Nate slowly picked up the cards from the table, with his heart held in his throat, he could literally feel the beating of his heart, it felt as if it would explode all over the table, staining Spade and the man in front of him with blood.

He held his breath as he peeled open his eyes and looked at the five cards with him, even with how anxious and scared he was, he still couldn't understand a thing about the cards he was holding, he couldn't tell if he had the right cards or his luck had run out and he lost Spade's ten million dollars.

With his breath still held, he watched the other man raise his cards too and look at it, his face was still slightly pulled up in a smile, so it was hard for Nate to ascertain if he'd won or if he had lost.

He just watched the man, his eyes moving between the man and the cards in his hands, the man's eyes moved up and with that smile on his face, his eyes darted from Spade to Nate before he looked back at his cards and let out a full grin.

He was the first to drop his cards on the table, Nate could only stare at the cards, not even understanding what they meant, his eyes peeled away from the cards and landed on Spade's face, like always his face gave away nothing, with his hands tucked inside his pocket, he had a stoic expression on his face as he narrowed his eyes on the man in front of them.

Nate bit the inner of his cheek before looking at the cards with him again. Now he was more than anxious, he was soul shaking scared, what if he lost already? From the smile on the other man's face, Nate was already sure he'd lost Spade's money. Now it was certain that Spade will kill him and drag his body down to his father.

He looked back at Spade and he already had his eyes on him, not In a glare or hard stare, he was just emotionless as he stared at him. Nate swallowed and looked at the cards again before looking at Spade, it was only but a small gesture, probably unintentionally, perhaps no one else even saw it, but Nate noticed it. Spade gave a small nod, as if telling Nate it was okay to place the cards on the table.

Nate let out a sigh of relief as if he could finally breathe, but still his heart was still lodged in his throat, as he faced the man in front of them who still had a smile on his face. Nate slowly placed the cards in the middle of the huge table, all the while holding his breath. He shut his eyes the moment the cards left his hands on the table completely, afraid to look up and see the disappointment and anger in Spade's eyes, he knew he had lost the game already.

The place was pin drop silent, the other tables were still having their games like nothing was happening, but he could barely hear them, all he could hear was the sound of his heart pounding loudly as he waited for the cheering from the man in front of them, he still didn't hear anything.

After a few seconds he slowly peeled his eyes open and looked at the cards again before his eyes moved up slowly and landed on the man in front of him who still had that unwavering smile on his face.

He swallowed before he felt Spade's presence right behind him, he could almost feel his chest on his back as he could smell the familiar scent of Spade. "You won" his husky voice brushed through Nate's ears as his eyes widened slightly and he turned with speed to face Spade, now their faces were merely inches apart but that was not the only thing on his mind now.

"What"? He whispered and he could see the slight tilt of Spade's lip, that was the most emotion he'd seen from the man asides the constant anger and brooding eyes he always had on.

"You won Miller" he rasped again as his eyes moved from Nate's eyes down to his lips, their closeness was somehow affecting him but he couldn't bring himself to move back a bit and give them space, he was somehow basking in the sweet scent of aftershave wafting his nose from Nate.

He blinked once and then twice before his eyes moved from Nate's lips to his eyes and he could see the shock and disbelief in those brown orbs, before he heard a light scoff and then he saw it. A smile pulled at Nate's lips, from the small movement of his lips on the side to the full blown grin that over took his face, the way his cheek morphed into a smile and the exposure of his white perfect teeth.

"I won" he muttered as if not believing what Spade just said to him, he looked back at the table and then at the man in front of them, he still had a smile on his face "I won" he confirmed again looking at the man and he just nodded still smiling. He could barely contain the excitement and joy coursing through his body right now but he was in a public place so he had to control himself.

He'd won He'd won the 10 million, on a game he barely even understood. He felt like screaming at the top of his voice but he had to keep himself in check.

Spade watched him, every single move he made, from the way his hands kept moving and twitching with excitement to how perfect the smile on his face was, it warmed something in Spade, he could feel his own face pull up into a smile and that was something that rarely happened. But seeing Nate this excited over something as simple as winning a game, made him feel like he'd achieved something, he had made Nate smile, and not just a half forced smile, but a full blown grin from ear to ear.

He felt his whole body relaxed as he watched the young man jubilate, even though he was trying to make it subtle, Spade could still see the excitement in his body language, the way his brown honey eyes shone with excitement.

There was something about the way Nate's excitement made him feel that he didn't want it to stop. It was something he'd never felt before, a fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach, it felt ten times better than cumming from sex.

"Did you see that Spade, I won" Nate muttered with excitement and Spade just nodded with his hands in his pocket and his face stoic, even though deep down he was boiling inside with excitement and a strange feeling of contentment, he tried to keep the emotions inside.

"Do you wanna play again"? He asked lowly and Nate just looked at him with a small smile on his face before shaking his head, he may have been lucky this time, but he wasn't so sure about the next time

"No, no I think this one's okay" he muttered, feeling the sweat of his palms as Spade looked at him, only now did he really pay mind to the closeness between the both of them. There was barely any space between them, only a few inches apart, if either of them moved any closer, then they'd definitely touch each other, this only made Nate hotter, even though the room was filled with working AC's, Nate felt his neck heat up as his heart beat increased.

Spade kind of wanted Nate to want to go again, he didn't care if he didn't win, he just didn't want this whole thrilling experience to end, seeing Nate get out of his shell like this, warmed him, it made him feel like he'd accomplished something huge. From being closed off to being completely loud and excited over winning a game, and that too in front of so many people.

He moved his eyes from Nate to Stefano as he still had a smirk on his face. "You'll get your ten million by the end of tomorrow" Stefano muttered and Spade just nodded before his eyes landed on Nate again It was already completely dark outside, it was time for them to leave.

Nate looked at him and somehow got lost in those brooding grey dark eyes. They didn't show any emotions, even though he'd just won an extra ten million, he didn't show if he was excited or not and somehow this made Nate's excitement to die down a bit, was Spade expecting him to lose so he would be in debt to him?

Him winning did it ruin part of Spade's plan of getting him to be under him? He sighed out as he felt a bit disappointed, here he was going crazy with excitement because he won the ten million and Spade didn't even care at all.

"We should leave" Spade muttered still looking at Nate, he could see the smile and excitement fade away from Nate's face and that sort of worried him, he was happy a few seconds ago, why did he suddenly go back to looking lost and sad, he just sighed out and nodded before looking at the Stefano one last time.

He walked past Spade and headed towards the door through which they walked in, Spade clenched his jaw before turning around too, only two steps taken and Stefano's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Say hi to Matteo for me" he muttered with a little taunt in his voice, this only made Spade fist his hands even tighter and without saying another word, he walked away from that table and followed Nate's back.

Nate felt like he could literally run out of the building and get himself home, coming here was a huge mistake, Spade baited him and he almost fell for it. If he had lost the bet to that man in there, then definitely Spade would be rejoicing because that was exactly what he wanted, for Nate to be under his mercy.

He walked as if his feet were on fire, as if one more minute in the room and he'd lose his mind or life. Spade tried to keep up with his pace as he opened the door and walked out of the room down to the lobby, without even sparing the guy at the front desk another look, he rushed out of the building itself.

Spade followed closely behind him as they both walked towards his car, Spade unlocked it and without wasting anytime, Nate jumped in and put on his seatbelt, waiting for Spade to get in and start the car.

Spade got into the car with his brain already working profusely, thinking hard about what had happened in there. Why was Nate suddenly closed off again? And he seemed pissed off at something. Was it something he said or did, or did Nate not want to leave the Casino just yet. If so all he had to do was just say and Spade would take them both back inside right away.

He looked at Nate and the young man wasn't even looking at him, with his eyes trained on the glass, as he looked outside. Spade sighed out before turning the key and starting the engine, he drove out of the driveway of the casino and into the streets.

*****

The car ride was much more quieter than when they were headed to the Casino, Nate hadn't said anything to Spade at all and it was beginning to bother him. And he didn't even know how to start a conversation with Nate without it coming out as a threat. He kept stealing glances at Nate hoping he'd look at him, at least if he could see his eyes, he might be able to decipher what was wrong, but Nate wasn't even giving him that chance.

And they weren't exactly friends that he could just ask him what was wrong. Nothing about them being together for this long was normal. He let out a deep breath and focused his eyes back on the road, clenching his jaw and his hands tightening around the steering. He could almost see the apartment building at which Nate stayed, they were close, and yet he still couldn't figure out what was wrong.

Everything was going okay, he thought Nate was happy at the casino, so what changed? God he would lose his mind thinking about this, he could already feel his temple ache with stress the more he thought about it.

Spade has never been one to worry about stuff like this, he never worried about what others thought or their feelings, all that always mattered to him was himself, but now he was here stressing over someone else, and it was driving him crazy.

He ran his hands through his face, stopping at his beards, he scratched it a little bit and then looked over at Nate, he had his hands on his thighs again, fiddling with them, an indication he was either nervous or uncomfortable, how did Spade know that, he couldn't understand, he just knew that Nate fiddling with his fingers, meant either one of two things.

He clenched his jaw and looked away before his car came close to the huge apartment building, he stopped in front of it and killed the engine, involuntarily his eyes rested on Nate again and it seemed as if the young man hadn't noticed that they'd reached his apartment building.

Spade sighed out "About our discussion earlier on, have you thought about it"? He asked and Nate just turned his head and set his eyes on Spade, his face didn't look bright like it did back at the casino, his eyes looked like a shadow had descended on them

"Was that the whole point of this"? He asked in a whisper "is that why you took me there? Was that your way of convincing me to come work for you"? He asked and Spade just clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes at Nate "Was that why you bet ten million on me, hoping I'd lose and owe you ten million, then I'd have no choice than to come work for you to pay my debt"? Nate asked his voice laced with despair and disappointment, this only made Spade clench his jaw tight, this whole conversation was taking another turn and it didn't sit right with him. He didn't like the way Nate was looking at him, the sad look in his eyes, it made Spade feel a lump in his throat, it made him feel like he'd done something really bad, like Nate expected more from him and he didn't meet that expectations.

Nate sighed out and looked away from Spade back into the streets. "Why do you even want me to come work for you"? He asked, Spade blinked once, and then twice, his brain had suddenly gone blank, there was no reason he could think of that made him want Nate on his side, well at first he wanted to keep an eye on him, but now he wasn't so sure anymore, but the need to have Nate by his side all the time like he did tonight, made him feel a spark of excitement and thrill. "I thought you didn't trust me? Or am I no longer daddy's little chew toy"? He asked his voice laced with pain and mockery, as if slapping Spade with his own words.

Spade's hands around the steering tightened and so did his jaw, he grounded his teeth trying to control the anger bubbling inside of him. He wasn't angry at Nate but at himself.

"Aren't you afraid I'm gonna run to daddy and tell him everything you tell me"? Nate asked feeling a little daring about this, not that he wasn't scared of Spade, of course he was still as scared as ever but this was the only time he'd be able to let out his thoughts knowing Spade wouldn't do anything about it

He could see the slight clench in Spade's jaw and the way his knuckles grew white each time he tightened his hold on the steering.

Spade kissed his teeth before he finally turned and faced Nate. "Look, I understand that you're angry...." Nate cut him off, making him clench his jaw, he hated it when he was cut off while talking

"No you don't, you don't understand anything, people like you who only care about themselves don't understand anything" he whispered making Spade scrunch his brows together

"People like me"? He asked

"Yeah people like you, you're all the same thing, self absorbed, selfish, heartless people who think they can get anything they want, not caring if it affected someone else" he whispered feeling all the anger building up inside of him.

Spade thought he could just waltz into his office and ask him to work for him and he'd agree, after turning their life's up side down, after threatening him countless times, after making his father sell Su to him, he was so angry right now and so pissed he didn't even care if his words annoyed Spade.

If Spade wished to kill him, he could as well do it now because he wasn't stopping just yet. "You think you can't get anything and everything you want by threatening people and having them at your mercy"? He muttered watching as Spade's eyes darken with each word that left his mouth "Well newsflash Spade, there's one thing you can't get, and that's me working for you, I'd never work for you Spade, you can go ahead and threaten me or my sister" he finished without missing a beat or even blinking away.

He could feel his whole body feel like a weight had been lifted off his chest. He let out a shaky deep breath before taking off his seatbelt and stepping out of the car, he shut the door and walked away into the building, before he immediately regretted what he'd just said, or before Spade realized what he just said and shoot him dead.

Okay I like how Nate was talking.

It sounded so hot in my head 😊😊

Well your thoughts guys