43. Korr
Chapter forty-three
Korr
"Ifought it, Seiri. You have to know I did," I tell Annalise as I pretend there's still mud to wash off her stunning naked body. "You were my student. Then you became my reluctant roommate. Every instinct I had told me to keep my distance, and to remember the lines I couldn’t cross."
A slow breath leaves me as she shakes her head, "None of it mattered."
My gaze stays fixed on her back as I find the confidence to tell her things I never thought would leave my mouth.
"Somewhere between training you, patching you up after you put yourself in danger time and time again, arguing with you every chance you got, and watching you get knocked down only to stand back up again...
I lost the fight. My career fell to the wayside, as finding a way to make you smile became my reason for climbing out of bed every morning. "
A soft grin tugs at her lips as she peeks over her shoulder at me.
“I seem to remember making you smile first thing in the morning once,” she teases, though she can’t hide the bright blush to her cheeks.
Taking another step closer, I close what little space was left between us and spin her so I can really see her.
"More than once, but I wanted you long before you ever let me touch you. Every stubborn, infuriating thing you did only made it worse. Every time you let your guard down...Every ounce of trust you placed in me…Every moment you surrendered yourself to me…I fell harder.
"I love you Seiri. I love the way you challenge me, and the love and loyalty you have for your friends, I love the way you make the most of every moment of every day, even when it takes every ounce of strength you possess. And I love how fucking incredibly stubborn you are."
"You can't say that," she whispers, tears rolling down my cheeks that I gently wipe away..
"My love, I need you to get this through that gorgeous mind of yours...I would kill for you. I'd go on the run to a foreign continent with you, or raze the kingdoms to the ground for you if you wanted to stay on this one."
"But Hunter—"
"I swear to the Gods, woman! You argue with me almost as fiercely as I argued with myself," I laugh as I slip two fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face until she has nowhere left to hide from my gaze and her eyes finally settle on mine.
Her mouth parts, no doubt preparing another protest, and I beat her to it.
"And before you tell me I underestimated you, or thought you didn't know your own mind...
" I brush my thumb lightly along her jaw.
"It was never that. It was because I knew exactly what I felt.
" The words settle between us before I force myself to finish.
"I realized one day that I'd wait a lifetime if that's what you needed.
I'd watch you choose everyone else before you ever chose me, and I'd still be there when you looked over your shoulder. "
I can feel myself smiling like a damn fool, but that's what I've become.
"Because by then, Seiri...I was already in love with you."