A Leap in Time (10 page)

Tears welled in my eyes at the thought—and worse, never seeing Marcus and Catina again. The twigs and dry leaves crunched under the heavy hooves of my panting horse. My imagination went wild as I pictured thieves and murderers hiding in these woods. If someone was waiting for an opportunity…

The thought remained unfinished in my head as panic built in the pit of my stomach. Still I galloped.

The next events happened so close to one another that later I couldn’t tell which came first. Something walloped me in the forehead. I plunged off the horse, tumbling to the ground.

Convinced my death was a heartbeat away, I screamed for help and then for Marcus, too afraid to open my eyes and survey my surroundings. My screams faded to whimpers as I ran out of breath. Darn, my forehead was bleeding. What hit me anyway?

The sound of hooves approached. I imagined a group of bandits signaling for each other that they found a
live
one…

When I finally found the courage to open my eyes, I was relieved to see my loyal horse standing a few feet away. The low tree branch snaking five feet off the ground confirmed that my attacker was not some savage marauder. Yet.

I used my sleeve to swipe at the blood flowing liberally down my face.

The hoof beats continued to race in my direction. I couldn’t tell how many there were. The forest swallowed the noise and spit it out again in a million directions making me feel disoriented and dizzy. I got to my knees and had begun to pull myself upright when the rush of hot wet heavy breath heated the back of my neck. I stood erect to find myself eye-to-nose with a panting horse.

The rider leaned down. The sight of the liquid green eyes had me sobbing in relief.

Marcus had found me.

Chapter Eleven

The sky was a canvas to the millions of stars that sparkled like diamonds. I don’t remember seeing the sky look this clear and magnificent in Los Angeles. Remembering my mishap in the woods with a shiver, I bolted upright only to feel dizzy and fall back again.

“Shhh, rest now. We’ll make our way back to Pompeii in the morning.” Marcus stroked my hair twirling the strands around his long fingers. His gentle hands caressed the side of my face.

“Marcus, there’s something I need to tell you. Catina should hear it too.” I choked back tears at the potential heartbreak my secret would undoubtedly cause.

“It can wait. I need you to get better so we can make our way home. I’m so relieved to see you again.” His voice trailed off.

“Why did you think I left?”

He explained that a friend of a friend saw me leaving the city in a rush at the early hours of dusk. Marcus assumed the worst and hurried after me. I was so touched. Without saying he loved me, his pursuit did just that. I hoped that when he found out how much I risked by coming after him he’d feel the same way.

“I need to apologize to you and Catina for putting you through this.” My voice broke. The weight of the truth trapped in my throat stifled me.

“Please don’t cry, and you’re forgiven. Just please don’t run off like that again.”

I couldn’t tell what was going on in his mind, but he wore the most mischievous grin and just as I started to talk, he bent and kissed me. His lips were warm and soft and the sensation that went through my body was beyond any words in the English or Latin dictionary.

Marcus pulled back making me whimper in protest, but then he looked deep into my eyes and kissed me again with intensity, passion, and complete abandon, oblivious to Catina’s presence a few steps away.

Was it silly to think the Universe was cheering us on?

Catina’s muffled voice came through from the background. “Please stop before I soak you both with water. We need to figure out a plan for the night.”

I felt utterly mortified. “I’m so sorry, Catina. It was all Marcus’s fault.” I couldn’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl all the while holding on to him.

“She’s right, Catina. It was all my fault. I promise to behave.” He smirked wickedly, confirming that he had no intention of behaving. For my part, I was on board with whatever his naughty mind schemed.

I had to find the courage to tell him everything. Who knows, maybe he would come back with me to Los Angeles.

“Marcus, there’s no reason to camp out here when we could be back in the safety of Pompeii,” I said.

He was determined to keep us cocooned in the forest overnight. Catina jumped at the opening and took my side. Again, no success.

“What’s the rush? There’s no reason for us to ride back to the city in darkness when we have the entire day tomorrow.”

“I need to be somewhere—”

“Oh, no. I’m not letting you out of my sight again. And I need to talk to you—privately. I’m going to gather wood for a fire while you and Catina relax.” He stood as if the discussion was over, surveyed our surroundings then headed off, leaving us speechless and defeated.

“Is he always this stubborn?” I asked Catina, trying to tame my frustration.

“Yes, and for good reason. He has fallen in love with you. He’s convinced your union was blessed by the gods.”

“I’m so sorry. I will tell you everything, I promise. It will all make sense then. Wait… He’s in love with me? Did he say that?” I sounded like a lovesick teenager and couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear.

“He said you made him the happiest he’s ever felt. Not to mention, he’s incredibly attracted to you as you probably already guessed. When you left, Marcus was determined to find you, to have your betrothed imprisoned and—”

“And what, Catina? Please tell me.”

She hesitated then finally said Marcus intended on finding my parents and asking their blessing on our marriage. Her confession stumped me for words. Not even in my wildest imagination did I expect this.

“What of your feelings for him, Lexi? The way you look at him...Such a difference from the haunted girl I met at the marketplace six months ago.”

This certainly added a new layer of complication to the situation.

“I’m in love with him and it petrifies me because it happened fast. I don’t know what to do.” I sighed.

“There’s nothing to do but be happy. You’ve found a great love that’s been blessed by the gods. Enjoy it and pray I find the same.” She smiled at me. “Please let me plan your wedding festivities, I would be so honored. And please tell me the secret you’ve been keeping.” She looked me square in the face.

I promised to tell her everything as soon as Marcus came back. She had opened her home and heart to me, no questions asked. I’d returned her unconditional friendship with dishonesty. I dreaded the conversation that was beyond overdue.

Marcus returned with a bundle of wood. Good because the temperature was dropping fast especially within the confines of the wooded area. In my rush to chase after Marcus, I hadn’t worn any layers and the late fall season was upon Pompeii.

Marcus arranged the branches and lit the fire. He unloaded a large bag from the satchel on his horse and methodically strung meat and vegetables on a stick. He unwrapped another parcel to reveal breads, and a third parcel containing fruit. I was impressed by how well they were prepared for this journey.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of him working so meticulously, concentration furrowing his eyebrows. As if sensing my attention, he glanced at me from the corner of his eye, smiling in the seductive way that turned my insides to mush. He hesitated then leaned in for a kiss that I welcomed eagerly. I couldn’t get enough of him. He held me tenderly, offering what assurance he could at this moment, so publicly shared with Catina. I tried to wriggle free from his lap, but he held me against his chest, almost afraid of letting go.

Had it not been for Catina being with us, it’s predictable what would have happened next. I was actually grateful for her presence. Everything was happening so fast.

“All right, we’ll behave.” He trailed a few feather light kisses along my jawline, sending me into a complete frenzy of uncontrollable need.

I hated to think of the truth shattering us before we had a chance at a real relationship. I battled myself straddling the line between my two realities.

We regained our composure then apologized to Catina, again. “I need to tell you both something, it’s important that you hear me out.” I dusted off the dry leaves that clung to my tunic. I stayed close to Marcus resting my hand on his thigh, needing the physical contact. His breath hitched at my touch. Taking a deep breath, I told my story beginning with that fateful day to the antique store, the sounds from the painting, and finished with coming to Pompeii.

They stared at me in complete silence giving no indication what they were thinking.

“Please say something.” I touched Marcus’s face, desperate to maintain contact. His silence and lack of reaction left me imagining the very worst scenario. For a glimmer of a second, I thought I saw tears cloud his usually crystal clear green eyes.

The thought of Marcus never forgiving me was too much to handle. Tears spilled down my cheeks and sobs caught painfully in my throat. The lid was open and the secret was out.

“If all this is true, and I’m not saying I believe you yet—was this entire visit a charade for you?”

“The trip started as an exploration of Pompeii. I didn’t count on liking it here, or coming back, or meeting anyone—or falling in love with you. I expected to look around and then return to my ordinary life back in Los Angeles. All I knew was that I was meant to come here. I just didn’t know why until I met you, Marcus. You’re the reason I was meant to come here.”

He slowly pulled my hand away from his face and walked to his horse.

“Marcus, please don’t leave. I never meant to hurt you or lie to you. I was scared. Don’t you understand? I needed to know I could trust you with such an important secret. Please Marcus…”

He rode away without a second glance.

Chapter Twelve

Catina’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me up so we were sitting next to each other on the hard ground. “Stop crying, Lexi. It won’t solve anything. You need to give him some space to process what you just told us.”

Again, Catina displayed unwavering loyalty.

“I’m so sorry. I should have told you the truth sooner, but I was scared. I thought you would think I was crazy.”

“I don’t think you’re crazy. Sorcery isn’t out of the realm of our world here. It’s all right to dabble in magic. I just wish you told us sooner that you were a sorceress,” she continued.

“No no no. I’m not a sorceress. I literally time traveled from another country thousands of years ahead of your calendar year. I didn’t use magic. You have to believe me. I can show you once we get back to Pompeii.” Oh God, the more I explained, the crazier I sounded. “I’m so afraid of losing him.” The words coming out of my mouth felt like a knife being jabbed into my heart and I was a sobbing mess once again. With Marcus, I could be myself. Actually, that’s not completely true. I felt the best parts of me bubbling to the surface—bold and daring in their possessiveness over Marcus and my somewhat new life. With him, I spoke my mind without worrying how he would interpret my words or whether my feelings would send him running for the hills.

Catina merely nodded. Then she started gathering our uneaten delicacies that Marcus had laid out so carefully just a short time before.

“We should get back to Pompeii. I don’t feel safe here without an escort,” was all she said.

Was she also writing me off? Or if she still believed me to be a sorceress—maybe she feared being alone with me.

I helped pack our things and on shaky legs climbed my horse. It had to be a couple of hours back to the city. With the way I was feeling, the trip would feel like a day’s journey.

My head throbbed from my fall, but a worse pain occupied my mind. Would I see Marcus again? The sooner we were in Pompeii the better for everyone. Maybe disappearing from this world was the answer.

Maybe with time Marcus will forgive me. Maybe he will move on with his life and find happiness with someone who will make his heart dance. At that thought I cried again. My sobs continued to be the only sound as we rode in silence toward Pompeii.

“I don’t understand how your story is possible,” Catina finally said. “You’re saying you came through an oil painting on your living room wall and when you return, you go through a tree by the creek here in Pompeii?” She pulled her horse to a stop.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“You said the painter was from Pompeii?” she asked as if attempting to solve a mystery.

“Yes, but I don’t remember his name. I didn’t make a point of remembering because I didn’t think it was important.”

“I believe you.” She leaned across and hugged me. “Everything will work out.”

“Why the change of heart?”

“I don’t know. From the start, you seemed different. The way you talked and interacted. You seemed just a little out of place. And your story about traveling alone didn’t make sense. I don’t know what it’s like in your world, but it’s unheard of here for a woman to travel alone, no matter the circumstance.”

“Do you think Marcus will come around?”

“I don’t know, Lexi. I want to believe he will. He might be more shaken up by what this means for the two of you than just the actual story.” She tapped my arm. “Would you be willing to stay here with him?” The question caught me off guard.

“If you asked me that after my first visit, I would have said no. But now, I’m not so sure.”

Catina and I talked the rest of the way to Pompeii. We talked about the differences in cultures, the technology that our world couldn’t function without. We talked about Charlotte and Kate and finally Mark. By the time we reached the city wall, there wasn’t a topic we hadn’t touched on.

From a distance, we probably looked like girlfriends caught in a deep soulful conversation. Up close, the reality was a lot less beautiful. My bruised forehead and swollen eyelids were a clue to the agonizing day I’d had.

We were close to the city; I could see my tree perched proudly next to the creek. So many memories, so much time and so much love…

“That’s the tree,” I said.