The second the bedroom door shut behind us, it exploded.
"You smug, arrogant bastard."
I pushed Makros the moment we were alone, but he barely lost his balance. He only loosened his tie and rolled his shoulders as if this was another argument, another fight.
I hated him for being so composed. Hated him that he could smile like this was a game of some kind.
"You embarrassed me," I said brusquely.
Makros raised an eyebrow. "Embarrassed, who?" He waved at himself, still covered in champagne. "You humiliated me before all those important guests."
"You let her put her hands on you," I snarled. "In front of me."
He smiled, like I'd confirmed his argument. "You're jealous."
"I'm not," I said too hastily.
"Liars respond that way when they're nervous," he counted, drawing near.
The worst of it, he was right. I'd hated the twisting in my gut when I caught sight of Caterina on him and had hated the crumpling in my fists over the way he let her act as if she still mattered to him.
I breathed deep, trying to shake out the heat running up my spine.
I shifted away from him, my eyes landing on the nightstand, at the gun sitting there.
My heart pounded. I didn't think so. I just reacted.
In one motion, I took the gun, turned, and aimed it at his head.
The world slowed down.
Makros's face went rigid, but only for like two seconds.
Then, in wonder, he started walking forward, and again, and again, till the chill metal of the barrel rested against his forehead.
"Go on," he breathed, his voice husky but contemptuous. "Kill me."
My hands trembled.
I could. I should.
I wanted to.
But I pulled the trigger on the wall instead, and it erupted with a deafening roar.
My chest heaved, anger gnawing at me. I clenched my jaw, screwed up my eyes—then, cursing, I threw the gun on the bed. I stepped back from him.
Makros laughed.
"It was loaded this time, but you couldn't do it," he said.
"Shut up," I snarled.
But he was already advancing on me, his hand out, lifting my chin. His skin burned, intimate and maddening.
"You wanted to," he whispered, eyes aglow. "That's enough for now."
I hated him.
