Page 179 of The Throne Seeker

I see you finally found out what everyone else could see with their bare eyes,Onyx said, looking at their intertwined hands.

She rolled her eyes but nonetheless gave him a sheepish grin.

The ride back felt quicker than the journey there, perhaps because they were now running downhill rather than up, Onyx flying through the night with ease. Roman kept her close, one arm draped around her while the other gripped Onyx’s mane. She pressed herself up against his chest as much as she possibly could.

Every once in a while, he would kiss her wherever he pleased. Once on the cheek, another on her neck, and another just under her ear. Each grazed kiss was lazy and slow—his fingers tracing her inner thigh all the while.

She did her best not to fall off Onyx with every touch.

It was still dark when they arrived back at Highland Haven, but the sky had begun turning into a lighter blue than before, telling her that the sun would rise in a few hours.

They did their best to be quiet as they entered the manor, and from the silent halls, it seemed everyone was still sound asleep.

Roman didn’t stop until they reached the stairwell up to his bedroom. “Thank you for coming with me,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear and placing another kiss on her forehead—like he was leaving.

She panicked. “You’re not coming up?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to?”

She tried not to sound desperate as she quickly said, “Yes.” She couldn’t imagine ever being parted from him again.

He looked hesitant, like he was restraining himself. “Are you sure? Because… I’ll never have the self-control to leave.”

Oh, foolish boy.

Rose gripped his hand, finding herself in the middle of a warm, golden desert. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re never sleeping in a separate bed again.”

A ridiculously handsome smile grew on his lips. “Never.”

He refused to let go of her hand while climbing up the winding staircase. The room was cool and dark without the candles or the fire, but moonlight shone bright enough through the windows to light their way.

Roman was striding to the closet to find a change of clothes when he suddenly stopped, his gaze lingering on a piece of clothing hanging on the chair beside the bed.

She stilled. It was his shirt she had stolen to wear to sleep.

He went to pick it up, smelling it. His head snapped to her. “Have you been sleeping in my clothes?”

She didn’t say anything, thankful for the shadows as her cheeks flushed crimson. She tucked her hair behind her ear, peering over at him.

He slowly stalked toward her, shirt in hand. “You’re telling me I’ve been awake downstairs, all alone, with nothing but your face seared to the back of my eyeballs while you’ve been up here, in my bedroom, wearing my clothes and sleeping in my bed?”

“And soaking in your tub,” she reminded him.

He looked like he’d been deprived of life itself. “You wicked creature.”

“I’m not apologizing. You insisted.”

Roman raised his brows before giving her a crooked smile that had her seeing stars. “Come here.”

A simple command, really—a small phrase.

Which was what made it so dangerous.

Her body conceded, not stopping until she was close enough to feel his rich breath on her face.

Golden flames seared her as his hands went to the hem of her dress. The air vanished, stolen from her lungs as he pulled it off over her head, leaving her in only her underwear.

Her heart was pounding with such force she was sure it’d break through her ribcage. He hadn’t even touched her, and already, her body ached for his.