Page 113 of The Throne Seeker (Vallorian #1)

“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? Gods, I’m so sorry,” Roman said with harsh breaths. He reached for her, but she recoiled from him.

Her siren screamed in rebellion. Rejecting him was like asking her heart to stop beating. “No, I’m fine—just don’t touch me,” she said, still not feeling like herself.

She might as well have slapped him.

He stopped in his tracks, gazing helplessly as rejection emanated from him.

She ran her shaking hands through her hair, trying to calm her racing heart.

“You’re scared of me.” He looked as if his heart was cracking in two.

“Of course not,” she shot back, almost annoyed he was blaming himself. “I could never be afraid of you.”

His eyes faltered. “What is it? Did you… was it not enjoyable?” he asked, his hesitant voice terrified of the answer.

She sunk into remorse, knowing how it must look to him. “You felt incredible, Roman,” she whispered.

It was the biggest understatement of the century.

Roman’s shoulders sunk in relief. “Then what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what’s happening to me,” she said, looking down at her own hands as though they were foreign objects attached to her. “My siren… it’s trying to take over.”

Roman’s eyes softened, coming closer to her.

She tensed.

He became determined, taking her hand anyway, pulling her toward him, pressing her body into his. “Don’t shut me out. Talk to me.” His deep voice caressed her very soul.

Her heart swelled from his pure intent, knowing all he wanted to do was make her feel safe.

“My siren… I told you it wants you more than anyone.” Her eyes flickered up to his.

“I couldn’t be more glad of the fact.”

“No, I mean… it wants to claim you. I’ve tried suppressing it, but it’s becoming harder to control. Ever since that day in the woods with the snawfus, it’s been getting stronger. With you like this… when you touch me like that… I’ve never felt so powerful in my life.”

Roman gathered her into his arms. “I’m not afraid,” he assured.

She shook her head in doubt, dismissing his answer.

“Hey, look at me.” He lifted her chin as her eyes met beautiful embers.

“Even though I admit you consume every inch of me, I welcome it. I’m not scared of the fact that when you walk into the room, the rest of my world fades and all I see is you…

I was lost until I found you.” His calloused fingers traced along her jaw, his eyes tracking the trail of his touch.

She eased into his palm, still buzzing from the energy. “I’m not as brave as you,” she whispered.

Roman’s lips spread into a crooked smile that put her world at a standstill. “Bullshit. You’re the most fearless person I know.”

She wished she could share his faith.

“Come here,” he murmured, intertwining his hand with hers.

She hesitated.

“Come here,” he demanded firmly again.

She gave in to her favorite command, wrapping her arms around him, pressing his bare skin onto hers as the ache in her soul subsided.

Roman took it a step further by swinging her leg over him so she was straddling his lap. She felt him beneath her, still hard. She sucked in a breath, her body reminding her they both still ached to be released.

Her power resurfaced almost immediately.

She attempted to pull back, but Roman’s grip kept her thighs pinned. “Don’t,” he whispered against the base of her throat. “Don’t you dare pull away from me.”

She swallowed hard. “Roman, I… I don’t know what will happen if I let go.”

Roman gazed up at her with all the confidence in the world as he snaked his arm around her waist, leaving a blistering trail along her skin. “Just let go.” He kissed her throat as he spoke against it. “Let fucking go.”

So she did.

She entwined her fingers in his hair and brought his lips back to hers. His hands tightened around her hips in response, sliding her back onto him.

She let out a uncontrollable moan at his return.

Her siren rose abruptly, only this time—she didn’t try to stop it.

For the first time, she let her siren break free.

Her true form manifested. Power coursed through every vein and down into him, locking them together, making them one.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a new dim sea-green glow coming from her vanity mirror.

She sucked in a breath as she realized the glow was coming from her own eyes.

Her olive skin gleamed with a subtle golden sheen, as though she had just emerged from the rain, while her sea-green eyes glowed like a light beneath the water.

Her pupils dilated to an inhumanly large width.

She looked down at Roman, to see if he was frightened.

But he wasn’t.

Instead, his eyes held her like she was his starlit sky, his galaxy, his entire universe.

She could feel him perfectly now, actually feel him—inside his body, his soul, his very essence.

All she smelled was him. All she felt was him.

Every heartbeat. Every breath that entered his lungs.

Every muscle that shifted in a smooth sequence against hers.

He writhed in pleasure, absolute euphoria coursing through his veins.

She could feel his determination to keep her, never to let her escape him.

Her siren gripped every one of those tethers binding them, taking hold of his muscles, his brain, his bones, all entirely at her mercy. She could ask him to do anything in the world, and he’d do it without a second thought. If she told him to burn all of Vallor for her, he’d do it.

It was a terrifying yet utterly exhilarating feeling.

She took control, pushing him flat onto his back. He was helpless to fight against her as she trailed kisses over his chest, rocking her hips against him.

His hands death-gripped the sheets, holding on for dear life. His jaw dropped in a silent cry as his eyes squeezed shut.

“Dammit, Rose,” he barked. “How the fuck do you feel this good? I… I can’t… I fucking can’t.”

Her siren’s pride grew tenfold, loving that she could make him experience such pleasure.

Before Roman could burst through his skin, he sat up, casting her onto her back.

His body was on top of hers in a heartbeat, and he sheathed himself into her again, harder this time. Wild. Uncontrolled.

Her nails dug hard into his back, making his strong frame shake. He let out a feral moan. A territorial instinct stirred within her at the sound.

“You are mine,” she murmured, her voice a beautiful blend of melody and possession as she leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Completely and utterly mine .”

Roman could barely speak, his body so overcome with pleasure he had to fight for the words to reply. “I am yours,” he got out in willing surrender. “Gods, I am forever yours.”

Never had his voice been so raw, so unhinged, so crazed that it sent humming vibrations straight to her chest.

She pushed him off her as she rose up on the bed, wanting to be on top again. Roman sat up with her—she let him.

Her lips collided with his, devouring his lips like they were all that was left in the world. She let out another moan, rocking her hips harder into his as she ground into him with eagerness, pleasure building.

His movements became frantic as he gasped for the air she was stealing. He was reaching his climax, every muscle in his body engaged against hers.

She moved her lips down to his neck, just below his jaw, caressing and nipping at the sweet spot there, lightly grazing her teeth against his smooth skin.

His eyes harbored flames he could no longer tame.

He grabbed her waist, anchoring her against him as his eyes rolled back into his skull.

He forcefully fell back onto the bed as he came, jerking so violently he thrust her upward.

His roar was so fierce, she was sure the whole castle heard.

Rose was so overwhelmed by his pleasure that she found hers, crying out as she held on to him, shock waves shattering her body.

Her arms trembled as she lowered herself over him, digging her fingers into the bed and tearing at the sheets. Her pace quickened as she pulsed around him, squeezing him with every wave.

Their climax lasted a long minute before her thrusts slowed.

She collapsed onto his chest, both of them heaving for air.

Roman draped a possessive arm around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead, his body still shaking with pleasure. “I am yours,” he professed.

“And you are mine,” she whispered.

He kissed her, his strong jaw feathering with each motion as his hand went up into her hair, massaging her scalp. “Anywhere you go, I go,” he murmured. “I don’t know how I could live without you.”

“You won’t have to. Ever,” she promised, kissing him again.

A soothing silence fell as they caught their breaths, clinging to each other as though they might be torn apart at any moment.

“I know I said I wasn’t made of glass… but I don’t think the same could be said for the bed,” she teased, gazing at the broken headboard with a siren’s smile.

Roman’s mouth stretched into a broad, knowing grin. “That wasn’t me.”

She looked over at the headboard, not realizing her own grip had forced it to break. Her eyes glided to the sheets, seeing her fingernails had somehow clawed ten large rips into the mattress. Her guilt-filled eyes found Roman’s.

Roman let out a deep laugh, unfazed. Gods his laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll get them to replace it in the morning,” he said, running his fingers through her sweaty hair

“No. There’s no need,” she replied with a suggestive smile, leaning her lips closer to his. “I’ll just break it again.”

Roman’s eyes blazed with desire. He swallowed hard. “Gods, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I need you again—I’m not satisfied.” He dragged his gaze down to her lips and then back up to her eyes. “And from the fire in your eyes, I don’t think you are either.”

His hand slipped between her legs, gliding over her slick skin. She shivered at the aching touch.

“No,” she admitted, biting her bottom lip. “And I think we should keep going until both of us are satisfied.” Her hands slid behind his neck, pulling him down to her. “Don’t you agree?”

Roman took her thigh, dragging her towards him until she was pressed into him once again. “I completely agree,” he murmured.

They rolled back over and found each other again… and again. She couldn’t believe their stamina. She knew it defied what was considered “normal” to continue like this. She was unable to fathom any explanation besides her siren’s power and the hold it had on them.

At one point, Rose believed they were done, but as soon as they entered the tub to wash the sweat off, they reached for each other again.

She never wanted this feeling to leave—the feeling of how much he needed her and how much she needed him. Physically, emotionally, all of it.

Eventually, they both collapsed from exhaustion, their bodies demanding sleep. But only a few hours later, she stirred awake, glancing over at him sleeping beside her. Her stomach fluttered. He laid there so vulnerably, so trusting.

She leaned over and placed what she intended to be a light, innocent kiss on his lips, but to her surprise, her movement woke him.

He kissed her back, still groggy.

She pulled back, guilty for waking him, but Roman’s hand found her thigh, dragging it over his hips while he wrapped his arms around her.

His kisses began slow and deliberate but soon turned hungry as he positioned himself on top of her. Their bare skin pressed together as they played with each other lazily—nipping, stroking, teasing, until he entered her.

He only lasted a few minutes before he reached his breaking point. She smirked with pride when he finished—that was, until he smirked back, turning her over to return the favor, feasting on her like he’d been starved for weeks, his tongue lavishing her most sensitive parts.

Her cry was so loud, Roman had to cover her mouth with his hand as she finished, trying not to wake anyone.

Then, lazily, they caressed each other until they found sleep again.

She’d never been more content.