The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) by Cara Albany Read Free Book Online Page A

I've seen enough evidence of true love in people I've known."
    Malik seemed suddenly curious. "Tell me about yourself, Lana," he ordered bluntly as if he had every right just to demand a full disclosure of her life. But, he wasn't going to find out anything about her. She was determined that wasn't going to happen. Not here. Not now.
    Lana turned away from Malik. She drew her lips into a thin, hard line.
    "I'm waiting," he said after a few moments.
    Lana turned to him. "Why would I tell you anything about myself?"
    "Have you forgotten?" he said leaning in closer. She refused to shift, holding his gaze defiantly. She narrowed her eyes questioningly.
    "Our kiss?" he added with a wolfish grin.
    Lana cocked her head to one side and squinted at Malik. "You mean the unwanted kiss you gave me," she said.
    Malik's brows rose. "Unwanted?"
    Lana nodded firmly.  
    He grinned. "I wasn't the one who came running after you," he said.
    Lana turned to face Malik. "I did not run after you," she exclaimed.
    "I seem to recall I was the one who was leaving," he said.
    Lana cleared her throat and tapped an impatient foot. "I had to find out who you were. You weren't on the list of attendees."
    Malik nodded slowly, obviously not convinced. How dare he suggest that she had been chasing after him? Who did he think he was? A small, treacherous voice murmured in Lana's head that she better find a decent excuse for her behavior. Malik was obviously onto Lana. Maybe time to go on the offensive.
    "Why did you kiss me?" she demanded, surprised that she had asked such a question, but, right now, it seemed like the only way to push back against him.
    Malik's gaze drifted across Lana's features, settling on her lips, moving down the length of her neck, across her shoulders, down the length of her body. All the way down to her traditional pale navy blue flat shoes. She felt as if he was undressing her, right there and then, exploring her entire body. She hadn't hinted in any way that he could do such a thing. Had she? But, the way the blood was coursing through her veins was betraying her in a visceral, undeniable way.
    "I would have thought it was obvious why I kissed you, Lana," Malik growled softly.
    Lana suddenly thought it would be a good idea to get back inside, mingle with the guests, distract herself any way she could from this situation.
    Lana felt her throat tighten. She drew in a sharp breath. "Maybe I should get back inside."
    Malik moved closer to her. He was inches away from her, but she was sure she could feel the heat between them intensify. "There's no hurry."
    Malik reached out and took Lana's hand. He traced a thumb across the inside of her palm. Treacherous tingles sparked every nerve in her arm. It was a delicious sensation. Entirely unwanted. Wasn't it?
    Lana pulled her hand away from Malik. She saw his eyes narrow and that confident, assured smile crease his lips again. She was sure all of this was how he moved in on women, every gesture, every look, calculated to create an effect. Lana could sense the utter confidence in his every move, the complete control he exerted in situations like this.
    Malik closed the gap between them. She caught his scent, a powerful, intoxicating aroma that she couldn't even begin to describe. Up close, his features were even more startling than from a distance. The harsh, forceful slash of his powerful nose; the full promise of those lips; the even jaw line partially shadowed with stubble that just called out for her to run the back of her hand across it.  
    And then there were his eyes. This close, she could see hidden depths in those dark pools. She could see promise and danger all at the same time.
    His head dipped slowly, and inevitably. Lana felt no inclination to move, no need to avoid his mouth as it descended upon her own.  
    And, when his lips touched hers, sending off a cascade of sensation, she knew that the only thing to do was to let the past be revisited in a delicious and wanton fashion. It