You’ll Either Be My Wife, Or My Widow

Every breath Kira took was filled with his scent. Austyn lifted her chin with one finger so she was forced to look up at him. Kira closed her eyes and played possum. ‘Kira.’ Austyn’s voice was hoarse. ‘I’ve missed you.’ She was almost undone by those simple words. Her chest heaved. She had to bite her lower lip to hold back her tears. ‘I have not.’ She spat out the words in as frosty a voice as she could manage. ‘I don’t believe you.’ How could she not miss him? Kira’s shoulders shook. ‘Why would I miss someone who disappears without a word? Someone who treats me like a plaything? You spend time with me when you feel like it, leave when the mood strikes you.’ She raised her voice. ‘You don’t call, you don’t text. You come and go as you please. What am I? Your call girl? Even a prostitute gets a call if the customer wants to cancel! I don’t want to have anything more to do with you. I hate y—’ Austyn didn’t let her finish. He sealed her lips with his. His lips were dry and chapped, the