Page 128 of Bitter Heat

He tucked her against his side. “Sleep in it.”

“I can’t sleep in this! It’s tight and uncomfortable.”

His hand brushed over the fluffy skirts. “Give me ten minutes. I want to fuck you one more time in it. Then you can sleep.”

Chapter 21

When she woke, the room was still dark. The fire had long since died, leaving a chill in the air. She rolled away from Roth who was facedown and snoring lightly. She winced as she straightened. He had put her through her paces last night. She stepped over the ripped and soiled gown on her way to the bathroom. She showered before she crept downstairs. The house was still quiet. She couldn’t have gotten more than four hours of sleep, but her mind was wide-awake. She made herself a cup of coffee and went into her sanctuary. She paused in front of her father’s desk and gave him a silent good morning before she built a fire. She settled on the couch with her notebook and listened to the pleasant crackle and pop.

Kaia’s words still floated around in her mind, but she couldn’t dwell on them. It was done. She married him. Roth could be a merciless asshole, but a monster? Despite the fact that he had blackmailed her and would spend hundreds of millions in the name of revenge, she didn’t think he needed to be institutionalized. If so, her father would be in that category as well. Men like them didn’t recognize the word no and never forgot a slight. That was what drove them to be the best and succeed in a world that wanted to pull them down. They were fighters.

“Miss?”

She turned and saw Thea hovering near the doorway. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I came to make breakfast for everyone and I was hoping to catch you alone.” Thea advanced into the room with her hands behind her back. “I tried to speak to you yesterday, but I was the last to know.”

“What are you talking about?”

She held up an envelope. “This is from your father.”

Her heart soared. She leaped to her feet and rushed toward her. “I have a letter? Why did you wait so long to give it to me?”

She took the heavy envelope, which had her name on the front of it in her father’s bold scrawl.

“I had orders.”

“What orders?” she asked as she broke the seal on the envelope.

“I was instructed to give this to you only if you became involved with…” Thea looked back at the door before she whispered, “Mr. Roth.”

When she froze, Thea nodded vigorously.

“He told me to give it to you directly and not to trust anyone with it. I tried to give it to you before the wedding, but I couldn’t get you alone. I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“Me either, miss. I hope… I hope it’s not too late.”

She reached into the envelope and pulled out her father’s personal stationery and a disc. She unfolded the letter.

Jasmine,

If you’re reading this, you’ve broken your promise to me, and James Roth is back in your life. Don’t let him in. He’ll take what he wants from you and leave you with nothing. He’s not the kind of man you want in your life. He—

“Miss!”

Thea’s panicked hiss broke her concentration. She raised her head to find that Roth had entered the library and was closing the distance between them. She hid the disc and letter behind her back as Roth cupped her face.

“You’re not supposed to leave the bed before me,” he said before he gave her a deep kiss.

She couldn’t participate when her heart was in her throat. He pulled away and eyed her sharply.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

His hand went behind her back and brushed against the letter. She stumbled back.

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