Page 46 of Inhuman Nature

Whilst DJ mumbled about not being dramatic, Shaun shot over and helped get him to his feet. “I slept fine,” he said.

“One of these days, you’re going to give me the truth without me having to ask twice,” Rake said.

DJ deposited himself back on the sofa with an audibleoof. “You still seem a bit messed up.”

“Thanks,” Shaun said dryly.

DJ pointed to his arms. “I meant that you’re still healing.”

“You should take a shower, though,” Rake said. “I bet you’ll feel better. I put a fresh towel on the radiator for you. Help yourself to whatever you need clothes-wise, too. I washed the stuff you were wearing after I got in from work, but it’s still drying.”

“Thank you,” Shaun said, before leaving the room in a hurry so as not to get outwardly emotional over the kind gesture.

The shower was smaller than the one at Lawrence’s, and the water pressure left much to be desired, but Shaun didn’t mind. Besides, this shower had Rake and DJ’s toiletries lined up on the side in a neat little row in order of size.

Shaun revelled in the opportunity to use their body wash and shampoo. It meant he would carry their scents, and it made him want to purr with contentment. Scrubbed clean, he wrapped the towel around himself and returned to the bedroom.

He picked through some items in the chest of drawers until he decided on a pair of bright red football shorts and a loose sweatshirt he could tell belonged to DJ. It was soft, faded from too many washes, and perfectly enveloped Shaun’s smaller frame. It was like wearing one of DJ’s hugs.

After spending a bit of time towel-drying his hair until it no longer dripped, Shaun went back through to the living room. Rake and DJ were playing a game he recognised. “Mario Kart!” Shaun said. “I haven’t played in so long.”

“Which version did you play?” Rake asked, eyes not leaving the screen.

“We had it on the GameCube.”

“Ooh, retro,” DJ said, crossing the finish line and then patting the sofa beside him. “Come sit. Wanna play?”

Shaun squeezed his body into the small space between DJ and the arm of the sofa. It left them close, touching from thigh to shoulder, DJ emanating heat. Shaun couldn’t remember the last time his body had felt such warmth.

Rake got another controller and handed it to Shaun. “You need me to show you how to play?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

Five minutes later, Shaun regretted his refusal when Link fell off the edge of the track for the third time. “Why don’t vampire reflexes work on racing games?” he said. “Isuck.”

“In more ways than one,” Rake commented.

“Was that a vampire joke or a gay joke?”

“How about both?” DJ said, then whooped in delight as he stole first place from Rake.

“You’re getting spanked for that later,” Rake said, and a flash of heat radiated through Shaun at the light-heartedthreat.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t punish me for being better than you at gaming?”

“As many times as I’ll have to remind you that you like being spanked.”

DJ rubbed his shoulder against Shaun’s. “You’ll get the hang of the game.”

But Shaun’s focus had shifted from the screen now that the topic of spanking had come up. Rake and DJ didn’t even seem to realise they’d been talking about anything titillating. Thanks to his distraction, Shaun passed the finish line in lowly seventh place. He wanted to throw the controller in a rage, but settled for pouting.

“Aw, poor Shaun,” DJ said. “You’re terrible at this.”

“Go easy on me,” he said. “I haven’t played this game in over a decade.”

“What was the first games console you owned?” Rake asked.

Thrown by the specific question, Shaun took a second to answer. “Gameboy colour. The see-through purple one,” he added. He’d begged his parents for months before they’d caved and bought it for him.