Page 75 of Bitter Confessions

“Never had one?” she parroted. “How is that possible? Not even as a kid?”

“We didn’t have sweets in the house.”

“At all?”

She regretted her outburst when his eyes narrowed. She knew he’d had humble beginnings, but the more she learned about his childhood, the worse it sounded. Hunting to eat, an outcast in the community, losing his father to suicide, and then caring for a mother who resented him for being strong enough to move past such a tragedy and thrive. She wanted to give him a hug, but she had a feeling he wouldn’t appreciate the gesture.

Despite all his manipulative schemes, the one thing Roth didn’t seem to want from her was sympathy. It was a powerful weapon he leveraged when it came to her family, but never himself. He did everything in his power to hide the details of what sounded like a horrific childhood. If she’d known just a handful of details about his past, her conversations with Kaia would have been very different.

She smiled to cover the pity she felt for the lonely child he’d been. “Well, today’s your lucky day. We are always going to have sweets in the house. We just have to find out what you like.”

She opened the bag and offered it to him. He hesitated, but her heart warmed when he reached into the bag and broke off a piece.

“That’s the gingerbread,” she informed him as he popped it into his mouth. She waited expectantly, but when he said nothing, she said, “Maybe you’ll like the chocolate chip better?”

Another pause before he reached in and took from the second cookie. Again, no comment, and he didn’t reach for more.

“Maybe cookies aren’t your thing.” She tried to hide her disappointment by grabbing a piece of gingerbread for herself. “We’ll keep trying until you find a dessert you like. Everyone should have a guilty pleasure.”

As his gaze moved over her, warmth spread. She was so tuned in to him, so receptive to anything he deigned to give her, when she’d been bored to tears with other men. They didn’t challenge her intellectually, physically, or emotionally. Roth checked every box. She broke off a chunk of the chocolate chip cookie and stuffed her face instead of stepping into him to see if he wanted to go another round.

“Are you going to work a little?” she asked.

“No. It can wait until tomorrow.” He gripped the back of his neck and tipped his head to the side.

“Are you okay?”

“I have a knot.”

“Do you want me to...?”

He eyed her for a beat before he sat at the foot of the bed. She stood beside him and put her hand where his was, applying pressure. Immediately, his head dropped forward.

“Harder,” he grunted.

She climbed onto the bed for better leverage and was pleased by his low grunt. She felt the bump and began to knead, trusting he’d say something if what she was doing felt wrong or pained him. He didn’t say a thing; he just sat there as she tried to give him some relief. His gruff, “Other side,” made her shift restlessly on her knees. That damn growl always got to her.

After several minutes that felt like an eternity, Jasmine paused. He reached back and grabbed her hand.

“Run your thumbs from here to here.” He dragged her hand from the base of his neck to a spot several inches into his hairline. When she obeyed, his pleased rumble made her grin.

As she repeated the simple motion, she glanced out the window and saw the snow had finally arrived. It felt like they were in their own snow globe. If only the outside world with all its demands and responsibilities would cease to exist, they could stay here for several days and just be. Roth leaned against her, his muscled body as relaxed as it would allow.

“On your stomach.”

“What?”

He sounded drugged. She kissed the side of his neck before giving him a playful tug backward that didn’t rock him one bit.

“You gave me a massage. It’s time to return the favor.” When he didn’t move, she dropped her hands and offered, “Or I can make a call.”

He rose, turned, and stretched out in the middle of the bed.

She hesitated. “I don’t know what I’m doing. Maybe it’s best I call a professional who can help?—”

“Get on top of me and put your hands on me, princess.”

The endearment restored her confidence. She clambered over his legs and straddled his ass. She bounced a little to fuck with him and laughed when he muttered something under his breath.

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