Page 76 of Captivated

I should make the first move.

Nate swallowed hard.

“I shouldn’t have left like that,” he said, his voice raw. “That was messed-up. I didn’t mean to put that on any of you.”

Zeeb studied him. “You okay?”

The question hit harder than it should’ve. Nate met Zeeb’s steady gaze. “No,” he said at last. “But I will be.” He sniffed. “Is that supper I can smell? I’m starving.”

Zeeb nodded. “Wait a sec and I’ll go fetch it. You can take it to the cabin.”

Nate’s heartbeat quickened. “Have you eaten yours?”

Zeeb shook his head. “I was hopin’ we could eat together. It’s a habit that’s growin’ on me.”

Nate managed a smile. “I’d like that.” He paused. “After supper, you think you could stay a while? There are some things I need to tell you, and it might take some time.”

Zeeb’s eyes were warm. “I got all the time in the world. And you don’t have to tell me a thing, you got that?”

“But I want to.” He exhaled, a slow push of air. “And not just about yesterday. I… I need to tell you everything. All of it. If you’re willing to hear it.”

Zeeb nodded. “I’m here. An’ I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

The constriction around Nate’s chest eased, and he breathed a little easier.

For the first time in years, he let himself believe that maybe—just maybe—he didn’t have to carry his burden alone anymore.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Zeeb would’ve laidmoney that he’d demolish every mouthful of supper within ten minutes, but the food tasted like dust, and there was a lump in his throat that made swallowing difficult.

He knew what lay behind it.

Whatever Nate was about to spill, it threatened to be a shitstorm of epic proportions, and despite his claims to be ready to hear it, Zeeb’s stomach clenched at the thought of someone hurting him and trying to claim it was out of love.

Especially after he’d done a little research. What he found made Zeeb’s blood run cold.

How the fuck can this kinda thing be goin’ on?

What amazed—and shocked—him was the number of states in the US thathadn’tbanned these practices.

God only knows what they did to Nate.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but if Nate had the guts to share it, Zeeb would have the courage to listen and be there for him.

Nate’s steady breathing yanked him back into the present. The sun was setting, and the nocturnal creatures were gearing up for a busy night, a chorus ofpeepsand other sounds gradually gaining in volume.

Nate seemed calm, his legs stretched out in front of him, his gaze locked on his boots, but Zeeb had a feeling there was a lot going on under the surface.

“I’ll say it again. You don’t have to tell me a goddamn thing, not if it messes you up.” An out for Nate if he needed one.

It was also an out for him.

Nate shuddered out a breath. “I thought about this all the way here. And I decided bringing it all out into the open might be a good thing. If I’m going to put it behind me, then I need to face it head-on. That means telling people what happened.” He raised his chin and glanced at Zeeb. “And if I’m going to do that, then you’re the obvious choice.”

Warmth crept through him. “Sounds like you trust me.” That was a big fuckin’ deal and Zeeb knew it.

“More than anyone I’ve met in a long time. There are three people in this world that I’d consider myself close to.” Nate managed a half smile. “You’ve become number four.”

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