The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) (19 page)

Since their parting Mia had tried to keep herself busy, determined to drive all thoughts of Rafiq out of her mind. Work healed all wounds, or at least that was what she kept on telling herself. It had worked to some extent. But, some wounds just didn't seem to heal. Activity could only make you forget during the daytime hours.

But nights were a whole different ball game. Since returning from Qazhar her nights had been a torment, a continual struggle to find sleep, a battle with dreams of Rafiq, memories of his every touch, his sheer male presence. She was sure she looked ragged, and she had seen the dark rings beneath her eyes every morning in the bathroom mirror.

Brad had noticed the change in Mia. She could tell by the worried looks he'd been giving her since her return, but he had refrained from asking any awkward questions. Brad had known all about Mia and Rafiq's encounter during that lazy English summer. However, just as before, her brother had been the soul of discretion and had never pressed her for an explanation.

Brad leaned back in his chair. "I'm glad everything has been sorted out," he said. "And Rafiq is pleased, too. In fact, he so pleased that he's coming to London for a brief visit."

Panic stabbed at Mia. "Coming to London?"

Brad nodded. "It's strange. Last week, after you came back, he seemed strange. Not quite himself. In fact, I don't think I've ever known Rafiq to be so down." Brad peered at Mia. "I can't think what might have caused him to be like that."

Mia lowered her eyes. "I can't imagine," she said quietly. "As you say, he's usually so upbeat about everything."

"With his wealth and privilege I don't blame him," Brad said.

Mia sighed. "If you don't need me, I'll be getting going."

Brad frowned. "Where are you going?"

Mia hesitated. "I have some errands to run. You don't mind if I take some time off do you?"

Brad shook his head. "I do, in fact."

"What do you mean?"

Brad looked at his watch. "Rafiq will be here any minute."

Mia leaped up out of her seat. "I have to be going," she said abruptly.

The intercom buzzed and Brad pushed the button. "Yes?"

"Mr Al Kharif is in reception, sir," the secretary said.

Brad smiled at Mia. "Send him in," he said to his secretary.

Mia felt her face flush, felt the rising panic start to overwhelm her. She had to get out somehow; had to avoid meeting Rafiq. But she knew she was trapped. She'd just have to face him down.

Moments later the door to the conference room opened and Rafiq entered, his gaze sweeping the room quickly. He saw Mia and his gaze fixed upon her.

Brad moved around the table, went to Rafiq and shook his hand. Rafiq glanced at Brad briefly and then turned his piercing gaze back upon Mia.

"Rafiq. Good to see you," Brad said, seemingly oblivious to what was going on between Mia and Rafiq.

Rafiq greeted Brad but she could see the distraction in Rafiq's demeanor.

Mia felt rooted to the spot. Rafiq looked so amazingly gorgeous in his dark suit. He looked powerful and his presence already filled the room. His eyes had a sparkle to them that lay in sharp contrast to the sadness which she'd seen in them as the plane doors had closed.

Brad released Rafiq's hand and glanced across at Mia. She saw an understanding flicker in her brother's eyes. She saw him frown slightly and then glance back at Rafiq. After a few moments, Brad excused himself saying he had to go and speak with his secretary for a moment. Brad closed the door behind him and then Mia and Rafiq were alone. Once again they were together. There was no escaping him.
 

Mia shifted awkwardly and tried not to meet Rafiq's powerfully intense gaze.

Finally he took a few steps toward Mia. "It's good to see you, Mia."

Mia glanced at Rafiq. "And to see you too, Rafiq. How have you been?"

She heard him draw in a deep breath. He took another step closer to her. "I have missed you, terribly."

Mia frowned. "Let's not begin that again, Rafiq," she pleaded. "Brad tells me you have set up a program to help Naima do her fine work in her own kingdom. Is that true?"

Rafiq nodded. "It's true. Once things were explained to me, it seemed like the right thing to do."

"That's good. I'm glad everything has worked out. Now, if you don't mind I have some things to attend to." Mia started to move around Rafiq but he blocked her path. Mia gazed into Rafiq's eyes and saw the passion in them, the familiar determination. It set off alarm bells and she knew she had to get out of the room before things went from bad to worse. But, that wasn't true, was it? It wasn't bad to see Rafiq again. In fact, it was quite the opposite, she told herself firmly.

Mia looked at Rafiq's face. How could she have forgotten how handsome he was, how incredibly vital and alive he looked? Once again she was reminded that he existed in a different world, a world she would never know anything about. She'd had a taste of that world and she felt burned. She gasped quietly. If only that burning hadn't been so very enjoyable, she told herself.

Mia found herself unable to move. She was transfixed by the sheer hypnotic power of Rafiq's gaze, the vital force of his closeness. Mia tried to hide her doubts, sought to disguise the sudden, visceral effect he was having on her. She felt something weaken inside her, and a familiar need rose to the surface, a desire so powerful if caused her body to lean toward Rafiq.

Then he swept her in his arms and his lips crashed down upon hers, a punishing kiss that allowed no negotiation, no rebuttal. She sank into his embrace, feeling the earth move beneath her, feeling the tightness of his grasp as a welcoming return to something she had tried to deny, but was now determined not to lose.

His lips were hungry, and his tongue a probing, ravenous presence that set every one of her nerves aflame. She gasped and he released her, gazing deep into her eyes, searching for a sign. She felt that he was trying to find doubt, trying to be sure that he could proceed.
 

But, with what?

"Habibti," he murmured against her lips. "You are my beloved, my true love," he whispered.

Her heart raced to a thundering beat. Life coursed through her in this moment and she knew what she said next would determine her destiny.

Their destiny.

Mia drew in a sharp breath. She felt his hard body against hers, and savored the protective firmness of it, the all-consuming masculinity.

Rafiq gazed into her eyes and there was such love there that she was momentarily taken aback by the sheer intensity of it.

"These past few days have been hell on earth for me, Mia," Rafiq declared.

Mia smiled. "And for me, too, Rafiq."

"Really?" he asked stroking her hair gently.

Mia nodded. "Really?"

Rafiq smiled leaned his head forward planting a gentle kiss on Mia's forehead. The gentle touch of his lips on her skin made her tingle even more. His scent was overwhelming and she laid her head against his shoulder.

Rafiq held her like that for a few moments and then shifted, peering down at her face. "I love you, Mia," he said suddenly.
 

Mia gasped, her eyes widening. Time seemed to stand still. Could it be true? Could this astonishing man actually love her? Faint tendrils of doubt twitched in her mind, trying to seize the moment, attempting to snatch her happiness away from her, but with an emphatic snap she thrust them to the abyss where they belonged.

Mia gazed up into Rafiq's eyes. He was waiting for her to say the words. She could see that.
 

"And, I love you, Rafiq," she whispered, almost disbelieving that she could utter such words at all. But she had said them and she saw just how much they had meant to Rafiq. His eyes lit up and his mouth opened into a broad, ecstatic smile. The color of his face changed, the flush of excitement suddenly transforming his entire appearance.

Then, he kissed her one more time and this time there was such tenderness, such love that it completely took her breath away.

Rafiq moved his head back and gazed into Mia's eyes. "I will always love you, Mia. Forever. I promise that I will do whatever it takes to make every day of the rest of our life together filled with happiness and joy."

"What are you saying, Rafiq," Mia asked softly.

"I am asking you to become my wife, Mia."

She gasped and peered into his eyes. Was he being serious? Of course he was being serious, she admonished herself. She could see the sincerity in his gaze, could hear it in the softly spoken words. He was completely in earnest and she was so very happy to confirm that.

"Your wife?" Mia asked one last time.

Rafiq nodded. A trace of worry appeared in those dark eyes. Mia couldn't wait any longer to give him her reply. Any further delay would be cruel to him and to her, because there was only one thing she wanted to say to him.

"I'll marry you, Rafiq," she announced, excitement making her voice crack.

Rafiq's face lit up and he smiled even more broadly than before. Then his head dipped and he kissed her. Mia wrapped her arms around his neck and stretched up on her toes, eager to taste him, desperate to draw him as close as possible to her.

Mia lost herself in him, gave herself over completely to the truth that had found her at last. Her sheikh had finally found her, finally overcome everything to make her his, and now they had only a bright and beautiful future to look forward to, safe in each others arm every night.

THE END

ALSO AVAILABLE

Book 1 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series. Three brothers and their search for love

THE SHEIKH'S FORBIDDEN BRIDE

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

THE SHEIKH'S PRETEND BRIDE

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.
 

The Sheikh's Rebellious Bride

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.

THANK YOU

Thank you for reading The Sheikh's Reunion 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.

I can be contacted by email at
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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 Reunion Bride © 2016 Cara Albany