Page 165 of Captivated

Zeeb’s face darkened. “I mind now.”

Walt held up both hands. “Okay, okay. I’m backing off.” He glanced at Nate and blew him a kiss. “Sorry, sugar. Guess I’ll just have to pine for you from a distance.”

“We’re done.” Zeeb lurched to his feet and grabbed Nate’s arm. “Let’s step outside.”

Nate’s heart slammed into his ribs as if it were trying to get free. “Yes,” he said, his voice catching.

“But there’s still dessert to come,” Matt remonstrated as Zeeb led him toward the door.

“I think they’ve already got some,” Butch murmured. “It’s waiting for them at the cabin.”

Laughter followed them into the living room and out through the French doors onto the patio. Once they were outside, Zeeb expelled a long breath.

“’M sorry ’bout that.”

Nate was starting to see the funny side. “I think they meant well.”

“Oh, I knowexactlywhat they meant. What I don’t know is why they chose tonight to?—”

“Give us a shove in the right direction?” Nate put his hands on Zeeb’s chest. “Hey. Calm down. This isn’t good for you.”

“Not sure I can right now.”

He smiled. “Then maybe I can help with that.” He closed the gap between them, leaned in, and brushed his lips against Zeeb’s, aware of the tremors coursing through him.

Behind them, someone wolf-whistled.

Zeeb froze.

From somewhere inside the house, Walt’s voice floated out. “You’re welcome!”

Zeeb swore under his breath. “I’m gonna kill ’em.”

“Later.” Nate took Zeeb’s hand in his. “Right now we’re going to take a slow walk down this hill, then I’ll drive us to the cabin.”

“We’re not goin’ back inside?”

Nate’s heart pounded. “No, we’re not.”

Zeeb swallowed. “Look, all the things they said in there. I?—”

Nate stopped his words with another kiss. “Not here. At the cabin. We’ll talk there.”

And maybe we’ll do more than talk.

If he waited until he wasn’t scared, he’d be dead and buried before he ever touched someone the way he wanted to.

And right then he wanted to touch Zeeb.

Without an audience.

They didn’t speak until they got back to the cabin. Zeeb was grateful for that. His instinct told him something was coming right at him.

Something huge.

Nate closed the door behind them, and it was only then Zeeb became aware of how much every part of him ached. “I think I need some painkillers.”

“What you need is to lie down. Go on up. I’ll bring you a couple of those pills the hospital gave you, and a glass of water.”

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