Page 27 of Wicked Rush

“I don’t even know who they are. I only know they work for my…” Braelynn sucked a breath, almost divulging her relationship to her uncle. They were his associates, and she didn’t know their names or where they lived. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t…I don’t know who they are. That night is a blur.”

“Why the key? This.” Lars held it up into the sun, the light flickering off its exterior. “Why was this so important? You must have had it in your jacket. When I took it off you, I’m thinking it somehow fell into the sand. Must have gotten covered with sand in the tide. But you had it on you that night? In a pocket?”

Silence blanketed the air as she contemplated her answer. His penetrating stare held her in place, and she chose truth. “Yes.”

“Yes,” he repeated.

The subtle grin that emerged on his lips told her he was pleased with his small victory. She briefly closed her eyes in response, aware that her own desire to make him happy could jeopardize her mission.

“What does it open?”

She blinked her eyes, noting he was closer still. Within four feet; she could almost touch him.

“Brae?” His smile faded when she failed to reply to his questions. “What does it open? What is so important that these people are willing to kill for it?”

“I need it…” Braelynn took a deep breath and blew it out. The pressure inside her chest tempered the lust. “There’s something I need. Something important.”

“But you work at Bart-Aqua. Did you take this key from someone? Did you steal it?”

“Lars…I…things aren’t always black and white. Sometimes people get themselves into situations. Tough situations. Things get complicated.”

“Did. You. Steal. It?” He emphasized each word, inching toward her.

“It opens something I borrowed,” she lied.

Braelynn licked her lips as Lars stared at her as if deciding whether she was a criminal or not. He towered above her, standing in the same section where she’d been forced to tread water.

“Borrowed? Is it safe to assume that whoever this key belongs to doesn’t know you have it?”

Braelynn shook her head no, her heart pounding as he held it in front of her face. It wasn’t the key that was the issue, it was the data it kept safe.

As he closed the distance, she resisted the urge to reach for him. Her body pricked with sexual awareness. She shivered, not bothering to hide her nudity.

“Whatever is locked up with this key must be pretty important. I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me what you are going to do with it?”

“It might not work anymore. It’s been compromised.” Braelynn startled as his palm settled next to her fingers. “Corroded by the sea water.”

“Possibly.” He smiled. “But what does it unlock, my little fox?”

“Fox?”

“Ah, yes, beautiful animals…shy, but resourceful. You’re running scared, Brae. With good reason, after being shot. Something, someone made you desperate. These bad people you speak of still surround you.” Lars tossed the key onto the patio, and Braelynn jumped. “But here’s the thing about foxes; they’re very intelligent. Even though they are afraid, or harmed by predators, humans, they, too, can learn to trust.”

Braelynn went silent as he caged her with his arms, her back against the edge of the pool.

“You can trust me.” Lars leaned toward her, his lips brushing her ear. “I promised you. I will not hurt you.”

“Lars.” Her breathy voice carried into the breeze. As his rock-hard cock grazed her inner thigh, she sighed. The cool water did little to assuage the heat between her legs.

“I can see.” He paused, retreating slightly. Raising her left arm, he inspected the bruises. “Someone else hurt you. I want to know who.”

Shane.When she’d insisted on leaving the event early, they’d argued. As she’d spun to leave, he’d grabbed her arm, yanking her against him. She’d long suspected his violent nature, but it’d been the first time he’d laid a hand on her. Braelynn had struggled and tore away.

“I, uh, I got in an argument with someone. It was nothing.”

“A real man doesn’t leave bruises on a woman.”

“Please, Lars. I’m okay.”