Page 5 of Possessing the Prince

After all, the man is saving me from a life of misery. In return, I will manage his public relations office. Senya is a new prince that is unliked by the general Ashanti public because of his mother’s Ewe blood. His penchant for harsh and angry reprimands also doesn’t help matters at all. However, I on the other hand am the favored daughter of a high-ranking Ashanti chief . I am also a very successful British Royal journalist, so I can fix the public’s view of him. My presence at his side will soften his image. People don’t like me, but they like English royalty and style. I can represent that for them. After a moment, Senya’s voice softens and he sounds like he’s calmed down.

“Precious, our union may not be conventional or what others would call pure, but for 365 days, you are my wife, and I intend for you to be my wife in mind, body, and soul.”

“Senya, sex will complicate things.” The sound of his deep chuckle both enrages me and turns me on.He needs to take me seriously.

“Abena, we have sex every time we are together. Sex is not a complication; it is our standard operating procedure. It generally defines our time together, and Precious, it is always a good time. Is it not?”

“Senya, this is not about having a good time. This is about managing a fake marriage. Before we married, we were good friends…with benefits. Now that we have entered a contractual arrangement as husband and wife, sex should be off the table. Sex always compounds feelings, and the last thing we need are emotions causing another complication. We already have to navigate Ashanti feelings about your Ewe heritage, convince my father that you are worthy of my hand, and we need to ensure you have a successful reign as prince and Kofi’s official right hand. What we don’t need is for you to catch feelings.”

Senya is silent.Did I push too far?I don’t want to upset him. He’s the strongest man I know. He’s a warrior. But even the fiercest warrior is not exempt from heartbreak. I’m a professional heartbreaker because mine has been shattered into a million pieces over the years. Whatever heart I had was destroyed long ago. But I am trying my best not to destroy our foundation: friendship. When this year is over, there's a chance we can still be friends, and I want that more than anything.

I need Senya to keep his head in the game and me out of his heart. When he finally speaks, I exhale.

“Abena, I will not catch feelings. Instead, I will take yours hostage. If anyone is in danger of being hurt, it is you, and I think you know it. You want to be in control of this situation, but it is impossible. Like you said it is complicated, and no one knows how all the parts will really play out.”

“Senya!” I interrupt him and the noise he makes in response makes me rethink the interruption.He’s not happy.“I don’t want to control this situation; I want to survive it. I can’t live in a world where we aren’t talking to each other because of a messy divorce from our fake marriage!”

He exhales a harsh breath. “Fine Abena, I will not argue with you any further about this. If you no longer want to have sex with me, that is fine…for now. But note, the moment you take up residence in my home, you will sleep in my bed. Mainly because servants talk, and it does not need to get back to your father or any of the villages that we are sleeping in separate rooms. If you can resist touching me while you sleep next to me, then bully for you. Is that clear?”

Damn. He has a point. I wouldn’t put it past my father to pay one of Senya’s servants to be his spy. With him being a prince, having a wife that did not share his bed would bring shame to the royal house. We will need to feign consummation. However, Senya underestimates me. Once I've decided to take a course of action, I take it. And we arenothaving sex. That portion of our entanglement is now in the past.

“Yes, I understand your point, Senya. Can we move on from this part of the contract now?”

Senya answers quickly. “No, one more thing. If I am not having sex with my wife, no one else is either. No exceptions.”

I throw the paper towel I’m holding on the floor in a huff. “Senya, why the fuck do you think you need to tell me something like that? I would never sleep with another man while I am married to you or anyone else. You know me better than that.”

“Ahh. Well, I also know you regard this marriage as a sham, so I want to be sure. You told me to protect myself and I am.”

This entire situation is becoming more of a headache than I initially planned. For as long as I can remember, my father has controlled my life. He told me who I can date—no one—where I can live in London—Mayfair—and even the lengths to which I could take my career—not too far.

I was his pawn and ticket to greater riches and influence. My entire life has been an extended negotiation with a tyrant. Senya is not a tyrant, but I don't want to trade one boss for another, even if the new boss is benevolent and incredible in bed.

“Senya, now that our sleeping arrangement is clear, can we discuss something more important? Like where we will live?”

“Hmm.” Senya hums. “Yes. I take it when you arrive you will be staying at your father‘s compound until the official ceremony is complete?”

“Yes. That’s what is proper.”

“OK, then the goal should be to have the ceremony and all its prerequisites complete within four weeks. You can also use that time to decorate our home any way you like.”

“Senya, I am only staying a year. I don't want you to be stuck with my tastes in your home after I’m gone.”

“Abena, I only bought that home in McCarthy Hills because you said it was necessary to impress your father. It is empty right now. It means nothing to me without you in it. As a matter of fact, I have been staying in my home outside of Kumasi and will remain there until we are married. You might as well decorate.”

I let out a sigh. I should be grateful to Nyame that he is not dragging me out to the Bobiri forest to live. I’ve never seen his home, but I can only imagine the bachelor pad he has set up for himself in the woods. I love nature, but I don’t do wild animals. Since he thought enough of me to buy a house in the city, I should take some initiative in setting it up as a true home.

“OK, Senya. But at least let me help pay for the decorating and furniture.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Senya!”

“Do you think I cannot afford it?”

“No,” I roll my eyes at his tone, suddenly glad he can’t see me. He’s such an alpha. “I just don’t think you know how much furnishing a home of that size will cost. My father’s a chief and insisted on paying for my living expenses in London even though I am more than capable. So I’ve saved most of my salary over the years. I want to help. Let’s not play games for the sake of pride.”

“Fine,” Senya says with a chuckle. “Let’s not. It’s time you know that I have as much money as my brothers, if not more.”

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