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  That handled my resistance to the tears. Perfect. Now I was slinging the waterworks at him too. And, oh, how he loved that. Not.

  I pushed away, burying my face in my hands. “Please. I need a redo, okay? I’ll get this right, I promise.”

  Killian growled. Hard. Right before clutching the back of my neck and forcing my face into the command of his mouth-mashing kiss. A whine tore up my throat, thick and needy. I clawed at his arm, making it my anchor during my ride into blissful surrender.

  “You’re getting it right already.” His voice was as coarse as the steel in his stare. “Understood?”

  I started bawling harder.

  Would he ever stop being amazing? Ever?

  “Oh, baby.” He rubbed my cheek with a big thumb. “Don’t cry. I just wanted to make you happy. We don’t have to go. I can just have the girls cancel and—”

  “Don’t. You. Dare.” Though my order spurred him to more laughter, I added, “I’m crying because I’m happy. And…”

  “And what?”

  “And because of my own stupidity.” I returned his caress, pressing a hand to the magnificent, high plane of his cheek. “You are amazing. And perfect. I’m just not used to all of it…to your generosity, to you filling all my dreams like this. I’m not used to trusting it, to trusting any kind of happiness, so I don’t. Instead, I turn on the soundtrack of suspicion, unwilling to believe that this is really happening.”

  He blinked hard. For a moment, the clarity in his gaze was replaced by dark-gray clouds, as if only half his thoughts were still here and half had jumped to the moon. “I know.” His words were so full of commiseration, I felt it to the marrow of my bones.

  I pressed my hand a little tighter to his skin. “You do know, don’t you?” When he reacted simply by kissing me softly, I went on, “I love the surprise. I really do. Thank you, Mr. Stone. Now I just need to pinch myself to assure I’m not dreaming.”

  “Hey.” He threw a mock glower. “If there’s any pinching going on around here, I’ll be the one doing it.” After a quick kiss to my nose, he grinned again, obviously pleased with himself for blowing my mind. “Now, no more crying, Miss Montgomery. Let’s get you some food.”

  “Okay.” I giggled and sniffed. “That sounds really good. Maybe a big salad—and an even bigger glass of wine.”

  “Fuck.” He rolled his eyes. “No way. You’re getting a burger. And some goddamn fries. And then the wine.” He finished the look by letting his stare darken back to sensual velvet. “And then me.”

  As usual, the man knew exactly what it took to make my world perfect.

  And for once, I chose to believe that it wouldn’t all disappear tomorrow.

  * * *

  Continue reading No More Masquerade…

  Also by Angel Payne

  Honor Bound Series:

  Saved

  Cuffed

  Seduced

  Wild

  Wet

  Hot

  Masked

  Mastered (Coming March 2018)

  Conquered (Coming June 2018)

  Ruled (Coming Soon)

  * * *

  Misadventures:

  Misadventures with a Super Hero

  * * *

  Secrets of Stone Series:

  (with Victoria Blue)

  No Prince Charming

  No More Masquerade

  No Perfect Princess

  No Magic Moment

  No Lucky Number

  No Simple Sacrifice

  No Broken Bond

  No White Knight

  * * *

  For a full list of Angel’s other titles,

  visit her at

  angelpayne.com

  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