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.
* * * * *
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 at the right times.
Where would I be without you?
MADDY GREEN was finding it hard to breathe. She lengthened her stride, eager to reach the rehearsal studio. She could almost feel the familiar smoothness of the barre beneath her hand and almost see the glint of bright lights in the mirrors and hear the regular scuff and thump of other dancers leaping and landing and twisting and turning around her.
She needed the comfort of the familiar very badly right now.
The double doors to the Sydney Dance Company’s rehearsal studio A came up on her left. She pushed through them and the scent of warm bodies, clean sweat and a dozen different deodorants and perfumes and aftershaves wrapped itself around her.
Home. She was home.
“Maddy! How did your doctor’s appointment go?” Kendra asked the moment she spotted Maddy.
The other dancers turned toward her, faces expectant. Maddy forced herself to smile and shrug casually.
“It’s all good,” she said. “No problems.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the other thing. Saying it out loud would make it real. And for just a few more minutes, she wanted to lose herself in the world that had held her enthralled since, at the age of four, she first saw a picture of a ballerina.
Kendra flew across the room to give her a hug, her slender arms strong around Maddy’s back.
“Fantastic. Great news. The best,” she said.
The other woman’s gauzy rehearsal skirt flared around her legs as she returned to her place in the center of the room. Kendra was only twenty-two. She had her whole career ahead of her. She was a beautiful dancer—powerful, delicate, emotional, intense. She would soar.
Maddy
