LITMIR.BIZ

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most precious Annalina. You have shone light into my darkness, filled a void that I didn’t know was there, stirred a heart that didn’t know how to beat. And you have even made me find the words to tell you that.’ He smiled now, the most wonderful, tender smile, and Anna felt the warmth of it flood over her, filling her to the brim with love. ‘If you will have me, I am yours for ever more.’

      ‘Oh, yes, I will have you.’ With his features blurred by tears, Anna let her fingers trace the familiar contours of his face. ‘And what’s more, Zahir, I will never, ever let you go.’

      Zahir gave a primal groan, lowering his head until he found her lips and immediately the arousal leapt between them, just as it always did. Just as it had that very first time when Anna had forced him to kiss her on the bridge in Paris. As the kiss deepened their bodies melted, moulding into one another, becoming one.

      And all around them the new day burst into life.

      * * *

      ‘I have something for you.’ Coming up behind her, Zahir spoke softly into the ear exposed by the swept-up tresses of Anna’s intricate hairstyle.

      Anna turned to look up at him, catching her breath at the stunning sight of her husband in Eastern clothes. He was wearing a long cream shirwani with a stand-up collar and a single row of buttons down the front and loose dark-red trousers beneath. He looked more impossibly handsome than any man had a right to be. Because he was.

      Lana and Layla, who had been tweaking the folds of Anna’s splendid red-and-gold gown, respectfully stepped back into the shadows of the dressing room.

      ‘I don’t think you should be here.’ Anna smiled into his serious eyes, her mild rebuke melting like a wafer on her tongue. ‘Isn’t it supposed to be unlucky to see me before the ceremony?’

      ‘We make our own luck, aziziti. Besides, this is blessing, not a wedding. I don’t believe the same rules apply.’

      ‘And even if they did I doubt very much whether you would obey them.’

      ‘It is true that I would never obey a rule that kept me away from you.’ His solemn words, accompanied by the furrowed brow, threatened to turn Anna’s bones to jelly once again. That would teach her for trying to be flippant.

      These past few weeks had been the most wonderful, magical time imaginable. With Zahir permitting himself some rare free time, they had scarcely left each other’s sides, travelling around Nabatean so that he could show off his country, finding secret hideaways that only he knew about—a shaded oasis in the desert or ancient caves with prehistoric paintings on the walls, where he would show off something rather more private, and definitely more thrilling.

      She had watched him as he worked too, patiently explaining the procedures he was involved with or taking her to meetings where he made sure that her views were respected, his obvious respect for her opinions filling her with pride. But it was the nights that had been the most special. Exploring each other’s bodies in the dark, finding new ways to bring each other to soaring heights of ecstasy, before finally falling asleep in a tangle of sweat-sealed limbs. Anna marvelled at how they could never seem to get enough of one another, rejoicing in the fact that they would never have to. Because this was just the start of their lifetime together.

      ‘So what is it, then—this something you have for me?’ Tamping down the curl of longing, she smiled up at him.

      ‘Um...it’s just this.’

      She watched as he felt in his pocket, producing a blue velvet ring box. He was nervous, she realised, definitely out of his very masculine comfort zone. And that made her love him all the more. He opened the lid of the box and offered it to her, almost shyly.

      ‘Zahir!’ Anna gasped at the sight of the sapphire ring, the stunning stone set in platinum and surrounded by a circle of diamonds. ‘It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you!’

      ‘I’m glad you like it. I thought the colour would match your eyes.’ He gave a small cough, clearly ill at ease. ‘Consider it a late engagement ring. I’ve noticed that you never wear the other one.’

      ‘No.’ Now it was Anna’s turn to feel uncomfortable. ‘I’m sorry, but...’

      ‘You don’t need to apologise, or explain.’ Zahir interrupted her, taking her hand and slipping the ring onto her finger where it sat so perfectly, felt so right, that Anna could only stare at it, brimming with happiness. ‘The other ring was never meant for us. By rights it should be somewhere in the mud at the bottom of the Seine. In fact...’ He flashed her a mischievous grin. ‘If you like, I will take you back to Paris and you can finish what you started and chuck the thing in.’

      ‘No!’ Anna raised her eyes from admiring her ring and placed her hands gently on his shoulders. ‘I’ve got a much better idea. We will keep it safe for Rashid until he finds someone to love, someone who will make him the perfect wife.’

      ‘Do you think that will ever happen?’

      ‘Of course. He has only being undergoing treatment with Dr Meyer for a week but I understand that he’s already making tremendous progress.’

      ‘And I have you to thank for that, aziziti. For forcing me to swallow my pride and accept proper help for him. For using your contacts in Europe to find the very best doctor for him. Thank you so much.’

      ‘Think nothing of it. Seeing Rashid return from Germany having banished his demons is the only thanks I want. And it will happen. I am sure of it.’

      ‘You know what? I’m sure of it too.’ Zahir took her hands and pressed them to his lips. ‘You are the most wonderful, remarkable woman, Princess Annalina Zahani. Have I ever told you that?’

      ‘Once or twice, I think.’ Anna put her head on one side thoughtfully. ‘But a girl can never receive too many compliments.’

      ‘Hmm... Well, maybe I’ll save them until after the ceremony. We don’t want your head getting too big for that tiara thing, now, do we?’

      He glanced across to where Lana was still patiently waiting with the jewelled headdress in her hands.

      ‘I guess not.’ Leaning forward, Anna kissed him on the lips then, turning her head, whispered in his ear. ‘And I will save something for you until after the ceremony too.’

      Pulling away, their eyes met, Anna’s wicked twinkle dancing across Zahir’s heated gaze. ‘In that case, my princess, I suggest we start the ceremony without further ado. Suddenly I find I am rather impatient.’

      ‘Suddenly I find that I agree with you.’

      Sitting down just long enough for Lana to secure the headdress, Anna rose majestically to her feet and, linking her arm through Zahir’s, the couple prepared to leave for the throne room.

      ‘I love you, Annalina Zahani.’ They started walking, perfectly in step, towards their future together.

      ‘I love you too, Zahir Zahani.’

      Somewhere behind them Lana and Layla sighed with delight.

      * * * * *

       Amorous Liaisons

      Sarah Mayberry

      Bless you, Chris, for your enormous sympathy

      and patience with me as I grieved, anguished

      and swore over this book. I love you very much.

      To Wanda, for being so calm and supportive

      and damned smart as always—every time you

      make me lift my game, and this time you had

      your work cut out for you. And to my friends and

      family who all made sympathetic noises

      and passed the chocolate

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