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Strength surged through him, and he grunted through the last few inches and cleared the bar with his chin. Ellery’s back bumped against the bar.
“Yes!” he crowed.
The crowd exploded.
Derek released the bar, wrapping his arms around Ellery as he dropped to the mat and landed in an easy crouch. He straightened, holding her tight to his chest, her arms still wound around his neck and her legs around his waist. He’d just won the most important prize of his life and he refused to relinquish it.
Phones were out and pictures being taken. He didn’t care and hoped Ellery didn’t mind. His life was often posted online. He’d love to fulfill the rumors of him and Ellery being an item.
“Nice job, Ninja Prince,” Ellery teased.
She softened her grip on him. He didn’t want that to happen.
“Thanks,” he said, leaning in and whispering into her ear. “Maybe you should give me a kiss right now and come to the wedding with me.”
“I don’t think so.” She grinned, but her green eyes were wary again. “You’ll have to earn that kiss.”
“Give me any challenge and I’ll do it.”
She froze.
What had he said wrong? They were always doing challenges.
People were coming up to them now, slapping him on the shoulder and congratulating him. They had no idea how big of a prize he’d won from his spur-of-the-moment challenge. He wanted to shrug them all off and focus on Ellery.
“I’ll think of something impossible to complete,” Ellery teased, but there was something in her green eyes that he didn’t like. She released her grip and jumped from his arms.
He had to let her go. Dang it.
“Hey, Ellery. You ready to train?” Nash stood apart from the crowd, wearing a barely-there tank top and flexing slightly as he waited for Ellery. Derek had never liked the guy. Too cocky and annoying. At the moment, he wanted to shove the man to the ground, pick Ellery back up in his arms, and carry her off like the conquering hero before claiming a very long, delicious kiss from those lips he dreamed about.
“Yes, sir.” Ellery gave Derek one more look and then leaned back in. “I can take a week off for the wedding. When do you want to fly out?”
A week? This was fabulous news. She must’ve already planned on coming with him before their impromptu stunt if she’d arranged to take a week off. In the six months he’d known her, she’d only taken time off for essential qualifying Ninja Warrior competitions and the finals.
How quick could he get her passport like he’d bragged about? What other details did he need to think about? What about her mom, her work, her financial worries?
“I’ll get an appointment tomorrow morning for your passport and hopefully we can leave Tuesday night.” It was Thursday. He liked the idea of flying through the night and having as many daytime hours as he could with Ellery and his family in his castle and mountains and kingdom.
“All right. Alecia will know when I have an opening in my training schedule tomorrow. Bye.” She raised a hand and walked off with her client.
Derek watched her go. The crowd pressed in on him, congratulating him on the stunt, asking him questions about his brother’s upcoming wedding.
He tried to be kind to everyone who spoke to him. A lot of people wanted to talk to the ninja prince, and his mum had taught him that royalty was a responsibility and he was expected to behave as a kind prince and not a pompous one. He’d always been friendly and used his royal status to make others feel good about themselves. Right now, he couldn’t respond to anyone. He couldn’t do anything but watch Ellery walk away.
She’d impressed him so deeply with her selflessness, cheering Jaylene and himself on after she’d fallen. He loved her. He could admit that to himself, at least.
Did she care for him at all?
She had agreed to go to Augustine with him. That was fabulous news. Somehow in a week, with a royal wedding and his family wanting his and Ellery’s attention, he would make her fall in love with him in return.
It should be an easy quest for the ninja prince that women flung themselves at, but Ellery was different than any woman who’d pursued him. She was the right one for him, but she was reluctant and didn’t seem to think he was the right one for her.
Derek loved competition, and fighting hard to win Ellery’s heart was the most important quest he’d ever have. He’d win this challenge.
Her independence and reluctance should have been a barrier. Both made him admire and yearn for her even more.
Chapter Four
