Love Lessons (Love Language Book 2)

by Reese Morrison

  Dustin tested the crop again on his own thigh twice, and then on his inner arm. Actually, now that he thought about it, he wasn’t too worried. Or only the good kind of worried.

  Color? Dustin asked.

  Green.

  But Dustin’s eyes were haunted. He slapped himself one more time on his own arm and then set the crop aside. Landon couldn’t imagine what was going on in his head.

  Landon thrust his hips up against him, trying to subtly bring him back to the moment. He really, really didn’t want the scene to end yet.

  Dustin blinked, and then smirked down at him. I guess I won’t be using that tonight. You’ll just have to make do with my hands.

  Oh, thank God. Landon didn’t care what Dustin used as long as he didn’t stop.

  Dustin began trailing the tips of his fingers down Landon’s sides again. A feathery touch here. A scratch of nails there. Landon tried to reach for him, and it felt so good pulling against the chains and knowing that he couldn’t.

  And then a slap. Right along the side of his ribs. Landon shuddered, the sensation going straight to his cock. Oh, God. If that’s what this was going to be, he wasn’t sure if he could make it.

  No one had ever paid attention to his sides like this, wringing every impossible, beautiful feeling out of him. In fact, no one had ever paid attention to him like this.

  Another strike fell from Dustin’s open hand, stinging and then sinking into him. It was exquisite. Dustin’s hand soothed over it, giving him a moment, and then another slap fell on the other side.

  Landon felt himself getting lost in it. Dustin was slapping him along both sides of his ribs now, alternating the placement and intensity, but not pausing between blows.

  Then, a heavier blow fell, and Landon sucked in his breath. Dustin soothed over it, kissing his ribs. He repeated the action on the other side.

  Soon, the soft caresses and pain throbbed through him, almost like sound waves shaking his chest at a concert. He was melting, falling into some dark tunnel with Dustin’s eyes as the only light.

  Dustin pulled Landon’s underwear down to just below his balls. His dick was pointing upward, rising off his abs, still completely untouched.

  Dustin’s eyes bored into him. You’re going to come now.

  Landon nodded. How could he do anything else but what Dustin said?

  Get yourself off on me. And then Dustin moved forward, dragging his denim-covered bulge over Landon’s sensitive cock, still just far enough away that Landon had to work to get any friction. He thrust upward. The seams were rough and dry on his skin, almost unpleasant and not quite enough. But so dirty, so fucking sexy that he wanted it even more.

  Dustin dug his thumbs back into those magical spots, like he wanted to dig past Landon’s ribs and right into his heart. It was agonizing and glorious, so painful that he was crying and so erotic that his whole body sung with pleasure.

  He was thrusting and quivering, chasing that rough friction on his cock and straining against his bonds. This was everything. Everything that he’d ever wanted.

  And then it was crashing through him. Like lightning and thunder, so close that it was shaking the world around him. The pleasure went on and on, in floods and oceans, until he was left floating in the tidepool.

  He was limp and hazy and still sparking in the aftershocks as Dustin slowly withdrew his thumbs. His sides still ached, an erotic reminder that he knew he would carry for days.

  He watched with heavy-lidded eyes as Dustin unzipped and got himself off in a few quick strokes. Landon wished he was more focused, because watching Dustin come was magnificent, his head thrown back and his neck straining.

  But he was too sleepy, too sated and relaxed, to do anything but lazily watch as his eyes drifted closed.

  He felt Dustin removing the cuffs and rubbing his wrists, but it was all very far away. And then something soft and dry was rubbing along his chest and belly, cleaning off the rapidly cooling cum.

  Dustin shifted his body and he let himself be shifted, snuggling in deeper when he found his head on Dustin’s shoulder and their legs tangled together.

  He didn’t usually cuddle like this, but he was just so sleepy and warm. He would just take a little nap and then tell Dustin goodbye.

  The next thing Landon noticed was heavy arms around his body and warm breath against his neck. It was soothing and luxurious, somehow, a feeling that he didn’t want to savor but did anyway.

  It took him a moment to figure out where he was and what was happening. Oh, right. Dustin and the best damn sex he’d ever had in his life.

  Which made the whole thing kind of scary. He couldn’t let himself get used to this. It was just sex after all. Really, really, really good sex.

  He sat up. He needed space. Needed to tell Dustin to leave. Maybe set up another time to… no, better just focus on getting him out the door. This was supposed to be a lesson, after all, though that had completely derailed.

  He noticed that it was dark outside, but his clock was behind him, so he didn’t have any real sense of time. The lamp was still on, though, so he could see Dustin’s sleep-rumpled face. He shouldn’t have looked so kissable like that, his hair sticking up and his face grumpy as he blinked open his eyes.

  Dustin rolled over sleepily and tugged on his arm. Landon resisted. Dustin pulled him back down more forcefully, manhandling him back into his arms.

  Landon squirmed, but he wasn’t sure how much he was trying to get away. Not to mention, being pinned like that was really hot. Maybe if this was going to lead to another round of amazing sex…

  He nuzzled and kissed along Dustin’s jaw, tasting the salt on his skin. God, he tasted good. Landon added his leg to the equation, delighted to discover that Dustin was wearing only his boxers now with no rough jeans between them.

  Dustin pinned his leg between his thighs, stilling him. This was heaven.

  Sleep, he commanded, or maybe requested, his hand half-falling lazily over his face as he signed in the dim glow of the lamp.

  We could be doing so many other things… Landon ran a hand down Dustin’s chest, only to have that pinned, too. Of course, that only got him more turned on.

  But Dustin didn’t take it anywhere. He just caressed Landon’s wrists in little soft circles. After a while he relaxed his hand and ran it up Landon’s arm, and then looped it over his back. Landon was half-hard, but this felt warm and cozy.

  What are you doing? Landon pulled back to sign.

  Dustin looked amused. Cuddling. And sleeping.

  I don’t cuddle. Or have people sleep over.

  It’s four in the morning. I can leave when it’s really morning.

  Landon scrunched his eyes closed and then opened them again. Dammit. Alright. You can stay.

  Dustin still seemed to think this was funny.

  Landon inched away. Dustin could sleep here, but they weren’t going to cuddle. It wasn’t what he did.

  Dustin pulled him back in tight and closed his eyes. His arms were so warm and strong and safe, his chest such a perfect place to press his face into. It was dangerous.

  Landon pushed away again.

  Dustin’s eyes popped open. Is cuddling a hard limit for you? He looked serious, not sleepy anymore.

  Landon jerked in surprise. A hard limit? He hadn’t thought of it that way. It wasn’t like cuddling was a limit. It just wasn’t something that he did. Or maybe it wasn’t something that he let himself do?

  Mostly it just made him feel nervous, like he needed to start anticipating being forgotten before he could even enjoy it. Fuck, maybe it was a limit.

  A soft limit? he tentatively replied.

  Dustin looked at him for the longest time, seeming to read secrets that Landon didn’t even know himself. Finally, he seemed to come to some conclusion. I won’t pressure you. But I would be honored if you would let me press that limit with you. If it’s too much, you can safeword, just like with anything else.

  What would we do? He really wasn’t sure why he
was so nervous.

  We would put our bodies close to each other. I might rub your back or stroke your hair. And then we would sleep.

  It sounded silly to have that as a soft limit, but Dustin seemed to be taking him seriously. That made it a little bit alright.

  We can try it, he said bravely.

  I’m proud of you, Dustin nodded. And Landon’s heart swelled even though he knew it shouldn’t. He’d had Doms say that to him before, but it always felt fake, like they were reading from a script.

  But Dustin said he was proud of him, and he knew he really was. And that shouldn’t have felt so good, either.

  Come here. Dustin opened his arms.

  Slowly, Landon moved toward him, feeling awkward and not at all sexy. This was stupid. He moved the rest of the way in a rush, and then they got all tangled up in elbows and knees.

  Dustin sorted him out and he let himself be moved, enjoying the feeling of Dustin taking control. Dustin lay on his back, Landon’s head on his shoulder but also propped on a pillow. Dustin’s hand moved gently along his back.

  Good boy, Dustin signed.

  And that felt good, too. Everything was so confusing right now.

  Dustin started stroking Landon’s fingers, playing with the hand that lay over his chest. Then Dustin pressed a little kiss to his forehead.

  It was sweet and deceptively calming.

  Landon slowly felt his body relax, but his mind was still spinning. Eventually, Dustin’s motions stilled, and his breath grew heavy and even.

  Landon wished he was sleeping, but inside he was tangled up in knots. Dustin couldn’t possibly want him, not really want him. Not in the long run. And it wasn’t like Landon wanted a boyfriend anyway.

  But he let himself have one more nuzzle against Dustin’s shoulder. It wasn’t like he was ever going to get to do it again.

  Chapter 6

  Dustin

  Dustin popped the last bite of summer roll into his mouth, then put his takeout container down and wiped his hands. Zhong pulled his feet back while he moved and then got their legs tangled up together again.

  So, explain to me again why you’re not going to the munch tomorrow? Zhong was still chewing while he signed.

  He cancelled twice on me when we were supposed to have more lessons. I thought we were really connecting over text, but apparently not. Dustin had really been enjoying their conversations, too. It had taken them a while to hit their stride, but when he started sharing comic book memes and trivia, it could launch whole conversations. He’d gotten to know a bit about the kids in Landon’s classes, without their names of course, and all of the amazing work that Landon did to support them.

  But then the weeks had passed, and there hadn’t been another lesson. When he’d suggested coffee or dinner, Landon always took forever to get back to him, and then said that he was too busy. Or he took forever, set a date, and then cancelled it. But somehow, when he was sending him comic book memes, he got texts back right away.

  If he were interested in me, he would have found a time to meet. And it’s fine that he’s not interested. I just don’t want to see him.

  And it had been a long week at work, too. He’d invited Zhong over for a movie and snuggle time, not the interrogation-slash-pep talk that was apparently coming.

  Zhong started running a soothing hand up and down Dustin’s calf. When Dustin had first met him, he’d thought they’d had chemistry together. And it had sure felt like a crush with the way that Zhong wanted to touch him all the time. Now he knew that it was just Zhong’s style of friendship, and, perhaps more importantly, his way of getting his own needs met.

  It was exactly what he needed right now.

  Maybe you don’t have to talk to him.

  No, that’s the problem. If I talk to him it’ll be awkward, and if I don’t talk to him it’ll be awkward.

  Because you had sex? Or because it was kinky sex?

  Dustin rolled his eyes. You know I wouldn’t answer these questions for anyone but you.

  That’s why you’re my best friend. And you give the best cuddles.

  Dustin affectionately rubbed Zhong’s knee while he gave himself a moment to think. It’s because… I can’t even explain it. And maybe I’m just being a stupid newbie. But it felt really special, what he shared with me. He let himself be so vulnerable with me, and I think… I think he doesn’t share that much with most of the Doms he’s with. I was just… in awe.

  I mean, I like sex, he continued. But what we did together went so far beyond sex. I can’t even really explain the difference. It was like it was more pure somehow. I know this sounds hokey, but it seemed like it was our true selves connecting or something.

  Yeah, that sounded even more hokey than I thought, he trailed off. Anyway, it doesn’t matter since he never set up a second training session. Or even coffee. He said we could make dinner together, but clearly that isn’t going to happen.

  Zhong took his Pad Thai container off his lap and pulled Dustin toward him. Dustin went willingly, resting in the familiar embrace, soaking in all of the comfort that came with a decade of history together. Zhong was always trying to take care of him like this, and he was pretty much the only one who was allowed to.

  You know you never need to convince me that people can have intimate connections without sex.

  I know. He felt a little guilty, and he turned to face his best friend. You know that you’re always very important to me, right? Even when I’m in other relationships. Or being an obstinate asshole because some guy doesn’t want to hang out with me.

  Zhong pressed a kiss to his forehead. Sometimes he wished he and Zhong could have something together. But, just like Zhong had said, he needed someone who was just for him. And, yes, Dustin ultimately wanted to be with someone who he had sex with.

  As usual, Zhong took it all in a stride. I know you love me. And you’re allowed to be hesitant. It’s not cool that he kept putting you off. Do you think he was scared, though?

  Scared of what? I’m the newbie here.

  Yeah, but you said he was more vulnerable with you than he was with other Doms. And you read people well. Much better than I do.

  That totally wasn’t true, but Dustin didn’t interrupt.

  Maybe he’s just nervous.

  Dustin thought about it, and then he kept thinking about it. Landon had been so confident most of the time. The seductive submissive. The competent teacher. But there were those moments when something else peeked through.

  That was really what had Dustin hooked. Those moments of vulnerability. That lost, nervous look in his eyes before the mask slipped back down.

  Those were the lost pieces to the puzzle he needed to solve, the images that he’d been replaying from their night together.

  And then the awe in Landon’s eyes. Not when he was cuffing him to the bedpost or using the crop. But when he’d realized where those sensitive spots were on his body. It was like he couldn’t believe that Dustin was real.

  That was when it had all changed. When Dustin had gone from acting out a role he’d been trying on in his head to making Landon the center of his world. He wanted to protect him and hurt him and sooth his tears and give him everything that he needed.

  Even if Landon didn’t know that he needed it.

  You really think that he might not be answering me because he’s scared?

  Zhong shrugged. It happens in movies.

  Dustin laughed. That’s totally not helpful.

  I think you should go tomorrow. At least you’ll know what’s going on. And you really should make friends in the kink community.

  Maybe, Dustin hedged, already knowing that he was going. How’s the ace group?

  Zhong gave him a hard stare. I went. And I’m going next time.

  He already knew that it had been a bust and Zhong was just going back because they’d promised each other. That sucked. He wanted Zhong to find his person.

  Zhong’s eyes softened. You know I’m not going to let this go. I think y
ou need to explore this side of yourself to be happy. If you don’t want to do the munch, you could also try a kink club.

  OK. I’ll go.

  Zhong poked him in the shoulder. Good. Now turn around so I can give you a backrub.

  When Dustin finally made it to the munch, he was late again. And again he stood in front of the door, debating whether or not to go in. But this time there wasn’t a stunning blond man to usher him inside. Quite the opposite in fact. The stunning blond man was the reason he wanted to flee.

  But he wasn’t that much of a coward, and this was probably the only munch with Deaf participants in the area, so he needed to just get over himself. It wasn’t the first time he’d been stood up or dumped.

  He decided that he would just follow Landon’s lead. If Landon was friendly, he’d be friendly. If Landon ignored him, he’d act the same. There wasn’t much else he could do. Mind made up, he popped in his ear plugs and opened the door, striding confidently toward the back room.

  Only Landon wasn’t there.

  He wasn’t sure whether he felt disappointed or relieved. He certainly felt a little silly for working himself up when the man wasn’t even present. Maybe he had actually been sick or overwhelmed with work and he needed to cut him a little slack.

  The long table was full, with one group spilling over to a second table nearby. But since Ash was at the end of the long table it was an easy choice where to sit.

  Ash was deep in conversation with a graceful blond woman, the straps of her dress revealing her delicate arms and shoulders. Dustin figured that it would be nice to get to know someone else who signed, so he was tentatively looking forward to meeting her.

  After grabbing an extra chair from an empty table, he parked it at the corner and sat down.

  Only to meet deep gray eyes.

  The stunning woman wasn’t a stranger. It was Landon. And, fuck, he looked good in that dress, all long limbs and wide eyes. Dustin couldn’t help drifting his gaze over the elegant curves of his bare shoulders. His makeup was soft and natural, highlighting and enhancing, making his cheeks rounder and his lips pink and kissable.

  Dustin almost couldn’t reconcile the two images in his head, the gangly, edgy man and this soft, delicate creature. How many masks did Landon wear? Or was this his true form? Who was he really?