re not paying attention to us.”
I glanced discreetly past him and saw that he was right. They were bent over a pile of paperwork, whispering to each other as the last of the onlookers straggled out.
“It doesn’t matter. I told you. I can’t risk it.”
He shrugged, rolling his eyes, when the heavy crown tipped forehead on his head, threatening to fall. “This thing is a nuisance,” he grumbled, adjusting it. “Meet me in my room in thirty minutes.”
He walked away then, joining his father and Jax at the head of the table, leaving me to stare at him in annoyance as I gathered up my things and prepared to leave. He hadn’t even waited for my response, taking for granted that I would meekly do as I was told, that I wasn’t able to say no to him. Was he getting even cockier?
Did it matter? He was right.
I huffed as I left the room, and I quickly walked towards my small quarters at the opposite end of the castle. But no matter how annoyed I was, I knew that in thirty minutes I would be in his room, just as he had asked.
What I didn’t know for sure was what would happen once I got there.
***
I stared him down, crossing my arms over my chest for good measure. “Mazi, you are b
eing ridiculous.”
He mirrored my stance with his own, quirking an eyebrow at me in annoyance. “I’m being ridiculous? Me? I invited you up here to fuck, and you’re breaking up with me.”
I closed my eyes, and sighed. The man was impossible. We had been going around in circles for ten minutes at least, and he just wouldn’t listen to reason.
“In order for me to break up with you, Mazi, there would have to have been some commitment between us. We would have had to have been dating.”
His brows furrowed, and his jaw hardened. “And what do you call what we have been doing?”
This morning, when on the phone with my best friend, I had called it dating, but he didn’t need to know that. Things had changed. I blinked back tears and forced myself to lie. “Having fun. A fling. Fuck buddies. A one-night stand that got extended. Vacation sex. Take your pick. It didn’t mean anything. It was fun and now it’s over. Time to move on.”
I watched the pain flit across his face as I tossed out barb after barb. It nearly killed me to do so, but it had to be done. He was a prince, and I was no princess.
His jaw worked from side to side as he stared at me, and I had to force myself not to flinch under his shrewd and discerning gaze.
He walked slowly towards me, and I willed my feet to stay firmly planted. Mazi was good at breaking down my walls. It was one of his many skills.
He would advance on me, until there was no space between our bodies, and then close his lips over mine and kiss me until I was breathless with need. It was his signature move, and it always worked, but this time I was determined not to give in.
Maybe he saw it in my eyes, because he walked right past me, and began to pace the floor behind me. I stared at the wall beyond where he had just been standing and forced myself not to face him. It was just another power play. And damn, but did he have a power over me.