Cuffed Read online

  Tait sauntered forward, gold eyes glittering with mirth. “It’s…uh…called a microphone, Runway. I know growing up in Silicon Valley must’ve been hard; you probably weren’t exposed to many of these newfangled technical gadgets, but—follow me, now—they use it to record the actors’ voices. That’s how you can hear them talking when you watch them on TV.”

  The group snickered. Ethan glared harder. “Shut your hole, ass munch. I know what it is.”

  Tait chuffed. “Need those knickers twisted a little tighter, Runway? With your panties gone, the whole world can watch your cute ass a little better while you moon over—”

  “Shut. Up.”

  Tait looked ready to smack Ethan from pure frustration, and Ava backed up the desire. He was “mooning” over someone? That was practically a rhetorical question. The man was wound up about something—or in this case, someone. But who? And if it wasn’t her, did she want to know?

  You have no right to know.

  She’d ignored every one of his calls, messages, and attempts at contact since getting back from Seattle seven months ago. She’d made the right choice for her life. Whether Ethan believed it or not, for his too. So if he’d moved on to getting his “knickers twisted” for someone else, she needed to be happy for him. She could do that, couldn’t she?

  The answer got stuck in her throat as she watched him cock his head, spearing Charlie with a curiosity that edged on innocence. It made his adjoining question all the more adorable.

  “Dude, why is the microphone wearing a condom?”

  Sage spit out her gulp of water. Rayna giggled again. Garrett and Zeke let out matching groans of the F-word. But Tait’s expression actually changed to a glance of respect. “Huh,” he said. “You’re right.” He looked at Charlie. “Why does it have that thing on it?”

  Chaz’s stance changed, too. He straightened from polite to commanding. As he launched into the advantages of foam microphone covers, reveling in the attention he got from a bunch of hunks who also relied on high-performance equipment to accomplish their jobs, Ava recognized her chance to slip away. You’ve had your peek. And your stare. Now back off from the window, Chestain, before—

  “Hey, Ava! Do me a favor and move that tree about a foot to your right, would ya? The light’s hitting it wrong.”

  Before someone like Blake, the set-decorating lead, called to her just like that.

  “Shit.”

  She spat it as she tugged the prop over, not pausing to acknowledge Blake’s thanks. Or maybe she did. It was very possible, since every muscle in her body turned to ice as soon as she watched Ethan’s head whip around at the mention of her name. Time didn’t help matters, congealing to sludge that dragged every step she attempted—and made it possible for his gaze to stab into hers before she launched into motion.

  Keep moving. Keep moving. Don’t look back. Keep moving.

  The order vibrated through every shaky gasp she made while whirling and hurrying through the maze of flats, cords, ladders, wires, toolboxes, and chairs. So many chairs. Damn it. Nobody ever sat around here. Why did they need so many chairs? And why had she worn three-inch boots today? And why did everyone pick this exact second to tromp in her way?

  “Ava.”

  His call severed the air, shattering the ice beneath her skin into freezing shards through her bloodstream. She didn’t alter her pace. She couldn’t. The door was just a few feet away. Past it was a restricted-access zone. His visitor’s pass would get him stopped faster than a gatecrasher at the Oscars. She’d be safe again.

  “Ava.”

  She fought the pull of his voice. Resisted the urgent command of it, the fierce need. No, damn it. She was weaving meanings that weren’t there. All they’d shared, all those months ago, was a kiss. After that, she’d all but told him to shove off. If anything, he was here to ask her for a reimbursement check for the birthday flowers that had filled her living room in February.

  Keep moving. Almost there.

  “Ava!”

  Long fingers, steel and flesh certainly fused together, twisted around her elbow. Inside a second, they hauled her into the props and greenery prep room. Inside another whoosh, she was pinned against the wall while the door was booted shut.

  And then her world became only him.

  * * *

  Continue reading Seduced…

  Also by Angel Payne

  Honor Bound Series:

  Saved

  Cuffed

  Seduced

  Wild (Coming January 2018)

  Wet (Coming February 2018)

  Hot (Coming February 2018)

  Masked (Coming February 2018)

  Mastered (Coming March 2018)

  Conquered (Coming March 2018)

  Ruled (Coming June 2018)

  * * *

  Misadventures:

  Misadventures with a Super Hero

  Misadventures of a Time Traveler (Coming March 13, 2018)

  * * *

  For a full list of Angel’s other titles,

  visit her at

  angelpayne.com

  Acknowledgments

  As you all know, Zeke and Rayna’s story holds a special place in my heart. It’s really the story that busted me beyond so many comfort levels, but what an epic and awesome ride it was for both the first edition as well as this new Waterhouse release.

  On that note, I cannot let a chance go by to thank the entire team at Waterhouse Press for believing in “The Boys” enough to give them a shiny new burst into the world. It’s an amazing feeling to have your support and belief in each wild ride of this world!

  So many hugs and love for the incredible people who have loved this story from the start and have taken countless hours out of their lives to give the feedback that made the story shine. Shannon Poole and Tracy Roelle, your loving honesty has always meant—and continues to mean—the world to me. So much love and thanks to the original editing team on the book too: Jacy Mackin and Meredith Bowery, you both rock! A huge note of thanks to Scott Saunders, who gave this version the extra sheen it needed!

  Most of all, thanks to every reader who has believed in the wild, passionate Honor Bound men from the beginning—and to those of you taking a chance on a new series and joining us now, too! You all are so special, and I appreciate you beyond measure.

  Thank you!

  About Angel Payne

  USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne loves to focus on high-heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them. She has numerous book series to her credit, including the Suited for Sin series, the Cimarron Saga, the Temptation Court series, the Secrets of Stone series, the Lords of Sin historicals, and the popular Honor Bound series, as well as several standalone titles.

  Angel is a native Southern Californian, leading to her love of being in the outdoors, where she often reads and writes. She still lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter, to whom she is a proud cosplay/culture con mom. Her passions also include whisky tasting, shoe shopping, and travel.

  For more information, please follow Angel Payne at:

  www.angelpayne.com