Free The Sheikh's Desert Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 8) by Cara Albany Page A

saddle and looked defiantly at Azim. "I know that. But, I can't help wondering how long you've known that was going on."
    "Jawad's people have been known to us for a while now. We've been taking measures to answer their concerns. We make as many inspection visits as we can. But, there's no easy solution."
    Lucy scowled and leaned forward. She looked almost angry now, he told himself. "You need something more organized than occasional visits to make sure that site, and others like it, are safe from harm."
    Azim sighed heavily and wrenched his gaze away from Lucy. He could hardly believe she was saying all this.
    "Everything that can be done has been done," he declared, desperate to change to subject.
    Lucy's eyes narrowed defiantly in a way that made her look instantly, inexplicably sexy. He'd forgotten how gorgeous she looked when she was angry. He loved the way her mouth pouted like that, the narrowing curve of her brows, the defiance in her eyes. It all made something shift inside him, but he couldn't risk letting her know he had anything else on his mind other than the subject of ancient relics. He didn't know how she'd react if she discovered that her challenging him like this only made desire and need flame up inside him.
    "Look, maybe this isn't the time to have this discussion," he said. He gazed out across the desert. "We've got a long way to go. I don't want to spend the whole time arguing with you."
    He saw Lucy stiffen, her shoulders rising. "Who's arguing?"
    Azim said nothing in response, merely raised one arching brow at her.
    Lucy exhaled and shifted her hat forward. "Maybe the heat's getting to me," she suggested.
    Azim quirked a brow at her. "I'm not going to comment on that," he said with a grin.
    Lucy gave him one last look, and then he went back to his horse and lifted himself onto the saddle. He looked back at her. "Ready?"
    Lucy nodded.  
    He guided his horse down a series of narrow gullies, careful not to move too fast, knowing that for Lucy moving down the side of gently sloping cliff would be treacherous. If her horse slipped and injured itself then the journey across the desert would be even more difficult for them. Although the prospect of Lucy riding with him, with the opportunity to hold her close to his body in front of him the entire time, was a delicious prospect in itself.
    Twice he heard her yell out loud as she felt the balance of her horse shift beneath. Each time he went quickly to her and then he decided it would be best to hold onto her reins and guide her himself.  
    She tried to protest, as he'd expected she would. But, he gave her a look that made it clear he wasn't in any mood for negotiating. One more slip while he held the reins was enough to finally convince her to let him help her, and before long they were at the base of the rocky transition between mountain and desert.
    Azim released the reins of Lucy's horse and felt his own mount settle its hooves into soft sand. The desert felt unbelievably welcoming, he had to admit. There was a sudden steadiness beneath him now that had been missing for most of the afternoon as they'd trudged through the gullies and ravines of the mountains he was now so pleased to have finally left behind.
    Azim turned to Lucy and smiled. "Okay?"
    Lucy tightened her grip on her reins and nodded to him. "Yup."  
    He saw her gaze out across the undulating dunes.  
    "How long will it take us to get to this place of yours?"
    "It isn't mine," he insisted.
    "You know what I mean, Azim."
    He nodded. "If we keep up a good pace, we should be there well before nightfall." He glanced at her. "You up for a desert ride?"
    He saw her brows crinkle involuntarily, and then she nodded, pulling her reins up toward her. "Are you suggesting a race?" she asked gazing at him with clear challenge in her eyes.
    He was momentarily taken aback. Why was it everything they did together ended being some kind of exquisite, provoking battle? He examined her for a moment and saw that