Page 25 of Blood

“You’re sad.” I lean on his shoulder and tuck my arm into his. “I don’t like you being sad.”

“I’m okay, Supernova.” He kisses my forehead.

“You can change your mind. You can come with us.”

Knotting his fingers with mine, he squeezes my hand. “Nico asked me to help him. I can’t say no. At least here, I’m useful.”

“You’re always useful.” I sit up and meet his eyes.

But Sam shakes his head. “You need Kole to show you the city. You need Tanner to tell you if this professor can be trusted. You need Mack and Snow because they’re the ones who need to be sewed back together.” His tone changes. It’s not bitter or angry, just resigned. “What do you need me for?”

Cupping his face in my hands, I lean in and press my lips to his. “I need you for me.”

Sam closes his eyes and kisses me back. As the kiss deepens, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer.

When we pull apart, I’m breathless and my heart is beating too fast.

“Calm down,” he says playfully. “We can’t afford another firework display right now.”

I grin and kiss him again. Lighter this time. Quicker. “That’s better,” I tell him. “Happy Sam is back.”

“Only for now. As soon as you’re gone, I’ll be mopey Sam again.”

“Well,” I tell him, standing up then pulling him to his feet too. “I’ll give you the same promise I gave Luther.”

Sam raises his eyebrows.

“At least one boob pic a day while I’m gone.”

“One a day?” Sam allows his gaze to drop to my chest then chews his lower lip for a moment. “I mean it’s not as good as full boob access, but it’s better than nothing.”

Hugging me again, he folds me into a tight embrace and I feel him inhaling the scent of my hair. I inhale him back. He smells of pine and wilderness and Sam.

“Be safe,” he says sternly.

I nod against his chest, then pull back to look up at him. “You too. And you’ll let us know if anything changes with the AMA. If Nico says anything? If they…”

Sam nods. “I will.” His hand cups my face. “We’ll be back together before you know it, and everything here will be fine. You saved the world, Nova. This next bit is just clean up duty.”

I lean into his touch then hear Tanner calling to us from the truck. “Sorry, guys. Time to go.”

At the same moment, Luther emerges from inside. He’s carrying a duffel bag and hands it to me. “Packed you a few extra things,” he says.

I frown at him.

“For our video chats.” He shrugs. “You know… if we have time.”

I’m about to open he bag when he catches hold of my wrist. “If you have time. Call me. We’ll open the bag together.”

A flutter of heat works its way to the base of my spine. “I’m supposed to be practising some self-restraint for a while, remember?”

“Okay, then I’ll rephrase…” Luther leans in and we come together in a fierce, desperate kiss. “If you have time, and if you manage to find the key to not setting everything on fire when you come, then you call me. And then we open the bag.” He raises his eyebrows, brushing his lips against mine one last time.

“Nova,” Tanner calls. “Sorry, Little Star, we have to go.”

I give Sam and Luther one last kiss each. “We’ll talk all the time,” I promise them, turning and jogging down the steps toward the truck.

They stand together, silhouetted against the glow of the cabin, and watch as I climb into the back of the truck and slip in alongside Mack.