by Erin Snihur
Standing, Tariq marches around his desk and grasps his sister chin. Kissing the top of her head, he smiles, “What have I done to deserve you as a sister? I can never repay you.”
Shrugging cheekily, Alia pokes Tariq in the chest, “I love gift cards to those fashion boutiques you hate so much.”
Rolling his eyes, Tariq pulls back and throws his arms up in the air, “You memorized my credit card number a long time ago, sister.”
Laughing, Alia pushes him towards the door, “Go to your wife, brother.”
Following her orders, Tariq strides out of his study. As he marches down the steps towards the large open doorways that lead to the palace’s private gardens. His friends appear from the other side of the receiving room, laughing and joking amongst themselves, their women not in sight.
Khalid is the first to see him and Tariq stops to greet the rest. Grinning at him, Khalid scans the area, “Off to see Sophie, then?”
Interest piqued, Tariq scanned the area, “Yes, I am. How is it you know this?”
Shrugging, Khalid motioned around them, “The wives and Sophie disappeared some time ago, giggling amongst themselves. I figure it has something to do with you.”
Amoz grins then, “Perhaps Sophie will dethrone you.”
Malik mutters under his breath, “Samara has much experience in that area.”
All men turn to Malik, eyebrows rising in question, but he just waves them off, “Go find your Sophie, Tariq, once you have, we can get our wives back to our rooms.”
Tariq had only just entered the gardens when his friend’s wives rush past him, giggling and laughing as they tell him to have a goodnight. Watching them scurry away, Tariq snorts. Meddling women.
Following the direction, they came from, Tariq notices the decorative red and green holiday lights point him in the direction of the large fountain that occupies the center of the garden. Spouting water up and down in all different directions, Tariq scans the area. Sophie isn’t here. But there is something sitting on the edge of the fountain’s marble. A small black box sits on a square of fabric. Stepping closer to the box, Tariq leans down and picks up the velvet box, scanning it for a label or indication of what is inside.
Looking around, Tariq sniffs the air slightly. He can smell Sophie’s sweet and lilac perfume. Smiling slightly, Tariq gazes down at the box as he murmurs loudly.
“I know you’re here, Sophie.”
The shuffling of feet and the shadows that follow Sophie’s figure around the fountain is what draws Tariq’s gaze away from the velvet box. Wearing a dark, red sleeveless dress that falls to hide her bare feet, Sophie smiles sheepishly in the muted light.
The tight fabric hugs her every curve as her hair spills down her shoulders and back in soft curls. Blushing at his intense gaze, Sophie steps closer into the light.
“Hi,” she whispers and bites her lip nervously.
“What are you doing, Sophie?” Tariq asks softly, turning his gaze from the beauty before him to the velvet box in his hand.
“Proving to you that I can be brave,” Sophie murmurs back and snatches the box from his hand. Grimacing, Sophie motions to her feet, “I couldn’t wear heels and kneel at the same time, so, without further ado.”
Before he can ask her what she is talking about, Sophie picks up her dress at midthigh and kneels in front of him on the cobblestone path that encircles the fountain. Staring down at her as she kneels before him, everything seems to click a moment too late for Tariq. He knows exactly what she is doing and why.
“Sophie, you don’t have to—,” Tariq begins but her fiery look has him halting his speech.
“You and I met during a time of war, of sadness and what we found in each other brought back the light. These past months we’ve lived together have been amazing. I suppose the first time you asked me to take the next step, marriage, I was stunned. I thought it would be too soon. I made excuses for my fear, allowing the darkness that had first kept us apart win. I can’t let that happen any longer. I love you, Tariq.”
Taking a breath, Sophie smiles, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she opens the velvet box, “Tariq, will you marry me?”
The ring inside the box is made for a man, obviously, and the jewel in the center of the intricately carved silver is golden and dark around the edges like the eye of a tiger. Looking from the ring to Sophie’s face, Tariq smiles softly, earning her a smile in return.
“No,” Tariq murmurs, shocking Sophie instantly.
“No?” Sophie repeats, her shoulders drooping slightly.
Leaning over to help her stand up, Tariq laughs slightly trying to alleviate her worry, “Sophie, I should never have doubted your love or your commitment to our relationship. For that, I apologize.”
Bringing her left hand up to his lips, Tariq kisses her knuckles softly.
“So, you won’t marry me?” Sophie breathlessly murmurs.
Grinning down at her, Tariq pulls her close, the ring box bumping against his chest as he orders, “Beg me, allasu alsaghir.”
Rising up on her tiptoes, Sophie leaves a trail of kisses from the corner of his mouth to his neck, “Please, Tariq, will you do me the honor in accepting my ring.”
Hardening at her words, Tariq plucks the ring from the box and slips it onto his ring finger with a teasing grin. Pulling Sophie tight against him as the ring box falls to the ground, Tariq growls low and deep in his throat.
“Merry Christmas indeed.”
The end… or is it?
Afterword
Thank you all for reading the sixth and final book in the Sheiks of the Arabian Coast Series. I hope you all enjoyed it and have a Merry Christmas.
Don’t forget to leave a review, as reviews fuel an authors fire!
The Sheikha’s Determined Prince
(Book 1 of the Sheikha’s of the Arabian Mountains Series)
Intent on proving to his family once and for all that all is forgiven, Maarku Majeed, Prince of Aman and brother to the Sheik of Aman, will do anything to finalize the alliance between Aman and Arabian country of Kulaz. What he doesn't anticipate, is the Sheikha of Kulaz will confound his angry heart and melt his cool exterior.
All Sheikha Amina Aqila of Kulaz wants is to prove to her father's advisors that she is the right ruler for Kulaz, as her deceased father intended. What she doesn't expect, is the cool and handsome Prince that is determined to set her heart aflame and ruin her plans to rule without the control of a man.
Amina soon realizes, she enjoys Maarku's control, just a bit too much.
INTERESTED? PRE-ORDER NOW! Click HERE!
About the Author
Erin Snihur is a proud Canadian Indie Author with a love for reading and writing. While working full-time you can often find Erin writing her next romance novel or hiking with her dog!
You can follow Erin’s journey via her newsletter! Click here for some amazing deals and giveaways!
Don’t forget to leave a review!
Also by Erin Snihur
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Curse of the InBetween (Book 1 of the InBetween Series)
Hero of the InBetween (Book 2 of the InBetween Series)
His Angelic Queen (Book 3 of the InBetween Series)
The Sheiks of the Arabian Coast Series
The Sheik’s Missing Mistress (Book 1)
The Sheik’s Forced Bride (Book 2)
The Sheik’s Pregnant Paramour (Book 3)
The Sheik’s Forgotten Princes (Book 4)
The Sheik’s Beautiful Thief (Book 5)
The Sheik’s Arabian Christmas (Book 6)
The Sheikha’s of the Arabian Mountains Series (NEW SERIES, PRE-ORDER NOW)
The Sheikha’s Determined Prince (Book 1 of the Sheikhas of the Arabian Mountains Series)
The Sheikha's Unforgettable Lover (Book 2 of the Sheikhas of the Arabian Mountains Series)
The Sheikha’s Seductive Protector (Book 3 of the Sheikhas of the Arabian Mountains Series)
The Sheikha’s Fi
erce Attraction (Book 4 of the Sheikhas of the Arabian Mountains Series)
The Sheikha’s Billionaire Advisor (Book 5 of the Sheikhas of the Arabian Mountains Series)
