Page 10 of Inhuman Nature

“You’re not twenty.”

Shaun gave him a dirty look. “I just said I am. Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not underage, are you?”

“No. I look younger than I am.” Thankfully, that answer was said with a confidence DJ could believe.

“Are you and Lawrence together?”

Shaun threw the wipe into the bin. It had done a half-decent job, but DJ could still make out the wordsluton one cheek. It was incongruous alongside Shaun’s pissed-off expression. “Yes. And I’m not seeking opinions on my relationship. You should stay out of it.”

DJ blinked rapidly when Shaun’s eyes flared for a second, lit up like the glow of a cat’s eyes hunting in the dark. It was gone in a millisecond. DJ glanced up at the lights, wondering how they’d caused the odd effect.

“Seriously,” Shaun said. “He’s not the type to take this lying down. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll avoid us in the future.” The words were said with an air of exhausted finality.

“Rake and I can handle ourselves. You, on the other hand, look like you’re in a bad situation. If you need help—”

“No.” Shaun had his arms folded against his bare chest. He was skinny and defined—the type of body someone like DJ had never had, and never would.

“Just answer me this one thing, then?” DJ said. “Are you happy with him?” It was a bold question, and one he hadn’t quite earned the right to ask yet, but he couldn’t resist.

Shaun didn’t say anything in response, instead turning on a tap and dunking his head under it. When he lifted backup, his ginger hair was plastered across his forehead and the writing was gone.

He looked like a stray kitten caught out in the rain.

Shaun opened another locker and pulled out a thin sweatshirt before shoving it over his head. DJ frowned. Shaun didn’t even have jeans or joggers to pull over the minuscule latex shorts he wore.

“Won’t you be cold?”

Shaun shrugged as he slipped into a pair of trainers. “We’re not far.”

DJ was about to insist that Shaun find something warmer to wear, but Shaun scuttled out the door and back into the main room, so DJ was left chasing after him. Neither Lawrence nor Lynette had waited for them. Rake leaned against a wall, standing up to his full height when he saw DJ emerge.

Rake was shorter than DJ by a couple of inches, but it was clear once they stood as a trio how much they both towered over Shaun.

“Your, um, Lawrence, is outside,” Rake said. Clearly he also didn’t think that the Dom deserved the title he demanded of Shaun.

“Thank you, Sir,” Shaun murmured. It was impressive how easily he fell back into subservience after how indignant he’d been in the locker room. But then, it seemed like Shaun and Lawrence were in a full-time arrangement.

DJ wondered how often, if ever, Shaun got to be himself. There was no way the meek sub beside him was the same person whose eyes had flashed with danger mere moments before.

“Can I give you my number?” DJ asked on a whim.

Shaun paused, then shook his head.

“It’s probably best that you go after him. He didn’t seem happy,” Rake said. An understatement if DJ had ever heard one.

Shaun hurried towards the exit, but turned just as he got to the door. He gave them a small wave and then disappeared. DJ folded himself into Rake, leaning his weight against him.

Rake ran his fingers up and down DJ’s bare back. With everything going on, he’d almost forgotten he’d been walking around half-naked, in only a pair of boxer briefs that left little to the imagination.

“Wanna go home?” Rake asked, pressing a kiss to the side of DJ’s head.

DJ yawned. “Yes please, Sir.”

DJ couldn’t help but be disappointed that he was unable to get another glimpse of Shaun when they left the club. As much as DJ didn’t want to witness Shaun and Lawrence together again, he hoped he’d get another chance to speak to Shaun.

And from the way Rake’s eyes darted up and down the street, looking for something he didn’t find, DJ wasn’t the only one.