“I do care,” he said darkly. Abruptly he sat up.
But instead of standing, he turned and looked down at her, making no effort to leave the narrow bunk.
Alex reached out and rubbed each one of his scarred shoulder blades. He sighed. “Don’t go,” she whispered.
“I must.”
She refused to let him leave. Just the thought made her miss him terribly. Alex rose to her knees and, her breasts swinging against his back, she began to nibble one of his ears. He groaned.
Alex shifted and very sensually began to rub against him. He went still.
She tongued his ear.
“Witch,” he murmured.
Alex slid her hands around his chest, her tongue still in his ear. Then lower, down his flat, tense belly. He tensed even more.
She nipped his neck.
His breath escaped in a rush.
And Alex seized his penis. “Do you really want to leave?”
“No,” he gasped.
They had fallen asleep. Alex awoke alone and cold, her body nude and uncovered. Realizing that Xavier was gone left her stricken with fear. But then her eyes adjusted to the cabin’s darkness and she saw him standing naked by the porthole, staring out to sea.
Alex relaxed. But she had been very frightened, thinking him gone.
“Xavier?”
He turned.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
“That is all?” He hesitated. “I am thinking about home.”
She was silent. “You must be very anxious to return to Boston.”
His reply was odd. “Yes … and no.”
“I don’t understand,” Alex whispered.
“It is hard to explain.” His tone was terse. Signaling her that he did not wish to explain.
Alex’s pulse was running wild again. This was the moment she had been waiting for, a chance to discuss their future together. But now that the opportunity had arrived, she was so very afraid. But why? He loved her. His rescue had proved that, as had his lovemaking—at once voracious and greedy, at once gentle and tender. “What will happen now?” she whispered.
Xavier put his back to the porthole but did not walk to her. “Preble is not through with the bashaw. He will attack again. First, though, he intends to drop you in Tunis on the morrow. The American consul there is very capable. He will arrange your passage back to America. I will enclose a letter to him, as well. You shall travel home with an escort, Alexandra, which Blackwell Shipping shall pay for. You have nothing to fear.”
Nothing to fear.His words were terrifying her. “Xavier, I do not want to return home without you.”
“I will see out this operation.”
Her heart beat harder. “You will continue to fight the bashaw?”
“Yes.” His jaw was set.
“What if this war goes on and on?!” Alex cried.
