Page 120 of Inhuman Nature

Shaun lifted DJ’s borrowed hoodie up, revealing a wound that had torn away half of his belly. DJ sucked in a breath.

“Fucking hell, Shaun,” Rake said, crouching in front of him. “I didn’t realise it was that bad.”

“I’m pretty sure some of my guts are lying in the hall,” Shaun said. “Probably don’t need them, though.”

“If your insides are, uh, outside, how does that work for the healing process?” DJ asked.

Shaun shrugged, pain flashing over his features. “I suppose we’ll see.”

“I could go get them…” DJ said, trailing off when the idea of picking up Shaun’s literal guts made him want to puke.

“And what? Shove them back up in there and hope for the best?”

DJ retched for real this time.

“Blood will help,” Rake said.

“Yes,” Shaun confirmed. “But until Kit comes back, can we cuddle on the couch?”

They stayed there, the three of them intertwined, until Kit came back in with a couple of twenty-something women in tow. “Dinner is served,” he said.

The women didn’t react to the pronouncement. DJ’s fangs ached at the prospect of drinking.

“Come here,” Shaun said, and DJ detected the compulsion in his voice. One woman stepped forward, stopping in front of Shaun. He reached out to grasp one of her hands, taking her wrist into his mouth. DJ stood and went for her throat.

“Watch his consumption, Shaun,” Kit warned.

“I can watch myself,” DJ mumbled into the woman’s neck.

“Sure,” Kit said dismissively. “I’ll be looking forward to seeing that.”

Kit was proved right when, after what DJ thought was only a few seconds, Shaun stopped him. “We’ll take too much,” he explained, grabbing DJ’s hand.

“But it’s tasty and I’m famished,” DJ moaned.

“Have a small amount from mine,” Kit offered. “She can stand to have a bit more taken.”

DJ didn’t need telling twice. He walked over and bit into the other woman’s neck with gusto. Kit stopped him this time, reaching up to lay a hand on his shoulder and pulling him away, before making quick work of compelling the women to leave. DJ listened to his words with interest, rememberingthem for when he would have to do the same.

“Now Rake can feed from you, DJ,” Shaun said. “I need the blood to help heal my stomach.” He gave an apologetic look at Rake, who shook his head.

“Don’t be sorry,” Rake said, rubbing at the back of his head. “Though my skull might still be cracked.”

“You never said!” DJ cried, going over and cradling Rake’s face to stop him from jostling the injury any more.

“Ow,” Rake said, inflectionless.

“Feed from me,” DJ demanded, thrusting his wrist into Rake’s face.

Rake grabbed DJ around the waist and pulled him on top of him instead, threading his fingers through his hair and tilting DJ’s head back to expose his throat. DJ fisted his hands into Rake’s sweatshirt as Rake bit into his neck.

It wasn’t like being bitten by Lawrence, and nor was it the same as being bitten by Shaun. Shaun’s bite had been more tentative; somewhat teasing. Being bitten by Rake was like being devoured. Like Rake tasted DJ’s soul with every suck. He felt Rake’s desperate hunger for him, his desire and want. Hisneed. Pure need right to the core. DJ let out a happy sigh as Rake drank from him, catching Shaun’s eye from where he sat watching them.

DJ threw a hand out to Shaun, beckoning him over. Shaun pressed up close to Rake’s side. DJ never wanted Shaun to be on the outside any more. He wanted it to be the three of them. He couldn’t imagine life—or death—without both of them by his side.

When they made it back to their flat, the first order of business was to get themselves clean. Kit insisted he didn’t want to hear a repeat of the previous night, so, to DJ’s disappointment, they took turns in the bathroom. Once dressed, they ended up in the living room, DJ pestering Rake and Shaun for the dirty details of their shower antics.

“I’m going back to Scotland,” Kit announced, cutting Shaun off before he could tell the story. “Tomorrow, seeing as it’s almost sunrise. I’ll kip on the sofa if that’s all right with you.”