Page 3 of Surge of Ice

Aydan doesn’t look pleased. He bumps Evander when he’s getting mashed potatoes, and the potatoes go partially off his tray. Evander gives Aydan a look, but Aydan is busy putting three steaks on his plate, all stacked up.

Our group of four loads up on steak, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and cherry pie. It takes several plates, and several trips to get it all on our table, but we all fall silent when we finally sit in our seats.

What follows next is a very impolite dinner, where we’re just a few steps up from wild animals. At one point, I think Granger is just going to pick up his steak with his hands and start eating, but we all manage to keep our knives and our forks in our hands. When we’re finished, we all leaning back in our chairs, content, our plates empty.

“Time for bed,” I say, followed by a yawn.

“I’ll walk you to your room,” Aydan says, instantly on his feet.

“Or, I can walk you,” Evander says, standing up.

I sigh. They’re not making this whole awkward situation very easy.How can they go from bros to foes when the topic of sex rises?It’s more than a little annoying. They both know I likely need to have sex tonight and tomorrow morning.Why can’t we just figure this out?

“How about Aydan walks me to my room right now? And Evander comes to hang out in a few hours, maybe around four or five in the morning?”

Neither of them look happy about that.

“I can stay all night,” Aydan says.

“Or he doesn’t have to come over at all,” Evander suggests, sounding angry.

I rub my temples, trying not to lose my temper. “Look, we’re all exhausted. I’m trying to figure out a way to make this work. So either we do it like this, or I sleep alone tonight.”

There’s a moment of silence.

“Alright, I’ll walk you to your room now,” Aydan says.

“And I’ll see you at four in the morning,” Evander grits out. “Alone.”

I tell Granger goodnight, give him a quick hug, and as I walk away, I look over my shoulder to see that Evander and Granger are sitting together. Will they talk? Maybe find a way to get along a little better? I hope so, because having both my best friends hate Evander isn’t making things any easier.

In the elevator, Aydan traps me against the wall, his arms above my head. His gaze is intense. “I was worried about you out there. When I heard you screaming in the water, it felt like I was dying right along with you.”

I touch his cheek. “I know. I’m sorry.”

He leans down and kisses me. Then kisses me again. His lips are soft and tender. His touch is everything I didn't know I needed right now. Somehow, I go from zero to a hundred with just a touch.

It’s a real problem, but not one I want to solve.

I grip his shirt. “I missed you.” We’ve been together this whole time, but I’ve missed him touching me. Missed him close to me.

“I missed you too,” he whispers, then kisses me again.

The elevator opens on our floor, and we walk together to my room. I’m exhausted, but my body is alive, practically buzzing in anticipation. My badge opens the door, and then we slide into the cool darkness.

Aydan spins me around and grins. “When I’m done with you, you’re not going to want anything to do with Evander.”

“Aydan!”

But then he goes for the buttons on his pants, and everything else fades away.

TWO

Samantha

I probably should have slept moreand fucked less. Evander gives me a kiss at the door, and a lingering glance, before he heads down the hall to his room. I’m glad, because he’d certainly been pushing his luck, trying to stay as long as humanly possible.

Which is just like Evander.

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