Read The Sheikh's Crown (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

her head and giggled.
    “What?”
    “I’m sorry. I’m just afraid if we go down this road, you’ll sweet talk me back to the hotel, and I really want to see Paris from the river.”
    Adil chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough.” Guiding her down the street, he enjoyed the closeness of her body. She no longer pulled away from him, but snuggled right next to him. Twenty minutes later, he led her to the banks of the river where several boats were waiting. After a quick exchange with the captain, he stepped onto the boat and held out his hand. “Are you ready?”
    “This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. I want you to know that,” she said softly as she took his hand and stepped on board.
    He pulled her close and gazed down at her. “The night’s not over yet, Samine.”
    Doubt flickered in her eyes, but it seemed to be gone as quickly as it appeared. Adil wasn’t even sure it was ever there to begin with, but he suspected it had something to do with trust. Maybe Samine had been burned by a man before and didn’t want to trust him.
    But this wasn’t long term. This was just a night with a beautiful woman in his arms. She didn’t need to fear anything. They settled in the boat, and the captain turned his back and pushed them off. The wooden boat was small but designed for comfort. She leaned into him and smiled.
    “The stars are beautiful,” she breathed.
    “Not nearly as beautiful as you,” he murmured as he tilted her chin up. Once again, he bent down to brush his lips along hers, but before he could kiss her, she began to laugh.
    “Do lines like that work on women?” she asked him as her eyes danced merrily with amusement.
    “Usually, yes.” Frowning, he began to back away, but she grabbed the lapels on his coat and pulled him back toward her.
    “Maybe don’t try so hard,” she whispered before she kissed him. Before he could pull away, she had her hands in his hair and her mouth opened beneath his. With a soft moan, he swept his tongue in to drink deeply from her.
    She was sweet and tangy all at once, and he couldn’t get enough. As she pulled his head down, the kiss grew more heated and urgent, and he slid his hands around to glide through her hair. They stayed locked in this position until he had to come up for air.
    “God,” he murmured, as he rubbed the side of his head.
    She laughed softly and buried her face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I don’t really know what came over me.”
    “Trust me, I am not complaining. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for.” He brushed his fingers along her hair. “Are you okay?”
    “A little embarrassed,” she said when she finally lifted her head to look at him. “I don’t usually react like this.”
    “Stroke my male ego a little more,” he said with a smile. “I love it.”
    She laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Look at the city,” she said suddenly. “Adil, it’s stunning.”
    He wanted to look. He really did. But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The pleasure in her face was absolutely genuine. It was so easy to make her happy, and suddenly, he wanted to make sure she was never unhappy again.
    “Samine, I’m going to kiss you again. Is that okay?”
    She looked up at him, and he was lost in her dark, chocolate-colored eyes. The whole world melted away, and all he could see was her. “More than okay.” He bent down again, and this time, he was sure he would suffocate before he would let her go again.
    They settled into a comfortable pattern, and for most of the duration of the ride, they didn’t look at anyone but each other. They kissed and cuddled and kissed more. He wanted more, but everything he wanted from her, he wanted to do in the privacy of their hotel suite. While public affection did sometimes give him a thrill, he wanted his first time with her to be for his eyes only, which was new to him and something else for him to worry about, but that could come later. For now, he was enjoying