His breathing grew heavier and faster.
Then he was seized with a violent cough.
Kira jumped. 'Are you okay?'
Austyn's face turned red.
He couldn't stop coughing and wheezing.
Flustered, Kira ran for the door. 'I'll go get the nurse!' 'Don't!' Austyn stopped coughing long enough to say. 'But...'
'Get back here!' he said through gritted teeth.
Kira had to comply.
She poured out a glass of lukewarm water. 'Here.'
Austyn took the glass and waited for the coughing fit to pass.
He touched the bandages and was relieved when he didn't feel blood seeping out.
He straightened up and glowered at the culprit.
How could she think he slept with Deborah?
Dit she have no faith in him but at all?
Kita was watching him anxiously. "What?"
He looked like he wanted to strangle her and spank her at the same time.
Aren't you going to apologise?
For what? Kira was confused.
For labelling me an adulterer!' he shouted.
The veins in the side of his neck stood out.
Kira flinched. 'I didn't label you an adulterer. I just asked you a question. You could have just said no..."
Her voice trailed off as the intensity of his glare grew.
All right, I'm sorry,' she said. 'Sorry for doubting you, okay? But I still think you overreacted.'
He was coughing so violently, Kira was afraid he might have dislodged a lung or something.
Are you sure you don't want me to get a nurse? You don't look so well.
His face was all red like he'd just finished running a marathon, but his lips were still pale. Come here.' Austyn's breathing had returned to normal.
'No,' Kira answered reflexively.
Nothing good had ever followed that order.
'Are you trying to make me mad again?' There was a hint of warning in his voice.
Kira approached reluctantly.
She took the water glass from his hand. 'Do you need more water?'
Austyn yanked her down onto his lap and lowered his face.
It wasn't so much a kiss as a bite.
Kira's back was leaning against his thighs.
She tried not to move in case she touched his wound again.
But he wasn't concerned about his injury at all.
He kissed her with an intensity that told her just how mad he was.
All the things he wanted to say but couldn't were expressed in that one kiss.
Kira acquiesced as a way to atone for her false accusation earlier.
Besides, she missed him as well.
The kiss felt familiar and reassuring.
Her lips were starting to hurt a little, though.
Kira believed the punishment should fit the crime.
Yet, Austyn clearly wanted more than just an apology kiss.
His hands had slipped under her t-shirt and were stroking her back.
A tingling sensation travelled up from the spot where he touched her along her spine.
Kira shivered.
When his hand moved towards the clasp of her bra, Kira pushed him back and shot to her feet.
They were both panting.
Austyn was displeased about the sudden departure of her lips from his.This belongs to - ©.
He was about to move onto second base.
He got his wind back and was about to speak.
The expression on Kira's face changed.
She clamped a hand to her mouth and whirled around, sprinting towards the bathroom.
Austyn heard the sound of retching.
Kira came back five minutes later, after the wave of nausea passed.
She had rinsed her mouth and washed her face.
She plonked herself down on a chair with a dazed look on her face.
Austyn was sitting up in bed, sulking. 'I thought you liked it.'
More Than Just An Apology Kiss
'What?' Kira looked over blankly.
"The kiss. Were you so disgusted that you had to throw up?"
Kira processed the meaning of his words.
She rolled her eyes. 'Yeah. It's disgusting. So you better not kiss me again!'
Fussy Man-child
Austyn scowled.
While Kira was in the bathroom, he'd secretly checked himself for bad breath.
He had not eaten anything since he got off the plane.
His breath wasn't minty fresh, but neither was it odorous.
So why did she have such a strong reaction?
Kira was amused by his long face. 'It's not you.'