Page 203 of Maddening Fixation

I refused to think.

“Another,” I whispered, sliding the empty glass toward him once more.

This time, Egor didn’t move.

He slowly shook his head.

“No.” His voice was gentle but firm. “That’s enough.”

“Juliet...” His eyes searched mine. “You’re drinking far too much.”

“Just pour me another. I’m not drunk yet.” I snapped, reaching for the bottle.

Egor tightened his grip on it. “If you drink another glass, you will be.”

“So what if I am?”

His expression softened, almost pleading. “Then you won’t be able to dance with me. We won’t even be able to talk properly.”

I stared at him blankly.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Egor.” My voice came out colder than I intended. “I’m a married woman now.”

I held his gaze.

“And no... I won’t be dancing with you.”

He leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed.

“First,” he said with infuriating confidence, “you’re married to Romeo for two years. When those two years are over, you’ll walk away from him and come to me.”

His gaze held mine. “I can wait.”

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

He actually believed that.

“Second,” he continued, “why won’t you dance with me? I already apologized. I miss us.”

Without another word, I snatched the bottle from his hand.

Before he could stop me, I filled my glass to the brim and swallowed every drop.

The liquor burned all the way down.

Almost immediately, warmth spread through my body.

The room shifted.

Not much...

Just enough for the lights to blur around the edges.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by an overwhelming heaviness in my limbs.

I forced myself to sit straighter.

“When I divorce Romeo,” I said slowly, willing the room to stop spinning, “I won’t be coming to you.”