C7, PT. 4

“Trust me, it’s better this way for the both of us. You want freedom, that’s something I’ll never be able to grant you. So, I ask for a year to heal with I broke in you, to make up for the damage I swore I wouldn’t do, and give you what I owe you. Do we have a deal?”

She hesitated.

“Jasmine.”

She swallowed hard. “Promise me that even after the year is up, you won’t blackmail or threaten my family.”

“I already made that promise.”

“Promise me again,” she demanded.

His expression shifted. The monster leaned in and breathed, “I give my word, you give me everything. You can’t have one foot out the door or threaten to leave if I piss you off. Give me a year to live my dream, and I’ll do everything in my power to grant yours.”

“I… I don’t have a dream,” she said faintly.

“Then you have a year to think of one.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Three hundred and fifty-two days.” When her eyes flared, he nodded. “I’m counting, too. Deal?”

The enormity of that promise made her blood run cold. He was asking for a recommitment now that she knew all. She could burn the fruits of his labor and make all his methodical planning moot if she walked. That wouldn’t stop him from going after his enemies, but the rumors of their short-lived second marriage would put a damper on his image, and she wasn’t sure how her family would react to it. Could she stand by and watch her father’s enemies take turns mauling her sisters? Would Roth take over Hennessy & Co and destroy it? What if he blackmailed Rami and Lyle? Would Rami feel threatened enough to call on the underworld again to get rid of Roth? She blocked that train of thought before it could take root.

Was she strong enough to hold her own against him, or would she be swept away? Despite his confession about the effect he claimed she had on him, there were too many ulterior motives when it came to their relationship. She wasn’t sure how much of his fixation was actually her or the benefits that came through her. Recommitting herself now that she knew what he was capable of and the world he lived in was idiotic.

She was too lost in her thoughts to pay attention as he fiddled with her fingers. But when she felt an unfamiliar band hit the base of her finger, she looked down. Everything in her ground to a halt.

A one-carat princess cut diamond on a simple gold band sparkled, as shiny today as it was seven years ago when she spotted it in the jewelry display case. Her vision blurred as she was bombarded with memories. She felt an echo of the elation she experienced the day he slipped it on her finger, and the despair she felt as she placed it in the envelope with the divorce papers.

“You kept it?” She couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“As a reminder.”

She looked up. “Of what?”

He stared at her, not saying a thing. Something unfurled between them. Something fragile, delicate, and excruciatingly painful. A tear slipped down her cheek. She tried to shake her head, but he stopped that motion and rested his forehead against hers.

“Say yes.”

She had two options. She could dig her heels in and try to hold back the tide, or she could give in and attempt to ride the tsunami and come out on top. She had no illusions that there wouldn’t be hardships, challenges, and she’d be pushed to the breaking point. Why did a little voice in the back of her mind urge her to take the jump? That the pain and pleasure would be worth it? He wanted to make up for the past. He meant that. She could see it in his eyes. He dropped his shield and let her glimpse a different side of him. It wasn’t the young man she’d known, but the new him, the one behind the mask. Trusting him went against all rational thought, but it was worth the risk, right?

He was making allowances. He let her see what he had on her family, which had opened her eyes to dangers she didn’t even know existed. He vowed to help and protect her family. Was Roth her downfall, or would he save them all? It was safer to be his ally than his enemy, but at what cost? Her sanity, most certainly. Possibly her heart, but that had been lost long ago.

“I stay, you stop being an asshole,” she declared.

“I’ll fuck up,” he said prosaically, “but I’ll make it up to you.”

“Your promise, Roth.”

“Your family is safe from me.” His eyes dropped to her mouth. “And your promise?”

“I’ll stay.” She said it quick before she could take it back. And what did it matter, anyway? She was going nowhere without his permission. Not yet, at least.

His mouth slammed on hers with enough force that she reared back. Her hands flailed, clipping the vase, but he wrapped his arm around her and hauled her against him. He ravaged her. She let go of her worries, fears, and uncertainty and let him sweep her away, reveling in the strength that could demolish and protect with equal fervor. When he straightened, her legs were wrapped around him.

Panting, they stared at one another.

“You won’t regret this.”

His low tone reverberated with emotion. He gave her another kiss before he unwrapped her legs from his waist and stepped back.

“What are you doing?” she asked, nonplussed.

“You need another soak in the tub.”

“Why?”

“You’re so tired, you’re trembling, and you’ve been shifting on the seat. You’re sore, aren’t you? You’re going to have another soak and then go back to bed.”

To her chagrin, she found herself over his shoulder for the third time in twenty-four hours. “Since when do you care if I’m sore and tired?”

“It matters, since I got a second chance. I’m not going to waste it.”

His long strides made the trip to the master bath seemed to take seconds instead of the minute it would have taken her. He set her beside the bathtub, kissed her forehead, and turned on the taps. He pulled the hoodie over her head, which rendered her naked aside from her socks. She stared at him through her hair, bemused and unsure how to react to this version of him.

He caught her watching him and raised his brows. “What?”

“Nothing.”

He cocked his head to the side as he examined her. He grinned as he stepped into her and sent a hard hand down her spine to her ass and gripped.

“I’ll eat you out in bed after you’ve soaked. I don’t want you to be so relaxed that you drown.”

He rocked her against his erection before he released her.

“I have a call to make. I’ll be back before you’re done with your bath.”

She gaped at his back. He teased her and walked away? What the fuck kind of relationship was this? She wasn’t sure she wanted it. “I don’t need you to give me an orgasm! I can do that my damn self!”

“Be careful,” he called over his shoulder.

“Depp!”

He must have remembered what her German curse meant because his laughter echoed back to her.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Confessions. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.

Author's Note: This concludes the first scene of the book... 😱😭💀😩🤬 I really thought they were going to kill me. I hope I never have to write anything like this ever again. It's just too much!

This ongoing scene is 7 chapters and over 34k words which is insane on its own. Like I said, I'm not completely satisfied. There are still things I need to tweak so don't get too attached to lines or certain details because they may not be in the final.

Because I was showing this draft, I realize I was trying to do a revision and polish at the same time, which just isn't how the process of editing works. During normal revisions, I would still leave notes for myself and decide what I wanted to do on the polish. I'm trying to do a normal revision moving forward for speed's sake and my sanity.

So relieved I get to move on from the beginning. So emotionally draining, but worth it. There were quite a few changes, which will trickle down to details and scenarios in subsequent chapters, so I definitely have my work cut out for me. I hope you're enjoying... Or entertained at least! 🤣 This series isn't necessarily the type to inspire warm and cuddly feels. LOL. More pull your hair out and cry, but you know what I mean!

I feel that this book is so different from the first two. A huge turn in the series. I'm enjoying the push and pull and the challenge of it. Can't wait for this all to be over! Wish me luck 💜