Page 8 of Alex

Chapter Four

Securingthe supplies she had bought in her backpack, Evelyn slid her boots into the skis and set off towards her home. The two-bedroom wooden chalet that she owned deep in the mountains of Courchevel was more than a bolt hole—it was her sanctuary. A place nobody knew about. At least, nobody that was alive. Not even Roz knew of this place, which was how she wanted it.

Manoeuvring over the fresh snow that glistened so brightly it was almost blinding, Evelyn used every ounce of skill she had to negotiate the steep slope on this side of the mountain. This area was classed as a black diamond run and therefore most skiers avoided it. Only the most experienced or thrill-seeking skiers came here, and her chalet was deeper in the mountain where even they dared not go.

Snow was beginning to fall steadily as she crossed the boundary that led to her property. Her eye moved to the tripwire that ran across the tree line and she was satisfied that nobody had gotten through her security. Pulling to a stop at the front of her chalet, Evelyn eyed the pile of wood and noted she needed to stock up. With the cold front that was predicted and the new dumping of snow they were going to get later that night, she needed to make sure she had enough wood to keep her going for however long she would be there.

Having checked in with Roz while she was in Courchevel getting food and water she knew that they had no update on who or why the British Government had issued a kill order on her. Unclipping her skis, she stamped her feet to get the excess snow from her boots and clothing before opening the door and stopping dead in her tracks.

Every hair on her body stood on end as she felt the air in her small home vibrate with electricity. Someone was inside. She had missed the signs, or worse there were none, which meant whoever was inside was a professional. With silent movements, Evelyn slid her hand into her jacket and withdrew her firearm. The weight of it felt good in her hand. Her breathing evened out and she listened for any sound that would tell her where they were and maybe how many.

Inwardly she cursed her bulky jacket that restricted her movements. The nylon of the ski suit sounded like crackling tinfoil in the silence of the room. She was at a considerable disadvantage, but it wouldn’t be the first time and hopefully wouldn’t be the last. Slinking forward, her back to the wall, she checked behind the island in the open plan kitchen before moving along the hallway that led to the bedrooms and bathroom. Checking the spare room and then the bathroom, which was clear, Evelyn realised whoever was there was in her bedroom.

The thought made her strangely angry. How dare they invade her private space and more importantly it was where the emergency exit for the house was hidden. Her secret escape route for when this sort of thing happened. With her back to the wall she took a breath and in one lightning quick movement spun, kicked her beautiful wooden bedroom door in, and trained her weapon on thin air.

Then out of nowhere a weight hit her from behind tackling her to the ground. Not ready to die yet Evelyn threw back with her head as she lost her grip on her gun sending it flying beneath the bed. She heard the thud as her head encountered a hard chest confirming that it was a man behind her. A whoosh of air rushed out his lungs from the impact. He grabbed her arms and manacled her wrists as she tried to twist and free herself from his firm grip. Evelyn caught sight of a black-clad arm and knew she had to use surprise not strength or she would lose.

Going perfectly still for a second, she waited and then pushed up with her hips to throw the man off her. A yelp of pain had her smiling as she realised she had caught him right where it hurt before another realisation hit her.

“For fuck’s sake, Evelyn, pack it in with that shit.” It was the voice of the man who had stalked her dreams since she’d been old enough to feel desire.

“Alex?” she asked thinking her mind was playing tricks on her.

“Yes. Alex.” He eased himself off her not letting go of her wrists until he was out of the strike zone. Instantly she was on her feet. Rounding on him she saw he had moved further away and had a cautious look in his eye.

“Why are you here? And how the hell did you find me?” Her brisk questions were a way of masking the fact that she was having a profound reaction to being so close to him again. When they had met before Christmas, she had been expecting it, had armoured herself and donned the persona of Siren, but this unexpected visit left her reeling.

“I’ve come for you, Evelyn.”

His reply was cold, and her eyes shot to his at the hostility she heard in his voice. Was he here to kill her? Was he going against Jack’s orders or were they Jack’s orders and he’d lied to Roz? No, Jack wouldn’t do that. She had saved his life and he wouldn’t repay that by killing her. He wasn’t that sort of man—she didn’t think.

“Why?” she asked trying to buy time while she got her bearings.

This Alex was not one she knew. This Alex was cold, calm, and lethal. He had done and seen things her Alex never would have, and it hurt her heart to think about that and how he had changed as a result of what she’d done. Regret was a lancing pain through her chest.

Through it all she could still see glimpses of the boy she had loved with all her heart. His features had matured and hardened, his strong jaw defined and proud, but his eyes had lines along the edges showing he laughed often. Full lips that had brought her so much pleasure looked soft enough to kiss. His hands were calloused now, the feel of them on her wrists leaving a tingling sensation behind. She knew that was due to the effect he had on her, not that he had hurt her in any way.

He regarded her silently, his head tilted in a way that it always had when he was thinking. It took her back to a time when she knew his every little quirk and he hers. His body language seemed relaxed now as he watched her, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, but she was no fool and she knew every muscle in his body was poised and ready to move.

“That’s a good question and not one that has a simple answer, Siren.”

He’d spat the name out and she flinched hating the fact he used it. She never wanted to be Siren to Alex. His tone was angry and again, she wondered if he would hurt her. Her gut told her no, but she didn’t trust her instincts with Alex, everything was skewed by their history. She glanced towards the bed and the gun that was poking out from under it.

He followed her glance with his eyes, and she knew her time was up. Diving towards the bed she grabbed for the gun, but he got there first wrestling it out of reach before catching her body in the steel of his arms, pinning them to her sides. His body was hard and yet so familiar to her as his scent hit her. Not aftershave, just Alex. Pain caused her throat to clog at the familiar warmth she felt in those seconds before she fought against his hold trying desperately to get away before she burst into stupid tears and begged him to forgive her.

His mouth moved closer to her ear, the tickle of his breath making her shiver as he held her immobile against him. Defiant she looked up and saw the raging storm in his warm hazel eyes turn them a pale green as his jaw ticked with barely contained fury. His words when they came were soft, like a caress over her heated skin. She felt it through the cumbersome jacket which she was now glad she had on as a barrier to the sexy man imprisoning her.

“It seems we are not as attuned as we once were. I was looking at the bed thinking how much I wanted to lay you down and fuck you on it, but it seems you were looking at the gun underneath and wondering how to kill me with it.” He pushed away from her in disgust.

Evelyn sucked in a breath fighting the effect his crass words had on her, but it was useless. The image of him fucking her on her bed was raw and vivid in her head. A buzz of desire settled in her belly at the erotic images he had evoked.

“I have no desire to kill you, Alex. I was protecting myself that’s all.” She was proud of the way her voice held as she faced him, her head held high.

“Protect you from who? Me?” His voice was so cold she almost shivered. “You honestly think I would hurt you?”

Evelyn saw the look of hurt as it slid across his features and regret filled her. Had she thought that? No, maybe not but she couldn’t think straight with him here and especially not after the images he had conjured in her mind. So instead of answering she walked from the room heading for the kitchen. Once there, she flicked the coffee machine on as she began to shed her ski suit. She felt him behind her but didn’t turn. Once her suit was off, she hung it by the door and returned to the island putting it between her and Alex.

“Coffee?” she asked, and he nodded stiffly. Evelyn began to busy herself making coffee trying not to look at Alex. “So why are you here?”

As she handed over the mug his fingers brushed hers and she felt it in her toes. How did he make such a simple light touch feel like a sexual caress? Evelyn grinned as he took a sip and grimaced.

“Glad to see not everything has changed. You still make the worst coffee known to man,” he said with a wince.

“Still a coffee snob I see,” she countered, and his warm chuckle filled her heart with warmth. She smiled at him and he returned it, the years falling away as if they had never been apart.

Then she sobered knowing it would be so easy to fall in love with this new Alex. It would be as easy as it had been to fall for the old one. Feelings were rushing at her, a myriad of memories flashing in her mind.

“We aren’t those innocent kids anymore. Too much has changed.” She didn’t realise she’d said it out loud until Alex spoke.

“No, we aren’t but not everything has changed.” He rounded the island placing his mug on the counter.

Her heart sped up as he moved closer, but she held her ground not wanting him to see how he affected her. “Everything that matters has changed.”

He moved closer, his body crowding her against the kitchen island but not touching her. “Not everything.”

Evelyn felt her breath catch in her throat as his head dipped and she couldn’t move, not even if her life depended on it. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she thought she might faint.

His lips were nearly on hers when he spoke again. “You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever met,” he whispered as his lips brushed hers in a light caress before every light in the cabin went out.