He was making her sound like a whore. “No.”
“No?” He was mocking.
She shook her head.
He suddenly moved. Alex cried out when his hand closed on her elbow. She thought he was going to kiss her violently, like a bad-boy romance novel hero. Instead he shook her. “You are lying. Did Jebal send you to me now?”
“No!” she shouted. Tears filled her eyes. “I went to Neilsen today before I went to the quarries. I want to help you, Xavier. Neilsen has agreed to aid you in an escape, and if he is not allowed to visit you himself, Murad and I shall act as couriers between the two of you.” Her heart beat hard with hope.
His eyes widened. “Absolutely not!”
“What do you mean?”
“I am not going to trust you with my plans.”
And her hope turned into absolute dismay. “But—you promised me that you would not leave me behind when you escaped.” She began to shake.
His gaze settled on hers. “That was before I discovered who and what you really are,” he finally said.
“Ohmygod,” she said, for it suddenly struck her thatnothingwas happening the way it should, and that he might leave without her, and she might be trapped forever in nineteenth-century Tripoli with no way of even returning to the future.
“Do not cry,” he ground out. “Your tears are a weapon I refuse to entertain.”
Alex turned her head aside, fighting the nearly overwhelming urge to cry like a helpless female.
“I will think about it,” he finally said.
She jerked her gaze to his.
His jaw flexed.
A heavy silence fell between them. It was then that Alex became aware of how harshly and rapidly his chest was rising and falling, how rigid was his stance. He was as tense and agonized as she.
She tried to collect her wits. He was her destiny. He had to be. Why else would she have time-traveled? His supicions made sense. But she firmly believed in the power of love. And hadn’t love begun to blossom between them from the moment they had first met? This was merely a misunderstanding, one that could be unraveled. Years from now, perhaps, they would both laugh about it.
“I had to deceive you,” she whispered. “If Jebal ever found us together, he would kill you, and, Murad swears, me as well.”
Blackwell was silent, his gaze shrewd and penetrating.
Alex wet her lips. “I am a romantic,” she finally said, forcing a small, uncertain smile. “I had heard about you. About your exploits in the Quasi War, and of course, as Dali Capitan. I know about Blackwell Shipping, too. I … I’ve wanted to meet you for a very long time. When you became a captive here, I was compelled to go to you.” She heard the pleading note in her tone.
A moment passed. “What, may I ask, is the Quasi War?”
“The war with France which ended in ‘Ninety-nine. You were a hero.”
“I have never heard it called that before.”
Alex swallowed. She had to be careful—this man was no fool.
“Are you attempting to tell me that you fell in love with me, sight unseen?” he asked abruptly.
Alex stiffened. She wanted to shout,Yes!She did not dare reveal herself to such an extent. She was already so exposed, so vulnerable.
“Do you take me for an idiot?” he asked coldly. “Nor do I believe in love at first sight.” He was savage. “You will have to do better than that, Mrs. Thornton.”
“Everything I have said is the truth,” Alex said, but she knew she was flushed. After all, there was no Mr. Thornton. But now was not the time to reveal that.
His smile was knowing. He saw, apparently, the lie in her eyes. “I suggest that you leave.”
