Page 27 of Inhuman Nature

Shaun brightened at the greeting, though when he responded, his voice was timid. “Hi.”

“I have something to ask you,” DJ said.

“Yes?” Shaun’s whole body leaned towards DJ, leaving little space between them.

“Would you like to scene with me and Rake? You can say no, but we’d love it and you’re really cute and I think we’d have fun and I’m pretty sure you’d like it too and—”

Before DJ could reel off yet another reason why they wanted to play with him, Shaun somehow managed to nod and shake his head at the same time. “I would. But my Master…” Shaun trailed off, eyes darting over to where Lawrence and Rake stood.

DJ considered saying all sorts of things about how Shaun’s so-called Master wasn’t fit to wipe the shit from his shoes, let alone dictate Shaun’s actions, but he shrugged instead. “Just you. Not him. Rake can be quite convincing when hewants to be.”

Shaun cocked his head in an oddly animalistic way, like when Bernie was trying to understand one of DJ’s dad’s commands.

DJ was about to ask how the hell Shaun thought he might hear the other conversation, but shock spread over Shaun’s features. “He said yes,” Shaun said.

“Indeed,” Lawrence said, appearing next to them. “You’ve been requested, pet.”

Shaun dipped his head, taking a small step away from DJ. “Yes, Master.”

“Are you all right with that, Shaun?” Rake asked, coming up alongside them. “We can use one of the private rooms.”

“Is that necessary?” Lawrence’s words were more statement than question.

“Yes,” Rake said, not elaborating on his point. “So, Shaun, how does that sound?”

Shaun nodded so enthusiastically that his ginger hair bounced all around his face. “Yes, Sir.”

DJ shot Rake his best blinding smile. “Did you hear that?Yes, Sir.”

“Shall we check for a free room?” Rake said congenially to Lawrence.

For a split second, it looked like Lawrence might change his mind, but he spread an arm out. “Lead the way.”

A quick exchange later—in which Lawrence was annoyingly helpful for booking one of the rooms on such short notice—and the four of them stood in a private area which they’d secured for the next hour. It had no bed, but was instead a large open space with rungs bolted into the ceilingand floor and walls for different rigging setups. Chairs lined one wall, along with a large sofa on another. The room was more function over style, but that suited them well—a blank canvas for Rake to sketch whatever scene he desired.

“What are your hard limits?” Rake asked Shaun.

“He doesn’t have any,” Lawrence said, waving a dismissive hand. He deposited himself on the sofa, sitting in the middle and stretching his arms out over the back of it in an obnoxious manner. DJ hid his scowl at the comment, lest Lawrence see and decide to call the whole thing off.

“Everyone has limits,” Rake said, with more patience than DJ would have in his position. “Shaun?”

“Uh.” Shaun glanced nervously at Lawrence. “Bloodplay.”

Lawrence chuckled, though DJ didn’t understand what was funny. Shaun looked unsettled, so he wondered if Lawrence favoured the act despite the limit. The notion made him queasy.

“I suppose that’s for the best,” Lawrence said. Rake lifted an eyebrow in question, but Lawrence settled himself further into the sofa and didn’t say another word.

“Well, DJ and I have a few more limits than that, Shaun,” Rake said. “The scene won’t go near any of them for obvious reasons, but I can list them all if you’d feel more comfortable with that.”

Shaun shook his head. “It’s fine. I trust you.”

DJ didn’t miss how the statement made Rake stand up taller. “Thank you, Shaun. I won’t break that trust.”

Shaun smiled tremulously.

“By the way, if he’s sucking cock, you ought to put a ring gag on him,” Lawrence remarked.

Rake scowled at the interruption. “I think we’ll be all right.”