Rowan
The morning sun spilled through the curtains, illuminating the room, but I found zero comfort in its warmth. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment in the forest over and over again. The kiss—so unexpected—had rocked my world, and I was still reeling from it.
How did it happen? One moment we were exchanging barbs, and the next, his lips were on mine, igniting a fire within me that I had long thought extinguished. I hated that I enjoyed it. The feeling of his touch, the roughness of that kiss, stirred something deep inside me—a chaotic mix of desire and confusion that I didn’t know how to handle. I hated that I retaliated with just as much energy. I should have pushed him away but I didn't, I couldn't.
He was a specter in my life, a man who had haunted my thoughts since our first encounter. I should have been afraid of him, should have wanted nothing more than to distance myself from the insanity that he represented. Yet, here I was, consumed by a longing I couldn’t even explain.
My heart raced as I recalled the way his dark eyes had flickered with surprise when I told him that I didn't fear him, how his smirk had shifted to something more serious. I had felt vulnerable, exposed in a way I had never experienced before. And in that moment, the walls I had carefully constructed around my emotions began to crack.
What was happening to me? I clenched my fists, annoyance bubbling within.For years I had not felt passion or allowed my feelings to explore. And now this man was forcing them to the surface, challenging me to confront what I had buried so deeply. I didn't know what to do.
The more I thought about him, the more the anger bubbled up. How could he make me feel so alive and so mad at the same time? I hated him for the confusion he brought, for the way he slipped into my thoughts uninvited. But more than that, I hated how much I craved his presence, how I yearned to see him again despite knowing it was reckless.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, grounding myself in the reality of my surroundings. I had responsibilities that demanded my attention. Yet the allure of the forest, of slipping away to try and find him, was almost too strong to resist.
I paced the room, wrestling with my thoughts. It felt like a battle between my heart and my mind. Every part of me screamed to forget about him, to push away the warmth of that kiss, but another part, a desperate, reckless part, yearned to chase the thrill he represented.
I stopped in front of the mirror, meeting my own gaze. Who was I becoming? I had always prided myself on my control. But this—this was different. This was uncharted territory, and it just about scared me.
Yet as I turned away from the mirror, the image of his smirk flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was only the beginning. I would have to confront those feelings sooner or later, but for the moment, I resolved to keep my distance. I could not let him unravel me, no matter how much I longed to see him again.
The days passed in a blur, each moment tinged with the memory of that kiss. I tried to immerse myself in my duties, attending to matters of the kingdom, engaging with advisors, and managing the endless stream of responsibilities that came with being a prince. But beneath the surface, my thoughts remained tangled in the encounter with this mysterious man whose name I was yet to know.
Every time I ventured outside, the shadows of the forest beckoned, reminding me of the thrill and chaos that lay within those trees. I found myself stealing glances through the trees, half-expecting to see him emerge from the shadows, that infuriating smirk playing on his lips. It drove me mad to think that I was so captivated by someone I was meant to despise.
One evening, while walking the castle grounds, I found myself tempted to enter the forest. The cool breeze whispered through the leaves, and the familiar melody of the flute floated on the air. It was both a siren call and a warning.
I hesitated, torn between the urge to retreat to the safety of the castle and the desire to uncover what lay in those shadows. And it was maddening.
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Crowns And Shadows (MXM) (Book 1)
Romantik******** ...I felt myself drawn closer, the pull of his presence overwhelming. "Tell me," he said softly, his eyes searching mine. "What do you really want? To keep pretending you don't feel anything? Or to embrace the chaos with me?" ******** Two k...
