He waited for her to finish. Then, when it became apparent she had no plans to, he pushed. “What happened there, on the floor of your room? And out in the woods, before. Whatever happens to you at those times? Whatever it is, it makes you want to have sex, doesn’t it? It was the same thing all those other times, wasn’t it?”
Blanching, she jerked her head in a nod. “You’ve finally got it. I tried to tell you. Now are you happy? I’ve just given you something you can use to control me.”
“Control you? I’m not Leo, remember.” Holding himself utterly still, he willed her to look at him, to read his expression, to somehow discern the depth of his feelings for her.
She didn’t.
“I don’t want to control you.”
“All men relish control. They thrive on it. You’re no different.”
“I’m not all men. No matter what, know this. What we just shared was more than sex, more than lust.”
Now her brilliant green gaze flew to his. “Don’t.”
She reminded him of a furious, terrified bird with a badly broken wing. The question was could he heal her? Did he want to?
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t try to pretty it up. Call a spade a spade.”
“I am. We have something between us. Something special. You know that.”
“Special?” She snorted. “Even Leo didn’t—”
“I told you, I’m not Leo,” he roared, then lowered his voice. “Don’t compare me to that son of a bitch. Not ever again.”
Gazes locked, they stared each other down. After a moment, she gave a slow nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” He took a deep breath, knowing he must continue to push until she gave him the truth. “You’re not ill, are you?”
“Not in the way you mean. But yes, I am.”
Could she be any more ambiguous? This time he was having none of it. “Don’t lie to me, Jewel. Not now.”
“You’re better off not knowing. Believe me.”
How often in the past had he heard that? Though he knew both he and Jewel carried way too much baggage from their pasts, if he’d learned one thing from his experiences, he’d learned to despise lies.
“I want to know, damn it. I want the truth.”
Silent, she pressed her lips together and said nothing.
His stomach knotted. He should have known better. That’s what he got for thinking with the wrong part of his body. Taking a deep breath, he gave her one last chance.
“I’m trying to help you, Jewel. Is it too much to ask for you to respect me enough to tell me the truth?”
“Truth? You wouldn’t know it if it bit you in the ass.” Her voice vibrated with rage.
“What?”
“I met your girlfriend today, saw what you did to her. You’re a monster.” Her stone face crumpled. “And I had sex with you. What does that make me?”
“Girlfriend?” Impatient, he shook his head. “I don’t have a girlfriend. What the hell are you talking about?”
“Bettina?” Her furious glare scorched him. “Does the name ring a bell?”
“Not at all. Who’s Bettina?”
