Page 176 of The Throne Seeker

Millimeter by millimeter, he lowered his lips to hers, hovering for a long moment as if he meant to tease her.

Then, ever so slowly, he closed the remaining distance.

And just like that, her world cracked open.

Lightning coursed through her body, electrifying every vein. He tasted like nothing she’d ever known had existed. Superior to any drug she had ever known. Better than any dream she had ever imagined.

They took their time exploring every part of each other in the slow, smoldering kiss, like molten lava flowing downriver. Burning them both alive. They let the flames scorch them, knowing they’d never be the same, knowing that they’d have to bear scars forever. It was worth every mark.

A forceful burst of energy came from deep within her—this time, it bubbled up and exploded, taking over her limbs. Her hands lifted to the back of his neck, sliding into his hair. Water streaked down her arm as she grabbed a handful of it gently.

Roman still hovered close, breathless. “You have no idea the kind of power you hold over me, Roe.”

She became utterly still, holding her breath.

Hoping.

Praying.

Begging the gods that he’d say the words she’d been yearning for.

“I’ve tried to fight it,” he said through gritted teeth, full of self-resentment. “Gods know I’ve tried to fight it. To keep mydistance. But the more I try, the more I’m consumed by you. You creep into my thoughts—thoughts that come uninvited, unwanted, but still they come. Sometimes in drips, other times in waves so powerful I can scarcely breathe.”

Her gaze danced between the pair of golden stars as she waited for him to continue.

“I knew I was in trouble the first night I returned home,” he confessed, casting his gaze out onto the water as if he were transporting himself back to that moment. “I recognized you on that balcony instantly. You’d gotten even more beautiful—which I didn’t even know was humanly possible. I tried to ignore the annoying attraction, especially after learning you were still in love with Tristan. I knew I’d never stand a chance with you. Then I learned of what happened with Xavier… and I was angry. I tried my best to hate you. But when you saved my life after the first challenge, I thought maybe, just maybe, you might care for me, too. I had to remind myself you were still taken. So I forced myself to suppress my feelings for you.”

She hung on every word, not breathing as her joints locked.

“Then, after the third challenge, despite everything, I was falling for you. My heart wrenched right out of my chest when I saw you fall into the sea.” He made it sound like it was one of his worst memories. “I was seconds away from coming in after you—hell, I was ready to throw the entire succession over. But you saved me from exposing myself when you burst out of the water on the sea beast. Then it all came to a head that day in the woods where we sparred for the first time. When you laid me flat on my back, holding your sword to my neck.” He gave a short scoff mixed with a laugh before his face settled back into its grave expression. “It was that precise moment I knew I’d held off my feelings as long as I could. I was in love with you. But it didn’t matter. The fact changed nothing. If anything, it made me angry with myself for being so weak. I tried to love Beth,but I couldn’t. Not with you around. So I convinced myself you were the problem. I tried to blame you for everything bad that was happening. I thought by blaming you, by hating you, I could move past it. I tried desperately to live the lie I told myself…” He swallowed hard, pausing. “But then I realized you weren’t happy either. Not only that, but it was slowly killing you. And he saw it.” Roman clenched his fists. “The bloody bastardsawit. You were hanging by the thinnest thread, and he didnothingto help you. Nothing to stop it. So when the council proposed the idea for the treaty… I agreed out of selfishness.”

Rose’s heart stopped.

“It was for you I agreed to include the arranged marriage,” he admitted. “You were right. I did it because of you, but not because I didn’t want you to be queen… I did it so you wouldn’t have to be.”

She couldn’t even find words, her mind attempting to piece it all together.

“I was ready to let you go with Grant,” he continued. “I thought if it was what you wanted, that’d be enough for me, but he ruined that for you, too.”

Her mind raced. “All this time,” she whispered, looking at him with wide eyes, “I thought you hated me.”

“Hate you? No… No, I could never hate you. I suppose that’s the irony, isn’t it? Love. Hate… such a fine line.”

Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest, her gaze sinking from his to the water.

He hadn’t done any of it because he despised her—he’d done it because he loved her.

The realization made something deep within her come alive.

Roman shifted in the water. “I understand how twisted this is,” he admitted with tormented eyes, “to want you like this. After everything I’ve done, after everything I’ve put you through. I know I have no right to want you…” His eyes ran over her.“Or to wonder where you are or what you’re doing at any given time. Or to want to know what consumes your thoughts in that beautiful mind of yours. Or to hear your soothing voice that sets my soul at ease. Or to let my eyes linger on your face for far more than an appropriate amount of time. Or to crave your touch…” He caressed her cheek with his fingers.“Or to be hungry for your lips every time they say my name,” he rasped as he ran his thumb over her lower lip—making it tremble.

There was no trace of the scowl or icy eyes she’d become accustomed to whenever he looked in her direction. It was a whole new Roman in front of her, a side of him she’d never imagined could be directed at her.

“What about Tristan?” she questioned, whispering his name, wondering what his plan was to tell his brother.

Their future king.

“I know,” Roman acknowledged. His gaze fell, pausing, but then met hers again with determination. “But no matter how betrayed he may feel, he’s married.”