Page 125 of Inhuman Nature

“I will,” he vowed, meaning it.

Another woman draped her arm over Van’s shoulders. “I think I had a little too much gin before getting here,” she whisper-shouted, holding her thumb and forefinger a centimetre apart.

Van moved the woman’s fingers as wide as they could go. “More like that much, Sophie.”

Sophie turned to Shaun, eyebrows raising as if she hadn’t noticed him before. “You’re even cuter than they told me.”

“Thanks?”

“Oh, I’m not flirting with you,” she said. “I’m a one-person kinda gal.”

“That’s nice,” Shaun said, searching for DJ or Rake to come to rescue him from being paid any more compliments. At Shaun’s panicked expression, DJ broke away from the groupof lad-type guys he’d been chatting to, and Rake drifted over from his spot in the corner of the kitchen that he’d not left since the party started. Shaun himself had only just emerged from there as people began to arrive.

“You better not be corrupting Shaun,” DJ said to Van and Sophie as he sidled up.

“Me?” Sophie asked, aghast. “I am the corruptee, not the corruptor.”

Rake put a hand on the back of Shaun’s neck, playing with his curls. The touch was so soothing that Shaun leaned into it as the others bickered about which one of them was the worst influence. It was a silly debate, as the answer was obviously DJ.

A young man came to join them, wineglass in hand. “God dammit,” he said. “How is it possible for me to be thesixthwheel in a friendship group? This is awful.”

“Sorry David,” Sophie singsonged, entirely off-key.

“It’s nice to meet you anyway, Shaun,” David said. “Even if you do remind me of how endlessly single I am.”

“How about instead of moaning about it, you flirt with the guys over there?” Rake suggested, nodding his head towards the men DJ had been speaking to.

David gave Rake an incredulous look. “But then I might have to go on a date with someone.”

“Isn’t that what you want?”

“No, I want to complain about being alone forever and not do anything about it. I’m much happier that way.” To punctuate his explanation, David downed the rest of his wine.

At one time in his life, Shaun might have understood the sentiment. Years with Lawrence had left him favouringthe possibility of being alone as an alternative to being with someone awful. But now, with Rake and DJ, he couldn’t imagine wanting to go a moment without either of them. Rake’s presence at his back and DJ’s at his side reassured him of their permanence.

“What’s that in your hand?” Rake murmured into Shaun’s ear.

“Van gave it to me,” Shaun replied in a low voice. He noticed DJ listening in, even as he nodded along to David’s new story. “It’s got information about, well,me.”

Rake’s fingers flexed on Shaun’s nape. “I didn’t ask her to do that.”

“I’m aware.” Shaun excused himself from the small group and went into the bedroom, Rake and DJ following.

“How do you feel about it?” DJ asked, eyeing the folder.

“I don’t know yet. Rake, Sir, can you keep it for me please? Until I’m sure I want to read it?” Shaun needed Rake to take charge at that moment. The tension twisting inside of him dissipated as Rake took the folder from his hand, and he felt lighter still as DJ wrapped him in a bear hug.

Shaun didn’t see where Rake hid the folder, as he’d buried his face in DJ’s chest. Shaun liked it there. It had become his head’s favourite resting spot.

“Should I kick everyone out?” Rake asked, sounding hopeful.

Shaun hummed into DJ’s chest. “No. I want to be distracted right now. And I’d like to get to know your friends.”

“Just let me know if you’ve had enough of them, sweetheart,” Rake said, coming over and brushing a kiss over his temple when Shaun turned to face him. “They can be a lot.”

“They’re nice,” Shaun insisted.

“Mm-hmm. Although, I have far better methods of distraction.” To demonstrate, he squeezed Shaun’s arse, then trailed a finger along his crease.