The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) (18 page)
Read The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) Online
Authors: Cara Albany
Malik reached across and took Lana's hand, lifting it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand and Lana heard gasps from the crowd of onlookers.
Lana glanced nervously at the guests and saw a mixture of smiles and disbelieving looks. Lana saw Malik raise his gaze as his lips hovered against the back of her hand. He looked straight into her eyes, searching for something, a burning curiosity on his face. Lana left her hand settled in Malik's tender grasp. She could feel her hand begin to shake imperceptibly.
The tangle of nerves in her middle was twisting with exquisite discomfort.
Malik lifted his head and faced Lana directly. When he spoke, his voice was steady and filled with purpose. "Lana. I've come to ask you for something precious, something beyond price. You already know what I feel for you. I think I've made that plain in the brief time we've known one another."
Lana tried to smile but for some reason, she was so transfixed by Malik that she couldn't even force herself to give him that encouragement. The truth was, he didn't need any further encouragement. Not from Lana. Not from anyone.
Her heart was beating faster, now. The blood was racing through her veins. There was a roaring in her ears as she waited for him to continue. Why was he taking so long? Why couldn't he just come out with it?
She saw Malik glance awkwardly toward the faraway entrance. Lana followed his gaze and saw Rafiq standing at the entrance. There was a broad smile on Rafiq's face. The brothers had arranged this, she realized. It had already been agreed, and Rafiq was waiting to claim his own bride.
Malik looked back at Lana, and their eyes met, locked in that familiar, passionate connection she had come to know so well in recent days.
"Lana. I know I probably have no right to ask you this, but if I don't, then I will never be able to continue living. You mean everything to me. You have conquered my heart and filled my soul with a delight I never knew possible."
Lana gasped. Her breathing was becoming shorter by the moment.
Malik leaned closer to Lana and whispered. "Habibti."
The sound of that word brought gasps from some of the women in the room. Lana held Malik's gaze and saw something there she had never thought to see in another's eyes.
Love.
"I know I hardly deserve your love, but if you consent to my request, I promise a future of loyalty, happiness and trust."
He'd said one of the words that until now had tortured her. Trust. Gazing into Malik's eyes, Lana knew she could trust him. He was a sheikh and a noble, proud man, a primal presence whose life would be defined by the keeping of promises. If Malik promised to love and care for her, that was good enough for Lana.
She knew that now. She felt it in her soul.
Malik lifted up Lana's hand and placed it upon his chest. She could feel his heart beating, and she nearly smiled when she realized his heart was racing almost as fast as hers. Just touching him like that, Lana felt a connection, sensed a link established between them both.
Malik gazed deeply into Lana's eyes and spoke. "Lana. Will you do me the honor of agreeing to become my wife."
There were more gasps from the onlookers, but they didn't matter any longer to Lana. All she could see was Malik gazing at her with such love and adoration on his features. He was a man possessed; a man obsessed. With Lana.
Lana glanced quickly at Mia and saw a look of joyous excitement on her friend's face. Mia's eyes were wide and bright with expectation. She looked like she was fit to burst.
Lana looked at Malik, who also looked like the wait for an answer was about to make him explode.
She knew in that instant that everything had been leading up to this. The kiss in New York had only been destiny's first move in bringing her to this man, this wonderful sheikh.
Lana nodded. "I will marry you, Malik," Lana said. The words were so simple and yet so momentous. Joy filled her body. Every nerve ignited with delight at the fulfilment of her own destiny.
Malik threw his head back and let out a visceral groan of delight.
Then his head dipped, and his lips crashed down upon hers. It was a kiss that sealed a fate. Away, far off in the distance, Lana heard the guests break out into spontaneous applause, but the sound couldn't compete with the sensations that coursed through her system.
She was where she belonged.
In Malik's arms.
Although the kiss was brief, to Lana it seemed to last an eternity.
When at last their lips parted, Lana gazed into Malik's eyes and saw utter adoration there. She knew that the future was bright, knew that he meant every word he'd said.
"I love you, Malik," Lana murmured. His eyes widened with delight. He smiled, triumphant.
He leaned closer to her and his gaze took possession of her. "I love you, Lana."
For a moment, it was if they were the only people in the world. All she could see was the love in his gaze, the complete and utter adoration. She bathed in the sensations that swept over her.
Lana dragged herself back to the present and turned to Mia. Both friends hugged one another. Then Mia turned to look at Rafiq, who was still standing at the far doorway. "I think someone's waiting to get married," Mia said with a grin.
Lana smiled. Malik held her hand as they both turned and looked out across the room. "I don't think he can wait much longer," Lana said.
Malik gazed at Lana. "He's not the only one who can't wait to get married."
Lana smiled at Malik. They would have to wait. A few weeks at least. She was sure that Malik would want his own wedding to be as special as his brother's. And what a wedding it promised to be, Lana reflected. She suddenly felt like she had intruded upon Mia's special day, but her friend hugged her once more and whispered into Lana's ear. "I'm so happy for you, Lana."
Lana felt the tears begin to moisten her own eyes.
Malik seemed to notice Lana's emotion. He released his future bride's hand and smiled at Mia. "I think there's a wedding to get on with, don't you, Mia?"
Mia nodded. "There'll be time enough for you two, in a few weeks."
Then Malik kissed Lana on the cheek and started to make his way back to the far end of the room, where Rafiq was waiting to make his entrance.
Now it was time for Mia to seize her destiny., Lana thought. Now was Mia's moment.
Lana took hold of Mia's hand and looked toward the sheikhs at the far end of the room.
She saw Rafiq and Malik start to make their way toward them.
Lana watched her future husband walk beside his brother. They both looked like wild desert sheikhs. Their glorious white robes and headdresses made them look as if they had stepped out of a dream.
But, for Lana, it was a dream that would never end. She knew that now.
It was the beginning of a real destiny filled with love and hope and happiness.
And she couldn't wait for it all to begin.
THE END
ALSO AVAILABLE
Book 1 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series. Three brothers and their search for love
A Second Chance For The Sheikh To Claim His Lost Love
Feisty and determined, Chloe Stirling had once loved and lost Sheikh Zayed Al Kharif. But that is all in the past now.
Or, is it?
Chloe's work brings her to Zayed's kingdom where she must find a way to resist a former lover who will not be denied.
Zayed is an untamed Sheikh determined not to waste this chance to possess the only woman he has ever loved. Forced to abandon her once before, he's not about to make the same mistake again. He will use everything he can to win her back, even if Chloe is determined to deny him a second chance.
Can Zayed seize his second chance at love, and overcome the barriers to finding a happy ever after with a woman who is now so close to becoming the love of his life?
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
Book 2 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series
Enemies in public. Lovers in private.
Feisty Ella Brant never thought that the sheikh she had come to expose and publicly shame would become more than an enemy. He would become her lover.
Sheikh Raz Al Kharif has been happy for every woman to believe that he's a man who can't be tamed. Life has been too good to allow any woman to bring him to his knees and marry.
But, Ella isn't just any woman. She's not just another pretend future wife.
The spirited American woman has made it her mission to teach Raz a very important lesson. Can she do it while keeping the sheikh at bay?
Can Raz break down the barriers between himself and the amazing woman who is driving him to distraction? And, can he stop her from turning his world upside down?
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
Book 3 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series.
REUNION WITH THE SHEIKH FOR A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.
Independent business woman, Zoe Smith never thought she'd have to ask her former lover Sheikh Tariq Al Kharif to honor the promise he'd made to her years before. But, when her world is turned upside down she has no choice but to demand that the Sheikh keep his word.
Even if it means entering into a marriage of convenience.
Sheikh Tariq can still remember the passion he once felt for the feisty American. Now she's back in his kingdom and she has a dangerous proposal. When he rejects it, the woman who never took no for an answer gives him little choice but to accept a temporary arranged marriage.
One year of marriage. No intimacy allowed.
Now that they're back together, sharing a palace and a bed, can they both resist their reawakened attraction? Can the sheikh overcome the resistance of his rebellious bride?
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
Book 4 in the Qazhar Sheikhs series
UNREQUITED LOVE FOR A POWERFUL, UNTAMED SHEIKH.
Smart and professional, Mia Watson never believed she'd be reunited with the handsome sheikh who once mercilessly played with her emotions during a summer she would never forget.
Her older brother's best friend, Sheikh Rafiq, left an indelible memory on Mia, and she is determined to move on with her life.
Sheikh Rafiq Al Kharif, cousin to the recently married Al Kharif brothers, has a problem. He has recently avoided an unwanted arranged marriage and is in no hurry to fall into that trap any time soon. However, when a crisis looms he must rely on a beautiful, feisty woman he once drove to distraction. And she hasn't forgiven him.
He was captivated before by her innocence. Now she's captured his heart again.
But when he gets the chance to sweep her off her feet, he finds she's far less willing than before. That isn't about to stop him. Once she's in his palace, Rafiq is sure that Mia won't be able to resist him, even if she's still pretending to be the innocent.
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride. I hope you enjoyed it.There will be further volumes of Sheikh romances over the coming months . If you would like to know when future books are available please sign up for my new release email newsletter.
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Also, if you would like to leave a review of the book, positive or otherwise, on Amazon I would be very grateful.
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Cara
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride © 2016 Cara Albany