by Kym Grosso
His face remained impassive as he pulled the zipper down and tugged the waistband over her hips. But as he attempted to remove the drenched denim, her hands moved to his wrist. Lars lifted his head in question and glanced below her navel. Slowly and deliberately, she released him. Sliding her fingers over her bared mound and down into her jeans, she covered herself.
Lars sucked a breath, and tore his eyes from her soft belly. With a swift yank, he stripped off her jeans. Feigning indifference, he casually covered her thighs with the blanket. He quickly shoved off the bed and headed to his closet, plowing his fingers through his hair. Holy hell. No fucking underwear? She might as well have hit him with a baseball bat.
The whole situation was fucked six ways till Sunday. He cupped his half-hard dick and threw his head back in frustration. He knew full well she was colder than shit, but at the present moment he couldn’t return until he calmed down. No, Lars. Fucking quit this shit. She just tried to break into your house, he told himself. He took a deep breath and counted to ten, willing his cock into submission.
A small moan echoed from his bedroom and he returned to the bedside. Praying she hadn’t noticed his reaction, he spread a fluffy comforter over her small body and sat on the edge of the bed. The haze in her eyes told him she might still be in shock. She’d need sleep to recover.
Taking in the sight of her in his bed, Lars wondered why she’d ever risk walking down near the cliffs at night. A scientist, she’d know to respect the ocean. None of what had just happened made any sense. He suspected she wanted the key, but at what cost? Instead of waiting to meet him, she’d come to his house directly? No, not to meet him, she’d come to break into his home. She had to have known it wasn’t safe.
“Lars,” she whispered, her lids closed.
“Yeah, sweetheart.” Although he couldn’t bring himself to smile, the tone in his voice softened at the raw vulnerability that resonated through her strength.
“I’m sorry.” She turned on her side to him, bringing the edge of the white cotton blanket to her chin.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“I just…I need…” her words faded as she drifted into sleep.
Lars sighed and reached to cup her cheek. Warmth radiated in his palm, and a small smile crossed his face, relieved her temperature was rising. His other hand reached for hers, and although logic told him to release her, he gave in to indulgence, his fingers brushing over her soft skin. He stroked her delicate wrist, discovering the tiny black dots lining her inner arm. What the hell? Who did this?
Anger burned swift inside his chest, aware that the bruise on her arm had to have been caused by force. The distinct five-fingered handprint appeared fresh, its bluish edges telling him it had probably happened within hours. Lars blew out a ragged breath and gently placed her limb underneath the covers.
He pushed to his feet, glanced to the clock and then to the pile of soaking clothes on his hardwood floors. Fuck me. Nearly two in the morning, and he was set on an early rise. It could wait. If he didn’t get some sleep, he wouldn’t be able to function.
Exhausted, he considered his options. Torn between calling the authorities to arrest her ass and interrogating her himself, he chose the latter. The last time he’d left things to the police, they’d done nothing, refused to investigate further. Braelynn wasn’t going anywhere anyway. Four hours of shuteye, and he’d get answers. No more excuses, Dr. Rollins was in for a rude awakening. He suspected the extent of duplicity was far more elaborate than her plea of innocence. Despite his attraction for the lovely doctor, he’d show no mercy.
The shift of the bed roused him but it was the sound of her metal zipper scraping over the wooden planks that caused Lars to focus. He fought a smile as the sight of her bared bottom came into view. Bent over, she’d clutched at the blanket, sorting through her clothes. The throw draped down her back, the nape of her perfectly rounded ass peeking up at him.
A small part of him knew that it was wrong to indulge in the delicious sight of her. I earned it though, he inwardly argued. All the hassle she had already brought into his life coupled with whatever secrets remained, seemed a decent exchange for the morning delight. But as she moved to exit, he sprang from the bed, wrapping a strong arm around her waist.
Her movement thwarted, she yelped. With the heat of his chest against her back, he made no effort to release her.
“Let me go,” she insisted.
“Settle…” She wiggled her bottom against his morning erection, and he cursed. Jesus Christ she feels good. Down, boy.
“You need to let me go. This is kidnapping,” Braelynn stated.
“Sorry sweetheart. I’d consider this a citizen’s arrest.”
“I didn’t steal anything,” she insisted.
“Breaking and entering,” he countered.
“I didn’t even get inside. I didn’t break anything. I didn’t enter. Now let me go.”
“You need to check the law in California. You were attempting to break in with the intent to steal.”
“Steal what? I just said I didn’t take anything,” she spat at him.
“Intent is the key word here.” Lars smiled as her eyes sparked with defiance. As she relaxed into his arms, he sensed her capitulation. Naked, she couldn’t get very far.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Please.”
“Maybe you’d prefer I call the cops?”
“No. Please. You don’t understand,” she pleaded.
“No I don’t. None of this makes any sense. I want answers.” The blood drained from his cock, the conversation turning serious.
She quivered in his arms, and he slowly spun her so she faced him. Clinging to the wrap, she appeared fragile and broken, and he wondered what the hell could have driven one of the world’s promising scientists to do something so stupid. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and Lars resisted releasing her completely.
He considered his next steps as the room filled with silence. They both needed showers. The image of their wet flesh entwined together flashed through his mind, but the fantasy was as fleeting. No matter his attraction to her, he wasn’t pursuing it. If and when he made love to Dr. Rollins, she’d be wet with desire, begging him to fuck her.
“Look Doc. I have a proposition for you.”
“What?” She shrugged her arms from his grip, and stepped back.
Lars gave a small smile, knowing that Dean would fucking kill him if it got back to the police. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and if this woman had the balls to walk the stretch of beach at the bottom of the cliffs at night, she’d tear out of his house the first chance she got. He reached for her hand, without giving her a chance to escape.
“What are you doing? I told you…I’ll talk to you, okay?” she asked.
There were no words that would make what he was about to do any easier. While she resisted slightly, her feet shuffled alongside him until he stopped, reaching to his nightstand. Opening a drawer with one hand, he retrieved a shiny pair of handcuffs. As he dangled them in the air, he watched the color drain from her face.
“No.” Her lips trembled as her anger rose.
“I usually use these for pleasure,” he said, amusement in his voice. “Not that I’m ruling that out for the two of us sometime, but I’m afraid that’s not happening this morning. So I’m settling for peace of mind.”
“Are you insane?” she exclaimed.
“I’d like to say this’ll hurt me more than you, but all I can guarantee at this point is that I’ll be as gentle as possible.”
“You have no right…” She attempted to back away but he held tight to her hand, preventing her from leaving. “I’m not agreeing to this. No way.”
“Consent. Good point.” Lars snapped open a cuff and smiled. “I’m all for it.”
“Good. I didn’t give you my permission.” Her eyes focused on his.
“So you do know how this works?” He laughed, guessing she’d never been restrained in her life. The fear in h
er eyes spoke volumes.
“I never said I’ve ever…”
“Here’s the deal. I want answers. You have them. Now while this can all be very sensual, that’s not exactly what this is about today.” Lars hovered the shiny metal over her wrist.
“No.”
“The police? They book you for burglary. It’s a felony, you know. Granted, you might get away with a misdemeanor, but I do have video surveillance. I’m sure that will provide all the necessary evidence.” He paused and took a breath, his voice trailing off as he suggested the alternative. Lars knew he shouldn’t be making sexual innuendos given the situation, but fuck if his cock didn’t stir as his mind wandered with the possibilities of restraining her.
“I can’t go to the police. You know…you know…what happened on the beach,” she recalled, her eyes pleading.
“Or, the alternative is you let me cuff you. I’ll take a shower and then we’ll talk.”
“That’s not fair,” she accused.
“On the contrary, it’s more than fair. I risked my life that day at the beach to save your ass.” His voice grew louder as he recalled the incident. “This is not up for discussion, Dr. Rollins.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Very well. Do you know the assistant district attorney? His name’s Dean. He’s a good friend of mine.” Without releasing her hand, he reached for his cell phone. “I’ll call him right now.”
“No,” she cried. With a loud sigh, she snapped her head toward him, briefly met his gaze and then rolled her eyes in anger.
“So do you give your consent?” he asked. Drawing her closer, his chest brushed against hers and he slowly dragged his finger along her jawline, tilting her head toward him. “Doctor.”
“What?”
“Look at me,” he demanded. Her fiery eyes bored through him as she locked them on his. “It’s your choice. Police or cuffs? As soon as I’m finished getting dressed, I’ll release you. Yes or no?”
Lars watched her face soften as she accepted her fate. What she didn’t know was that he had no desire to call Dean. He couldn’t get the answers he sought without her.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“What’s that? Louder, Dr. Rollins,” he insisted.
“Yes, Goddammit.” She rolled her eyes.
As she relaxed her arm, Lars grew confident that for the first time in weeks, he was a step closer to discovering the truth. He gave a sly smile as he clicked the cool metal around her wrist, taking care to double lock it.
“Easy,” she muttered under her breath.
“Bed? Or bathroom? I’m not generally a fan of an audience when I shower, but for you I’d make an exception.” He winked as he gave a small laugh. Lars knew it was wrong to get a thrill out of restraining her, yet she’d given him enough trouble over the past couple of months. Compared to a jail cell, a few minutes in cuffs in his bed was nothing. Hell, most women would pay to be in her shoes.
“How about neither? God, you’re an asshole.”
“Now, sweetheart. That’s not a very nice way to talk to the person who has the keys.” He glanced at the handcuffs and back to her. “The other key too. Although I’m dying to find out why it is so important that you’d try breaking in my house to get it.”
“I didn’t break into your…” She stumbled over her words as the blanket slipped from her hands, revealing the swell of her breasts. Quickly recovering, she yanked the fabric upward, covering her bared flesh. “I hate you.”
“Someday, Dr. Rollins…not only are you going to beg me restrain you, but you are going to get a nice spanking for that mouth of yours. It is a beautiful one.” Lars couldn’t resist baiting her. The sight of her hardened nipples sent a jolt straight to his dick, and he shifted as his cock rushed with blood.
“You are seriously not flirting with me,” she replied, her eyes widening.
“When I’m trying to arouse you, you’ll know it. Right now, this is far from foreplay.” Bed, definitely bed, he decided. The last thing he needed to do was to have her watch him shower. “Bed it is.”
“What? I’m not getting in bed with you again. Last night you took ad…”
“Last night, we danced. Last night, you tried breaking into my house. Last night, I saved your pretty ass. Correct that…frozen ass. Now why would someone who knows the ocean as well as you do risk going down alone by the cliffs at night like that? Let’s just put it this way…you need to sit here and think of some really good answers while I’m taking a shower. I’d prefer the truth, because honestly, I don’t have a lot of time for lies.”
“I wasn’t…” she began and went silent.
“Hmm? What’s that? Got nothing? Yeah, how about you think on things.” Lars reached over the back of the sleigh bed and pulled on a cord that he’d had designed to secure to a hook on the wall.
“What is that?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, Doc. This is a special little attachment.” He snapped the cuffs through a brass ring and tugged, testing it. Once it was secured, he backed away from the bed and took in the sight of her.
“Do you routinely tie women to your bed?” she asked, a hint of a smile threatening to break her fury. “Who the hell has this kind of thing in their house?”
Something in Lars snapped. A lack of sleep coupled with sexual energy that teetered on explosion jolted him forward. She startled as he knelt one knee on the edge of the bed, and leaned over to her, his lips inches from her ear.
“Someday, Braelynn, you will find out exactly how I use these.” As her first name rolled off his tongue, he imagined she’d be difficult to tame, a challenge he’d enjoy for certain. In truth, he wasn’t looking for blind compliance. The banter was more conversation than he’d had in months from his bubble-headed dates. Intelligence coupled with beauty was sexier than any perfect ten he’d picked up in clubs. Perhaps her sexual naivety was the only truth she’d exposed. Yet that didn’t deter him from hoping that eventually she’d trust him enough to share whatever dark secret haunted her.
With his lips so close to her skin, he resisted the temptation. Whatever drove her to try to steal the key back must’ve been some serious shit, he knew. His intuition told him not only was she in deep trouble, but the danger surrounding her would be brought to his doorstep by his mere association with her. Innocent or not, the truth would be exposed.
Chapter Six
Braelynn watched Lars stroll into the bathroom. She tugged her arm and tested the restraint, frustrated with her predicament. She should never have attempted to steal from Lars. No matter what Garrett and Dean had told her, she’d known it had been a long shot. Approaching from the rear, she doubted she’d be seen from the front of the house. She’d predicted her trek on the beach would be dangerous, but having walked a similar stretch of sand many times during daylight, she’d been willing to take the risk. The sleeper wave, however, had taken her by surprise.
She glanced to the handcuff and sighed, realizing she had bigger problems. Braelynn had fantasized about Lars Elliott for well over a year. She pretended to look away as he stripped off his shirt and revealed his tanned corded back. As she caught sight of his rippled abs, she’d bitten her lip, her breath hitching slightly. Arousal bloomed, an ache throbbing between her legs. She hated her desire, aware she’d never have a chance to be with him. As he closed the bathroom door, she caught his knowing smile, and her stomach clenched. Despite being angry, she failed to hide her reaction to him. Caught in her indiscretion, her cheeks heated.
As she lay in bed, her mind spun with excuses in anticipation of Lars’ interrogation. What the hell am I going to say to him? Think, Brae. Within seconds, she’d decided her strategy. She’d admit to wanting the key back, which was true. Although it would be difficult to lie, she’d have no other choice. She’d insist that after the party, she’d changed her mind and decided to go to him directly. She’d claim she’d chosen a moonlit walk. After falling into the ocean, she became disoriented and attempted to u
se the security keypad. If he pressed for more information about the shooting on the beach, she’d stick to the cover story she’d originally told the police.
With no choice but to wait for him, Braelynn closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. She brought the blanket to her face and inhaled the aroma of his cologne that lingered on the fabric. As she listened to the cadence of the water droplets spilling onto the shower floor, she pictured Lars showering, and her nipples ached in response. She recalled how he’d undressed her the previous night. As he’d peeled her clothing away, revealing her bareness, her heart had pounded in both embarrassment and desire. She’d never given a care to going without undies until he’d slid his fingers against the soft skin of her mound.
Aroused, Braelynn reached for the comforter, cloaking her body. She slipped a hand underneath the covers, brushing her fingers over her breast. A tingle of arousal spiked between her legs and a small moan passed through her lips. Oh God, I shouldn’t do this, she thought. More like the devil. This is so wrong but…. Her core tightened as she imagined the touch of his fingers on her skin. She silently cursed the erotic images and sensations threading through her thoughts, ones that she knew she’d never experience.
Braelynn never noticed the sound of the shower ceasing. But as his freshly cleaned scent filled the room, her eyes flashed open and her heart caught. Lars gave her a broad grin, and she wished she could disappear. Mortified she’d been watched, she blinked her eyes shut.
“Someone looks like they are having a nice dream,” he commented, reaching to unlock her binding.
“I’m not dreaming. I’m just…I’m just…”
“You really do have a problem with telling the truth, don’t you, Doc?” he accused as he removed the metal cuff.
“I don’t trust you.” Although it hadn’t been tight, she rubbed at her arm and then shoved up to sit.
“Now that’s a good one. You break in my house. Refuse to let me see you after I saved you. But you,” he laughed, “you don’t trust me?”
