She looked out the window. His room had a better view than hers did, and she needed to focus on it instead of the brawny vision of tactical magnificence in front of her. “Don’t feel like it.”

He took her chin between his finger and thumb, then turned her to face him. His thumb brushed her cheek, and her stomach shot up and exploded like a Roman candle. “Try again.”

She swatted his hand away. “Why are you pushing me on this, Jared? Leave it be.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?” Exasperation poured off her. She needed to push him, shake him, and kiss him like crazy. And that was the problem. Couldn’t he get that through his thick head without a step-by-step?

Jared let the silence suffocate her long enough that she should’ve run for the door. But she wasn’t going to go down like that.

When she couldn’t stand it anymore, he continued. “I already told you, Sugar. Something’s burning up between us. Even if there wasn’t, holy hell, woman. Why run from sex like that?” He whistled. “That was some legendary stuff.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” This isn’t working. Heat crawled up her neck, toward her face. Embarrassment made her crave the fetal position.

“I can get to the truth. There’s not an interrogation subject I can’t break. And with you, baby cakes, I’ll take my time.” His voice was so low that she felt its vibrations. “Imagine the ways I’ll make you talk.”

She could tell he knew what he was doing. In another couple of minutes, she would want to be in his arms so bad it hurt—more than it already did. She had to go. Now. Sugar stood up. “Would you leave me alone—”

Back on the couch. Flat on her back. Sex on her brain.

Jared perched over her, and she had no idea how it’d happened. All she knew was that the scent of soap and spice was making her mouth water. His broad chest and arms caged her to a La-Z-Boy prison.

“What the fuck is your problem, Lilly Chase?” he growled.

Lilly Chase. Her name stole her breath, knocking shut her eyes. She tried to regain even a slice of composure, then opened her eyes to stare into Jared’s sinfully piercing gaze. The tornado swirling deep within her belly served as an alarm, sobering her. “I don’t have time for games, Jared. Stop playing on my weakness. I’m getting tired of it.” She shoved. “Get off of me.”

“I’m your weakness?”

“As if you haven’t figured that out. Stop toying with me.” She knocked him again. “Seriously, move all this muscle.”

“Toying?” A slow smile curled into his cheeks. “You think I’m not interested?”

“I think we both know how to play the game. But I can’t hold up my end of the deal. Okay? White flag. I’m surrendering. Find another playmate.”

“I don’t want to, Sugar, and we haven’t made any deals.”