Page 28 of Bitter Confessions

“Be honest,” he ordered.

Her mouth closed. They stared at one another as painful memories shimmered in the air between them. Slowly, she shook her head.

“It wasn’t real,” she said hoarsely.

He closed his eyes before he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. “It was as real for you as it was for me. I gave you the best of me when I visited—more than I’ve given anyone. Back then, I couldn’t put you first. I couldn’t even put myself first, but today is different.”

“We’re not the same people. Too much has happened. Too much awful?—”

“I know we can’t go back to what we had, but I’ll take the imitation, the charade, over nothing.”

The anger and longing in his tone shredded her insides. Her nails sank into her palms as she tried to stand her ground. “Roth?—”

“Once, you gave up everything to be with me. Now, you’re willing to give up everything to get away.” He stroked her cheek as he stared into her eyes. “Let me make up for the past. Let me give you what I promised I would when I’d made it.”

Her eyes watered. “I can’t take the chance. I don’t have anything left.”

“Let me fill you up.” One hand coasted down her side. “Take what you need from me. Money, my resources... Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Perhaps you’re talking about this.”

His wandering hand stroked her mound before his middle finger speared her.

“When it comes to this, I’m yours to command.”

“You’re talking about sex,” she said through clenched teeth as he massaged her so the remnants of him dripped down her thighs.

“I’m talking about everything,” he bit out. “I want you to want me without feeling guilty about it. Having you take my cock, listening to you moan my name... Nothing compares. I’d pay millions for the privilege—and I have. I’ll pay whatever it costs to have the ghost of the girl who jumped in my arms at her graduation, who couldn’t get enough of me, and who made me believe I could be someone else, someone better.” His hand left her pussy and cupped her ass. “Give me this year.”

She twisted her hand in his shirt as she fought the magnetic pull between them.

“You want to live a safe, quiet life, but you were groomed to rule. You have the skills, knowledge, and experience to wreak havoc in society if you choose.” His voice dropped, deepened. “You were born to be on the arm of a man like me. A man who can fulfill your desires, even the unspoken ones you try to hide. There will still be times when business takes precedence, but I can make allowances. I can cut out time to...”

She eyed him incredulously as he struggled to name a single activity that didn’t involve work. “You’re hopeless.”

He scowled. “What do couples do besides fuck?”

“Normal couples go on dates, travel, cuddle, and share their hopes and dreams.” The thought of him doing any of those things was ludicrous. “Roth, I don’t think…”

He put his lips to her ear. “I can do this. Let me prove it to you.”

She turned her face away in a desperate bid for sanity as his energy swamped her, making it hard to think sensibly. She couldn’t let him persuade her into continuing this mad charade. She had to?—

“I’m going to get what I want from you.”

Her head swung around. He stared at her with implacable, unblinking obsidian eyes.

“I’m not going to let you slip through my fingers when I have you where I want you.” He gripped her butt. “You’re pissed at me for manipulating you? For being an asshole? Make me pay for it. Take advantage of me.”

“What?”

He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers and growled, “Use me.”

Why that made her womb clench, she had no idea.

“Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

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