Page 9 of Inhuman Nature

“Lynette, it’s—” Shaun’s Dom said, but the woman stopped him with the raise of one perfectly plucked brow. He started again, and this time she let him speak. “MistressLynette. These two were interfering with my pet.”

The Domme swept her eyes over the tableau before her with thinly veiled displeasure. “Looks to me like you made it abundantly clear that others were encouraged to engage with your sub.” She pointed a sharp nail at the writing on Shaun’s face, which twisted with his embarrassed expression.

“He left the room mid-scene, Mistress Lynette,” Rake said. “We saw this happen and came over to check in on Shaun.”

“Master Rakesh, is it?” Lynette asked.

“Rake.”

She dipped her head infinitesimally. “Master Rake. Thank you for checking in on the sub. It’s commendable. We have to protect one another in this community.”

She turned her attention back to the other Dom. “Master Lawrence,” she said, and DJ scowled at the man being afforded the same courtesy as Rake of being referred to as Master.

Lawrence didn’t deserve the title. DJ knew that much already.

“You are subject to the same rules as any of the rest of us here,” Lynette continued. “Did you not agree to them when signing your membership contract?”

Lawrence looked like he might argue. But Lynette tilted her head to the side, a challenge in her eyes.

Lawrence nodded curtly. “We’ll be taking our leave,” he said, muscling into the space where DJ knelt.

DJ scooted backwards before Rake helped him to stand, his knees protesting the movement. Rake put a possessive arm around DJ’s middle, pulling him so that his back pressed against Rake’s front. DJ would normally shrug off that kind of hold, as it made him hyper-aware of the weight around his stomach, but he resisted the impulse.

Lynette had her hands on her hips as she surveyed them like they were her subjects, and this was her kingdom. It struck DJ that it was likely not far from the truth.

He and Rake had only been members of the club for a few months, having left their old one when it became apparent that the new owners were more interested in posing as kinksters than maintaining an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Another couple they’d met at the club had recommended this new place to them. Up until now, DJ had been enjoying the mixed-gender club.

One look at the writing on Shaun’s face—stark against his pale skin—had him reevaluating that sentiment. “I’ve got face wipes in my bag if you want to use them,” he offered Shaun once he was freed of his bondage.

Shaun’s attention had been carefully focused on Lawrence until then, but he managed a nod at DJ.

Lawrence grabbed Shaun’s arm before DJ could lead him to the lockers. “Be quick,” Lawrence said. “I don’t want to be waiting around for you all evening.”

Shaun gave another nod, this one more stilted than the last. DJ didn’t hesitate to offer his hand to Shaun, who looked down at it for a long second before entwining theirfingers. DJ couldn’t resist sending a triumphant grin towards Lawrence, decorum be damned.

Once out of earshot of Lawrence, DJ leaned down to Shaun and asked, “Are you going home with that asshole?”

Shaun took a worried glance backwards, DJ following his line of sight. The three others were all staring at them—Rake with a blank look, Lynette with vague amusement, and Lawrence with a glare that spelled murder.

DJ winked at them all as he slipped into the locker room, pulling Shaun inside with him.

“You shouldn’t get involved,” Shaun said. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter.”Youmatter, is what DJ really wanted to say, but he was probably overstepping Shaun’s boundaries already. He didn’t want to make him feel more uncomfortable.

“I’m fine.”

DJ wondered if Shaun repeated the phrase so often that he might have convinced himself it was true. He led Shaun to his and Rake’s locker and, after inputting their code, pulled out a bag with various aftercare items.

“There you go,” DJ said, handing Shaun the wipes. “I doubt it’ll get the words completely gone, but if you use them and some soap and water, I imagine it’ll be less noticeable.”

Shaun took them with a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

As Shaun cleaned his face, DJ studied him. Shaun looked too young to be hanging around in a BDSM club with a man who looked to be somewhere in his thirties.

“Are you over eighteen?” DJ asked.

Shaun stiffened. “I’m twenty,” he said carefully.Toocarefully. He was lying, and DJ knew it.