Page 58 of Inhuman Nature

“I’ll remind you that we volunteer for whatever fate may have in store for us,” DJ said.

“It’s not fate I’m worried about. It’s Lawrence.”

DJ wandered over to the closed curtains and peeked out onto the street. He fetched his phone from the nightstand and checked the weather app. “Sundown was a while ago.”

Rake moved to lie on top of Shaun, bracketing him in with his larger body. “Don’t even think about leaving.”

DJ pounced onto the bed, throwing his arms over themboth. “You’re stuck here now. I won’t let you escape.”

“Sounding a bit like Lawrence there,” Shaun said.

Rake sprang back, and DJ rolled right off of the bed and stood up. “Oh, Shaun, I didn’t mean…”

“It’s all right. I was joking.”

“Sweetheart, we don’t want to control you. We just want to make sure you’re safe,” Rake said, then scrunched up his face. “Okay, well, sometimes I will want to control you. But only for the fun things, like orgasms. Not about how you conduct your life. I mean, maybe some parts of that too, eventually. And only if you consent. Obviously.”

Shaun pressed his face into the covers, shaking with laughter. DJ lay back down on the bed and put his face beside Shaun’s. Shaun turned and gave DJ a shy smile that had him unable to do anything but grin back.

“So, you agree you’ll stay here for the full night?” DJ asked.

“Fine.” Shaun still didn’t seem happy about it, but DJ was over the moon. At least, he was until Shaun spoke again. “But you need to understand. Lawrence will spend the rest of his existence chasing me down and trying to kill me. I can’t spend my life on the run, and I won’t ask either of you to do the same.”

“We’ll do whatever we need to keep you safe,” DJ said.

“Why would you say that? You barely know me.”

“Well. We, um—” Rake started, then broke off. He glanced at DJ, begging him with his eyes to be the one to explain.

“We like you,” DJ said simply. “We both want you. You’re worth caring about. And you sure deserve better than an arsehole like Lawrence.”

Shaun searched DJ’s face for a long second, chewing onhis lip. “I like you both, too. Very much,” he whispered.

“We’ve never wanted anyone else the way we want you,” Rake said, finding his words. “I get that it’s a lot, and it’s quick. But you’re a part of us now. A part that I don’t think either of us were searching for. Yet, here you are. Fitting right in.”

“Oh my god, Rake, you’re gonna make me cry,” DJ said.

“Me too,” Shaun said with a wet-sounding laugh.

“I would rather have no tears,” Rake said seriously. “Let’s get up and get some food. DJ, you need to eat.”

DJ rolled his eyes, but did as Rake said. Hewouldbe hungry once he stopped thinking about sex and Shaun and sex again.

The door buzzed when they were in the kitchen, Rake pottering about as he made them a late dinner. DJ headed to the door, but Shaun stopped him in his tracks. “Let me,” Shaun said.

DJ and Rake both moved to the hallway to watch as Shaun picked up the receiver, placing it against his ear.

DJ studied Shaun’s face. He was trying for stoicism, and would have got away with it if it wasn’t for his expressive eyes, which were screaming out for help. Rake stood shoulder to shoulder with DJ, thick brows drawn together.

Shaun slammed the receiver down with such force that DJ expected the flimsy plastic to crack. “It’s Lawrence.”

DJ’s heart just about stopped. “He definitely can’t get in, can he?”

“Not unless you invite him.”

DJ went over and wrapped Shaun up in a hug, needing the contact. “So he can’t do anything to you?”

“No,” Shaun said into DJ’s chest. “But that he knows I’mhere is bad enough. I’m so sorry. I thought it would take him longer to figure it out.”