Page 17 of Star Claimed Omega
The kind of sanctuary a person sought when they needed room to breathe.
Still, it needed her dab hand.
As she moved around and set up her cleaning kit, a cluster of photo frames caught her eye on a side table by the lounge.
She paused, then bent closer to examine one image: a group of men.
One of them in particular was freakin’ familiar.
Her heart jolted as she perused more photos of him, by the lake and with friends.
They were laughing, soaked, holding up fish like trophies near the same lagoon visible beyond the terrace doors.
Another snapshot showed the group around a grill, beers in hand, with lopsided grins and arms draped over shoulders.
A third captured them in an observation gallery onThe Sombra, their eyes fixed on a meteor shower outside the viewport.
She was hit with a realization.
Fokk. This home belonged to him?
Santiago Alvarro. The XO, her stunning fantasy man from the shower?
She huffed in surprise, then, unable to help herself, she leaned in to study him up close in one of the shots.
His hair, thick and lush, fell in waves over his forehead and temple.
Her eyes traced the chiseled planes of his face, that impossible sculpted jawline.
His smile, those freakin’ beautiful eyes.
Fokk, he was handsome.
‘I’m flattered you think so and pleased that we meet again.’
The voice, timbred, silken, and amused, struck her spine like an electric current.
She whirled around, her eyes dilated.
Santiago stood in the open front doorway, one shoulder leaning against the frame.
Tall, muscled,fokkin’ imposing even more so than before.
He wore a charcoal tank tee that clung to every sculpted contour and dark cargo pants that sat low enough to reveal the top of his ink.
Dog tags gleamed at his chest, and his eyes held a knowing glint.
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
Here she was, half-crouched, caught gawking at his photograph like a star-struck idiot.
He arched a brow, the ghost of a smirk pulling at one corner of his lips.
‘You heard that?’
He shrugged. ‘Perhaps. Regardless, it’s payback beautiful. Now I get to surprise you.’
Soleil’s pulse had not reverted to normal since she spun and caught his essence; towering, shirt-clad, and far too tangible for the fantasy of him she’d been revisiting.
