Chelsea abandoned herself to the depth of their kiss. Evan’s mouth was hot and demanding, his lips soft, his tongue bold. She was melting from the inside out. Never had she experienced such powerful desire, such a magnetic attraction toward another. If she’d thought he was sexy before, now, with their mouths melded together, she knew he was dynamite. As his hands lowered to her waist and he drew her closer to him, she stopped thinking altogether. She could only feel.
She angled her body to press against his, unable to get close enough. As they shifted into a more intimate embrace, continuing to kiss fervently, she felt her towel slide off little by little. It was bliss to have Evan’s hands on her bare back, cupping her bare hips. Her self-control slipped along with the damp fabric.
As though he shared her feelings, Evan drew his mouth away, breathing hard. He gazed at her intently, his brown eyes smoky, arousal dilating his pupils.
She sensed he was about to say something, maybe to ask her if she was sure about this. It would have been wasted time and breath. She’d wanted him since the first time she’d seen him. Wordlessly, she drew his mouth back to hers, burying her fingers in his hair, grazing her teeth over his full lower lip.
He cupped her breast, and she gasped in glorious pleasure. Her nipple tightened under his touch, and she arched her back, aching for more. When his mouth lowered to the sensitive skin of her neck, she had the impression she was getting dizzy. She let herself fall back onto the thick, fluffy carpet, pulling Evan down with her. He supported himself on his hands, his body hot and hard above hers.
“Not here,” he whispered against her lips. “Let me take you to bed. I want this to be perfect.”
He pushed himself up and drew her with him, then fluidly swept her up into his arms. Chelsea didn’t have time to become self-conscious because she was naked while he was fully dressed.
Within moments, they were in the bedroom, and he laid her on the bed. Her gentle, sexy, mouth-watering giant… She reached for him and pulled him down onto the soft cotton sheets. She almost ripped his T-shirt in her desperation to take it off and run her hands over his magnificent chest, rounded pecs, and tight abs. She reached lower, her searching fingers making him moan.
With a few agile movements, he was naked. Desire made his body shiver as he lowered himself on top of her. She sensed he didn’t want to rush, but the temptation was too strong, the need too powerful. They had waited too long for this, and now it was too late to take their time. In unison, they moved, one smooth thrust embedding him inside her, hard and deep. Chelsea’s cry of satisfaction mixed with his own gruff gasp. They abandoned themselves to each other, moving in a rhythm that was both hungry and tender. As they clung tightly to each other, their mouths sipping one another, Chelsea realized this man was all she’d ever wanted. If he was willing to let her, she’d become all he’d ever wanted, too.
A star exploding couldn’t have been more earth-shattering than the orgasm they shared, gasping for breath, unwilling to let go. Chelsea wanted to stay like this forever, with him securely inside her, her arms tightly wrapped around him, his face resting against her neck. A thin layer of sweat made his back glisten as it rose and fell in the rhythm of his rapid breathing. Tiny shivers ran through her and into him, making their connection even stronger. Because this hadn’t been only sex—it had been making love.
But as the haze of lust and release began to fade, doubt crept up on her. What if this connection was only in her mind because she wanted it so much? Was she reading too much into what had just happened? She wished she had more experience with men. It was amazing that she could read a stranger so well, yet she wasn’t perceptive enough when she was close to the person she was trying to decipher.
Evan raised his head slowly. Her heart warmed as she saw his eyes charged with burning tenderness. She’d been right. He cared about her, perhaps more than she’d imagined.
Her hand seemed to weigh a ton, but she lifted it to stroke his cheek. He closed his eyes, then turned his face and kissed her palm softly. Chelsea smiled, tracing the line of his cheekbone, then his jaw, which felt like sandpaper because of his five o’clock shadow. She knew most men weren’t into post-coital chatting, and she was fine with that. She didn’t know what to say anyway. She guided his head onto her chest and drew up the duvet to cover them both. It was an incredibly powerful feeling to have this large, strong man reduced to a loving child as he held her close, his cheek curved in a smile and resting on her breast. This simple togetherness filled her with happiness. It was a bit uncomfortable to have his full weight on top of her, but she didn’t dare move. She didn’t want to do anything to spoil this moment, so she just basked in his closeness, a smile lingering on her face.
They lay like that, listening to the rain that pattered on the pavement outside. Streetlight filtered through the window, adding a silvery glow to the slice of light coming through the open bedroom door. This space was warm and cozy, the semi-darkness sexy and intimate. The worries and horrors of the past days seemed far away, locked outside, washed away by the falling drops.
Evan’s breathing had slowed down, as had hers. She thought he was asleep or about to doze off when he spoke, his voice soft and low.
“How come a woman like you is still single?”
She gave a soft laugh. “You’ll have to explain what you mean by a woman like me.”
He lifted his head, then shifted their bodies so that she lay on top of him. “Gorgeous, sexy, smart, independent, successful, sensitive… I could go on, but I don’t want to sound like an adoring, pussy-whipped puppy.”
She joined in his laughter, her cheeks growing warm from his praises.
“Wow, I don’t even know what to say. I suppose thank you is the first thing that comes to mind, although I can’t honestly say I feel I am all those things.”
“That’s how I see you.”
“That’s why I said thank you and meant it,” she said, kissing his bare chest. “To answer your question, I guess I never found a man with whom I felt completely compatible. After a certain age, one becomes more selective, more demanding. I’ve always thought it’s only fair in a relationship that each partner gives as good as they get. I’ve never had a relationship where I felt this balance was fulfilled. Sometimes the man didn’t live up to my expectations; other times, I was the one who lacked something to prevent that compatibility.” She traced circles absently on his chest, watching the fine hairs swirl under her touch. “When I was younger, I dreamed of a crazy, passionate love story—like most women. The difference is, while most women outgrow this fantasy, I never did.” She smiled up at him.
He grinned, his teeth glinting white in the dim light. “Do you still believe in Prince Charming?”
“Now more than ever.”
Evan’s expression showed he was pleased with her answer. He cupped the back of her head and drew her close for a slow, deep kiss. Chelsea didn’t want to stop, but she needed to ask her own questions. Gently, she pulled away, keeping her head on his shoulder, far enough so she could see his face.
“What about you, Evan? How come you’re still a bachelor?”
He gazed out the window and shrugged lightly, pulling the duvet higher to cover her back. Chelsea found the gesture thoughtful and endearing.
“I guess for the same reasons as you. I’ve never found that special someone to make me want to stay forever. In all fairness, I didn’t search for her. I focused on my career to the detriment of my personal life.”
“Didn’t you feel lonely?”
He took her hand and linked his fingers with hers, gazing at their united hands with perhaps exaggerated attention.
“They say you can’t miss something you’ve never had. I don’t know if I was lonely before, but now I’d feel damn lonely without you.”
As their eyes met, Chelsea swallowed. She fought hard not to let her eyes go misty with tears. His confession was more precious than if he’d said I love you a dozen times and brought her a zillion roses.
She smiled, showing him how much she appreciated his words and the meaning behind them. She wanted him to know she’d understood what he meant. It was premature to declare undying love for each other, but for the first time in her life, she glimpsed the future of that promise in his eyes.
“I’m glad I didn’t give up my fairytale dream,” she whispered against his lips, then pressed her mouth hotly to his, almost purring when his strong arms claimed her possessively.
The sound of Evan’s phone startled them both. While she wanted to ignore it, reason prevailed.
“It’s your phone,” Chelsea said. “It’s in the kitchen.”
He dashed out of bed and rushed through the open doorway to the kitchen. Chelsea heard him answer, listen, then end the conversation with a brisk “I’ll be there asap.”
The sound of that statement had a menacing quality that sobered her instantly. She sat up straight in bed, wrapping the sheet around her breasts. Something was wrong. She waited for Evan’s shadow to appear in the doorway, growing more worried by the second when he didn’t show up. The silence scraped her nerves.
“Evan? Who was it?”
He walked to the bedroom, and she switched on the nightstand lamp to see him better. His grim expression made her stomach sink. Something was seriously wrong.
“It was the dispatch,” he said.
He bent to pick up his boxers, then pulled them on.
“What did they want?”
Evan didn’t answer right away. He stepped to the dresser and donned a pair of jeans and a sweater. As he sat down on the bed to put on socks, he finally looked over at her.
“A woman was reported missing,” he said. “Her name is Alice Winters. Her sister called the Garda not long ago and said Alice should have gotten home four hours ago and hasn’t. She claims Alice is never late. The officer who took the call looked into it and, because her physical description matches my two victims, he thought he should let me know.”
Chelsea couldn’t swallow the knot in her throat. Suddenly her skin was clammy, and a wave of cold crept over her.
“Do you think Aideen killed this woman?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“I don’t know. As long as she’s at large, we can’t eliminate the possibility. That’s why I’m going to check.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Absolutely not.” Evan sat on the bed beside her and gripped her shoulders, preventing her from getting up. “Chelsea, this might be just a coincidence. I’m pretty sure Aideen is too busy hiding right now to deal with another victim.”
“This woman could have been on her list already,” Chelsea argued. “Evan, Aideen is unstable and unpredictable. If she thinks she’s as good as caught, she’ll just want to take out as many people as she can.”
“Including you. Especially you. That’s why you’re not going anywhere. You’re safe here, and I need to know you’re safe so I can do my job. I have an alarm system, and I’ll leave you my spare piece.”
He went to a drawer and retrieved a gun, checked to see if it was loaded, then brought it to Chelsea.
She had never held a gun. The cold steel was a shock to her skin, and so was the weight of the pistol. It was surreal to hold this weapon in her hand, knowing the power it had to destroy life.
“I don’t know how to use this, Evan.”
“You pull the trigger.” He smiled crookedly, trying to make light of it. Swiftly, he showed her how to release the safety catch, hold and aim the gun. “I’m sure you won’t need it, but if you’re in a life-or-death situation, you need to have protection. If you keep all the windows and doors closed, there’s no way anyone can get in. The old lady who used to live here believed in being protected. The security system is a great one, plus there’s a deadbolt and a panic button. You couldn’t be safer anywhere else.”
“I would be safe next to you,” she muttered, then stared up at him. “I’m not afraid, Evan. I want to be there in case you need me, in case I can help, in case we capture her… I don’t know. I need to do something, don’t you understand?” she demanded, willing him to sense her desperate need for action.
Evan holstered his gun, arranging it at his hip. Then he knelt down to be eye to eye with her.
“I do understand, and you are helping. It’s thanks to you that we know who she is, we know her habits, we can anticipate some of her reactions. I know she’ll try to get to you, Chelsea, and I can’t deal with that thought. Can you understand me? Can you understand that I need to know you’re safe so I can think straight and catch this bitch once and for all?”
His eyes burned into hers, his expression fierce.
Chelsea was torn between her own need for action and the objective need for doing what had to be done. It wasn’t easy to accept there was nothing she could do right now. However, the sooner she did, the sooner Evan could start doing his job.
Nodding, she lowered her face and placed the gun beside her.
“Be careful,” she said, wrapping the fallen sheet once more around herself. “And call me if there’s anything I can do. Please keep me posted, and let me know as soon as you know something.”
“I promise.” He kissed her, squeezing her shoulder. “Do not open the door to anyone and keep all the windows closed. I’ll check them before I go. The code for the alarm is 3895, but you won’t need it. Don’t disable the alarm under any circumstances, okay? The panic button is in that drawer,” he added, indicating a vanity table. “I’ve never used it, but the owner assured me it works.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be in touch,” he said, checking the window.
After quickly walking through the house to check the doors and windows, Evan pulled on his jacket and headed out, locking the door behind him.
For a moment, Chelsea stared at the gun he’d given her. She’d never fired one and hoped she’d never need to, but it was reassuring to know it was there. She got out of bed and pulled on one of Evan’s T-shirts. The short sleeves came down to her elbows, and the rim almost reached her knees.
She wondered what had happened to that poor woman, Alice. Was there any connection between her disappearance and Aideen O’Banion? Had she even disappeared, or was this a false alarm? God, she hoped so! She wished Evan would come back or ring and say it had all been a misunderstanding. Alice was home, and all was okay.
If she dwelled on it any longer, she would drive herself crazy. She went into the living room, finding Kieran on the sofa. The cat was sound asleep, but his ears twitched when she walked in. She found her phone on the coffee table and checked to see if it was charged, pleased to see that it was.
She curled up on the sofa, phone in hand, and checked her emails. Nothing important. Biting her lower lip, she accessed her social media account and searched for Alice Winters. There were dozens of them, but when she filtered the results to include only people located in Dublin, there was only one.
“Jesus,” she whispered as she looked through the woman’s photos.
Perhaps it was only because Chelsea was looking for it, but there was a marked resemblance between herself and Alice. She had similar blond hair that matched her eyebrows and beautiful blue eyes. Her mouth was fuller than Chelsea’s, her cheekbones rounder, and she couldn’t judge Alice’s height. However, the similarities were there. Like Shannon and Jenny, the women’s physical descriptions coincided with a type.
“The Chelsea type,” she muttered bitterly.
How could she not feel guilty? If only…What? What could she have done to prevent this? Not receive the award for her work? Not write her book on schizophrenia? Stay friends with a psychopath?
Massaging the bridge of her nose, she shook her head in defeat. The truth was there was nothing she could have done to stop Aideen from becoming what she’d become. Something would have triggered her at one point. Chelsea couldn’t have predicted any of this. She had been just an excuse. Even if she hadn’t existed, Aideen would have picked someone else as a target for her fixation.
Chelsea stared back at the phone. Alice didn’t share a lot of public information. According to her profile, she worked as a curator at an art gallery. There was no information about her relationship status, religious views, or political orientation. She hadn’t posted many photos either, but the ones she had were stunning—probably taken by a professional photographer. There was one of her in a sparkling silver gown at an art event. Another showed her on an old, dark street, on a rainy day. The photo was black and white, and the only spot of color in it was Alice’s red umbrella. Chelsea smiled at the beauty of the image. Her smile collapsed as she swiped to the next photo. Alice and a black cat, both cuddled up on a white sofa.
Chelsea’s heart began to beat faster. This was proof that Alice’s disappearance wasn’t a coincidence. Aideen had chosen her, probably days ago. It wasn’t a random decision. Obviously, Aideen had done her research. Despite the fact that she was on the run, she’d still gone ahead with her plan. Chelsea dreaded being right about this unstable woman who was cornered and had nothing to lose. She would take as many people down with her as possible. If she’d kept to her pattern, Alice Winters was already dead.
A sob speared her chest. Another woman dead because of her. No matter how much Chelsea reasoned that she wasn’t to blame, everything was too fresh for her to shed the guilt and look at the situation objectively. How many more women would die? How would the Garda ever catch Aideen when they didn’t have a single useable clue to her location?
In her desperation, she didn’t even flinch when her phone signaled an incoming email. She couldn’t imagine it being anything important but checked it anyway out of habit. Listlessly, she tapped the screen, and her blood ran cold. The sender was Black Dawn. Heart hammering, Chelsea tapped to open the email.
It was a photo of Alice Winters, eyes wide, mouth covered by duct tape. Only her face and upper body were visible. Her hands were duct-taped together, and there was a thick rope around her neck. She was tied to the tombstone that marked Chelsea’s mother’s grave.
Under the photo, a message was written in caps: YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO COME ALONE TO GLASNEVIN CEMETERY, OR SHE DIES. NO POLICE, NO PHONE, NO WEAPON—OR SHE DIES.