Page 53 of Surge of Ice

They stare at him. I realize he really doesn’t know.

“Because,” Aydan begins, picking his words with care. “You and Sam, well…”

“You see,” Evander cuts in. “It’s not appropriate for a girl with a boyfriend–”

“Two boyfriends,” Aydan adds, a possessive note in his voice.

Evander clears his throat. “Right, two boyfriends, to have a man in nothing but his boxers hanging around.”

“Why?” Zane asks again.

I sigh. “They think it’ll lead to us fucking.” When he still looks confused, I clarify, “You know, bedding one another.”

Realization dawns on the ice dragon’s face. “We will end up fucking whether I wear lots or a little clothes, so why worry about it?”

I can tell we’re about to have an argument. “Well, I’m going to have dinner sent to my room, and then I’m heading to bed. Why don’t you guys help Zane finish setting up all the cat’s stuff, and make sure you explain it to him too?”

As I head for the door, I get the sense that everyone wants to say something to me, but the second the door opens, I slipthrough and run for it. Maybe I’m being a coward, but I’m exhausted. The last thing I want to do is fight right now.

In the safety of my room, I order food from the kitchens and pull out a Kindle that’s plugged in on one of the nightstands. I download a book about a witch who’s forced to marry three wolf shifters, and sinks under the covers. It’s a fun read, but I don’t get into it too far before there’s a knock at the door. Dinner has arrived! Reading and eating slowly is just what the doctor ordered, and I’m feeling better by the time there’s another knock at the door.

Putting my plate at the little table in one corner, I open the door to find Aydan and Evander in the doorway. They both have an air about them… one that suggests they mightstillbe looking for a fight. I force myself not to roll my eyes and gesture for them to come in, then wait for whatever they have to say.

“We don’t like how fast things are moving between you and Zane,” Aydan blurts out.

I lift a brow. “Evander and I were fucking within seconds of becoming dragons.”

He flinches. “Yeah, but–”

“The only reason Zane and I haven’t yet is because of you two, and maybe because things are a little less intense with an ice dragon.”

Now, it’s Evander’s turn. “That might be true, but we still don’t know if we can trust this guy.”

“Aydan was telling me not to trust you just a few days ago.”

Both of them look annoyed, but they can’t argue with the truth. The truth in this entire situation is that Zane and I are going to end up together, and we’re moving at a very reasonable pace for dragon relationships as far as I know them.

“You two know damn well that he fits into our little group like a missing puzzle piece. That’s why you haven’t knocked him on his ass.”

Evander sighs with frustration. “While even if it’s true we don’t feel as threatened or wary of him as we do of the other dragons, it doesn’t mean we just have to accept everything he’s saying as right.”

“Fine,” I concede. “But right now I’m doing the smartest thing I can be doing, which is that I’m getting to know him.”

“Through makeout sessions?” Aydan asks, glaring.

I feel my cheeks heat. “Hey, we could been fucking in his room earlier.”

“That’s nice to hear,” Aydan mumbles.

I roll my neck, hating the tense muscles there. “Listen, it’s been a long day. Hell, a long week. Can we talk about this another time?”

Evander shrugs, but says, “Okay, I guess we can head to bed.”

“I meant I was going to sleep alone,” I clarify.

They exchange a look, but Aydan is the one who asks, “You sure?”

“Yeah, I just need a night to myself.”

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