Read Online The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) by Cara Albany - Free Book Online Page A

Rafiq, seeing his tightly muscled body move like a sleekly powerful animal. There was power in that body, a predatory motion that promised so much. Rafiq had removed his jacket upon entering the palace. Now, he was dressed simply in tight fitting white shirt and dark pants. The contrasting colors of his shirt and pants merely accentuated the sheer, potent force of his being as he moved. The sound of his shoes echoed in the cavernous space. Mia's flat shoes clacked on the marble stairs matching Rafiq's steps in a curious unison.
    Mia cleared her throat, forcing her attention away from Rafiq.  
    She recalled the remainder of the plane journey to Qazhar. After their meal they had chatted casually, and she had managed to rest for a while. Rafiq hadn't attempted to continue where he had left off earlier. His failed temptation of Mia had obviously given him pause to reconsider.  
    Instead he had showed her a small cabin at the back of the plane. The bed in the compact space had been comfortable and Mia had been left alone to sleep in peace. At the time she hadn't been sure whether to be relieved or disappointed at that. She'd lain in bed awake for a very long, expecting a quiet knock at the door, anticipating Rafiq's entrance seeking her favor, wanting to tempt her yet again.  
    But he hadn't come to her, hadn't even tried to interrupt her sleep. Mia had asked herself what she would have done if he had come to her. Would she have allowed herself to succumb to Rafiq's manifestly tempting charms.  
    In spite of herself, she still felt drawn to him. He still had the ability to instantly transform how she felt. A look or a touch was all it took. And, that made things so difficult for Mia. It was a transformation she was determined to resist. The battle between professional duty and personal satisfaction would continue, no matter how hard she resisted.
    But, she realized, that war would have to be waged for the entire duration of her stay. Only when she had finally left Qazhar, her professional obligations fulfilled, would she be able to turn her back on Rafiq once and for all.
    She had slept deeply, lulled into a heavy slumber by the soft movements of the plane and had woken with the bright Qazhar sun shining in through the tiny window.
    When she had entered the main cabin of the plane she had found Rafiq seated there reading over some of the papers she had given him earlier. He had greeted her with a warm smile and made sure she was served a delicious breakfast.
    They'd landed at Qazhar airport and, given the VIP treatment, been quickly passed through to the air-conditioned comfort of Rafiq's limousine.
    All through the remainder of the journey it had seemed as if Rafiq had made a decision to maintain a polite distance from Mia. She had been initially pleased that he'd decided to respect her wishes. However, she couldn't help noticing the darkness in his eyes. Rafiq was worried. There was no doubting that. In spite of herself, Mia wondered what Rafiq was planning to do about the financial situation.  
    She knew that Rafiq and his friend Sayid had a solid relationship, so she could appreciate the turmoil Rafiq was going through trying to understand just what had happened. Now that she was in Qazhar, Mia knew there were troubled times ahead.  
    They made their way along a high-roofed corridor, passing many ornately decorated doors and eventually came to a halt in front of a door at the end of the corridor.  
    Rafiq rested a hand on the large handle and looked at Mia. "Ready to see this?" he asked.
    Mia nodded and frowned at Rafiq. What could be so special about a room? "Sure," she said curtly.
    Rafiq pushed open the door and it slid heavily with the soft sigh of the massive hinges. Mia tried to hold in the gasp that leaped to her throat. She completely failed.
    Her eyes feasted on the wondrous interior.
    Rafiq gestured for Mia to enter and she stepped into a brightly lit, luxuriously furnished version of paradise.
    The room was