Page 9 of The Princess and Her Mercenary

“Oh no!”

She had no idea who or what was headed toward her and she didn’t want to get caught out in the open. She looked around but there was nowhere to hide. She was a dark speck in a big, endless, light-coloured desert. Damn it. This is why she preferred islands. They usually had cabanas, margaritas, pool boys and excellent escape routes. Like that time she was forced to swim out to Sheik Masala’s yacht because her father sent palace guards to pick her up while she was on an unsanctioned vacation.

Once she determined where the noise was coming from, she turned on the spot and began running away from it, trying to move at an angle. Hopefully, if she made it far enough, whatever it was wouldn’t see her. As she ran, she wondered if cheetahs made constant purring sounds. She felt pretty certain big cats were native to the region.

The purring turned to a roar and Ndari realized that she was in big trouble. It was getting louder and coming straight toward her. As though stalking her. She ran as if her life depended on it, as if she was about to be eaten by a very hungry, very big cheetah. She clutched at a stitch in her side but continued her full-tilt sprint. She glanced over her shoulder as she ran but her scarf flew up into her face and she lost her footing on the ridge of a small sand dune.

Ndari hit the ground with an oomph and rolled over the ledge. She plummeted down the other side with a scream. She tried to brace herself in the sand, but couldn’t stop her momentum, rolling all the way to the bottom where she landed in a heap.

“Motherfucking ouch!” she yelped, pushing herself up onto her knees and spitting sand out of her mouth.

She shoved the scarf out of her eyes and stared up at the ridge as a motorbike came flying over the top of it, soaring in the air for a few seconds before hitting the sand and sliding down the dune. Ndari jumped to her feet and took a couple of quick steps back as the bike came to a halt in front of her, the engine shutting off.

Relief poured through her as she saw the giant red-headed man, his muscles and tattoos looking extra amazing on the back of a motorbike. She threw herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck and pouring out the entire terrifying ordeal against his neck. After a second’s hesitation, Keane’s arms slipped around her waist and he hauled her against his solid chest.

“I was walking and walking, and my feet hurt because the sand got inside, and I stopped to get the sand out and then a cheetah came after me and chased me until I fell over that ridge and rolled all the way to the bottom. It could’ve eaten me! I could’ve been killed! Thank goodness you came along and scared it away. You might’ve found me dead somewhere in the desert!” She shoved away from him and slapped his chest with enough strength to make him grunt. “Where were you?! I expected you to find me hours ago!”

He chuckled and pulled her back against his chest. He pushed her scarf off her head and ran his hand over her face and head, checking for injuries. Once he seemed satisfied that she was alright he climbed off the back of the bike with Ndari tucked against his side. He turned and pushed her against the bike until she was perched on the edge of it.

“There’s nothing out here, Keane. Like nothing, nothing. It’s completely desolate,” she babbled pointing around. “Except for the cheetah.”

“That’s usually how deserts work,” he said gruffly, dropping to his knees in front of her and running his hands over her body. Checking for injuries, she supposed. “You live here, but you act like you’ve never seen one before. And there was no cheetah up there. The only thing chasing you was me.”

She shrugged and giggled as he took her shoe off and ran his hands over her foot, tickling her. She yanked her foot away. “I grew up in the palace, not the desert. The only time I’ve seen it is from a distance, either in a truck on the way to the airport, or in a helicopter on my way to the airport. I’ve never had any reason to explore the desert before, nor would I have been allowed.”

“Huh,” he grunted, checking her other foot before replacing the shoe.

He stood up, his full height towering over hers. She studied his face, as stoic as always, unreadable. But his actions spoke for him. He came for her. Even though she was a pain in the ass. Not just his, but everyone’s. She knew he would come after her, but it was still really wonderful to see him in the flesh after her ordeal.

“Are you sure about the cheetah?” she demanded, peering up at the ridge, half expecting to see hungry whiskers sniffing around up there.

“Yup, positive,” he assured her. “Besides, I would never let you get eaten.” He thought about it for a second. “Unless I was the one doing the eating.”

She laughed and then stood, pressing her body against his. She touched her hands to his cheeks and pulled him down for a kiss. It was chaste, but still sent a flurry of butterflies through her belly. Just the barest touching of their lips and the ever-present spark that had been there from the moment they set eyes on each other, flared, ready to catch fire.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said shyly, then turned back to the bike. She looked at him over her shoulder expectantly. “So, will I sit in front of you or behind? Do you have a preference? I think I prefer the front so that I can see where we’re going, but the back might be better. Less sand.”

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