Page 36 of Surge of Ice

How can he possibly know?My prideful side doesn’t want to say a thing, but I’m pinned by his gaze and get the feeling I won’t be going anywhere until I tell him. “I did a little digging into you.”

“And?” He sounds amused.

“Did you ever go out without a girl on your arm? Or is it a requirement of this job or something? Because, I swear, some men can go out on their own.”

He chuckles and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “Beautiful, you have no idea how lonely I was until you came into my life.”

I look at him, skeptical.

He kisses me again. “Seriously, I feel like I was waiting my whole life for you. And now that I have you, I don’t need anyone else.”

Well, that’s pretty damn sweet.

He pulls me against him and sighs, breathing me in. I press my face into his chest, doing the same. Something about these past few days has changed things between Evander and I in a way I wasn’t even aware of until this moment. I look up at him.

His eyes search mine. “What is it?”

I don’t know how to explain it. “I like you.”

He laughs. “Did you just now realize that?”

A wave of embarrassment washes over me. “No, I–”

“It’s okay, baby girl. I’m an acquired taste. I know that.”

My heart does a little flutter. “It’s not that. Things just started so differently between us. All heat and no… time to get to know each other.”

He sighs and kisses me again. “When you’re safe, I’m going to put all my energy and time into us. You’re never going to have to doubt your place in my life. You’re never going to wonder how I feel about you.”

I cling to him. “That sounds like fun.”

The door to his room opens, and Aydan comes out looking irritated, but for once it’s not because Evander is holding me. “I’m ready.”

My gaze slides over him. He’s wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. “I thought you were getting ready for the reporters.”

“I did. I tried on a bunch of Evander’s suits, but they made me feel like I was suffocating. Then I realized the reporters aren’t going to see me in human form anyway, because we’re keeping our identities secret. I might as well be comfortable.”

“Well, you look nice,” I say.

He grins and circles behind me, pulling me against him and a little away from Evander. Evander makes a little unhappy sound and steps closer, until I’m sandwiched between them. Heat moves through me, and I melt between them like butter. Aydan kisses my throat, then sucks, leaving more marks to join the old ones. Evander catches my lips and kisses me more deeply, until I can feel them both hard against me.

Evander groans and steps away. “We arenotgoing to this news conference with boners.”

Aydan laughs. “I think the people want to see a dragon boner, so let’s give them what they want.”

I laugh too, even as Aydan kisses my neck again and pulls away.

They start down the hall, but Aydan glances back. “Evander said this might take awhile, so you be safe.”

“I will be,” I tell him.

He winks at me and turns away. Evander casts me a lingering glance before they reach the elevator. I watch them until they’re in the elevator, then press my back against the wall, feeling lost.What the hell am I supposed to do without them?

A door slides open down the hall, and Zane strides out. He’s wearing a pale blue shirt the same shade as his hair, jeans, and shoes. He looks confused and uncertain as he enters the hall, but the look changes to a happy one when he sees me.

“My Samantha, I missed you.”

I return his smile. “I missed you too. How are you liking your new room?”

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