Page 119 of The Throne Seeker
Tristan didn’t stop. He pounded on the door even harder, making her jump against the frame.
The fool is going to wake the entire castle.
“Rose, I swear if you don’t open this door, I’ll knock it down. I’ll do this all night if I have to,” he threatened, obnoxiously loud.
She cursed, knowing he would.
Desperate to avoid being seen, she flung the door open and stepped out into the corridor, glaring at the guard down the hall who had no doubt been told to stand down by Tristan.
“Would you please be so kind as to fetch Prince Roman? I’m afraid Tristan is not in his right state of mind,” she ordered the guard.
Apparently, he agreed, leaving to fetch him.
“That’s not necessary,” Tristan slurred after the guard, his body slouching against the wall, his eyes red and hazy.
Rose rolled her eyes as she supported his arm, dragging him through the doorway and shutting the door.
She immediately rounded on him. “Tristan! What the hell are you thinking, carrying on like that? Someone could’ve heard you!”
Tristan’s red eyes glared at her. “Doesss it look like I care?” Without warning, he came closer, trying to close the space between them with a dangerous look in his eye.
She knew that look.
“Stop.” She immediately retreated. “You’re drunk. You aren’t thinking clearly.”
“I’m thinking clear enough,” he growled more coherently as he continued to advance toward her. He cornered her, trapping her against the wall, coming so close she had to put her hand up to his chest to stop him.
“You’re getting married tomorrow.”
He wasn’t listening. He leaned down so low she thought he’d kiss her, alcohol reeking on his breath. She resisted, but hisstrong arms had a firm hold around her, pulling her body into his. She pressed her palm harder into his chest to keep him at arm’s length, but he wouldn’t budge.
He didn’t stop until he was within inches of her lips, hovering just over them.
“Gods, you are so beautiful,” he said with an ache that sunk to the marrow of her bones. “Look at you; I couldn’t make a more beautiful woman if I had all the power in the world.”
Her heart soared, undeniably reveling in the compliment. She secretly adored him for it.
His eyes fell to her lips, openly staring at them.
“Tristan,” she whispered in warning.
Saying his name undid him.
“I can’t go through with this,” he said, and for the first time, she saw his eyes glisten. “Look at me, Rose.” He gestured to himself. “I’m lost without you.”
Seeing him so broken made her own eyes water. “I know you think you need me, but you don’t.”
He shook his head, not accepting her answer. He grabbed her hand, forcing it underneath his unbuttoned shirt to his bare skin right over his thundering heart. She ignored how she could feel every pulse beneath her fingers.
“You feel that? It’s yours; it always has been and always will be. Every beat it takes, every ounce of blood it pumps, it’s all yours. Since that day in the ruins, it feels like you ripped it out, squeezing out every last drop until there’s nothing left.”
She forced herself to remove her hand from his chest, feeling like she was tearing off her own limb. “Tristan, you can’t talk like this.” Her eyes pleaded with his. “Please, you have to go.”
Tristan ignored her, leaning closer instead, his cheek brushing hers. “Don’t force me away… Let me stay,” he whispered, his lips grazing her neck as he said the words. “Let me kiss you… let me hold you… let me know what it feels liketo have your bare skin on mine… Let me taste these.” He kissed the top of her breast. The touch caught her so off guard that she sucked in a sharp breath. He lifted her thin silk nightgown, exposing her upper thigh. “Let me feast on you.” His teeth tugged on her earlobe as his hand moved between her legs. His thumb pressed exactly where she was aching, making her legs tremble. “Let me perform every daydream I’ve had of you,” he crooned. His soft lips caressed her neck, down to her collarbone.
It took effort to say breathlessly, “Tristan, stop.”
“Pleassse,” he begged, slurring the word with a shaky breath. “I can’t go through this life without you.”
