Page 44 of The Rat

“What?”

“Relax, he’s got seven guys, I’vegot the restof the prison on my side. He starts on me, he’lllose.”

“It only takes one guy tostab you.” Rory mumbled.

Sebastian gave him a consideringlook, then tilted his head. “True, but think of the positives—if someonesticks a knife in me, you get the cell all to yourself.”

“That’s notfunny.”

“You could evenwear myclothes.”

Rory looked at Sebastian’soverly tight t-shirt.His hard nipples poking through. His mouth wentdry, and he muttered, “No, thanks.”

“Chess.”

Ollie groaned. “Really?”

Sebastian started setting up theboard. “Me and Roryget pleasure from it.”

Rory’s neck prickled at the wordpleasure, and he shook his head at the odd reaction.

Ollie looked at Sebastian. “Iget why youplay it, you’re ancient, but Rory…”

Sebastian slammed the piecesdown with more force than necessary, and Ollie shot backin hischair.

“I meant no offense.” Heblurted.

Rory gestured to himself, thenSebastian. “Tome or him.”

“Him, obviously. Well, if you’re gonna play,I’ll go hang out with Teddy.”

“You couldwatch.”

“No thanks,it’s far toointimate.”

Rory couldn’t evendeny it. Overthe past few days, chess had gone from passing the time to intenseand exciting.

There were no words, it was allfacial expressions andlingering eye contact. The prison was full ofinmates, but in the hours they played, it felt like just the two ofthem.

Sebastiancaressed his pieces as heanticipated moves and it heated the blood in Rory’s veins. When heclaimed one of Rory’s pieces and smiled possessively, his heartstarted thumping, and when Rory finally won the match, reliefrushed through him and made him giddy.

“You go first.” Sebastianmurmured.

Rory shivered at his lowvoice and closed hisfingers around the top of a pawn.

“Captain…” Ollie breathed,looking at the gate.

Rory released his chesspiece and turnedaround. He grinned at Captain, but he didn’t get oneback.

“He had his appointment today,right?” Sebastianmurmured.

“Right.”

The gate slid open, and Captainstepped inside. His chest heaved, and his lip tuggedback in a snarlrevealing his teeth.

“What you all staring at?”heshouted.

Sebastian exhaled slowly. “I don’tthink it went well.”

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