The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) by Cara Albany Page A
Book: The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) by Cara Albany
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Authors: Cara Albany
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by the open neck of the dress. She wore a pair of flat shoes that Malik just knew wouldn't be right for walking in the desert. Anyway, they wouldn't be traveling across the dunes. That wouldn't be necessary where they were going.
When he'd called at the palace for Lana, midway through the morning, she'd been waiting on the steps in front of the open door. Her arms had been folded, her feet had been tapping impatiently, and she had glared at him as he'd slid the powerful car to a halt at the foot of the steps.
Malik thought she looked wonderful. There was something about Lana when she was angry that made his body firm with desire. Seeing her standing there had just made that familiar tension harden his resolve even more.
He'd been grateful that at least some of his early morning preparations had paid off. Rafiq must have explained everything to Mia and then Mia had taken Lana in hand and made sure she was ready for the trip.
Once they had put Lana's bags in the back of the car, and secured Lana in the vehicle, Malik had driven them away from the palace as fast as he could. No sense in giving anyone a chance to change their mind.
Now, they were well on their way to their destination, a place that promised to answer so many questions and resolve issues that had consumed Malik's mind.
Malik stared ahead. They would be coming to the point in the road where he'd have to make a decision. Just like he'd made a decision the night before, when he'd been racking his brains trying to come up with a solution to his problems. The answer had eluded him at first. He'd tormented himself during a few sleepless hours. At last, the solution had drifted into his mind as if some invisible stranger had gently placed it at the front of his mind, like a desperately needed gift.
When he'd realized what to do, he'd laughed out loud. His father would approve of such a solution, he'd told himself. It promised to provide Malik with a means to show everyone that he had decisively turned his back on the past; that he was willing to seize his destiny; that he was everything his father wanted in a son.
A sheikh and a man of responsibility, respectful of the past.
But, it would be difficult. Because, what he needed to do was overcome the barrier between himself and Lana. He was about to sweep away his own obstacle, the reluctance to accept his role in life, to be the man he knew he should be.
But, would he be able to conquer Lana's mistrust of him? Because, after last night on the beach, it was clear to Malik that Lana had pushed him away out of a sense of unease, a lack of belief in him. And that he had to deal with. Decisively and emphatically.
There was only one place where had even the slightest hope of achieving that. The same place his ancestors had inhabited for so many aeons; the same domain of power that his forefathers had used to define themselves, to declare themselves men and sheikhs.
The desert.
That would be the place where Malik would stake his claim. There he would take possession of Lana, seize what he knew to be his. And, in the process, make Lana the princess he knew she was destined to be. By his side for all time.
He glanced across at Lana and felt his heart quicken. She was staring defiantly ahead, a passion in her eyes that merely served to stiffen his resolve.
Lana would be his. It would take one night. It wouldn't be easy, but Malik knew he could match Lana's defiance with an equally powerful determination of his own.
Malik had one objective. To return from the desert with Lana as the woman he had promised to make his bride.
****
The car jolted from side to side and Lana grasped the handle above the door, trying to steady herself. Tumbling down the last dune had almost thrown Lana out of her seat and into Malik's lap. That wouldn't do, she told herself. Not at all.
Who was she kidding? Malik's lap looked dangerously enticing. His narrow hips were firmly planted on the leather seats. More than once
When he'd called at the palace for Lana, midway through the morning, she'd been waiting on the steps in front of the open door. Her arms had been folded, her feet had been tapping impatiently, and she had glared at him as he'd slid the powerful car to a halt at the foot of the steps.
Malik thought she looked wonderful. There was something about Lana when she was angry that made his body firm with desire. Seeing her standing there had just made that familiar tension harden his resolve even more.
He'd been grateful that at least some of his early morning preparations had paid off. Rafiq must have explained everything to Mia and then Mia had taken Lana in hand and made sure she was ready for the trip.
Once they had put Lana's bags in the back of the car, and secured Lana in the vehicle, Malik had driven them away from the palace as fast as he could. No sense in giving anyone a chance to change their mind.
Now, they were well on their way to their destination, a place that promised to answer so many questions and resolve issues that had consumed Malik's mind.
Malik stared ahead. They would be coming to the point in the road where he'd have to make a decision. Just like he'd made a decision the night before, when he'd been racking his brains trying to come up with a solution to his problems. The answer had eluded him at first. He'd tormented himself during a few sleepless hours. At last, the solution had drifted into his mind as if some invisible stranger had gently placed it at the front of his mind, like a desperately needed gift.
When he'd realized what to do, he'd laughed out loud. His father would approve of such a solution, he'd told himself. It promised to provide Malik with a means to show everyone that he had decisively turned his back on the past; that he was willing to seize his destiny; that he was everything his father wanted in a son.
A sheikh and a man of responsibility, respectful of the past.
But, it would be difficult. Because, what he needed to do was overcome the barrier between himself and Lana. He was about to sweep away his own obstacle, the reluctance to accept his role in life, to be the man he knew he should be.
But, would he be able to conquer Lana's mistrust of him? Because, after last night on the beach, it was clear to Malik that Lana had pushed him away out of a sense of unease, a lack of belief in him. And that he had to deal with. Decisively and emphatically.
There was only one place where had even the slightest hope of achieving that. The same place his ancestors had inhabited for so many aeons; the same domain of power that his forefathers had used to define themselves, to declare themselves men and sheikhs.
The desert.
That would be the place where Malik would stake his claim. There he would take possession of Lana, seize what he knew to be his. And, in the process, make Lana the princess he knew she was destined to be. By his side for all time.
He glanced across at Lana and felt his heart quicken. She was staring defiantly ahead, a passion in her eyes that merely served to stiffen his resolve.
Lana would be his. It would take one night. It wouldn't be easy, but Malik knew he could match Lana's defiance with an equally powerful determination of his own.
Malik had one objective. To return from the desert with Lana as the woman he had promised to make his bride.
****
The car jolted from side to side and Lana grasped the handle above the door, trying to steady herself. Tumbling down the last dune had almost thrown Lana out of her seat and into Malik's lap. That wouldn't do, she told herself. Not at all.
Who was she kidding? Malik's lap looked dangerously enticing. His narrow hips were firmly planted on the leather seats. More than once
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