Book excerpt: The instructions were simple: seek out and returnhome with the long-lost princess of Bagestan nowthat her family had regained control of the throne. Butwhen he found her, Sheikh Sharif Azad al Dauleh fellhard and fast for Princess Shakira's sultry smile andmysterious aura. She was everything he never thoughthe'd wanted in a wife, and yet her fiery naturepromised a lifetime of passion. He knew he needed toconvince Shakira of the importance of fulfilling herduty to both family and country—but bringingher back wasn't nearly as tempting as keepingher all for himself….