Page 66 of Captivated

Zeeb lay on his bunk in his shorts, his fingers laced under his head, not really listening to the murmurs of conversation around him.

His mind was full of Nate.

That morning, he’d thought he sensed a change in Nate. The rest of the day hadn’t shifted his opinion. Only, Zeeb thought it wasn’t so much a change as a jolt that had knocked Nate’s world out of orbit and was now steering him onto a new trajectory.

He closed his eyes, shutting out the whispers.

What he saw made his heart stutter.

Nate standing in the lake, water up to his waist, his chin held high, his shoulders relaxed.

Nate floating beside him, his expression serene in the sunlight, water framing his face.

Nate gazing out at the lake as he dried himself, the graceful line of his back, his upper body tapering at the waist before it swelled into the firm curves of his ass. Nate’s thighs weren’t muscled but there was evidence of toning.

And since when did I ever pay so much attention to the way a guy looked?

Zeeb had seen every one of his fellow hands butt naked, and hand on heart, the sight of them hadneverstirred him to think of them in any other way except his workmates.

So why should Nate be any different?

More importantly, why shouldheact differently toward Nate? Horsing around in the water, splashing, playing…Thatwas okay. That was what guys did.

Edging closer, brushing his foot against Nate’s, then doing it again a moment later, letting his gaze linger on Nate’s naked body as they dressed, doing his damnedest not to let Nate catch him, because that would’ve been fuckingweird.

“Zeeb. Are you okay?”

Zeeb opened his eyes and rolled onto his side, seeking Paul’s form across the room in the semi-darkness. “Do I notseemokay?”

Paul snickered. “Dude, you’re usually snoring about two seconds after your head hits the pillow. For a moment there I thought you’d died on us.”

Zeeb flopped onto his back. “I’m fine. Just got a lot on my mind, is all. Go to sleep.”

“I will when you do. Your snores are what send me to sleep. You’re better than a sleeping pill.”

Zeeb closed his eyes once more.

Stop thinking about Nate.

Think about something else.

Anything else.

Anything but Nate’s body. The line of his shoulders. His lean torso.

His dick.

Especiallyhis dick.

Chapter Nineteen

July 21, 2024

Nate wasglad Zeeb had suggested walking up to the house together. The thought of meeting everyone on his own was way too daunting. As they followed the path that climbed from the ranch, his heartbeat quickened, but he wasn’t about to turn around and go back, not when he’d gotten this far. The delicious smells filling his nostrils were enough of an incentive.

That’s because you skipped lunch because of this.

“They’re good people,” Zeeb remarked as they strolled. “Most open bunch of guys I’ve ever worked with, that’s for damn sure. An’ while they have their rough edges, most of these guys wear their hearts on their sleeves.”

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