“Yes.” Not very well, but I don’t divulge that information. He’s already got enough advantage on me.

“Shall we?” He gestures toward the table in front of the French doors where a game of chess awaits. As we each settle into a seat across from the other, I study him, trying to figure out what his true game is.

Because there’s no way it’s chess.

Since I’m sitting on the side with the white pieces, I take the first turn by moving a pawn forward two squares. “Your move, Chancellor.”

He brings a pawn forward. “You’re craving my hand today, aren’t you, my sweet girl?”

The thought of his warm palm on my bare ass does strange things low in my belly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Moving a knight, I feign innocence.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He follows my lead, and his knight jumps over one of his pawns. “You’re getting mouthy with me because you’re upset over the distance I’ve put between us.”

“How intuitive of you.” I slide out another pawn.

“You feel rejected.”

“That’s not true.”

It really is true, and I hate myself for the weakness. I didn’t expect to feel this way, but I do, and it’s causing chaos in my head. We advance several more pawns, losing casualties along the way, and then I move my queen, paying no attention to strategy.

When it comes to him I have no strategy.

His castle takes my queen.

He settles back in his seat, chin resting on his fist. “Take your time.”

Letting out a sigh of frustration, I weigh my options. I could take his queen in two moves, but he’d only block it. The seconds tick past as I study the board, searching for a winning course of action I haven’t yet found.

His patience is never-ending. He sits in that chair as if he owns it—because he does, and he owns me in this game. Just as I’m about to move my bishop, he breaks the silence.

“If you win, I’ll make you come.”

His promise tingles through my limbs, stirring excitement in my veins and flooding hot liquid to the apex of my thighs. I raise my gaze to his, taken aback by the desire in those sexy brown eyes.

“Are you trying to distract me?”

He shrugs. “Just providing incentive.”

The promise of his hands on me is motivation enough…if I thought I could win.

But I won’t, and he knows it.

“You tease me, Chancellor.”

His mouth twitches at the purposeful slip-up. “I’ve got you in two moves.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I know how to play the game, Novalee.”