Page 111 of Captivated

Nate faced away from him, staring at the fireplace. “Maybe it’s already started.” His low voice shook.

Zeeb tensed his hands for a second, then relaxed.

“Yeah. Maybe it has,” he murmured.

He couldn’t get away from the idea that the pair of them were balanced on the edge of something. Nate didn’t move, and Zeeb didn’t pull away.

Whatever that something was, Zeeb wasn’t ready to name it. Especially if doing so would destroy what they’d built so far.

Nate’s doin’ just fine. Don’t spoil it. Don’t do anything that would set him back.

Finally, he removed his hands. “Better drink your hot chocolate before it goes cold.”

Nate’s voice wasn’t the only one with a tremor in it.

Nate stood. “Be right back.” Then he headed for the bathroom.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Zeeb sagged into the couch.

Why the fuck did I offer to do that?

He hadn’t been prepared for the intimacy of the act, the way touching Nate had made him feel. The heat it created inside him.

Lord, I could’ve done that for hours.

The prospect of sleeping curled around Nate’s body, feeling his warmth, listening to the cadences of his breathing…

It was going to be a long night.

Then he looked at the front of his pants.

Apparently a long, hard night.

Chapter Thirty-One

July 25, 2024

Nate emergedfrom the bathroom to find Zeeb gone. His chest tightened.

Of course he’s gone. Why would he stay?

Another night free from bad dreams.

Another morning waking to find he’d rolled over in the night and snuggled up to Zeeb’s warm, firm body.

He never says a word about that.In fact, the previous day he’d leaped out of the bed and scooted off to the bathroom before Nate could say more than “Morning.”

He knew why it hurt this particular morning. The memory of that massage lingered. The feel of Zeeb’s hands on him, moving in slow strokes.

He could almost say they’d been sensual.

Except he knew better.

It isn’t his job to ward off your nightmares. That’s going above and beyond. And while he might not say that to your face, it could be what he’s thinking.

Another thought came hot on its heels.

That’s the old Nate talking. You trust Zeeb. More than that, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. You think if that’s what was going on in his head, he’d be able to hide it?

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