Switch

Expecting Eric, I didn't bother looking through the

peephole. So when I saw Austin framed in the doorway,

al I could do at first was stare. Then I took a step back to

let him in.

His mouth was on mine before either of us said a word.

My book fel to the floor in a flutter of pages, and I kicked

it to the side as Austin stepped me back toward the couch.

I put my hands up between us and pushed him away

before he could get me there.

'What the fuck are you doing here?' I swiped the back of

my hand across my lips, smearing the taste of him.

my hand across my lips, smearing the taste of him.

Austin licked his mouth and swalowed, his gaze flicking

around the room. 'Is he here?'

'You're lucky he's not. You can't just come in here and

attack me like that.'

Austin scraped a hand over the top of his hair, then

cupped the back of his neck briefly, his head bent. He

closed his eyes, brow furrowed. I stepped back when he

opened them.

'He's not here,' I said. 'But you should go.'

He shook his head.

'Austin,' I whispered. 'You need to go.'

Again, he shook his head. Only an arm's span held us

apart, but it might as wel have been a mile. My nightgown

swirled around my knees as I turned. I was very aware of

the pul of cotton on my skin. The lingerie Eric had sent me

had reminded me of how it felt to be desirable, but under

Austin's eyes I didn't need something outside me to know

how it felt for him to want me.

'Paige. Please.' His voice snagged, rough and broke.

'Let's stop pretending—'

'I'm not pretending anything.' I crossed my arms but kept

my back toward him.

Slow, roling cramps clutched at my bely. When we were

married, Austin had put me to bed with a heating pad

when my cramps were bad. He'd rubbed my back, too,

and gone at night to get me ice cream, no matter how late.

'He's not your boyfriend. Is he? That guy?'

'Is Kira your girlfriend?' I turned on him then.

'Hel, no.'

'Are you fucking her?' I advanced a step to poke his

chest, and Austin retreated a step.

'No!'

I laid my hand flat on his chest over the steady thumping of

his heart. I had to tip my head to look at his face. ' Did you fuck her?'

He shook his head, just once. I pinched his nipple only half

as hard as I wanted to. He didn't wince, though his tongue

crept out along his lower lip, leaving it glistening. The bead