Page 31 of Star Claimed Omega
‘You’re mind and soul are roiling,cabrón,’ he murmured. ‘Like you’ve been staring into the sun for too long.’
Mak sipped hiskahawawith maddening calm as Santi’s eyes narrowed on him.
How did he know?
Fokk,hername meant ‘sun,’ and heaven help him, she was the embodiment of her appellation.
Soleil glowed with an outer and inner beauty that kept pulling him toward her with an enticing, unseen lure.
‘She better be worth it,’ Mak added.
Santi curled his lips, his silence a tell, cursing Mak’s prescient insight, how well he read the signs of the XO’s internal churn.
‘May I also say she’s the first I’ve seen you so het up for.’
‘I’m not het up,’ Santi growled.
He was though.
Mak, the bastard, was skating too close to the truth.
‘I’m right and you know it,’The Sombra’slegal eagle smirked before he prowled away.
Santi stared after him.
Since getting married and falling in rapture with his unexpected bride, Saba, Mak’s prescient insights, perhaps ratcheted up by love, were maddening.
Still, thefokkin’ man had a point.
Soleil, and her beauty, quiet grace, and soft smile were slipping under Santi’s freakin’ skin.
Much later that evening, Santi unlocked his cabin and stepped inside.
He tracked into his kitchen and was reaching to open the cooler for a drink when his gaze caught on an anomaly.
Beneath a clear dome lid, a plate of golden-crusted custard tarts sat on the counter, their flaky layers bronzed and shimmering with sugar, dusted with cinnamon.
A small folded card rested beside them.
Made too many pastel de nata. Thought you might like a few. - S.
He stared at the note for a long moment.
Other than his pack mates, no one had left him a gift in years; hell, no one had ever baked for him.
He lifted the lid off and took one tart between his fingers.
It was still warm.
When he bit into it, the shell gave a crisp, airy crack.
Creamy custard burst onto his tongue, sweet and velvety, kissed with caramelized edges and a hint of spice.
‘Fokkin’ hell,’ he muttered, mouth full, head tipping back in quiet ecstasy.
He hoovered the first one.
The second followed with a curse of delight.
