Page 159 of Captivated

“When you’re in less pain, there’s something I’d like.”

Zeeb’s heartbeat raced. “Tell me.”

“I… Can we be skin to skin? Nothing else. I want to know what it feels like to be held.Reallyheld.”

Zeeb caught his breath. “Why don’t we try this for now?” He took his time, moving slowly, until his bare chest was against Nate’s warm back. He curled his arm around Nate’s waist, his palm resting flat against Nate’s stomach.

“Is this okay? I mean, with your collarbone.”

Zeeb frowned. “As long as I don’t make any sudden movements.”

Or move at all, if it came to that.

Pain flared, and he shifted onto his back. “Okay, that’s not gonna work.”

Nate snugged up against his side. “This is enough.” He let out a strangled noise.

Zeeb stiffened. “Hey. Are you okay? I thought I was the one who’s supposed to be in pain here.”

“I’m not sure I can describe what I’m feeling.”

Zeeb stroked Nate’s arm. “Try.”

There was a pause. “It’s like… I guess the closest I can get to it, is that it feels like something is uncoiling in my chest. Like a tight, tangled knot I didn’t even know I was carrying.” Another pause. “And lying here with you? I can feel it loosen. Maybe even dissolve a little.”

Zeeb smiled in the darkness. “And you sayIshould write.”

He closed his eyes and lost himself in the feel of Nate’s warm skin, the smell of the soap they used at the ranch, the sound of his breathing as he eased into sleep. All of those added up to something Zeeb was grateful for.

The feeling of coming home.

Chapter Forty-Three

August 16, 2024

Zeeb could only seeone drawback to sleeping with Nate: Waking up with the burning need to pee meant trying to extricate himself from a tangle of limbs, without disturbing Nate who lay sound asleep.

There was also his fractured collarbone to consider.

And doin’ all that when everything hurts. Christ on a cracker, it’s like an obstacle course.

It was almost dawn, judging by the light filtering through the curtains, and Zeeb couldn’t wait a moment longer. He eased himself from Nate’s embrace, did his best not to dip the mattress too much, and crept down the stairs to the bathroom in nothing but his shorts.

As he leaned against the wall, one palm flat to the tiles, it was all he could do not to let out a long, drawn-out moan of relief. Having a hard-on didn’t make it any easier, not that Zeeb was going to do a damn thing with it.

The anticipation of pain killed any promise of pleasure.

He debated going back to bed, but dismissed the idea. He’d been awake for a while. Instead, he put on a pot of coffee, then opened the front door as quietly as he could. He stepped out onto the front porch, breathing in the fresh, heavenly smells—until his ribs complained at the movement.

Dammit, enough with this shit.

He crept back up the stairs to retrieve his jeans and shirt. It was only when he tried to squirm into them that he realized getting dressed one-handed was a real chore.

Now I know why I need a nurse.

Thank God he didn’t need help to take a leak.

Then again…

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