I clear my throat. “Going for the rudeness angle. Smart.”
Josh gives me a look, but I spot the smile on his lips.
“Josh and I convinced my people to fight Father and the New-Humans. The king should be easier to convince if he’s not working with the enemy behind our backs.”
The rest of us go quiet, exchanging looks. Ithascrossed my mind that the king might be doing us dirty, but we never discussed it openly.
“This is a serious accusation,” Timothy says. “King Roger Campbell the Third has never shown an interest in expanding beyond the borders of his city.”
“He has nothing to gain by working with the enemy,” Finn says, but there’s doubt in his voice.
“Maybe he doesn’t need to go against us,” Josh says. “Sitting on the sidelines could be enough to make the Raiders happy.”
I nod. “So no matter what happens, he won’t be on the losing side.”
“I don’t want to act like he’s against us before I get a chance to discuss the jetpacks with him,” Finn says. “Until then, there’s no point speculating.”
I know him well enough to tell he’s going to speculate all day, his brain working overtime.
We continue to talk about casual things, and River announces we all must find new clothes for the ball. We finish eating and walk to the shopping district, which is a hell of a lot nicer than the one in Unity. Josh and I find something to wear within minutes, but River is more of a challenge, constantly asking,Do I look pretty in this?
My patience wears thin, but Josh plays along.
Finn doesn’t ask for anyone’s opinion. He’s methodical in his search, giving each piece of clothing a thorough look before deciding whether to try it on. I couldn’t care less about his style, but I still suggest different items for him to try so I can watch him take off his clothes. There isn’t an ounce of fat on his smooth body, and I need to adjust my erection when I remember feeling him inside me on that blanket. Before offering him to fuck me, I hoped I wouldn’t end up traumatized, and now I’m eager to do it again, preferably with fewer rocks digging into my back.
When Finn figures out I’m only trying to get him to undress, he orders me out of the store.
Josh and I separate from the others and go meet the rest of the Defenders in a small restaurant, though we all drink local beer instead of eating. Josh shares some of the things he’s been up to in the last year with River, and we listen closely to stories of places none of us have ever seen before. At times, it feels as though my world is huge considering my childhood in the Hive,but there are times it feels much smaller, like I haven’t seen anything yet.
Before I notice, a couple of hours have passed, and we need to get ready for the ball. All of us from Unity are invited, but Trey’s the only one interested in going. I return to my room, and when I’m about to hit the shower, I hear a knock on the door.
It’s Finn, handing me a small bag. “I brought you something.”
I take out a silvery pin of the letter U.
“For Unity,” he says. “It will look good on your new shirt.”
I move aside so he can enter. “Thank you. I was about to grab a shower.”
“Should I—”
“—take off your clothes and join me? If you insist.”
There’s enough space for both of us under the stream, but we still stand skin to skin, touching with our hands and our mouths. I turn him around to lean with his palms on the tiles so I can rub soap over his back. That skull on his skin is unsettling, feeling so out of place on someone like him.
“I was worried when I saw you had a haircut,” I say.
“Why?”
“I need something to grab onto when I fuck you from behind.”
He spreads his legs. “I told Lyla to leave enough for you to grab.”
“That’s considerate of you.” I rub the tip of my finger over his entrance, then slowly slip it in. Blood rushes to my cock as I feel his muscles clench around my finger. “How many people do you reckon will be at that ball?”
“A lot, I think.”
“Some might want to flirt with you.”
