Taken by the Mafia ✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 21

It was early in the morning, and the smell of something cooking filled the kitchen. Santa stood by the stove, focused on preparing breakfast. His movements were fluid, almost like a dance, as he diced vegetables, stirred the soup, and flipped a pan of sizzling meat. But despite his calm exterior, his mind kept drifting back to the previous day—to the kiss he and Perth had shared. It had taken him by surprise, and now, every time he thought about it, his heart raced.

Just as he placed a bowl on the counter, he heard footsteps coming from upstairs. Jeff and Perth had woken up. Santa's hands paused for a moment, his chest tightening at the thought of seeing Perth again. But he pushed the feeling down, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

Jeff entered the kitchen first, his face still carrying the slight grogginess of sleep. He gave Santa a smile and asked, "Santa, where’s Aunty Mai?"

Santa glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, phi, she went out to buy groceries with Barcode. We were running low."

Jeff nodded. "Alright. Are you almost done with cooking?"

Santa turned back to the stove. "Not yet, but almost. Are you hungry, phi?'

Jeff smiled, but shook his head. "That’s fine. I’ll wait in my room. Perth," he turned to his brother, "call me when it’s ready." Perth nodded, and Jeff gave one last look before disappearing back up the stairs, leaving Perth and Santa alone.

As soon as Jeff left, Perth smirked and moved quietly toward Santa. Santa didn’t notice at first, too focused on the pan in front of him. But then Perth was behind him, his presence unmistakable. Perth leaned in, his breath hot against the back of Santa’s neck, whispering low in his ear.

"Smells good."

Santa, startled, fumbled with the spatula in his hand. His voice came out slightly shaky. "T-thanks, phi."

His mind flashed back to yesterday—the kiss, the way Perth had looked at him. It was overwhelming, and now, standing so close to him, Perth was making it worse. But then Perth’s voice came again, teasing, closer than before.

"I didn’t mean the food."

Santa stiffened as Perth buried his face into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. The sensation sent a shiver down Santa’s spine, and he cursed himself for being so sensitive to Perth’s touch.

"You…" Perth’s voice was rougher now, edged with something more dangerous. "You smell good."

Santa tried to stay composed, focusing on the food in front of him, but Perth wasn’t making it easy. He leaned in even closer, his lips grazing Santa’s skin. The warmth of his breath tickled Santa’s neck, causing his heart to race. Desperately, Santa tried to keep his voice steady. "Stop bothering me, phi. I’m trying to cook."

But Perth didn’t back off. Instead, his hand trailed down Santa’s arm, wrapping around his waist from behind. "Yesterday," Perth murmured against Santa’s ear, his lips brushing softly, "you said you’d give me a chance. So I’m using it now."

Santa’s breath hitched as Perth’s lips pressed lightly against the back of his neck, trailing kisses down his skin. His body tensed, heat flooding his face as Perth’s lips lingered, soft yet possessive. Santa bit his lip, trying hard to suppress any sounds from escaping, but the sensation was overwhelming. Perth wasn’t stopping. His tongue flicked out, tasting the skin just behind Santa’s ear, and a soft, involuntary gasp slipped from Santa’s lips.

"Phi… stop," Santa whispered, his voice shaky. "Someone might see us."

Perth chuckled against his neck, his hand slipping under Santa’s shirt. "Who’s going to see us? It’s just you and me here."