Page 36 of Bitter When He Begs

Nate grins, like this is the best fucking news he’s ever heard. “No fucking way. Damn, you got your shit wrecked by a Thunderhawk? That explains it.”

I frown. “Explains what?”

“The limp.”

My face heats up and I shove him. “Fuck off.”

He laughs, dodging away before shaking his head. “Nah, but seriously, good for you. You deserved to have a little birthday fun.”

I take a sip of water. “Why do you care?”

“Because!” Nate waves his hands. “Dude, Damien Moore is hot as fuck. You could have told me you had a thing for him. I would have supported the cause, being a fellow athlete and all.”

I snort. “I don’t have a thing for him.”

Nate wiggles his eyebrows. “But you did fuck him.”

I roll my eyes again. “Jesus, you’re worse than a fucking gossip column.”

Nate leans against the counter, watching me with an amused smirk. “So? Was it good?”

I hesitate. Because, yeah, it was. Damien is hot and knows what he’s doing; he got me where I needed to go,but the whole time, all I could think about was Luca.

The way he looked at me.

The way he burned when I left with someone else.

The way he’s been inside my head for months, tearing me apart piece by piece and making it impossible for anyone else to measure up. I have a degradation kink thanks to the fucker.

I clear my throat, forcing a smirk. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Nate laughs, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. Keep your secrets, you fucking gremlin.”

I flip him off, taking another sip of water. There’s a pause, then Nate’s expression changes, and he clears his throat.

“So, uh,” he starts, voice more casual now, like he’s changing the subject. “What do you know about Liam Callahan?”

“Liam?” Nate nods, and I shrug. “Not much. He lives at the same house as Damien and the other guys, and plays soccer. Why are you asking me? Isn’t he your captain?”

Nate makes a face. “I’ve got counseling sessions with him.”

I blink, because out of everything I thought he would say, that was not it. “Wait, what? Since fucking when?”

He smirks, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Since I punched Liam in the face last week. Dean’s orders because, according to the world in general, Callahan is an angel.” He taps his temple. “And apparently, I have a temper problem.”

I snort. “Understatement of the fucking century.”

“Fuck off.” Nate rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.

I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes. “So what’s up with Liam, then? You don’t like him?”

Nate shrugs, but there’s something off about it. “I don’t know. He’s just… weird.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Weird how?”

He hesitates, then shakes his head. “It’s just—he smiles all the time.”

“Okay? So…?”