Chapter Two- Alps:Awakened

The road from Vienna to Salzburg shimmered beneath the morning sun, twisting like a silver ribbon through the foothills of the Alps. His Audi RS6 purred with controlled strength, the kind of car that fit him perfectly—elegant, powerful, fast. The Yaris GR trailed behind on a trailer, ready for the rally stages he’d scoped out near Zell am See. But for now, it was about the road, the view, and her.
She sat in the passenger seat with bare legs curled up, wearing nothing but one of his hoodies and sunglasses too big for her face. Her feet danced to a playlist she’d made for this trip—soft alt-pop, moody but hopeful. She glanced at him, smirking as if she could read every thought.
“You’re distracted,” she said.
“Always, when you’re in the car with me.”
“Good distracted or dangerous distracted?”
He grinned. “Both.”
The drive passed in waves—quiet, then playful, then heated. Her hand on his thigh when the road straightened. His thumb brushing the inside of her wrist at a stoplight. The tension between them coiled tighter with every kilometer.
They arrived at the chalet just after noon. Secluded, surrounded by pines and snow-kissed peaks, it was a place out of time. He had the fire going within minutes, and she was already curled up on the sofa, watching him move with that silent hunger she never tried to hide.
He stalked toward her like a predator with a purpose.
“You knew what you were doing this morning,” he said.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
His hands were on her ankles first, dragging her slowly toward him along the couch. Her laughter was breathless, nervous—excited. He didn’t kiss her mouth at first. He kissed the inside of her knee.
She gasped.
“Still don’t know what I mean?” he murmured against her skin.
Her answer was lost in a moan as he slid her hoodie up and over her head. The air between them turned electric.
This time, it was wild. Less worship, more claim. She begged and he gave. She pushed and he held. When it was over, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glassy with the kind of dazed love no words could ever describe.
They lay tangled in the fur blanket, firelight flickering golden across their skin.
“I don’t want to go back,” she said.
“We’re not going back,” he said. “We’re going forward.”
“Where?”
He paused, gaze serious now. “There’s a conference in Geneva. High-level hedge funds, forex top dogs. I wasn’t going to go. But now I think I should.”
“Because?”
“Because there’s someone there who’s trying to destroy what we’re building. Someone I didn’t think would come for me this soon.”
Her face changed—concern, fire, loyalty. “Then we go together.”
He smiled like a wolf with an edge of pride. “That’s my girl.”