Page 14 of Chaos Claimed

That meant something to Santiago, and he regretted missing the chance.

Percy looked at him, fierce determination in his eyes, then leaned in and kissed the hell out of him.

Chapter Four

What in the glittery flip-flops was he doing? Percy had no freaking clue what possessed him to kiss Santiago. One moment, he was relieved to see him standing in his driveway, and the next, Percy was stomping angrily outside.

Honestly, those three hours Santiago spent locked away felt like an eternity to Percy.

To make matter worse, he’d spent that time terrified Gilmore might’ve been torturing Santiago. It didn’t matter that Santiago was a towering figure with a physique that could rival a Greek god. The fact that he’d been handcuffed put him at a disadvantage.

And now, here Percy was, kissing him as if he’d lost his ever-loving mind. Who kissed a guy right after being insulted by them? Percy knew his damn Spanish!

However, he couldn’t deny how much he’d longed to feel those lips on his, and Santiago wasted no time drawing him closer. His hand rested on the small of Percy’s back, yet offered the freedom to pull away if he wished.

But retreat was the furthest thing from his mind.

After the evening he’d had, Percy needed this, yearned for the firm hand that anchored him.

As Santiago tilted his head, the kiss deepened, leaving Percy breathless and lightheaded. He could hear the sounds of their breathing and the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. Curling his fingers into Santiago’s shirt, Percy drew him closer, loving the rough scratch of beard against his sensitive skin.

Their kiss was no longer hurried or frantic. Santiago had turned it into a slow indulgence, as he savored Percy, enjoying this moment beneath the stars.

When they finally eased apart, his hand lingered on Percy’s back, keeping them firmly connected.

“Remind me to wear cuffs more often,” Santiago murmured with a teasing edge, resting his forehead against Percy’s, and gazing at him like Percy had just given him the best kiss of his life.

Because Santiago had just done the same for him.

“Only if I’m the one putting them on you.” His eyes widened, surprised by his own words. What in the hell was going on inside his head?

Santiago’s chuckle was a deep rumble, his thumb brushing softly over Percy’s lower lip. “Remember that you’re the one who said it, not me.”

Good grief. Santiago was a danger to his senses. Had been since the moment he’d showed up at Percy’s door to toss Jacob out on his ass.

Even when Percy tried to keep his distance, he found himself craving Santiago’s touch. He should be afraid of him. Santiago was affiliated with the same biker club Tito had been a part of.

That alone should have caused Percy to walk away. Yet, while he’d been kneeling on his kitchen floor, lost inside his own head, he realized his desire for Santiago outweighed his fears.

The big teddy bear had defended him, willingly handcuffed to avoid causing a scene in front of neighborhood children.

Someone who put innocent people before themselves couldn’t be entirely bad. Percy often leaned toward a more naïve view of the world, so maybe he was fooling himself. It wouldn’t be the first time. Even so, he held onto his belief about Santiago being a good guy.

“You could at least compliment my kissing skills,” Percy joked, masking his growing anxieties with humor. He was trying so hard to fight through them, to find his old self again—the self he had been before Tito had ripped apart his world.

Before Percy had faced a darkness that left a lasting mark on his soul.

Santiago’s hand hovered near Percy’s face, as if silently asking permission to touch him. The frantic energy intensified as Percy leaned into his warm palm, like a needy cat seeking affection.

A low, rumbling growl vibrated in Santiago’s chest. Percy had noticed over the course of a few days hanging at Sin & Steel that a lot of the men growled.

“Eres una gatito tan hermoso, amor.”

You’re such a beautiful kitten, sweetheart.

Percy had been so lost in the touch he hadn’t caught what Santiago just said. Most of the time he struggled to translate because the guy talked so damn fast.

“Eres una cabra muy morada,” he replied.

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