Chapter Seven
S uero wanted to leave, ready to resume what they’d started on Jared’s trunk. If Kia hadn’t pushed him away, no doubt they would’ve had sex.
His desire for his kitten was insane levels of need. Earlier, it had taken all his restraint not to bend Kia over the kitchen table and screw his brains out. The only thing that stopped him was Kia’s hunger.
“Ready to leave with me?”
Suero growled softly into Kia’s ear. “Maybe find somewhere quieter?”
Like my bedroom .
Kia’s flushed cheeks made Suero’s cock thicken. He imagined those perfect lips wrapped around his prick, and damn if Suero wasn’t ready to have Kia to himself.
His wolf agreed with a howl.
If his beast was so keen on the idea, why couldn’t the fickle bastard choose Kia as its mate? Made no sense to him.
“What about Jared?”
Kia asked.
“You want me to invite him too?”
Suero’s brows shot up. Just how close were the cousins?
Kia’s jaw dropped. “That’s not what I meant!”
he squeaked, blush deepening. “I can’t just leave him here.”
He drained his drink in one gulp and slammed the glass down, clearly disturbed by the idea.
It hadn’t thrilled Suero. He wasn’t against a threesome, but not with his mate involved.
Asking someone to give Jared a ride home was out of the question. Crossing into cheetah territory wasn’t an option, and leaving him at the border was too risky. No guarantee the hyenas were gone.
“Give me a sec.”
Suero stood and squeezed through the crowd behind his seat.
Glancing back, Suero saw someone eyeing his seat. But Kia had already stretched his slim legs across it, shooting the guy a look that said, “Don’t even try it.”
The more Suero got to know his little kitty, the harder he fell. They’d gotten closer through texts, phone calls, and two incredible dates, in-person time with Kia was unbeatable.
With a smirk, Suero slipped behind the bar to chat with Miguel, who’d just served a customer.
Cheers erupted near the dartboard asDiablo pumped his arm and Luca flipped him off. The place was alive with blaring music, clattering pool balls, and shouted curses.
Sin’s meant everything to Suero. Raised by his father, they’d merely shared a space. Pedro had never taken him on trips or had family nights like other families.
He’d been more of a roommate than a dad. They’d never really bonded, and Suero never heard “I love you”
or “I’m proud of you.”
The Salvador pack was Suero’s true family, and he’d die for them, just as they would for him.
Suero rested his hand on the counter, but quickly yanked it back when he felt something sticky under his fingers.
“Wipe that up for me.”
Miguel tossed him a damp rag. Suero caught it. “Someone spilled soda.”
“Need a favor.”
He scrubbed the sticky mess and cleaned the mini fridge top where the soda dripped.
Miguel crossed his arms, leaning against the back counter, looking annoyed. What was his problem?
“Right, because the last favor went so well,”
Miguel said sarcastically. “You asked me to keep them in my truck, but failed to mention the little cat would freak out.”
Ah. Now Suero saw why the guy was pissed.
“How was I supposed to know?”
he shot back. Watching Jared lose it had been tough. He didn’t know what the guy had been through to make him panic in small spaces, but Suero genuinely felt for him.
Miguel’s gaze darted to Jared, who was licking sauce off his fingers. “So, what’s the favor?”
Suero chucked the damp rag into a basket behind him. “Protect him while I take my mate home.”
There was no need to explain the mating was one-sided. It wasn’t anyone’s business. If Kia’s cheetah had chosen him, they were mates. End of story.
Miguel frowned. “What am I supposed to do with him while you’re laying down the law?”
Interesting way to put it. “Just make sure he doesn’t wander off or get into any trouble. Keep scumbags away from him.”
He gave Miguel a skeptical look. “Do I really need to spell this out for you?”
“Since he seems clueless, I’ll watch the pussycat,”
Cesar volunteered with a wink, giving Suero a shit-eating grin.
“Not when you look too eager for the job,”
Suero snarled. “I said protection, not find ways to sneak him into a back room.”
“You just sucked the joy right out of my very soul,”
Cesar grumbled, heading off to serve a customer who had his hand up like he was hailing a cab.
“Listen.”
Still baffled he had to explain this to Miguel. “If he gets tired, let him crash in one of the rooms. He’s not going home tonight since his car’s out of commission and nobody can give him a lift home.”
“Fine, but I’m charging you a babysitting fee.”
Miguel went back to drying the glasses that had been lying on the mat next to the sink.
“How much?”
Suero would pay. Not just because he wanted to take Kia home, but also because of how risky it was watching over a cat in a bar full of wolves. Plus, there was the threat of their uncle, who might start a war over his nephews hanging out there.
Miguel cracked a smile as he shook his head. “Not money, hermano .”
A knot formed in Suero’s stomach.
“Not a fucking chance I’m doing that again.”
He narrowed his eyes. “The last time I groomed Psycho, she tried to carve a pound of flesh out of me.”
Just thinking about the menace made his arms and chest ache. He still carried the scars from that menace.
“What can I say?”
Miguel shrugged, fully aware he had Suero by the nut sack. “She lives up to her name.”
“This is extortion.”
“It’s negotiating,”
Miguel corrected. “You want me to watch Jared so you can have some alone time with your mate. I want you to bathe her and trim her nails. We both win.”
Suero shot a quick look toward the end of the bar. Just that fast, Cesar had already slid another drink to Kia. His mate was sipping on it, but if he kept this up, he would be too tipsy to seduce.
Jaw tight, Suero turned back to Miguel. “I hope Psycho eats you while you’re asleep,”
he ground out. Then he looked at Jared, who’d just taken a drink of his soda.
“You do realize I can hear you.”
He set his glass down. “I’ll let you ditch me, but on one condition.”
He glanced at his plate. “Actually, make that two conditions.”
Suero felt like he was sinking deeper into debt and might end up owing a kidney if he didn’t get out of there. “And what are those two conditions?”
he asked through gritted teeth, barely holding on to his patience.
“One.”
Jared pointed at his plate. “Another round of wings and fries.”
He shot a glare at Cesar, even though Cesar wasn’t paying him any attention. “And don’t skimp this time.”
The mountain of bones looked like a mini graveyard. How much more could the skinny guy eat? “And the second?”
Jared rested his chin on his hand and grinned at Miguel, who seemed ready to bolt any second. “Introduce me to Psycho.”
* * * *
K ia hadn’t technically said yes to going home with Suero, but ten minutes later, they were walking along the cracked pavement, the setting sun casting golden hues as it dipped below the horizon.
The night was perfect for a walk, yet Kia kept glancing around, half-expecting Xavier to pop out of the shadows at any moment. It was an absurd thought, but he couldn’t seem to shake it.
Caught in a mental tug-of-war, Kia debated whether to call his uncle and explain what happened, or continue fighting for the independence Xavier seemed hell-bent on denying him.
It was draining to battle over something that shouldn’t have been an issue to begin with.
That’s why Kia chose to go home with Suero. A rebellious act that was long overdue, but left him feeling a mix of liberation and panic. The growing anxiety had him reaching for his phone. He had to tell Xavier—
Suero bumped arms with him, causing Kia to stumble sideways. He shot a glare at him. “What was that for?”
“Got you out of your headspace,”
Suero replied, concern in his mocha-colored eyes. “You looked like you were about to spiral.”
“So knocking me into the grass was your solution?”
“I just gave you a little nudge,”
Suero defended.
“You’re twice my size. A ‘little nudge’ from you is like a hurricane nudging a butterfly.”
Kia held his glare, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “I hate how cocky you are.”
“You love it,”
Suero teased.
“You’re delusional.”
“Mm-hm.”
“You’ve got the emotional range of a concussion grenade,”
Kia said, voice steady despite his pounding heart.
A quiet moment passed before Suero’s gaze flicked to him.“And you’re still walking next to me.”
His expression was neither smug nor proud, just... steady.
“I keep thinking he’s gonna show up,”
Kia admitted, voice soft but bitter. “Like he’s just waiting around a corner.”
“He’s a man trying to control you.”
Kia didn’t respond. What could he say when Suero had just spoken the blunt truth?
They walked in silence for almost a full block. Just the sound of their shoes against pavement with each step. A light breeze brought the sharp scent of exhaust from a passing truck, mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers from a nearby garden. Kia was glad he was sharing this peaceful moment with his wolf.
Suero reached out—just a brief brush of fingers against Kia’s hand. He didn’t grab. He didn’t squeeze. Simply let it rest there for half a second. Suero didn’t try to fill the silence either. He gave Kia space to work through the mess inside his head.
“People like him don’t understand boundaries.”
Kia blew out a breath. His fingers fidgeted at his sides, curling into fists. “They understand consequences.”
“How did he take it when you explained your feelings to him?”
he asked, tucking a few strands of hair behind Kia’s ear.
Kia averted his eyes.
“Wait, you’ve never told him?”
Suero took a step forward, not touching him, just close enough to invade that last little inch of personal space. “ Gatito —”
“Don’t.”
Kia hugged himself. “Nobody gets the situation. My mom was Xavier’s sister.”
“Was?”
Kia told him about losing his parents when he was just a small kitten. “Xavier raised me, Suero. I’m the last connection to his beloved sister.”
There were times when he thought it was the only reason Xavier had taken him in. But Kia knew his uncle truly cared about him. He just wished Xavier wasn’t so controlling.
“Parents or guardians don’t raise kids because they’re looking for something in return,”
Suero said. “It’s what they’re supposed to do, Kia. Just because Xavier took on that role doesn’t mean he gets to control you now that you’re an adult. I grew up with a dad who couldn’t find his emotions with a map and a flashlight. Do you know the impact that had on me?”
Kia shook his head, unsure he wanted to know where this was going.
With a bitter chuckle, Suero ran a hand through his hair. “Throw me into battle, and I’ll crush my opponent. But put me in front of a maternal figure, and I turn into a needy puppy craving attention. It’s pathetic.”
“It’s not pathetic.”
He moved closer, brushing his hand down Suero’s arm. “I was really young when my parents passed away, and even though I don’t remember my mom, I sometimes find myself imagining what she’d be like if she were still here.”
He grinned, attempting to lighten the moment. “Weren’t we headed to your place?”
Suero’s tall, broad frame towered over Kia’s smaller one, but there was a tenderness in his eyes as Suero gazed at him. “Yep.”
Just a block later, Kia’s mouth began to water as the aroma of spicy tacos and grilled meat wafted from a vibrant food truck.
“If I recall, you’ve only eaten a bowl of mac and cheese today.”
Suero took Kia’s hand and guided him toward the food truck. The sizzling sounds and enticing smells made Kia’s stomach rumble with anticipation.
They looked over the menu to their left, featuring tempting images of tacos and grilled meats. Suero wrapped his arms around Kia from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. “Order anything you want. It’s on me.”
“Does this count as our third date?”
Kia teased, glancing at him.
Suero’s smile was radiant, a small upward curve that reached his eyes and made them sparkle. “Sure does.”
After paying for their purchase, they finished their walk then settled on Suero’s porch to enjoy their food. A gentle breeze caressed Kia’s skin, offering relief from the day’s heat.
The first bite of the taco hit Kia like a flavor bomb—spicy seasoning, juicy meat, and the crisp crunch of fresh veggies all came together to create pure bliss. “Either these are the best tacos ever, or I’m just super hungry,”
he said with a satisfied groan.
“Probably both,”
Suero replied.
Kia looked over at him, eyebrows soaring as Suero crumpled up the second taco wrapper before washing the food down with a gulp of soda. Then he reached for a third taco from the bag while Kia was still trying to finish his first.
“Wolves have ferocious appetites,”
he commented.
Suer’s gaze filled with a different kind of hunger. “Finish eating and I’ll show you exactly how ravenous I can be.”
Kia’s grip on his taco tightened, making the shell break. His cheetah purred, but Kia’s mind was totally glitching.
A flick of Suero’s tongue over his lower lip matched the way his gaze locked on to Kia, lingering in places that sent heat curling through his skin. A slow exhale did nothing to relieve the heat coiled in his stomach, nothing to cool the way his pulse raced.
Suero rose from his seat with a commanding presence, and all thoughts of food vanished as Kia eagerly stood, his body humming with anticipation.
Fingertips skimmed Kia’s jaw, each movement steady, unrushed.
“ Quiero devorarte mi lindo gatito .”
The tips of his canines lightly grazed Kia’s bottom lip before pulling back, leaving a lingering heat in their wake. “ Déjame tenerte para poder mostrarte lo que significas para mí. ”
I want to devour you, pretty kitty. Let me have you so I can show you what you mean to me.
“Only understood a few words, but it sounded super sexy,”
Kia murmured.
A pause stretched, then Suero’s lips returned, pressing deeper into his. A soft sound escaped between them, swallowed into the slow, endless press of their lips.