by Cara Albany
But, Amber felt no need to issue such an instruction to Yasmina. The engine idle quietly as Sayid gazed patiently at Amber. She knew he was waiting for her to make a decision. His being here had been his way of issuing her with one last challenge. With one last hope of a promised future.
Amber turned to Yasmina. "Did you know he was going to do this?"
Yasmina shrugged and then shook her head.
"You told him what time we were going to leave, didn't you," Amber said.
Yasmina looked awkward. "He asked me. And I told him."
"You spoke with him?"
Yasmina nodded. "Before he left yesterday," she explained.
"Did you tell him what you told me? About how you brought me here?"
Yasmina nodded. "He wasn't angry," Yasmina said. "In fact, he was quite pleased about it." Yasmina smiled. "He said it was fate."
Amber laughed at that, and looked out at the solitary figure of the sheikh who was awaiting her answer to his final plea. "That's typical of Sayid," Amber said.
Sayid's gaze fixed on her. When he saw the expression on Amber's face, the grim steadiness of his expression softened slightly. Hope had flickered in his heart, she told herself.
She suddenly knew what she had to do. Knew what she must do.
Amber opened the door and stepped out of the car. She walked toward Sayid. She saw him smile as he watched her advance toward him. She halted a few feet away from him.
"You came," she said simply.
"What did you expect me to do?" he replied.
Amber smiled. "I wouldn't have expected anything else from you."
Sayid glanced past Amber and in the direction of the car. "Can you believe what Yasmina did?"
Amber nodded. "I think she's missed her vocation. She should have been a matchmaker."
"She brought us together again," he stated. "I'll be forever grateful to her for this."
"Me too," Amber said quietly.
Sayid moved toward Amber. "So why are you leaving?"
Amber gazed into his eyes. She saw the hope in that gaze. She saw the way he was looking at her and remembered their moments together. Indescribable moments of ecstasy and intimacy. A closeness she had missed more than she'd realized.
This was the moment which would decide her destiny. And she knew it. She knew he'd already turned her world upside down. As she had done to his world. Neither of them would ever be the same again. Maybe it was time to accept that fact. Instead of running from it the way she had been doing for too long.
Amber took a step toward him. "Who said I was leaving?"
His mouth opened and his eyes widened. He moved so close to her now that he was within touching distance. "You're not leaving?" he whispered.
Amber's heart quickened and she gazed into his eyes. Then she shook her head. "No. How could I leave you, Sayid? After what we've been through. After finding you again."
He advanced quickly to her and took her in his arms, gazing down into her eyes. She saw joy on his features.
"You're staying?" he asked breathlessly.
Amber nodded and smiled at him. "I am. That's what you wanted all along, wasn't it?"
Sayid smiled. "Of course it was. We just needed a helping hand."
Amber grinned. "But, it's been done now," she said. "There's no going back. Is there? It looks like I'm here for good, doesn't it?"
"You're here to stay," he said emphatically. "With me."
She reached up and ran the back of her fingers down the side of his face. There was dark stubble there. He obviously hadn't shaved this morning. But she liked the sensation of his rough skin.
He drew her closer to him. She felt the warmth of his body through the white robes. "You belong with me, habibti," he said. "I love you. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. Forever," he said softly.
His words made her soul sing and she sank against him, resting her face against his broad chest. Then she lifted her face up to him. He gazed down at her. There was love in that gaze.
"I love you, Sayid," she murmured.
He dipped his head and kissed her gently. This time there was none of the ferocious need she had felt before. This time his kiss was full of a simple tenderness.
Their lips parted and she gazed at him. "What do we do now?" she asked.
He lifted a brow. "You know that answer to that."
Amber smiled and turned to look at the car. "I think we should tell Yasmina."
They walked arm in arm to the car. Yasmina got out of the car. She had a huge smile on her face.
"I've changed my mind, Yasmina," Amber said.
Yasmina looked like she could hardly contain her glee. "I noticed," was all she could say. Her voice shook with emotion.
Amber looked up at Sayid and then over at the horse, which was idly pawing at the sand. "Horse or car?" she asked.
Sayid grinned. "Horse," he declared emphatically.
Amber said goodbye to Yasmina who simply lifted one hand and waved.
Then Amber walked with Sayid to his stallion. He lifted her up onto the saddle. Within moments he was seated behind her, his arms wrapped around her body as he gripped the reins.
She turned slightly and, once more, he kissed her. "Ready?" he asked.
"Sure," she said.
And then he tugged on the reins and the stallion leaped forward. Amber settled back into Sayid's welcome embrace and gazed out across the dunes. The rhythmic pounding of stallion's hooves perfectly matched the racing beat of her heart.
This was where she belonged, she told herself. It was where she was meant to be.
And she intended to stay here.
Forever.
THE END
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading The Sheikh's Second Chance Seduction. I hope you enjoyed it. There will be further volumes of Sheikh romances and other titles 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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I can be contacted by email at [email protected].
CARA
The Qazhar Sheikhs series
The Sheikh's Forbidden Bride
The Sheikh's Pretend Bride
The Sheikh's Rebellious Bride
The Sheikhs Reunion Bride
The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride
The Sheikhs Baby Secret
The Sheikh's Hesitant Bride
The Sheikh's Desert Bride
The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride
The Sheikh's Marriage Of Convenience
The Sheikh's Desert Captive
The Sheikh's Enemy Lover
The Sheikh's Tempted Bride
The Sheikh's Desert Princess
The Sheikh's Bride of Convenience
The Sheikh's Unexpected Bride
The Sheikh's Marriage Deal
