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Well, there was no going back now. And she’d might as well find out, once and for all, how this ridiculously attractive, insanely wonderful Shadowmasterreallyfelt about her.

No more lies. No more bullshit.

Roman was watching her intently. “Is it true?”

She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry.

Here goes nothing,she thought.

She sucked in a deep breath and said, “What would you say if I said yes?”

Silence stretched between them. Shay’s heart was beating so hard, she knew Roman could hear it. Knew he could sense through her aura that she was thoroughly and quietly freaking out.

Finally, he said, “I’d say you’re a fucking idiot.”

She couldn’t help it—she flinched. “Ouch.” She looked away from him, her throat threatening to shut.

But then Roman continued, “And I’d say you’re too good for me.”

Slowly, reluctantly, she slid her eyes back to his.

“I’d say I’m a wreck and I have nothing good to offer you,” he added.

A pause.

And then Roman said, “And I’d say that I love you, too.”

She drew her head back. “What?” Had she heard him correctly? Or was she so doped up that she was inventing things in her head? Maybe she’d died and gone to the Fifth Dimension to live out some pathetic fantasy?—

But Roman’s throat bobbed, and he said again, “I love you, too, Shayla Cousens. I’m so. Fucking. In love with you that I—” He looked away for a moment, and then finished, “—I can’t ignore it anymore. I am thoroughly and hopelessly in love with you.”

She blinked. “I must be dead,” she blurted.

He got up, towering over her like a dark angel. “Not dead,” he said, his eyes tender. “And I thank the gods for that.”

She held her breath as he bent down and kissed her on the mouth.

Softly. Intimately.

When he broke the kiss, he pulled back a bit, looking her right in the eyes as he smoothed an unruly strand of her hair back from her face.

Then he sat down beside her on the bed and carefully brushed something off her cheek. “What’s this?” he asked. He showed her what he was referring to—the tear sparkling on the pad of his thumb. “I thought you said you never cry, and yet, IswearI’ve seen you cry atleastfour times, pup.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Maybe even five.”

“Pfft—I don’t cry,” she sniffled. But even as she spoke, another tear slipped free, and she wiped it away. “My eyes are just…leaking.”

Roman gave a quiet laugh, then kissed her again and rested his forehead against hers. “Paxton and I were lost before you came along,” he whispered, his words coasting across her mouth. “When we look at you…we both feel like we’re home. Like we finally have a home.” He lifted his head and flattened his hand over her heart. “You stole my heart, Shay.”

“Well, in my defense, I am a thief,” she said.

Roman smiled.

Shay grinned back.

Their world may be falling apart, but this right here...

No one could touch this. No one could take away what they had.

They would rebuild. Someway. Somehow.