Kira resisted the urge to smack that lustful smile off his face. 'I meant your wound.'

'There's nothing to see.' He didn't want her to be scared.

The bullet entered about 3 cm below his right scapula.

The doctors said he got lucky.

The bullet did not ricochet and hit any major organs.

The surgery left two scars, one on his back and one on his chest.

'But I just want to take a look. One quick look, I promise.'

'It's ugly.'

'I don't mind,' Kira insisted.

She knew the doctors here were capable, but she couldn't rest easy until she saw for herself.

Austyn's brows were deeply furrowed.

He wasn't the vain type, but neither did he want Kira to associate an unsightly wound with his face. But she was determined. 'Please?'

When he didn't reply, she took matters into her own hands.

Kira leaned forward and lifted a corner of his hospital gown. Austyn relented.

The wound disruption was deep.

The doctors had re-closed the wound separation with new stitches.

All she would see was the wound dressing.

Kira stared at the wide band of white bandages around his chest.

It smelled medicinal.

She couldn't help but touch it.

Austyn winced and grabbed her wrist.

'Sorry.' Kira quickly withdrew her hand.

She watched his bloodless face. 'Does it still hurt?'

Not really.

The effects of anaesthesia had not completely worn off.

He couldn't feel the pain at the moment.

But he said, 'Yes.'

To make it sound more convincing, he added, 'Like being branded with a hot iron.'

Kira grimaced as if she felt the pain vicariously.

'I need an analgesic,' he said.

Kira shot to her feet. 'I'll go get the doctor.'

'No.' He held her hand. 'A hug from you will do.'

'But I thought you need some kind of drug-

'A painkiller. A hug works just as well as an Advil.' Kira couldn't tell if he was serious or joking.

She studied his pallid face. 'Okay.'

As Well

She moved forward and gave him a one-shoulder hug, careful to avoid touching his chest and his left arm. Austyn wasn't satisfied with just a chaste hug, but he knew this was the best he could get at the moment. 'Do you feel better?'

Another minute.' Austyn buried his head on her shoulders and inhaled her scent.

The drug in the IV liquids was taking its effect.

He felt sleepy, but was reluctant to let go of her.

'Boss.' A knock came on the door.

Kira hurriedly drew back.

Austyn frowned at the interruption.

Kai poked his head through the open doorway. 'Boss, can I come in?'

'What do you want?' Austyn tossed his assistant a dark look.

'Um.' Kai looked at Kira who was standing by the window with her back to him.

Had he come at a bad time?

Kai stood on the threshold, unsure if he should step inside or out. 'Should I come back at another time?'

'Yes,' Austyn said.

'No,' Kira said at the same time.

She turned around and walked over to Kai. 'You should stay and keep your boss company. I need to go back to school.'

'What?' Austyn's face darkened.

She wasn't going to stay with him?

'It's getting late. I have an early class tomorrow. I'll come by and see you in the afternoon.'

Kira recalled the class she missed the day before and added, 'If I have the time.'

She had a lot of work to catch up on.

'If you have the time?' Austyn was incredulous.

Her husband was in the hospital, and she chose her studies over him?

Kira nodded. 'I forgot-there's a career fair tomorrow. I might not be free for the whole day.'

She needed to talk to the recruiters and hopefully hand out a couple of resumes.

This was her final year, time to start job hunting.

Kira pretended not to see the scowl on Austyn's face and said to Kai, 'Take good care of your boss. Good night.'

'Good night, Young Madam. Kai held the door open for her.

'Kai Scott!' Austyn bellowed.

The assistant grasped Austyn's unspoken command and quickly blocked the doorway.

Kira almost walked into him.

She stepped back and looked up at him. 'What are you doing?'

'Sorry, Young Madam, Boss's orders.'

'He didn't say anything.'

'But he implied it with that voice,' Kai thought.

Kira looked back at Austyn. 'I want to go back to the dorm.'

'You're not going anywhere.'

Kira sucked in a deep breath and turned to face Kai. 'Step aside.'

The assistant pretended to be deaf.

If he listened to Boss, he would be in Kira's black books.

But if he listened to Kira, he would become a statistic in this year's unemployment figure.

'This is so childish!' Kira huffed.

She glared at Austyn. 'You can't keep me here!'

'Why are you leaving?'

'Why can't I leave? I told you I have an early class-'

'Are you still inad at ine?'

Kira fell silent.

A Hug Works Just As Well As An Advil

'I've offered my explanation. I went after Santoro. It was a dangerous trip. I didn't want you to worry. Why are you still mad?'

'You've offered an explanation, but not an apology,' Kira pointed out.

He never said he was sorry.

Maybe that was because he didn't think what he did was wrong. Which was why Kira was still mad.

Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!

Punishment That Fits His Crime

Punishment That Fits His Crime

'I'm s-'Austyn started to say.

'Save it!' Kira stopped him mid-sentence. 'I don't need a fake apology.'

'It's not fake.'

'Whatever. It doesn't matter. Just because you explained yourself doesn't mean I'll have to forgive you.'

Now that she knew he was no longer in danger, she could afford to let her anger show.

'You still don't get it, do you?' she said.

'Don't get what?'

Kai Scott inched closer to the door and pretended to be invisible.

His timing was unfortunate.

Hopefully, Boss wouldn't notice he had a witness to his domestic dispute.

'You said you would do the same thing if you could choose again,' Kira said. 'Which means you would still choose to keep me in the dark. You say it's to protect m but I see it as a sign that you don't trust me.'

She held up a hand to stop Austyn from speaking. 'Let me finish. I would like to make you walk a mile in my shoes, but I'm not so irresponsible as to disappear fo ten days. What I can

however, is express my anger. I have a right to

"What are you going to do?' Austyn asked.

'I don't know. I haven't really thought about it.'

His return was so sudden.

His collapse, equally so.

Kira needed some time to sort out the mess in her head and to come up with a punishment that fit his crime.

'But just know that I'm still angry, and you don't get to decide when I'll forgive you.'Text content © .

'Will you at least tell me how long you're going to stay mad at me?' Austyn hated living in uncertainty.

'I don't know. I don't have the answer yet. But I can tell you this-it's going to take a long, long time. Longer than ten days, that's for sure.'

When she was a kid and misbehaved, Kira's father would discipline her with a stern word, a time-out, or taking away her TV privileges.

The worst punishment was a ban on all sweet food for a week.

Leland scomed the idea of 'Spare the rod, spoil the child.

He never raised his hand to his daughter.

Kira tried the stem word; Austyn was unfazed.

She wanted to try a time-out, but he refused to let her leave.

She didn't think taking away TV privileges would work on Austyn; the man rarely watched TV anyway.

And he didn't have a sweet tooth

Kira needed some time to think and to consult Giana.

She wanted to know how Giana handled it when Noah pissed her off.

Austyn pursed his lips.

He'd rather that Kira punch him a hundred times and call it even.

That, he could take.

But he couldn't take this-Kira keeping her distance from him.

Kira had lived with the man for long enough to know he was displeased right now.

His body language was plain to read-the downturned mouth, the tightly pressed lips, the flared nostrils.

But she wasn't about to back down.

She was always the one to yield first when they had a disagreement in the past.

But this time, she did nothing wrong.

If Austyn thought it was his right to disappear and not inform her, then Kira had the equal right to be angry and not forgive him.

He stared at her.

She retumed it with a level gaze.

Neither was willing to concede first.

A minute later, Austyn spoke. 'Kai, go get the doctor.'

Boss, what's wrong?

That Fits Mix Cimme

972

Kita had the same question but Kat beat her to it.

Arrange for my discharge.

What 'But you just got

My wife Sabandoning me and going back to her school. I'm going with her.'

Kita wanted to toll her eyes.

Austyn made it sound like he was the one getting jilted and wronged.

'Don't be crazy,' she said. 'I live at a girls' dormitory. There's no room for you.'

Money talks, Austyn said simply.

He met Stamford University's principal at a fund-raising event once.

He was sure palms could be greased and accommodation for him at the university could be arranged.

Austyn lifted the quilt and got up from the bed.

He had to do it in slow motion because every move hunt like he was getting shot in the chest all over again.

You're right. You have the right to be angry. And I have the right to work on earning your forgiveness. Which starts with me being with you twenty-four hours a day

A cunning look came into his eyes. 'I'll follow you everywhere you go. I'll show, with my action, how much your forgiveness means to me. If anyone asks, I'll tell them you're my wife and that I'm trying to atone for my mistake,'

Are you insane? Kita felt a headache coming on just visualising the scene-Austyn following her everywhere like a second shadow and broadcasting the news that she was his wife.

'No, I don't believe you.' She shook her head. 'You're not the type to air your dirty laundry in public,

He gave a one-shoulder shrug. 'Desperate times call for desperate measures. Even a convict gets a reduced sentence for good behaviour. You can't stop me from trying

Kira couldn't tell if he was serious.

His face remained as blank and unreadable as ever.

'Are you out of your mind?'

Austyn swayed on his feet and had to steady himself with an arm against the wall.

Kira wanted to rush over to help, but she was afraid it was another trick of his.

Austyn closed his eyes and waited for the dizzy spell to pass.

'You should stay in bed,' Kira said despite herself. 'Doctor's orders.'

'No.'

'If you faint again, I'm not going to call an ambulance for you.'

I'm already at the hospital.'

Kira had no comeback to that.

She looked daggers at him. 'You have a company to run. Don't you want to get back on your feet soon?

'I don't care,'

'But I do!'

Blood And Brain Matter Everywhere

Blood And Brain Matter Everywhere

'Ah, so you admit, you care about me.' Austyn smiled.

Kira was at a loss for words.