She can’t be serious. “Yes, you do.” She’s not going to make me spell it out, surely? Not again.

My grip is missing her wrist within seconds as she yanks it away and backs up, meeting the wall in just a few steps. “Because you want to hear how loud I’ll scream?”

“No,” I yell incredulously, but I have no right to sound so shocked or annoyed by her question. That was not the sort of line I should’ve delivered to this woman. She’s worthy of so much more. But this is what she does to me. She makes me irrational. Drives me wild.

“You are undeniably the most arrogant arsehole I’ve ever met,” she yells, and I flinch at her harshness. “I’m not interested in becoming a sexual conquest.”

“Conquest?” I snort, swinging away from her and marching up the hallway, digging deep for some control. “What fucking planet are you on, woman?” There’s no control to be found.

“Get out!” she shouts from behind me, and I freeze before turning to find her. She’s fuming. Join the fucking club.

“No,” I bark, continuing with my moody march. Oh my God, I could strangle her.

“I’m not fucking interested.” And then she swears like that, pushing more buttons, and it feels like pins being poked into my skin. “Now, get out.”

“Watch your fucking mouth!”

She recoils, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I might have. “Get out!”

Never. I look at the space between us. There’s too much.

I have a moment of realization.

I’m not close enough to her. Let’s see how fiery she is when I’m up close and personal. Our encounter in my suite was torment—a perfect moment cruelly snatched from me. Let’s remind her of that ecstasy.

“Okay,” I say surely. “Look me in my eyes and tell me you don’t want to see me again, and I’ll go. You’ll never have to lay eyes on me again.” The very words tighten my gut and have every inch of my hard-muscled frame praying that she gives the right answer. But would it be right, or would it be wrong? I don’t even know.

It seems like an eternity passes, and she still doesn’t speak. She doesn’t say it. She can’t say it, so I move in. Three paces puts me before her, the closeness making my head spin, my heart smashing violently, my breathing accelerating to a stupid rate.