Page 79 of Rat

“He could hurt you, Sebastian.”

“Aww, you really are worried about me, aren’t you?”

He pouted. Rory shoved him hard, and his expression changed to one of shock.

“Of course I am,” Rory snapped. “Why do you have to be so good damn cocky all the time? Smiling to yourself like nothing ever bothers you.”

Sebastian blinked. “I get bothered by things, but nothing inconsequential like Pauly.”

“More and more inmates are wearing those red bandanas. Choosing his side over yours.”

“What’s to say they’re choosing his side? What’s to say some aren’t loyal to me and keeping me informed?”

“What?”

“I’ve got everything under control, trust me. Pauly isn’t a threat; he’s just trying and failing to look like one.” Sebastian pinched Rory’s chin. “Stop worrying your pretty little head about it and focus on other things. I loved your picture, very…simple.”

Rory shoved him. “Arsehole.”

“That picture took you three lessons? And did you really do it all by yourself?”

Rory’s glare cracked down the middle. He laughed. “I never said I was good at art.”

“Rightly so, because you’re shockingly awful at art. I bet your dad didn’t put your drawings on the fridge as a kid.”

“He did actually.”

“Out of pity.”

Rory’s mind went back to the fridge when he was a child. Covered in pictures of butterflies and unicorns from Erica, then his questionable squiggles.

He smiled. “Most probably.”

Sebastian laughed. “Shouldn’t have torn it up, I would’ve loved to spot which stickman was me… Ollie said I was the one with the massive weapon, right?”

He pushed Sebastian’s chest, but Sebastian caught his arm, yanking him close. Rory tried to struggle free, but Sebastian didn’t give him up. Rory turned his head back and felt stubble on his nose, the curve of a jaw dipping into a throat. He took a deep breath of Sebastian’s scent, and his stomach fluttered.

“Did you sniff me?”

“No.”

Sebastian ducked and pressed his nose close to Rory’s neck. “You smell good too.”

“I didn’t say you smelled good.”

“I’d better have a shower then.” Sebastian’s smile twitched. “Want to join me?”

Rory shivered at the suggestive tone. “No, I’m all right.”

Sebastian rested his lips against Rory’s ear and whispered in a husky tone, “Want to play chess instead?”

Rory shivered in Sebastian’s arms, and his heart picked up the pace. He licked his lips, then shook his head.

“Not…not right now.”

“Later.” Sebastian winked. “Maybe.”

Rory worked out until he couldn’t think of much other than the burn and overstretch of his muscles. The pain and exhaustion and the fact it was hard to hold a conversation while panting and heaving meant he could block everyone else out.

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