The Sheikh's Desert Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 8) (20 page)

Unless he was mistaken, she looked like she wanted to say something to Azim. He felt a chill of anxiety slide up his spine. What was she going to say to him?

Azim gazed, in wonder, down the length of her exquisitely proportioned body. The way she looked in that gown made something forceful shift inside him. Dangerous thoughts filled his mind.
 

Running his gaze across her curves made heat flare in his middle. He felt his muscles firm, felt his breath become shorter. He became aware that he was reaching a point when he doubted he could control his desire for Lucy. The breeze wafted her scent to him and need heightened.

Azim submitted suddenly to everything that was building inside. He leaned forward and cupped a hand beneath Lucy's exquisite jaw, savoring the smoothness of her skin.
 

Lucy lifted a hand and, for a moment, he was sure she was going to place it firmly on his chest, halting his advance. But, as quickly as the hand was raised, her eyes met his and her hand was lowered slowly. Her mouth had opened slightly in preparation for what he was sure she had been about to say. Silent now, her lips called him with their promise of softness and pleasure.

He dipped his head, hungrily claiming her mouth. He heard her moan, and her chin lifted opening herself up to him. Electric sensation jolted through Azim's body as he kissed Lucy. His tongue probed, searching and teasing. He felt her hands seize his shoulders, and he was sure there was hunger in the way she took hold of him.
 

Azim drew her closer, pulling gently on her shoulder. He delighted in the feel of her body as she pressed against him. His lips continued to possess her. His need to show her just how much she meant to him was fierce and urgent.
 

He loved the taste of her lips, the feel of her skin, her scent that intoxicated him like never before.

Her breathing had become quicker, almost as fast as his own.

Then, as suddenly as she'd submitted to him, he felt her pull away from him, tearing her mouth away from his. He heard her emit a defiant groan, and watched as she leapt to her feet and strode away from him.

His heart sank as he watched her clasp her hands tightly and start to pace the deck. She had her back to him, but he knew she was upset, knew that she was preparing to say something to him.
 

"What's wrong, Lucy?" Azim asked. He stood and started to take a few steps toward Lucy. She whirled and when he saw the look on her face, he froze on the spot.

"Please, Azim," she pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. "Just, give me a little space. For a moment. Can you do that?"

"Of course," he replied from his position a few feet away from her. He felt the yacht undulating gently and steadied himself against the side of a table.

Lucy paced back and forth, and he could see that she was considering her next words carefully.

This was the moment he'd dreaded, he told himself. She was going to lay it all on the line; tell him just what she thought of his attempts to win her back.
 

If she thought he was going to quit now, she was utterly and completely wrong.

Azim drew in a deep breath and took in the wondrous sight of the woman he loved, the woman he wanted by his side for the rest of his life. He knew with utter certainty that he wouldn't be denied.

However, in spite of his resolve, he understood that for one more moment, he would have to let fate tease them both one last time.

****

Lucy wrung her hands and searched her mind frantically for the next words she was going to say to Azim. She glanced across at him. He was standing gazing at her. There was a curious mixture of concern and determination in that gaze. She could tell he was desperate to say something. Was he desperate to ask her something? That thought sent a surge of worry tumbling through her.

As she glanced at him a few times, she thought he'd never looked more handsome. He was unbelievably sexy. There was no denying that simple fact. She'd never seen a man as gorgeous as Azim. Never.
 

And, after what they'd put each other through these past days, she knew there would probably never be a man she could love like she loved Azim.

She turned away from him and gazed up at the moon. She sighed and clutched the railing.

Then she turned and faced him. "What are we doing to each other, Azim?" she demanded.

She saw his brows furrow and he took a step closer. "What do you mean, Lucy?"

She waved a hand. "Everything. This. All the things that have happened to us. Why are we doing it?"

"I think the answer to that is pretty obvious, don't you?"

"No. I don't." She gripped the railing behind her back. "Why don't you explain it all to me, Azim," she said defiantly.

Azim took another two steps forward. Now he was within touching distance. She narrowed her eyes and he halted. He still hadn't answered her, and she didn't want him coming any closer until he had.

"What's there to explain?" he said in a low voice. "I love you, Lucy. You know that, don't you?"

Azim took one more step closer and then paused. "I love you. Completely and utterly," he said in a low growl.

His words hit her like a hammer-blow. She groaned and rolled her eyes, feeling suddenly short of breath. "After what I did, you can still say that to me?"

Azim shook his head. "You got away from me once," he murmured. "I'm not going to lose you again."

Azim's gaze became even and steady. She felt her heart pounding. Why did he have to look at her like that? She drew in a deep breath and swallowed. This wasn't going according to her plan. Not at all, she told herself.

Who was she kidding?

This was going exactly to plan. Azim's plan. She knew now what he intended to do. Was certain about it, because she could see it in his eyes. The determination, the will, the strength of a sheikh who would not be denied.

As if determined to torment her, he spoke again: "I want you to be mine. Forever. I love you."

Lucy gasped as she heard his words.

Love. He'd told her he loved her, and when he'd said that everything had seemed to shift beneath her feet. And it was nothing to do with the fact that they were on a yacht, swaying on a dark sea.

When he'd uttered those words, she'd felt something sing within her, felt a sudden release of tension, as if the worries of the past days had been swept away by his forceful declaration.

"I don't know what to say, Azim," she murmured.

"Say what's in your heart, Lucy."

She sighed, releasing the handrail. Looking at him she opened her mouth, preparing to say the most momentous words she'd ever say.

Just as she was about to do so, everything lurched beneath her and she staggered back, her thighs colliding with the rail. In a moment she felt herself tumble backwards and she threw her arms out, reaching for Azim. She saw his eyes widen, saw him reach for her and knew what was happening. She heard the harsh slap of a wave against the side of the yacht and knew instantly that she was about to tumble backwards into the water.

Lucy yelled and felt her body sway, and she braced herself for the inevitable fall into the cold water.

Then, she felt arms around her, felt the tight grip of strong limbs envelope her torso. And then she was being lifted away from the railing and scooped up into Azim's arms. As he swept her back into the middle of the deck, Azim held tightly onto her, and all she could think to do was wrap her arms around his wide shoulders.

He halted and she felt him hold her body close to his. He didn't even try to let her down. His gaze was filled with relief. "Are you okay?" he breathed.

She sighed with exasperation. "Of course I am," she blurted out. "You didn't think I was going to throw myself into the sea, did you?"

He grinned at her. "I told you I wasn't going to let you get away from me again."

Finally he let her down onto her feet and she kept her arms curled across the back of his shoulders. He gazed down at her, and she could see the love in his eyes, looking at her with sheer adoration. She pressed herself against him, enjoying the feel of his powerful body.
 

She raised her head up to him, demanding a kiss. Azim grinned and leaned his head down. His kiss was tender and soft and all too brief, she told herself.

"How did I get so lucky to have someone like you fall in love with me?" she asked him.

"Exactly what I was thinking," he replied quirking a brow.

"Really?" she challenged. "Are you sure about that?" she added with a sly grin.

"Completely sure," he said. "You do, don't you?"

Lucy gazed into his eyes and ran the back of her fingers down the side of his face. "Of course, I love you, Azim. Haven't I always?"

He kissed her again and she stretched herself up onto her toes, reaching her mouth up to his, wanting the kiss to last forever.

His lips parted from hers and he gazed into her eyes. She saw a flicker of hesitation in those eyes, but she already knew what he was going to ask her next.

"We have a wedding to attend, you know that, don't you?"

She frowned at him. Why was he changing the subject like that? She hadn't expected him to suddenly start talking about Zarif and Rachel's wedding.

She pouted her lips at him, but he just smiled. "You understand what I'm saying?"

Lucy squinted. "Of course. Zarif and Rachel."

Azim shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying, at all."

And then it hit her. What he was really asking her, and she gazed at him, seeing the resolve firm on his features.
 

Azim sank gently to his knees, taking hold of Lucy's hand. He looked up at her. In spite of herself she raised her other hand to her mouth in a vain attempt to contain the sob that leapt to her throat.

"Lucy. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" was all he said, but to Lucy they were the most wonderful words she'd ever heard.

His eyes were wide with expectation as she struggled to control the wave of emotion that crashed over her.

What was she going to say? There was only one thing she wanted to say. Only one thing she had ever wanted to say to Azim.

When she said the words, she could hardly believe how wonderful they sounded.

"I would be honored to become your wife, Azim," she said softly.

Azim rose quickly and wrapped his arms around Lucy, holding her close. She felt his breathing against the side of her face and then he kissed her once more. This time the kiss lasted a whole lot longer.

Their lips parted and Azim gazed into Lucy's eyes. She'd never seen him look so happy. She was sure her own joy was equally visible to him.

"My princess," Azim murmured. His eyes shimmered with emotion. "My adventuress," he added the corner of his mouth creasing with the hint of a smile.

"Maybe not so much from now on," she said.

Azim shook his head. "We are going to have such adventures, you and I, together. The likes of which you could never have imagined in a thousand years. And I will devote myself to making you the happiest woman alive."

Lucy looked into his eyes and saw just how much he meant that. "I think I believe you, Azim," she told him.

And then they kissed beneath the moonlight shining upon the wine dark sea.

THE END
 

ALSO AVAILABLE

IN THE QAZHAR SHEIKHS SERIES

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.