Never Seduce a Sheikh (International Bad Boys Book 2) Read Online Free

a western woman who was used to being dealt with as an equal in her industry. It would be interesting to see how she would respond.
    He found himself studying the way she moved as she checked over the printer. Strong. Decisive. As if this place was hers, as if she owned it. There was an arrogance to the way she held herself that if she’d been a man, he would have found offensive. But she wasn’t a man and he didn’t find it offensive. He found it compelling.
    She pushed a couple of buttons on the printer, checked the little screen then glanced at him.
    “So what do I have to do?”
    “To what?”
    “To get Harkness into pole position. Obviously, I can’t change my sex, but I have other things I can offer that might sweeten the deal.”
    Isma’il pushed himself away from the doorframe and strolled into the room, going over to the carved wooden desk. He picked up a pen, toying loosely with it. “This contract is very important to you is it not?”
    “All contracts are important to me.”
    He looked across the room to where she stood by the printer. “But I think this one is more important than others, yes?”
    Her gaze met his. “If you must know, yes, it is.”
    “You need to prove yourself. Prove that you are a worthy successor to your father.”
    There was a silence. Then, she said, “I’m not the only one.”
    Isma’il was not expecting the cool observation. Neither did he like the way it slid under his skin like a barb. He was not his father’s worthy successor. It would not take much to do better than Khalid and Isma’il wanted more than to merely succeed him. He wanted to obliterate all memory of his father’s reign entirely. “How is that relevant?”
    “I’m just pointing out the fact that we have similar goals. Success with this contract is what we both want.”
    He didn’t bother to deny it. “You are correct. The future of my reign and the wellbeing of my country rests on this decision. Which is why, it has to be the right one. With the right company.”
    “The right company is Harkness Oil.”
    So much cool authority in her voice. So much surety in those dark eyes of hers. A steely kind of surety. As if she would let nothing stand in her way.
    Something dark and hungry turned over inside him. It had been a long time since anyone had challenged him in quite this way. He tended to nip such things in the bud as early and with as much subtlety as possible. The precise scalpel to his father’s blunt hammer. But he’d forgotten how much pleasure there was to be gained in matching wills with someone. With a woman in particular.
    Isma’il pushed away from the desk, prowling over towards her. He wanted to get closer to her, see what she would do. How she would handle him. She was so confident, so poised. Invulnerable. But everyone had their weak points and he wanted to know hers.
    She watched him come, unmoving. Unflinching. Even when he stopped bare inches away from her.
    “You are very sure of yourself, Lily Harkness.”
    Her gaze didn’t change as she looked up at him. “I’m very sure of my company, your Highness.”
    He’d become conscious of the faint hint of her perfume, the one he’d noticed in the limo. A clean, fresh scent with a hint of sharpness. Like rainstorms and freshly cut grass.
    A faint wash of color stained her cheekbones. But she didn’t look away or move.
    The air between them crackled, electricity charging the atmosphere.
    He liked it. Liked the confrontation between them. It was . . . exciting.
    “Indeed, your company has an excellent reputation,” he said. “But it will take more than an excellent reputation to win this contract.”
    Her chin lifted. “Tell me what more you need and I’ll get it to you.”
    He didn’t have to tilt his head much to meet her gaze because she was very tall.
    Neither would you have to bend to reach her mouth . . .
    The thought came out of nowhere. Irritated with himself, Isma’il ignored it. This was business and thoughts