Page 22 of Surge of Heat

I just hope with time he can understand that.

Time passes, and I drift off. I’m not sure for how long. Suddenly, there’s a knock at my door. I feel so groggy. I kind of hope the person will just go away and let me get back to sleep, but they knock again. Not wanting Evander to be awakened, I slip out of bed and put on one of the robes in the closet.

I hit the button beside the door and it slides open, and then I’m face-to-face with Aydan.

Fuck.

He grins at me. It’s the kind of look that could make any girl’s heart race. He pulls me against him for a hard kiss. For a second, I lose my mind and kiss him back, but then I remember that, just out of sight, Evander is sleeping.

Breaking from the kiss, breathing hard, I manage, “What’s up?”

“You weren’t at dinner,” he says, leaning one arm against the doorway as he stands over me.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I lie.

He tilts his head. “Since when? You’re always hungry.”

Damn it.“I just decided to head to bed early.”

“Want some company?” he offers, taking a step toward me.

My hands go to his chest. “Uh, no, not tonight.”

His smile is gone. “Why not?”

“Aydan…”

Now, he’s studying me, and I don’t know what to do. He knows me too well. He’s going to see right through my lie, but he’s also going to go ballistic if he catches Evander in my bed.

“Can we please just talk tomorrow?” I practically beg him.

His eyes flash with something, and he moves around me, pushing his way into my room. I grab his arm, trying to haul himback, but he keeps going. When he reaches the foot of the bed, he freezes, his eyes widening as he stares at the man in my bed.

“What the fuck?” he shouts loudly.

Evander’s eyes flash open, and he’s sitting up in an instant.

“Aydan, please!” And now I am begging.

“Who the fuck is this?” he asks, turning to me.

“Who the fuck ishe?” Evander asks, more calmly, but there’s a threat in his voice.

Everything feels like it’s spinning out of control, and I can’t seem to stop it. “This is Evander, and this is Aydan.”

Evander’s expression grows thunderous. “The not-boyfriend?”

“The fucking dragon,” Aydan growls, hands curling into fists.

“Can we stop? Just stop!”

“Why is he in your bed?” Aydan asks, and he sounds on the edge of something dangerous.

Evander smirks at him. “It’s where I belong.”

“The hell it is!”

“Face it, not-boyfriend. Sam was running around unclaimed by anyone, and I went ahead and put my name on her. She’s mine.”

---