Page 37 of Heroes & Hitmen
Meanwhile,hehas the audacity to look pleased with himself.
“Possibly,” Ares admits, dragging a hand through his copper-red hair, that stupidly sexy smirk tilting his lips.
Too bad he’s a fucking moron.
I step in closer, closing the space between us. “Do you have any idea what you just did?” I demand, voice still low but now vibrating with fury.
His grin doesn’t falter. “Saved your ass. And mine,” he says with maddening ease, like we haven’t just set fire to our lives. “You’re welcome.”
My eyes narrow into slits. “Youlied.”
“And you backed it like a pro.” He cocks his head, giving me an appreciative once-over. “Honestly? I’m impressed. You should consider a career in espionage.”
I shove his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. “This isn’t a game, Ares. You don’t just improvise mating bonds and think you can joke your way out of it.”
His smile slips, just a little. Just enough to see the glint of seriousness buried beneath the bullshit, like steel under velvet.
“I know,” he says quietly.
The moment stretches between us, tense and breathless. The air around us still buzzes with leftover heat from the confrontation. I stare at him– at the remnants of the smirk that no longer reaches his eyes, at the reckless bravery of what he just did and the unbelievable fact itworked.
For now, at least.
“Why?” I finally ask, swallowing thickly. “Why would you put yourself at risk?”
His dark eyes hold mine. “Because he looked like he was two seconds from ripping you in half, and I wasn’t about to let that happen,” he growls. “It was lie or kill him, and I know your stance on hitmen.”
My throat tightens as I consider the war we’re starting together.
“Hey, it’ll buy you time, at least,” he adds, the corner of his mouth lifting. “And if we’re gonna pull this off, we need to act like it’s real. Starting now.”
I huff out a breath, glaring at him like I can set him on fire through sheer force of will.
“You’re such an asshole,” I mutter.
“Guilty,” he chuckles, the smirk returning just enough to be insufferable. “But I’myourasshole now, sweetheart.”
I roll my eyes hard. My pulse is still thudding in my ears, hands still shaking a little, but I keep my expression locked down tight. I don’t let him see.
“Fine,” I snap, whipping around and starting for the elevator bank. “Let’s go get the keys to our shiny new prison, then.”
He follows behind me with a low chuckle, his footsteps slow and unbothered. “You mean our shiny newhome.”
I don’t answer. Don’t look back.
But as we step into the elevator, side by side in the too-close silence, the gravity of what we’ve done starts to settle in my bones.
We’ve told the lie.
Now we have to live it.
CHAPTER 13
Ares
A tense silencehangs in the air as Miley and I stand side by side in the bedroom of our swanky new apartment, staring down at the massive bed. It’s topped with crisp white sheets and a fluffy white duvet, positioned in front of a massive window overlooking the glittering city below.Onebed that we’ll be sharing as a happy couple, blessed by fate.
This whole thing is turning out even better than expected.
