by Nana Prah
He’d already forgiven her. Pride had kept him from admitting it. It might take longer for him to forget, but he’d work on it.
No need to let her off the hook that easily, though. “What were the other two things you wanted?”
Her frown tugged at his heart. He held resolute.
“Um. Well. I need your assistance,” she said in a low voice.
“With what?”
She took in a deep breath and straightened her spine.
“Thank you for giving my father and older sister clearance to visit me for a few days last week. It was wonderful having them around.” She dipped her head to the side. “I wish you could’ve met them.”
He’d known their every movement but had refused to bring himself to engage. Even by his standards, he’d been rude.
“I was busy.”
She let the falsehood dangle in the silence of her pause.
“After the competition, my father was of two minds. He was prouder than a peacock that I’d made it so far into it while competing against men who hadn’t held back because I was a woman. He was also horrified that I’d gotten stabbed even though I explained that the risk of it happening again was almost impossible. He wasn’t having it.”
Caught on the expressiveness of her face as she’d spoken, it took effort to understand the meaning behind her words.
“Your father wants you to return home and give up on fencing,” he surmised.
Understanding the risk of the sport from the inside, Zareb knew that the chances of such a thing having happened in the first place was statistically ridiculous. Yet, witnessing her pain had caused his own agony to flare, and now, all he wanted was for her to be safe.
Her natural talent exceeded anyone he’d trained. As much as a tiny selfish part of him wanted her to drop the sport, he sought the best for her, which would be to continue competing.
It had taken his temper cooling down to come to the decision that he’d be the one to make it happen. The Olympics would see Malika Ahvanti stand on the upper-most podium holding a gold medal and bouquet of flowers as she waved with her face glowing in joy.
She angled her upper body forward. “On the contrary. My father realized what I and my mother had been trying to get him to understand for years. That I have a chance at being the best.”
Her red-glossed lips rose into a broad grin, stirring up the longing to have been the one to have caused it.
“Not only did my fabulous father give his blessing, he also provided me with an unlimited budget to buy the best gear I could find. And since I no longer have a trainer here …” She glanced up at him through lashes that lacked the filler that she’d worn to deceive him when he’d met her as Malika. “He insisted that I go back to my former trainer in the US.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Malika clasped her trembling hands together. He hadn’t responded to her apology, and it had devastated her.
She wouldn’t give up. She’d rather have her pride mopped all over the floor than to be without Zareb. She added to the plan she and the queen had come up with. After the last stage, she’d beg him to take her back. On her knees if she had to. She was desperate to make him see how in sync they’d been. And how great they’d be once they cleared the nastiness of her behaviour.
Did she deserve him?
Yes. She was a human who’d made a mistake. He had to realize that. She wouldn’t let herself think about the alternative if he didn’t.
This was the one chance she had to win him back, so she’d better make it good.
“I’m still adamantly against being too far away from my family, so I’ve been doing some research into coaches in Africa and Europe.”
Zareb responded with a narrow-eyed glower. She was sure that was on the gigantic list of things royals weren’t supposed to do while in public. Her training with the queen had been overwhelming, but fruitful.
She removed a handwritten sheet of paper from the envelope.
“I was wondering if you could get me in contact with any of these coaches.” Rather than give him the list, she read off the first name. “Michael Lufton is my first choice.”
Zareb’s nostrils flared as his upper lip curled into a snarl. “No.”
“But he’s one of the best.” Zareb had beaten him to earn the bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics. Knowing that he detested the man, Queen Zulekha had insisted that he be on the list. “London is only six hours by direct flight, so it would be easy to get back and forth when I need to. Michael has an amazing work ethic and a fencing programme that’s highly rated.”
“He’s a racist. No matter how covert he tries to be about it, it always shines through. So no, you will not train with him.”
The pen scraped the paper as she crossed Michael off. “How about Albert Flesch from South Africa? He has an impressive record of training women to contend in the Olympics.”
Zareb shook his head in a slow, deliberate motion. This time, those luscious lips tilted down into a frown. “He’s never won a medal, and none of the people he’s coached has ever placed. He’s not the one to train you.”
She clamped her mouth to keep from reminding Zareb that he had yet to coach anyone who’d ended up qualifying for the Olympics. “Then how about—”
In a blink, he’d leaned over his desk and yanked the paper from her hand. He assessed it with pen in hand, striking out each name one by one with a valid reason.
Her mouth went dry as he stood, rounded the wooden barrier, and sat in the seat next to her.
She’d missed those focused, penetrating dark eyes that let her know she was the only one in his sights.
“Stay and train with me.”
She placed a hand to her chest to prevent her franticly beating heart from bursting out. “But you don’t work with women.”
“I was wrong to establish that rule. I shouldn’t have let the actions of those few blind me to the potential of others.”
To be coached by him was one thing, but she wanted more. Him. Would he be able to let go of his anger? To truly forgive her when she was having difficulty doing so herself?
“Why would you want to be around someone you hate with such vehemence?”
“I don’t hate you.”
She’d be floating to the ceiling any moment now, but things weren’t settled. Time to grovel. “Zareb, I really am sorry that I lied to you. If I had to do it over again, I’d have told you earlier.”
He considered her for several seconds. “So, you would’ve done it anyway?”
“Would you have lifted your ban if I’d come to you as Malika asking if you’d train me without proving myself?”
“No.”
“If I knew I’d fall in love with you and hurt you with my betrayal, then …” She reached out and placed a hand against his upper arm. “I would’ve taken the chance and been upfront. The relationship we’d started building means more than being a fencing champion.”
He grasped her hand and leapt to his feet, bringing her with him. When their bodies collided, she grabbed his shoulders.
“You love me.”
The wonder in his voice mesmerized her as much as the adoration in his eyes.
“Yes. Do you forgive me? Say that you’ll give us another chance. Please.”
“I forgive you.”
His husky voice sent warmth bursting in her chest.
When he swooped down, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close, she could’ve touched the stars.
His mouth crushed hers, and she responded with the desperation she’d felt over the past week. He gentled the kisses with soft nips. The teasing was too much. When she licked his top lip, his groan vibrated through her just before he deepened the kiss.
She let him know with every caress of her tongue just how much she’d missed him. She relinquished the trauma of having lost him. He was hers, and she intended to keep it that way.
The kiss hadn’t lasted long enough before he ended it with a peck. Resting his forehead against hers, eyes op
ened as if not wanting their reconciliation to have been a dream, their rapid breaths mingled.
“What was the third thing you came to me for?”
She squeezed his shoulders. “To tell you that I love you.”
He lifted and swung her around. “Will you train with me and bring the gold to Bagumi?”
She started to back away in disappointment, only to be caged in his arms. “Is that all you want from me, Zareb?”
“That. To get to know you.” He bent at the knees so they were eye-to-eye. “And to show you how much I love you.”
When she placed her hands on his chest, his rapid heartbeat belied his calm. “Then yes, I’ll allow you to lead me to the Olympics.”
His uncharacteristic guffaw startled her before she added her own laughter in response.
“I knew it the moment I saw you step out from behind the potted plant at my father’s party that you’d be someone special in my life. Maybe before then, when I witnessed you talking to yourself. I presumed it was a pep talk because as soon as you stopped, you squared your shoulders and headed my way.”
Mortified, she covered her face. “I didn’t know anyone could see me.”
He gripped her wrists and kissed the palm of each hand. “I did, and I’m glad because that night, I saw your strength. Instead of leaving, you faced a challenge head-on. To be honest, it’s good that I got to work with Sule. I was able to push him harder than I would have any woman. It taught me a major lesson.”
“You almost killed me.”
“I propelled you to be more than even you thought you could be. I may have brought on the pain, but you persevered and made me proud.”
He held her close, cuddling as if he’d never let go.
If she had her way, he never would.
Epilogue
Malika’s legs burned as she pushed her sprint into a longer stride. Beating Zareb in anything physical would probably be her forever goal, but she’d never stop trying.
“No fair.” She panted as she came to a jogging stop from the race he’d challenged her to. “You’re wearing trousers.” The grass tickled her toes. “And shoes.”
His gaze travelled down the length of the legs she’d bared when she’d hitched up her dress to meet his challenge. Three months together, and she still got butterflies when he gave her that look. The one that would have her tucked into a dark corner with whatever camera that should be watching them switched off.
She backed away as her core heated. “Not now, my prince. We have a party to attend.”
The predator in him advanced. “It can wait. You said you wanted to release some stress. There’s no better way than for us to—”
She placed her fingers against his persuasive mouth. It wouldn’t take much to have her hands and chest pressed against a wall as he filled her from behind.
No. They couldn’t. The break from the party had been for him, but she’d keep that secret. Her fiancé hated gatherings. If it had been a manhunt, he would’ve been floating with reserved joy.
She’d already competed and placed in two international competitions, gaining in rank. Only a natural disaster would stop her from qualifying for the Olympics. When she made it, no matter who she faced off with, she’d win. All thanks to her fantastic coach.
“The engagement party is for us,” she reminded him. “It would be rude to skip out on it.”
His firm lips nuzzled her neck, stoking the always-present need for him.
She pulled out the big guns. “Your mother says being rude is not a royal activity that we engage in.”
His breath tickled her ear. “Anyone who has ever met me knows that there are two rules that I live by.”
She clutched onto him as her knees melted at the seduction in his voice. “Protect and serve?”
“No, my princess. Live and love. You make it easy to do both.”
She let out a yelp as he swooped her into his arms and carried her farther away from the celebration.
“My shoes.”
He didn’t glance back in the direction she’d pointed. “We’ll get them when we return.”
Giving in, she found his nipple through the dress shirt and teased it with the tip of her finger.
“Keep it up, and I’ll take you right here in the grass.”
Since Zareb had started it, she scraped the skin of his neck with her teeth and soothed the area with circular motions of her tongue. “You wouldn’t dare.”
When her legs gave way to gravity as he let them go, she clung to his shoulders in a fit of giggles.
“Okay, I’ll stop. Everyone knows we’re in love. No need to tarnish my reputation as an Olympic hopeful by showing them, too.”
He resumed their unorthodox walk.
Malika caressed a hand through the strands of his locs.
“Besides—” she raised herself up so she could whisper in his ear. “Just like everything else we do, I’m sure I’d get addicted to it.”
That’s when he started running.
Life was never boring with her coach, lover, fiancé, and protector. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
The End
Thank you for reading The Resolute Prince by Nana Prah, Royal House of Saene Book 5. Please leave a review on the site of purchase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nana Prah first discovered romance in a book from her eighth-grade summer reading list and has been obsessed with it ever since. Her fascination with love inspired her to write in her favorite genre where happily-ever-after is the rule.
She is a published author of contemporary, multicultural romances. Her books are sweet with a touch of spice. When she’s not writing she’s reading, over-indulging in chocolate, and enjoying life with friends and family.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NanaPrah
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NanaPrah.Author
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Keep reading for an excerpt from The Tainted Prince by Kiru Taye, Royal House of Saene Book 6.
EXCERPT—The Tainted Prince by Kiru Taye
The moment Danai placed the wine glass aside and shifted to rise from the settee, Zawadi stopped caring about rules and protocols.
He tilted his head and raised his hand, cupping her cheek. It was the first time he’d touched her intentionally.
Her skin was smooth milk chocolate. Her breath hitched, seemingly from shock by his action. Her lips parted slightly as if an invitation to kiss her.
The big moment didn’t pass him by—the seriousness and consequences of his actions, not just on his life but on the kingdom.
He, who had never deviated from the plan set about when he was born, was about to take a massive detour.
He hesitated, teetering over the edge of an invisible cliff. This oasis was far removed from the rest of the world. Yet, others would feel the impact of his deeds.
After the attempt on his life, he’d escaped to this desert palace, where he was surrounded by vaults of ancient scrolls and shelves of books. He’d come to immerse himself in his favourite pastime—studying and preserving his country’s history and culture.
Yet, he’d discovered something else. A yearning so intense, so overwhelming, he was coming undone at the seams.
Danai, on her part, stayed composed. Aside from the steady pulse at the base of her throat, she didn’t show any anxiety or annoyance. Instead, her brown eyes seemed to watch him without judgement, which strengthened his resolve.
She understood the risk he was about to take, had never pressured him into doing anything about the spark that existed between them from the first time they’d met. The time they’d spent together, her always by his side—the conversations they’d had. Slowly, over time, without knowing it, he’d become emotionally attached to her.
Then she’d laid her cards on the table, told him she cared about him. She’d seen his vulnerability, his fears, and hadn’t been repulsed. Hadn’t thought less of him.
Now she waited, perhaps wondering
if he would take this to the next level and kiss her.
OTHER BOOKS BY LOVE AFRICA PRESS
Love and Hiplife by Nana Prah
Note Worthy by Dhasi Mwale
Forever and a Day by O.L. Obonna
Saving Her Guard by Kiru Taye
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