Page 25 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"What nonsense are you talking about? Hold still. Or are you going to scratch my face?"
"Let me go or I'll scratch other things on you!"
"What's wrong with you, Ani? What happened?"
Anna ignored the nickname, which he said with astonishing naturalness, and fought back with her hands and feet. She tried to carry out her threat, but he held her at arm's length as if she weighed no more than a fly. Maybe she did — but only if she was actually a fairy and could transform again. Shoot, why hadn't she done that before? Then she could have easily flown away from him!
"Ani."
Hearing the feeling with which he said her name made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up. What was wrong with her?
"Let me go. Don't you think I've already caused enough misery?"
"What misery? What the heck are you talking about?" He turned her in the air so she was facing him. When her eyes met his, her stomach did wild loops. A feeling that was completely foreign to her drew her to him. She fought against it with all her might. If she wanted to set everything right, she had to stop this captain from disorienting her again.
She mustered all her willpower for her next words. She had to convince him. "I'm out of fairy dust and don't know how you can get more. I'm completely worthless to you."
"Worthless to me?" A smile crossed his curved lips so quickly that Anna might have merely imagined it.
What was he planning to do with her? Terror gripped her and when he saw the fear in her eyes, he looked at her in surprise and eased his grip around her waist.
"I don't know what's wrong with you, Ani, but you have nothing to fear from me. Never. I swear to you on my honor as Captain of the Fortuna. I'm going to let you down slowly, so don't run away. It's urgent that we speak."
His words did something to her, and the look in his dark eyes did the rest. He gently set her on her feet, but he didn't release her hand. He wasn't grasping it, but it was a rather gentle grip, as if they were holding hands. And as his palm touched hers, a spark passed between them that made Anna pause. Even though she had intended to leave immediately, she stopped and stared at both of their hands in surprise.
"You have nothing to fear from me," he repeated, and strangely, she believed him.
Something in her stomach fluttered and she suspected why she had fallen in love with this man. She shouldn't forget what had happened back then. What she had done because she had fallen for him. She didn't even know who he was.
Without looking up, she whispered, "If I have nothing to fear from you, then why did you ambush me?"
Indignant, he gasped. "I didn't ambush you. I've been waiting for you!"
What did he mean by that? Did they have an appointment? In this sacred place? Why would he think that? "Why would we meet?"
He placed a finger under her chin and gently lifted it. The gentleness of his gesture contrasted with the roughness of his finger, sending goosebumps across Anna's body.
"Because years ago you told me that we would meet here again if we ever lost touch."
She had told him the location of the source? Him? A pirate? Now she couldn't take it any longer. She raised her eyes and looked at him. "I said what?"
He looked at her so intently that she felt dizzy. But noticing the dismay in his eyes, a brown that verged on black, her mind suddenly cleared.
"What's wrong with you, Ani? Why are you asking such stupid questions? Why are you running away from me and why don't you remember where you agreed to meet me?"
Could she tell him the truth? Would she bring disaster to this land again if she decided to speak to this…menacing man? She had to be on her guard in case he tried any tricks. Then again, it was just as important to find out what had happened.
"Because I don't remember."
His eyes widened and her hand slipped from his. She wanted to grab it again immediately, but he balled them into fists and punched the cave wall. Fine sand trickled down and he made no sound to acknowledge the pain he had caused himself.
"Damn, what happened back then?"
Anna blinked, confused. "Excuse me? Are you asking me what happened back then? Everyone tells me it was you who stole my memory."
He stared at her in disbelief. "I'm supposed to have done what?"
To avoid being lulled by his addictive scent again, she took two steps back and folded her slim arms over her chest. Did that make her look more imposing? Hardly, but she was prepared to stand up to this pirate.
