Page 121 of Captivated

Finally, he let himself fall sideways into Zeeb’s arms, not gracefully but almost as if he folded into them. Zeeb held him as though he’d been waiting to do it all along, so strong, so sure, one hand at Nate’s back, the other in his hair, grounding him. Then Zeeb leaned down and pressed the softest kiss to the crown of Nate’s head.

So this is how it feels to be held without needing to explain, or perform, or apologize.

It was the most terrifying and beautiful thing Nate had ever known, and it had to come to an end.

“I think I need an early night,” he murmured. “I’ve got a long drive tomorrow.”

Zeeb nodded. “I’ll leave the fire burning in the stove.”

“Don’t sleep on top of the sheets tonight.” Nate’s heartbeat raced. “It’s too cool for that.”

There was a moment of silence before Zeeb replied.

“In that case, I reallyamgonna need my sleep shorts.” He got to his feet. “So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go put ’em on before you come up to bed.”

Nate bit his lip. “No need for modesty. I’ve seen it all, remember?”

Zeeb chuckled. “Don’t remind me. My dick shrivels to the size of a peanut justthinkin’about how cold the water was in that lake.”

He couldn’t resist. “Funny. That’s not how I remember it.” Then he got up and went to the bathroom without waiting to hear Zeeb’s response.

If this was to be his last night at Salvation, he wanted to spend it skin to skin.

Chapter Thirty-Three

July 27, 2024

Zeeb had beenawake for a while. He’d made no move to get up, however. Dawn’s light had crept in through the window above, falling gently on the man sleeping beside him. Nate’s back was warm against Zeeb’s chest, Zeeb’s arm across his waist, the regular beat of Nate’s heart beneath his fingertips.

Five nights of sharing Nate’s bed, and Zeb was officially an addict.

Waking up to the sound of someone else’s breathing, the feel of warm skin against his, the smell of Nate’s hair in his nostrils…

And once he leaves, it’s back to the bunkhouse. To routine.

To Walt snoring. Paul murmuring. The hands’ habitual lighthearted bitching.

To lying awake, wondering what he could do to break the lonely cycle he now found himself locked into. Because now he’d held Nate? Stared into those green eyes? He recognized just how sad his life had become.

He hated it.

All this daydreaming wasn’t helping.

I need to get up. Now.

It was changeover day. Guests departing, cleaning, changing sheets, Deliverance guests arriving…

I don’t want to lose this feeling.

There was a knot in his belly and a dullness in his chest, not to mention a voice that kept yelling at him that he should have fuckin’ kissed Nate when he had the fuckin’ chance.

Zeeb chose to ignore that.

It wouldn’t have been right.

He lost himself in the glorious experience of curling around Nate’s body.

Sleeping with someone is a whole different ball game.

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