Page 37 of Surge of Heat

We stop at the elevator and flash our badges, then wait for it to come. He looks like he’s trying to pick his words with care, which probably means I won’t like what he has to say.

“Sam is an amazing woman.”

“The best,” I confirm.

“It seems to me that having some of her would be better than having none of her.”

“Some of her?” I ask, frowning.

He gives me a look. “Yeah, just think about it.”

“I don’t think I want to,” I say, my words cutting.

Does he actually mean I should let Evander continue being near her? Let him… be with her in some capacity? That would be insane.

The elevator doors open. We stop at the dining hall, where Granger gets off. I want to find Sam, so I go to the lab floor, but find the scientists racing around frantically.

I grab Dr. Griffin’s arm as he hurries past. “What’s going on?”

He gives me an irritated look. “The power on the perimeter and air security have gone down, and we can’t establish a connection with the satellite dishes. We’re trying to reestablish everything, and quickly, given the fact that we’re sitting ducks out here.”

Sam.

“Do you know where Sam is?”

He frowns and shakes his head.

I get back on the elevator and hit the top floor, pulse pumping.She’s probably outside, safe and sound. Everything is okay. I’ll get her, get her inside, and everything will be okay.

The elevator doors open and I start running for the cliffside. Behind me, the sunrise should be painting the skies in reds and oranges, but the gray clouds hide everything from view. Normally, the lights on the outside of the buildings would add a warm glow to the sidewalks, but the lights are out too.

I increase my pace, practically running for the cliffside where Sam likes to hang out, when I see the figure of a lone woman. The pressure on my chest eases, and I feel better and better as I come closer to her.

“Sam?”

She turns around slowly, and I stop in my tracks, the air rushing from my lungs. She’s so impossibly beautiful, she takes my breath away. Her long red has been left loose, and the curly waves cascade over her shoulders. She’s wearing a green tank top that matches her eyes and jeans. The clothes hug the perfect lines of her body.

I’m instantly hard, but I force myself to walk toward her. “Get inside. It’s not safe out here.”

Anger flares in her gaze, and I realize I’ve already fucked up. “I’m enjoying the cool air. But if you don’t think it’s safe out here, feel free to go inside.”

“Damn it. It’s dangerous!” I grab her wrist and pull her closer. “It doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to argue with me about everything.”

“Yeah, because you make it so damn easy,” she says, her chest heaving with her anger.

I snap my gaze away from her perfect breasts. “All of this is simple. I don’t know why you’re making it so hard. I love you.You love me. I’m here, ready and willing to cover your scent. You're making Evander a problem in our relationship, but he doesn’t have to be. He doesn’t have to be anything to either of us.”

“You don’t understand.”

A humorless laugh explodes from my lips. “I understand that he lured you all the way to this base without ever even telling you who he was. The guy is a liar. And a good one. He lied straight to your face, and he’s going to keep doing it, because he can’t be trusted.”

She pulls her wrist out of my grip. “I’ve been clear with you from the very beginning. Things are complicated between Evander and I. It’s–”

“A dragon thing,” I finish for her, seething inside. “Something I can’t possibly understand.”

“I didn’t say that,” she tells me lamely.

I take a step closer and feel some of my anger disappearing this close to her. Unable to help myself, I run a hand along her cheek, and she leans into my touch, making my heart squeeze. “I can protect you, Sam. Iwillprotect you, no matter what happens. You have to believe me.”

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