Bitter Heat (Singed, #1)

by Mia Knight

Roth was the one person who made living in the now worth it, and he had damaged her so badly that a part of her was still trying to piece herself back together. For a short time, she had her father, and now she was alone again.

She had turned to him in Colorado, but she would never do so again. She wouldn’t give him the opportunity to fling her pain back in her face when he felt like it.

He didn’t really feel anything for her. It was a painful lesson she had finally learned.

“You watch me?” He regarded her for a moment before he brushed away her tear. “It’s the only way I can find out what’s going on with you. You won’t take my calls.”

“I’m not sorry for pressuring you. I have you where I want you.” “I can’t do this,” she said hoarsely. “You can,”

He had never bathed her, not even in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. Watching her breakdown today must have made an impact on him.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly. He said nothing. As her mind inevitably circled back to her father, she attempted to hide her sniffle. The arm around her waist tightened. “It’ll pass,” she whispered. She buried her face in the pillow, closed her eyes, and gave into her heartache.

She stared at him as her heart broke all over again. “He never heard the end of the story,” she said raggedly. “It’s okay, Jasmine.” She shook her head as she gulped down tears. “I miss him so much. I don’t have anyone,” she whispered forlornly. “You have me,” he murmured as he brushed kisses over her face. “I never had you.”

“Roth,” she panted. “You with me?” he asked roughly. “I’m always with you, even when I don’t want to be,” she said as she stared at his face, half of which was cast in darkness. “This is where you belong.”

“You have me,”

“You hear me?”

He sounded like a pissed-off drill sergeant instead of a man comforting his distraught lover. “Yes,” she murmured as she listened to his rapid heartbeat. “Say it,” he ordered. “I have you.” He swept his hand up her spine and clasped the back of her neck. “You always did.”

He pressed against her side and tugged on her hair. When she still didn’t look at him, he grabbed her face and turned it toward him. Before she could snap, he covered her mouth with his.

She wasn’t prepared for his gentleness.

“What’s done is done.” “It’s not done. He riled you up and made me think you were going to back out. I don’t need that shit. I need you sweet, not hostile.” She made a face. “Sweet?” “Sweet like last night. That’s how I want you all the time.”

“Don’t read anything into this. I hate you.” He chucked her under the chin. “You can’t resist me.”

“I’d rather do it myself.” “You’re still resisting,” he said quietly. She waved her hand at her toiletries. “Does it look like I’m resisting?” “You resist in your mind.”

Of course, she was. What was she supposed to do? Give herself to him so when he got rid of her a year from now, she’d be a wreck again? Fuck that.

“It’s perfect.” He tilted her hand from side to side, making it sparkle. “It suits you.”

“Dai said you picked up the tab for the gown as well.” “I’m looking forward to fucking you in it tonight.”

“I decided in Germany that I have a bride fantasy,” he said quietly as his finger nudged the diamond ring. “You’re going to make it come true.”

“Cocky.” “Cocky describes someone who thinks they’re a boss. I am the fucking boss.” “You’re not the boss of me,” she snapped. “We’ll see.”

“You can’t marry him, Jasmine. He’ll ruin you.”

“I should have known once he saw you again, he wouldn’t let you go. The way he watches you…” Kaia shuddered. “He’s a master strategist, always one step ahead of everyone else. He’ll wait years before he makes a move, and when he executes, he never makes a mistake. The psychologist says he lacks empathy. It allows him to focus on his goals without letting emotion get in his way. He’s always been cold, even as a child. Once he starts on a path, nothing can stop him.”

“She said you’re going to ruin me.”

“What are you going to do to me?” she whispered. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She didn’t believe him.

“I’m the same man.”

No, the fuck he wasn’t. “You’re hurting me.”

Instantly, his touched gentled, as if he didn’t recognize his own strengt...

“I need to…” “You’re safe with me.”

“You need to let me go.” His expression hardened. “There’s no going back.”

“Whatever my mom said, forget it,” Roth said. She nodded, but couldn’t meet his gaze. Her mind raced as she tried to think of all the ways he could screw her over. “Jasmine.” “Mm-hmm?” “Look at me.” She mentally braced as she obeyed. His expression was dispassionate, but something vicious lurked in the inky depths of his eyes. “You know me,”

“I don’t know if I’d want to have that, honestly. The way he looks at you…” “How does he look at me?” she asked sharply. Colette waved her hand. “You know.” No, she didn’t know. “How?” “He’s…” Colette cleared her throat. “Completely focused on you, watching every expression that crosses your face. He’s really intense. I don’t know if I could handle a man being that attached to me.”

“You look beautiful.” His shoes clicked on the wood floors as he walked toward her. “Your sisters tried to stop me from seeing you. They say it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

“I don’t believe in luck. I believe you make your own destiny.” There was a taut pause and then, “Having second thoughts, Jasmine?”

Her eyes collided with his in the mirror. “Bad girl,” he murmured as he brushed her veil to the side and pressed a kiss on her exposed nape. “Everything is in place. All I need is you.” He held her still with a grip on her hips when she tried to step away. “There’s nowhere you can hide from me. I’d hunt you down.”

“You think you have a choice, but you don’t,” he whispered as one hand splayed over her tummy. “Everything’s already in motion. You’re in too fucking deep, princess.”

“I need you to say two words for me, and it’ll all be over. You can do that for me, can’t you?”

“Do you know why you ran from me?” he asked harshly.

“It’s because you know you belong to me. You crave what I give you. You’re not strong enough to fight me, so you ran. That fucking ends now.”

“You have no idea what I’ve done to bring us here. No one comes between us.

“Yes, Jamie,” he crooned in her ear. “Are you with me, Jasmine?” “Yes,”

Roth draped her veil back, tipped her chin up, and then his mouth was on hers. It was a brief, hard kiss, a reminder of who she belonged to.

“There’s nothing to solve. You’re back where you belong, and everything’s as it should be.” Her eyes fluttered shut against her will. “This is wrong.” “For the first time in years, everything is right. You know it, but you keep fighting it, fighting me.” His teeth scraped over her nape, and she shivered. “You can fight all you want. You won’t win.”

“Why does she think you’ll ruin me?” “Why would I do that?” “To punish me for leaving you?” “Does this feel like punishment?” She swallowed hard. “I don’t know how to do this.”

Once upon a time, he had been her best friend and savior, and now… She had no fucking idea what they were. Enemies? Partners? It was only hours into day one, and he had her all fucked up. “You don’t have to do anything.”

On the outside, your life was perfect, but you were looking for something. You

found it in me.” He raised his head and looked down at her. “You gave me what no one else has.” “What?” His hand circled her throat. “You accepted me for who I am. You chose me when no one else did.”

“You gave me everything. How can anyone compare to that?”

“You forgave your father. Why not me?” “He loved me.” His eyes moved over her face. “Do you want me to love you?” “No.” “Why not?” he asked as his thumb stroked her pulse. “I want to be free.”