Their Command Series – Book 1

 

Chapter One

 

“Oh, come on, Dora! I’m supposed to be going the other way. The Silverstone Resort is in the valley! You’re pointing me in the wrong direction,” Alexis Moore grumbled in annoyance as she peered through the window of her rental car, at the winding road leading higher up the steep hill.

“I’m sure the storekeeper, Jerry, said it was less than fifteen minutes’ drive from there.” She stabbed her finger on the small screen of the GPS unit. “Did you hear that Dora? We’ve been driving for over thirty minutes already—oh damnation! Now we’re on a gravel road,” she complained loudly when the car began rattling the moment the smooth tarred road ended.

“Continue straight for ten miles,” the soothing voice from the GPS filled the interior of the car.

“Ten miles! Higher up? We’re already at the top. Where to from there? Abseil down?”

Alexis grumbled when she realized that the sun had already begun to set and that the purple hues of early evening were coloring the sky—from what she could see through the thick trees on both sides of the road.

“If you get me stuck on this fucking mountain alone at night, Dora, I’m gonna . . . ugh,” she sighed heavily. “Great Alexis, now you’re threatening a box!”

Alexis was completely clueless on any given day when it came to directions, which was why she had been following Dora’s instructions blindly.

“Gmphf, Dora is just as clueless as I am. Noooo!” 

Clank! Clank! Clank!

“What the fuck . . .”

Alexis slammed on the brakes and shrieked when the small car swerved across the narrow road. The crash seemed to take forever. Adrenaline coursed through her system. She could see there was no hope as she desperately yanked on the steering wheel. The little car was hydroplaning across the road and she was helpless as the vehicle skimmed along the rough surface of the road.

“No! Not the tree! Get out of the way! Out of the wayyyyy! Fucchhkk me!” She screamed and bore her body to the right when the tree scraped against the side of the car. With a final shudder the car came to an abrupt halt.

“Oh my god,” she croaked. Her voice was husky and raw from the shock.

“Continue straight for eight miles.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up!” Alexis swore at the mechanical voice. Her body shook. She didn’t even react when a billow of steam escaped from the engine of the car. Her knuckles turned white from the death grip she had on the steering wheel. She now regretted not taking the shuttle to the resort that ferries the guests back and forth from the Denver Airport. No, she had wanted to have her own transport.

“Let that be a lesson, Alexis Moore. Sometimes you take your independence a tad too far!”

She could just imagine what her friends, Rachel and Shanna, would have to say when they heard about this debacle.

“Debacle my ass. This is a goddamned disaster,” she grumbled. Groaning, she climbed over the gear console to get out of the car from the opposite side.

She walked around the vehicle and stared at it with distress weighing down her shoulders. It was literally hugging the tree and with the front tire blown, it was clear she wasn’t going anywhere in it.

“Now what?” Alexis glanced around. She hugged her denim jacket closer around her waist as she glanced at her five-inch Louboutin stiletto booties. They had been her spoils for the winter; beautiful, delicate ankle boots made with gorgeous black, floral guipure wax lace, lined with transparent mesh with an interior side zip and finished off with gorgeous red soles.

“Definitely not meant for a trek up the mountains!”

It was either that or stay in the car with the hope that someone would find her. She’d already checked her cell phone and there was no signal.

“Well, I have no intention of freezing my ass off in this car.”

Alexis grabbed her large handbag and dragged her thick coat on with the intention to walk a couple of miles to see if she could find any signs of life before it became completely dark.

“Fate can’t be that cruel; to leave me completely stranded,” she bemoaned as she tried to walk carefully over the uneven road. “I’m gonna be seriously pissed off if my booties are damaged from these loose stones. Or, I’ll just claim it as a work injury.” She giggled, just thinking of the expression on her new boss’ face if she presented him with a claim for damaged Louboutins!

“Oh, thank god!” She cried out when she spied a flickering light, higher up on the hill through a thick grove of trees. Alexis hesitated before leaving the road. Surely it would lead up to the house? But how much further? And would she make it before it went completely dark? Out here in the woods, it was different from the city; more intimidating.

She shook off the fear and slowly stepped off the road and took the first careful step on the uneven ground.

“My booties! Dammit!” Her voice sounded thin and scared even to her own ears, but she bore ahead, especially as she could feel the darkness converging around her, threatening to suffocate her. She stepped carefully through the thick maze of woodland. The densely packed trees loomed high above but remained still, despite the icy breeze flowing around her. Alexis had to squint to see but kept an eye on the lights ahead, which were coming closer with every step.

A few minutes later the darkness was upon her and the silvery moonlight trickled through the full branches, when a looming lodge came into view. A sliver of noise from her left spurred her into a sprint. She tore across the uneven surface like she was being chased by a wild animal.

Out of breath, with her heart thudding against her chest, she stumbled up the few steps. Her high heels sounded hollow on the large wraparound porch. She rushed forward to knock on the heavy wooden door, glancing behind her fearfully.

“Oh, come on! I know there’s someone in here,” she shouted and hammered on the door with her fist. Rubbing her cold hands, she looked over her shoulder, scanning the dark woods. Her imagination was running wild when she noticed, what looked like the golden glow of a wolf's eyes, through the trees.

“Open this fucking door!” she screamed and slammed her fist against the thick wood, leaning against it, hoping it would magically open.

Suddenly the door gave way and she stumbled inside. Straight into the arms of . . . a mountain man.

Oh, geez! Somebody save me. A caveman!

Alexis gulped at the sheer size of the man, whose hands were clamped around her shoulders. He was massive. He was tall, built like an ox, to say the least.

She gulped in a breath, curling her hands into fists, purely to keep from dragging her fingers through his long, thick, and wet hair that framed his rugged face which was enhanced by eyes the color of molten onyx. His aquiline nose appeared regal as he glared down at her. Her gaze moved over his jaw line, covered in a bushy, beard. He looked like a swashbuckling pirate, ready for pillaging!

 Wet hair? Oh, he must’ve been in the shower . . . oh lordie, lordie me.

The droplets of water dripping from his hair and beard confirmed her thought. Her eyes were naturally drawn to the trickles of water as it travelled down his strong neck; his insanely wide shoulders; down over beefy biceps; down the center of his massive chest, matted with soft black hair; over his rippling, corrugated abs—too many to count; to finally disappear into—

Whoa! Holy mother of Mary! Alexis’ breath whooshed out of the mouth. No caveman had the right to look this yummy.

A small, white towel was wrapped around his waist and left his one leg and hip bare. It was drawn tight over his slim hips and couldn’t hide the bulge she was staring at.

Alexis felt heat suffuse her at the thought of what this hunk of a man would feel like between her legs.

Snap! Snap!

Her cheeks reddened when she realized she was staring at his snapping fingers in front of his crotch, where her wayward gaze had been stuck for a while. His fingers turned in an upward flick toward his face. Her cheeks bloomed beetroot in embarrassment at being caught staring at his crown jewels.

And then she became entranced with another part of him.

Good god, this man was delicious to look at.

His eyes were, in a word, beautiful. At first glance they appeared dark. But looking into them closely, they were fascinating. His black eyes flickered in the dim light of the lamp overhead.

“Well?” He demanded in a deep scratchy voice. The expression on his face was deadpan, at her fascination with his body.

“Well wh-a-t?” Alexis half stammered while she tried her best to get her libido under control.

“Heaven save me from blushing virgins,” he growled. “I asked what you were doing here.”

His words registered with Alexis. Her back went ramrod straight.

He raised one eyebrow in a sardonic arc.

Her shoulders squared.

His large hands settled low on his hips.

“Firstly, Mr. Flintstone,” she said in a voice colder than the Antarctic, “I’m no virgin and secondly, I need help.” Her hands fluttered in the direction of the forest behind them. Her body began to shudder from delayed shock. “I . . . accident . . . car . . . down there . . . ooh.”

She staggered a step forward, her mind swirling, her breath wheezed through her lips. Alexis felt her knees beginning to wobble, moments before her limbs gave way and she collapsed in a dead faint.

“Ah fuck! What next?” The man grumbled as he looked down at the delicate face of the beautiful woman he’d caught in his arms.

 

 

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