Page 126 of Inhuman Nature
Shaun chased the touch. “Not fair, Sir.”
“If you don’t stop now,” DJ said, “we’re gonna end up fucking while the guests are here.”
“An hour,” Rake said. “I can make them leave in an hour, right?”
“Two,” DJ countered.
“One and a half,” Shaun said.
“Done,” Rake and DJ said together.
Shaun spent the rest of the night chatting with Sophie, Van, and David. He’d been telling the truth; he liked them, and could see why it was so easy for Rake and DJ to be friends with them. Guilt still filled him when he thought about how they’d have to say goodbye to them, but at least they didn’t have to cut permanent ties too soon.
They got rid of the party guests ninety minutes later down to the second, Rake showing them out with no shame. Van and Sophie left together, Sophie having to be shushed all the way down the stairwell. Van shot Shaun an up-nod as she left, which he supposed was her version of a heartfelt goodbye.
David slunk away with one of the laddy guys he’d been so dismissive of. If Rake thought he was subtle in his delight about that, he failed. Shaun wouldn’t have been surprised if Rake sent David away with condoms and lube, along with a nudge and a wink.
The rest of Shaun’s time before sunup was spent being thoroughly distracted: Rake took his time wrapping ropesaround every part of Shaun’s body, criss-crossing up his legs and arms, looping around his hips and waist, securing him at his chest and back. DJ followed each knot and tie, kissing every inch of available skin as Rake’s movements lulled Shaun into sweet serenity.
Once Rake deemed Shaun suitably bound, DJ switched to devouring Shaun’s hole as Rake teased Shaun’s cock with his tongue. Shaun was a quivering mess by the time he came, and then Rake made him come twice more, just in case he hadn’t got the message the first time.
Shaun was loved. He was safe. Rake and DJ would do whatever he needed, even when he himself didn’t know what that was. And if that thing happened to be tying him up six ways from Sunday and wringing orgasm after orgasm out of him, then Shaun wasn’t about to start questioning their methods.
Over the following few nights, DJ offered a listening ear whenever Shaun needed to externalise his thoughts, whilst Rake provided ample diversions when he needed that instead. When Shaun made his decision, he sat them both down on the sofa to deliver the news. “I want to know what happened to my parents.”
They enveloped him in a suffocating hug. He’d never been more pleased to not need to breathe in his whole life. Being so cherished and cared for was still a novel experience, but it was becoming Shaun’s new normal.
Rake brought the folder through from wherever he’d beenkeeping it safe, placing it on the coffee table.
As Shaun opened the folder, he steeled himself for what he might read. When he saw his parents had separate sub-folders, his stomach churned. He opened the one with his dad’s name—Jason Forrester—first, as he thought it might be easier. It took him a second to parse the information on the first document: a decree absolute.
“A divorce,” Shaun said, flipping to the next page and hoping there might be some mistake. But a print-out of a wedding announcement with a stranger’s name on it next to his dad’s had him sagging backwards.
Shaun scanned the information, reading aloud. “My dad got remarried to a woman named Heather Kilburn almost a decade ago. They have a kid together.” He double-checked the birth announcement. “A daughter. Iona. She’ll be eight soon. I…I have a half-sister.” He choked on the last words.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Rake said, pulling him close.
It took a long time before Shaun was ready to look at his mum’s file. Another wedding announcement in the file marked ‘Laurie Walker’ made him feel both better and worse. Given his mum’s age, it didn’t surprise him there were no new births. But the information told him that her new partner, Robert Freeman, had two sons from a previous relationship. It floored Shaun.
His eyes welled with tears when he thought about his mum replacing him. And then he scolded himself for thinking such a thing of her. His mum’s love had run deep. She’d doted on him and given in to his every whim. That she would ever seek to replace him was unfathomable.
Shaun got to the final folder—the one with his own nameon it. He opened it, not sure what to expect.
A copy of his faked suicide letter.
A news story about efforts to search the river for his remains.
A death certificate issued a year after his disappearance.
And a funeral announcement.
It had been held at a small church in Shrewsbury. He doubted many people had attended. He’d had few friends, and no family left other than his parents.
At least he wouldn’t have to compel Van. For anyone without knowledge of the supernatural, the evidence suggested a faked death. Illegal, sure, but nothing that Van would need to forget. Hopefully, she’d look past his lack of physical ageing and just put it down to good genes.
Shaun read over the information a couple more times, the location of his headstone catching his attention. “I think we should go see it,” he said, after he’d digested the information.
“Shrewsbury?” DJ asked.