The Proposal
SIMBA
It has barely been a year since his return home. Out of respect to the Pride Lands, he decided to postpone his coronation ceremony. His workload was heavy and he was so tired that he couldn't remember at what time he fell asleep. He just passed out as soon as his body touched the bed. Of course, his mother was there to help him adjust to his new kingly duties, but it was a lot to catch up on. He desperately wanted to spend more time with Nala, but their outings were often interrupted. He couldn't go incognito even if he wanted to. His people knew him. The media made sure of that. Eventually, he got used to people taking pictures of him. They greeted him happily, which reassured him that he was doing his job the right way. Suddenly, his morning coffee went down the wrong pipe when he stumbled upon a picture of him and Nala online. It must've been taken last Sunday when they managed to catch a quick brunch break. But it wasn't just any picture. It was a picture of them embracing. Their foreheads were pressed together. At this moment he felt like a failure for not protecting her from the public eye. She was still a regular lioness with a normal life that couldn't leave her house in peace because of him. Let's hope they don't ruin tonight.
He booked out the best restaurant in the city and every staff member had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. They promised him to cover the windows with their thickest curtains. A month before that, he made a private appointment with a jewelry shop owner to pick out an engagement ring for Nala. He anxiously made him sign a non-disclosure agreement as well. No one could find out about this. Not even their mothers. He wanted it to be a complete surprise. Nala already told him that she loved him, but would she love this kind of life?
„Sire, the Prime Minister will arrive earlier as you requested. We should be done before five o'clock." Zazu opened the door of Simba's study room after carefully knocking.
„Good." Simba said and stood up. „Zazu, please ditch the formalities when we're alone."
„Sorry, I forgot." He smiled. „I still don't think it's smart to drive by yourself tonight." Simba rolled his eyes.
„My guards will be right behind me. They will be driving multiple cars while maintaining an appropriate distance. This needs to be organic. When people see so many of them together, people know it's me who's coming. I need to be alone. Or, as alone as possible." He explained.
„Yes, I understand." Zazu said.
„Nala knows at what time she needs to wait for me in front of her house. She will just jump in the car. And you know how she is with time. More punctual than me." He chuckled. „I just want us to feel normal."
NALA
„It's so romantic how you'll be the only two people in the restaurant." Sarafina remarked and smiled lovingly at her daughter, who was still recovering from her night shift at the hospital. She had taken the night shift so that she could be free for the weekend. Excitement was slowly pushing away the exhaustion. That and a strong cup of coffee Sarafina brewed for her. She would take all the time in the world to get ready. A new dark blue dress with long sleeves was already laid out on her bed. It would have to be paired with a coat because it was winter. She was excited for Simba to see it.
„It is. It's been a while since we've had a proper meal together. It's always something quick. He's working hard. I admire it."
„He has proven himself to be a compassionate King. Just like his father before him." Sarafina stated. „Do you think he will pop the question tonight?" she chuckled. Nala's eyes widened.
„I'm sure we're just enjoying each other's company for now." She couldn't even convince herself with that statement. „Maybe." She added.
„Look at what I saw this morning." Sarafina showed her their picture together that already went viral. People were gushing over them on all social media platforms. Nala blushed.
„I really don't feel comfortable with this. I mean, how are we different from other couples? Isn't privacy something we deserve?"
„My dear Nala, you are exchanging kisses with the King. And you want privacy? That doesn't go together!" Sarafina laughed. Nala felt stupid.
„I guess..." she muttered.
„Dating isn't something you do when one of you is head of state. I remember the paparazzi going after me and Sarabi. We were laughing so hard. At that time, Mufasa wasn't even King yet. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
„I need to get ready. Look at how tired I look!" she exclaimed. Before Sarafina could reply, Nala stormed into her bathroom upstairs. She drew herself a bath and complemented it with a pink rose-scented bath bomb. This was followed by removing her dead skin cells with a scrub from the same collection. To top it all off, she massaged shea butter into her fur to condition it and make it wonderfully soft.
„You're taking longer than usual." Mheetu remarked when she went to grab a snack from the kitchen. She was wearing her long bathrobe. „It's almost as if you're expecting something." He teased.
„I still need to do my makeup." She hurriedly swallowed the last piece of her protein bar and sighed dramatically. Well, she was expecting something. She had to be honest with herself. After stumbling upon her „presumed dead" best friend in Maua Mazuri, things haven't been the same. All the emotions connected to him had to be swept under the rug for over a decade. Suddenly, he is not dead anymore, but very much alive and those emotions emerge to the surface. All the precious memories of him came back to her at that moment. Everything combined lit a spark between them. Yes, yes, I want to marry him. Why is he taking so long? What if he doesn't plan to marry me? Oh, don't be ridiculous, Nala, look at how he acts around you! Tonight, I need to be cool as ice. Not too cool or he'll think that I don't care. Cool enough for him not to feel pressured. He cannot see me as desperate! Maybe he just wants to talk to me. Oh, I hope we fuck tonight. Her eyes widened at her train of thought and she went tomato red.
SIMBA
To his advantage, the days were shorter than nights. It was 6:59 pm when he parked in front of Nala's house. He told them not to open the driveway gate because that would cost them additional minutes. His security personnel parked a couple of houses down. Nala's house wasn't too far away from the palace and it was located in one of the richer neighborhoods in the city. The door opened and Nala slipped out of the house. Her high heels didn't stop her from running towards the car.
„Go!" she laughed as she closed the car door. She took a couple of seconds to adjust her clothes.
„I feel like a burglar." He chuckled at her and scanned her. She looked stunning.
„What are you waiting for? Go!" she was blushing.
„Oh, no. You need to pay the driver."
„C'mon, your Highness, knock it off." She teased back. He leaned in. She pressed her lips against his.
„Off we go, Madame." He said and drove away from her house.
„How's work?" she asked.
„I met the new prime minister today. He seems like an alright guy. I think we'll get along."
„He's quite young and might have some good ideas. We need young people to lead this country." Nala said.
„Yeah, I agree. I can't do this on my own, right?" he hoped she would take this subtle hint.
„No great King can be on his own." She continued. „You look handsome." During their drive, he was carefully checking his rear-view mirror to make sure no one was following them. As soon as he parked the car in front of the restaurant, he rushed outside in the cold. His coat was in the backseat and he was only wearing one of his more casual suits. He quickly opened Nala's door and reached out his paw for her. Meanwhile, his bodyguards kept a respectful distance from them. Some of them already assigned themselves the duty to stand outside the restaurant.
„We can take our time tonight." He said. „Let me help you with this." he helped Nala remove her coat. The color of the dress complemented her complexion beautifully. He deliberately brushed his paws against her back. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
„How was your day?" he asked.
„I had a night shift yesterday. Plus, this is my golden weekend. Which means I've got both days off. Isn't that nice?"
„Did you get any sleep at all?"
„Not the ideal eight hours, but maybe four or five." She said. „I'm fine. One patient rang the bell of victory today. He is officially cancer-free."
„That's great news. We can toast to that."
„And to the Pride Lands slowly regaining their former glory." She added.
„And to us." She blushed at that comment. That was all the confirmation he needed.
„We have prepared a special menu for you today. To start you off, we will bring out our fresh pumpkin soup. Scallops are one of our specialties we hope you will love. As the main dish, our finest steak with potatoes and veggies on the side. I always need to point this out to everyone: the steak is, of course, 3D-printed and fresh out of the laboratory. For dessert, we have chocolate cake as we've heard that it's Lady Nala's favorite. Enjoy your evening." The restaurant owner told them. He was a middle-aged leopard.
„Did you hear him call me 'lady Nala'?" Nala burst into laughter after she made sure no one could hear them. „Did you tell them about the chocolate cake?" he was proud of himself. He wanted her to see that he paid attention to everything concerning her. „I'll take that smile as a yes."
„You know, my mom kept some of my father's notes and documents. She gave them to me yesterday. I think they will help tremendously. I still double-check everything I write or sign."
„Do you remember how your dad allowed you to put his royal seal on a letter once? You wouldn't shut up about it at school."
„It's not as fun when you do it every day. It's a relief that the Pride Lands are improving. People have started to move back."
„Yeah, I noticed that. You're doing an amazing job. But I wasn't expecting anything other than that from you."
„I don't have any room to make mistakes. At least, not in public." He gently blew on his soup.
„You can make mistakes. If anything, it makes you more relatable. Just don't make the same mistakes Scar did." She joked.
„His mistakes are illogical to me, honestly. For someone who used to brag about their intelligence all the time, he did a poor job." He laughed it off.
„This soup is amazing. I like how they added pumpkin seeds for an extra crunch." Nala said. „Hey, do you have a date for your coronation, yet? The Pride Lands are in dire need to celebrate something."
„Not really. That's the last thing on my agenda right now. My status is official and I need to take care of other stuff before any major celebration." She didn't take her eyes off him while sipping on red wine.
„Like what?" she asked bluntly. Nala always cuts through the chase.
„I was thinking of modernizing the palace a bit." He already refurbished his bedroom and study room to remove every trace of Scar. „You know I'm a sucker for aesthetics. Speaking of which, you look gorgeous tonight."
„I've never had scallops before." She remarked as the plate was placed in front of her.
„Then you're in for a real treat. Put some garlic butter sauce on them." He said. „I know you're probably wondering why this night's a bit extra. Honestly, I just miss spending more time with you. I have a feeling that we haven't eaten a proper meal together since my return. Everything's so chaotic."
„You needed time to adjust to your new responsibilities. I'm grateful for every second we spend together. Don't worry about it."
„I made sure everyone knew that you were responsible for bringing me back. And I plan to remind them every year. You did so much for the Pride Lands...and for me. You deserve more."
„Simba, it was my duty." Her eyes widened at the steak brought in front of her. It was cooked to perfection. He took two big gulps of wine. Anxiety made all of his heat concentrate in his chest, leaving his fingertips cold. I hope she accepts.
„I love you Nala. With all my heart." He said. She smiled warmly and put her paw on top of his.
„I love you, too. Always have."
„Nala, I can't do any of this alone. I wouldn't have become King and the truth wouldn't have come out if it weren't for you. You are a gift to your people and to me." He stood up and promptly bent his knee in front of her. Her eyes were becoming teary. „I am offering you my gift tonight. With this ring, I promise to stand by your side no matter what. I promise to love you and to cherish you even beyond death. There is no one else I would rather see carrying the Queen crown on her head other than you. Honestly, Nala, I can't live life without you. Will you marry me?" tears were falling from her eyes and without saying a word, she let him slip the ring onto her finger. The large diamond shone brightly under the restaurant chandelier. She stood up and motioned for him to do the same.
„Yes." She said and embraced him. They shared a deep kiss.
„There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you"
It was their song. He arranged for the restaurant to play it if Nala accepted. They also brought golden champagne.
„Can you feel the love tonight?
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we've got this far"
She was looking at him the way she did in Maua Mazuri. He got completely lost in her aquamarine eyes. They danced slowly to the rhythm of the song while looking deeply into each other's eyes.
„Cake." She mouthed to him happily as the waiters put down the final dish on their table. The restaurant owner came with them and held out his paw for Simba.
„Your Majesty. I am delighted that you have chosen our restaurant for this special occasion. Congratulations to you and your future Queen." He bowed to both of them. „I promise, I won't say a word about this." At this point, Simba hardly cared about people finding out. He just wanted their respective families to know before everyone else. People were already speculating things online.
„Thank you for helping me arrange this." He shook the owner's paw. „Let's get this to go and get out of here." He whispered into her ear.
NALA
Finally! The day has come!
„Let's get this to go and get out of here." She shivered at the way he said that. She couldn't stop looking at the ring on their way out.
„Did I get it right?" he asked while signaling to his bodyguards that it was time to leave.
„It's perfect." She stumbled, but he caught her swiftly and helped her get into the car. She loved the way he cared about her. He made her feel special. „Let's celebrate." She touched his thigh when he sat himself in the driver's seat.
„Text our mothers that you'll spend the night at the palace. My mom went to visit yours shortly after I left." He said and kissed her paw.
„Good thing I have some of my stuff there." She remarked.
Nala's feet were killing her. Her legs were failing to support her. Simba noticed and scooped her up.
„Dismissed." He ordered the bodyguards and entered the palace with Nala chuckling in his arms. He let her go briefly so he could put the to-go package with cake on the table. She took her coat off and hung it in a big wardrobe in the hallway.
„Your Highness, I'm really struggling with my zipper." She moaned and rushed towards the stairs that led to his bedroom. His eyes widened. When he reached her she lifted one of her legs up and pretended to push him away with her heel. With the tip of her heel, she stroked his thigh and then his groin. To her surprise, he grabbed her leg forcefully and put it around himself. With one of his claws, he ripped her nude-colored tights. Then, he undid her dress. She wanted to tease him and didn't slip out of it. Instead, she walked away from him and removed her heels together with what remained of her tights. To his surprise, she then removed her panties and tossed them in his direction. He caught them and inhaled her scent.
„You get ready fast." He commented. Her panties were wet. He started to remove his clothes. She let her dress fall on the floor. She then walked up to him and gave him a wet kiss. His groan turned her on. She slid one paw into his unbuckled pants and stroked him gently. Bingo. Rock-hard. He moaned loudly and his eyes rolled back. She stopped abruptly to remove her bra. Standing there naked in front of him made her feel close to him. It made her feel vulnerable. Without saying another word, she sat on the bed and got on all fours with her rear turned towards him. She then raised it higher in the air while lowering her chest and waist towards the mattress. Usually, she didn't like being told what to do. She liked to do things her way. But when she let him have control in the bedroom, it was pure ecstasy for her. He was slowly approaching her from behind, breathing heavily. His warm breath caressed her lower back. He spread her legs even more. He gently parted her lower lips with his tongue and got a good taste of her. She moaned.
„You like that, huh?" he asked and planted a kiss on her lower back.
„My King..."That was all Nala managed to say. The feel of his tongue on her most sensitive area rendered her unable to speak. He inserted himself inside of her without warning.
„You're mine. Forever mine." He said in between thrusts.
She liked the idea of being his. He was the love of her life and she couldn't wait to marry him.
In my Anthro world of the Lion King, Nala is a nurse at the hospital just like her mother. Maua Mazuri represents the jungle. More about this will be depicted in one of my upcoming stories which will have more than 20 chapters.