Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

“This has been the weirdest forty-eight hours of my life.” I step out onto the porch.

“I want to agree, but I’ve had weird shit happen to me.” He leans against the door jamb.

My eyes flit to his covered leg before realizing my mistake.

Santiago’s demeanor changes to something unrecognizable and borderline terrifying. His eyes darken and his jaw tightens, casting his cheekbones in a shadow. “I wasn’t referencing that, but thanks for the reminder.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like—”

“It’s fine. Everyone has the same reaction. Pity, disgust, and everything in between. You’re not some unicorn who’s immune to my disability.” He spits the last word out with such distaste, it coats the air around us.

I don’t bother allowing him to have the last word. Instead, I step toward him, closing the distance and rising onto my toes. I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull his face toward mine.

Our lips smash together. His body stiffens at the kiss, and his arms remain plastered to his sides. That reaction can’t do. I run my tongue across the seam of his lips to tempt him. The softness of his lips has my spine tingling. He relaxes and allows instinct to take over as he tugs me into his body. His mouth opens and his tongue lashes out against mine.

It’s messy and chaotic. Unplanned and unhinged. Something unlike anything I’ve experienced before, with my toes curling inside of my sneakers and my head growing lightheaded. One of his calloused hands holds my head in place while his other roams down my body. It’s everything I didn’t realize I was missing when I kissed boys in the past.

My body shivers from his touch, and I moan when his large palm grips one of my ass cheeks. An overwhelming sense of attraction invades my head, the chemistry building between us like electricity.

Kissing him is a different experience altogether. Santiago kisses me like a man who found an oasis in the middle of a desert. It’s nothing I expected but everything I want more of. And that thought terrifies me, especially with our situation.

I pull my mouth away with a rush despite everything inside of me wanting to continue. His arms fall by his sides, releasing me.

I swipe my swollen bottom lip with my tongue.

He looks like he wants to continue, but somehow restrains himself. Good. I don’t think my body could handle part two.

I take advantage of his silence. “Next time you think I looked at you with disgust, remember that kiss. I’m not a unicorn because I’d much rather be a dragon in the story. They’re more badass anyway.”

His jaw drops open. I don’t bother letting him answer me. Backing away, I shoot him a smile I hope expresses how that was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life. Even if I never see Santiago again, he can remember that parting gift. “Enjoy your time with your nephew, Santiago.” I slide toward the area in the fence I snuck through before.

“You could go through the front gate like a normal person!”

“I’m anything but normal, so why bother pretending?” I yell out, ignoring the bushes scraping me.

The laugh he releases as I fade into the background sends a shiver up my spine.

I smile during my entire walk back to my hotel with his laugh replaying inside of my head.

“Where the hell have you been? It’s been forever since you called me from that sketchy Italian restaurant!” Brooke’s raised voice makes the speaker on my phone crackle.

“I’m so sorry! I was doing my best given the circumstances.” I throw myself on my bed, the springs creaking at the sudden assault.

“What happened? You left off at the part where the guy stole your phone and you planned on breaking into his house to steal it back. But I thought you got caught since you never called me last night.”

I snort. “You’re not going to believe what’s happened.”

“Oh, now this has got to be good. Don’t skimp on a single detail.”

I dive into one of the wildest stories of my life. Brooke listens, not bothering to ask much as I explain the series of events that led to this moment.

“Holy shit,” she whispers.

“I know! It was crazy.”

“And you kissed this random man after only knowing him for barely a weekend? That’s so…”

“Unlike me. I know! But he started to close himself off again, thinking I found him ugly because of his missing leg. It was written all over his face.”