Dustin bit his ear and he yelped, even as the beautiful pain shot through his body. Dustin licked over the abused skin, soothing it and making Landon shiver.
Dustin pulled up one of Landon’s hands, and then the other, until he was holding both wrists in one wide hand. Landon could have easily pulled out, but it was the idea of it. Of being trapped and held at Dustin’s mercy.
Dustin squeezed his chin, turning his head until they were looking at each other. When their eyes were locked, Dustin dropped his hand to sign. Feeling defiant today? His face held a calm curiosity, almost like whatever Landon said would be an acceptable answer.
But Landon couldn’t very well admit to it. He shook his head.
Dustin gave a small laugh, as though this was all funny. Like all of the jumbled, sexy, rebellious feelings bubbling up inside Landon were amusing.
Landon pushed back against him, embarrassed and wanting to escape.
But Dustin just pressed him harder into the cabinet. He was going to have bruises on his hips tomorrow. He could already imagine what they’d look like.
Then Dustin yanked on his wrists and spun him around. He stepped back in quickly, so that they were still pressed impossibly close together, but now he couldn’t hide from Dustin’s eyes.
Nor could he hide his very firm erection. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to hide it, but it felt like, on top of everything else, it was giving away too much. Dustin ground against him.
It felt painfully perfect, and also overwhelming. This time Landon had taken them off-script and he had no idea what was going on now. He couldn’t tell why his breath was coming out high and fast and every beat of his heart hinged on whatever Dustin would do next.
Whatever it was, Landon really hoped he hadn’t screwed things up.
Of course, Dustin’s next move wasn’t anything that Landon could have predicted.
He stood there for an endless moment, pinning Landon and just watching him. Like he could see into his soul.
Then his eyes softened, and he gave Landon a gentle kiss on the forehead. You have all my attention, he finally said. You don’t ever need to do anything to get my attention because you already have it.
Landon nodded, overwhelmed. Those were absolutely not tears at the corners of his eyes.
And Dustin wasn’t even done, though his face had gone stern again. If you need to rebel, I want you to know that you won’t chase me off. In fact, I think it’s hot. Just know that you’re going to get a punishment for it later. Understand?
Landon nodded, his hands still trapped.
Dustin laughed again, but now that Landon could really see it, he understood it better. Dustin wasn’t laughing at him. He was just happy, delighted to have Landon at his mercy. All of his bratty behavior was exactly what Dustin wanted.
Landon wanted to smile back, but instead he scowled, egging Dustin on.
Dustin raised one eyebrow, and then suddenly Dustin’s hand was on Landon’s cock, squeezing it in rapid strokes that would surely push Landon over the edge.
Landon whimpered. He felt so sublimely owned and wanted. Like this rough jerking through his jeans was a punishment and a gift all at once.
Every nerve was on fire. Every piece of him that was touching Dustin--the thighs pressing hard against him, the tight hand circling his wrists, and that vicious hand on his cock--all strung together and met in some glorious place inside him. He bucked into Dustin’s hand, knowing that he would spill in just a few more strokes.
And then Dustin stopped. He fucking stopped.
He just let go of Landon’s wrists and pulled away from his dick, like he hadn’t been an instant away from giving Landon exactly what he wanted...
Landon stomped his foot.
Dustin smiled so hard his eyes scrunched up. You’re so fucking beautiful I don’t know what to do with you.
Landon felt something bursting in his chest. You could make me come, he wheedled anyway. He was going insane.
No. I already said that we weren’t going to have sex tonight.
Landon could feel his eyes popping open. Not at all? After all that?
No. And then Dustin was leaning in to give him a sweet, languid kiss, all soft lips and tracing tongue.
Landon felt his spine turning liquid, his whole weight born up by Dustin’s strong arms and the counter where Dustin had put him.
Because he was aching with arousal. He was dizzy with it, with those sweet kisses and the knowledge that Dustin wasn’t going to allow him to come.
He was so totally fucked for Dustin and all of his crazy, off-script, wonderful brand of control.
Dustin slowly moved to kissing his cheek, then up to his temple and the top of his head. Landon nuzzled into him. Because he was warm and safe and made Landon feel like he was something precious.
Eventually Dustin pulled away. Are you doing alright?
Landon nodded. Oddly, he felt better than he had all week.
Dustin gave him one more peck on the lips. Good. Because your next job is helping me cook.
Landon felt himself smiling. Yeah, he was fucked.
Chapter 10
Dustin
Dustin swatted away Landon’s hand as he tried to sneak a strawberry. Those are for dessert!
Just one? Please? Landon went all pouty and adorable, and it just turned him inside out.
Just one, he agreed. We don’t want to ruin your appetite. He sliced off a piece of strawberry and pressed it to Landon’s lips, then held it back, pausing until Landon stood there, waiting, with his mouth open and his body still. Like a baby bird.
He was dressed more conservatively today, like the middle school teacher that he was, and there was something about seeing him that way that made Dustin want to crack through everything. Give him the space to forget.
Dustin slowly pressed the treat to Landon’s tongue, leaving his finger there so that Landon sucked on both. If he hadn’t been turned on before, he certainly was now. This was exhilarating.
When the juice was running down Landon’s chin, he withdrew his finger, amused and touched that Landon leaned forward to follow it.
He gave him a playful slap on the ass and turned him toward the microwave. No more until after dinner. And that felt fucking amazing, too.
Dustin had started the evening feeling like an imposter. He’d been reading all week about bratty subs and power exchange relationships, and while he recognized the craving inside him, he wasn’t sure if he could actually pull it off.
He’d imagined dozens of scenarios, some during the long, steamy showers he seemed to be taking every day, and some while nervously reading through yet more blogs and websites, trying to figure out where he fit into all of it.
And then Landon had looked up at him, with that sneering, rebellious expression and that hint of a tremble in his lip, and it had just flowed.
Dustin wanted to be in control, and it seemed that Landon wanted to give him that control, though not without a fight first.
The only thing was, he could feel himself getting greedy for it. Now that he’d dipped his toe in the water, it was like some cavernous pit had opened beneath him.
He’d been fighting it all week. Wanting to know where Landon was. Wanting to know if he was happy and healthy and had everything he needed. Wanting him close by.
But he also knew that only crazy stalkers thought like that, and he tried to reel it back in. He’d even put a limit on how many times he could initiate a text with Landon each day: two, though he was allowed to reply back once a conversation started.
So he thought he was doing alright, but that looming pit was ready to swallow him up as soon as he let his guard down.
He really wasn’t sure what kind of person this made him, and knowing that other people were in power exchange relationships wasn’t helpful. How did they even get that way?
More importantly, was that something Landon might want?
They still hadn’t agreed on anything but “lessons” and Dustin’s demands that they ac
t like friends. It didn’t help that when he’d suggested, or maybe demanded, that Landon could consider this a date or a hang out, that Landon hadn’t answered.
If Landon wanted out in a few weeks, it was going to crush him.
He told himself that it didn’t make any sense. They’d hooked up once and it had been hot. They’d spent a day together and he’d made Lena do her laundry while she pouted at him. And now Landon was here, in his kitchen, shaking his ass in those formless jeans while he microwaved chocolate chips and Dustin thought about forever.
He watched Landon dip a finger into the melted chocolate and swiftly intercepted with a harder swat to his ass.
Hey! I was testing to see if it was melted.
Dustin gave him two more swats, even harder, and watched while Landon’s body tensed and then relaxed. That’s for lying to me. Dustin pulled Landon’s hand to his mouth and sucked the chocolate from his finger. Landon’s eyes widened, drawing Dustin in.
Dustin pressed one more kiss to his open palm. It hadn’t escaped his notice that gestures like that, the ones that were more romantic than sensual or sexual, made Landon nervous.
So he kept reminding himself that this might be temporary.
You finish the salad and I’ll dip the fruit, he told Landon in mock annoyance.
Landon stuck his tongue out, which was even funnier when he was wearing his incongruously grown-up clothes. I don’t really like chocolate that much anyway.
Really? He couldn’t tell if he meant it or was just being difficult.
Landon huffed. Dustin had no idea why he found that so adorable. Yes, really. Can you leave some of them without chocolate?
Dustin gathered him close and gave him a slow, tender kiss. Of course. We’ll leave plenty for you.
Landon nuzzled in closer, fitting perfectly into his arms.
Dustin reminded himself that even if this ended, he could use this time to let Landon know that he saw him. That Landon was desirable and desired. That he could be himself.
Dustin wanted to leave an imprint.
Eventually Dustin went back to coating the strawberries and bananas while Landon chopped vegetables. They couldn’t talk with their backs to each other. But it was a comfortable moment. A calm togetherness.
Dustin was starting to regret inviting other people over. Even though he wanted Zhong to meet Landon, and for Landon to make more friends, he wished he hadn’t chosen their second date/not-date for it.
And that was the moment when the doorbell rang. Dustin startled but Landon, of course, didn’t even look up.
Doorbell, he explained. I’ll be right back.
Zhong and Ash happened to arrive at the same time. Dustin gave Zhong a full body hug, feeling the larger man melt into him, and then greeted Ash.
Ash was wearing another work of art, a sort of dress-suit-thing with newsprint fabric and what looked like singed circular holes. It was probably supposed to make some sort of statement, but he wasn’t sure what it was.
Ash handed him a six pack of fancy, natural sodas. I don’t drink, they explained, but I thought everyone might enjoy this.
Sure, looks good. Come on in. Zhong had already made his way into the kitchen.
Dustin was going to make introductions, but it looked like they’d already taken care of it.
How do you pronounce your name? Landon was asking.
Zhong chuckled. Deaf people asked him this surprisingly often if they thought they were going to have to voice it. My name’s Z-H-O-N-G, he turned to include Ash in the conversation, and I’ve been Deaf since birth, so I really have no idea what it sounds like. But if you ever had a speech therapist make you say “azure” or “garage,” he held a hand to his throat to demonstrate, until you wanted to punch them, apparently it sounds like that.
Everyone cracked up, and after that it was a fun evening. He and Landon had made a bunch of finger foods that were easy to eat while they were sitting around the coffee table and playing board games.
They started out playing Scrabble and Dustin kept his foot pressed to the outside of Landon’s ankle. They didn’t talk about it, but Landon looked up at him and smiled whenever he ran his toes along his calf.
Dustin lost horribly, which he had known he would. He was only surprised to discover that Ash won the game instead of Zhong.
After that, they switched to playing Codenames. Since they were playing on teams, he got to pull Landon in next to him, and even feed him a bite or two. He was totally tanking the game, since he couldn’t focus for long enough to think of useful combinations of words. And he kind of didn’t care.
He slipped piece of banana, free of chocolate coating, into Landon’s mouth and then kissed his nose.
Something hit him on the cheek, though. You guys are disgusting, Ash complained good naturedly.
Landon picked up the crumpled napkin and lobbed it back. I told you I saw him first.
Yeah, but if I knew he was going to go all Daddy on you instead of being a one-night stand, I would have fought you for him harder.
Dustin could feel Landon tensing up in his arms. Dammit. But what had set him off? The one-night stand? The Daddy part? He didn’t even really understand the Daddy thing. But he was sure as fuck going to before he saw Landon again.
Poor me, Ash was carrying on, to Zhong’s amusement.
But Dustin had eyes only for Landon. He held his chin and waited until he had his full attention. He didn’t give a shit if anyone observed their conversation, but he was glad to notice from the corner of his eye that Zhong had distracted Ash.
You get to decide what this is. Nobody else. There’s no pressure, remember. You’re teaching me about kink and we both get to explore some new things together. I like you a lot, and I want to spend more time together, but it’s your choice. Don’t worry about Ash.
It would have been harder to tell Landon that this was all his choice, because Dustin frankly wanted to apply all the pressure he could until Landon was his. And then keep applying that pressure just because he could.
But even more than that, he wanted Landon to be confident and safe. And know that he was treasured.
Eventually Landon nodded, but he didn’t reply. He seemed a little relieved, though, so hopefully some part of that had been helpful. They were really going to have to talk sometime, though probably not until they had a few more dates together. Right now, Landon still felt like a flight risk, and Dustin didn’t want to spark the jets.
He pulled Landon back against his side, and this time he came willingly. He pressed a kiss to the top of his head, elated when he just snuggled in closer.
Ash sighed dramatically. I think you two should stop cuddling out of respect for the single people in the room.
Landon stuck out his tongue. Dustin thought it was cute, but mostly he was just glad Landon hadn’t stressed out again. He suspected that Ash didn’t realize how difficult this might be for Landon or they wouldn’t have teased.
But Zhong’s eyes lit up. Dustin gave a subtle nod, encouraging him. He always felt just a bit guilty when he was dating someone, or at least obsessing over them like he was with Landon, and didn’t get to spend enough time with Zhong. Having Ash to cuddle with him would be perfect.
Zhong leaned over to the chair where Ash was sitting and touched their knee to gather their attention. If you’re looking for cuddles, I’m always open.
Really? Ash seemed excited, but just a bit hesitant.
He’s a cuddle slut, Dustin interjected. Go for it.
That seemed to be all it took to overcome Ash's reservations. They crawled into Zhong’s open arms, barely squeezing into the narrow armchair together. But they wore matching smiles.
After that, it was even harder for Dustin to pay attention to the game. Because Ash was flirting with Zhong, and Zhong… was maybe flirting back? He’d never seen him watch someone with such careful attention. Or smile so much.
Was it just that he’d finally realized that he might be romantic as well as asexual? Or was there s
omething special about Ash? Dustin could definitely see the appeal--Ash was funny and cute, and if he weren’t so caught up in Landon he might have been interested.
Do you think they would notice if we stopped playing the game? Dustin signed subtly to Landon.
No, don’t stop the game. They need it for a cover to keep snuggling.
Dustin laughed. Zhong would totally give them his number just so they would come over and snuggle.
That’s cute.
Yeah, actually… come help me put some of these plates away in the kitchen.
Landon raised an eyebrow. OK, so it was a terrible excuse, but he was going with it. We’re going to clean up for a minute and then come back to finish the game.
Zhong and Ash both acknowledged him, so Dustin picked up a few plates and wandered into the kitchen.
What was that all about?
Dustin peaked back toward the living room. Yeah, Zhong and Ash weren’t missing them at all.
But Dustin did need to share a bit about his relationship with Zhong if he wanted to continue things with Landon. Hopefully he’d take it the right way.
I’ve told you before that Zhong’s my best friend. We’re really close.
If you’re about to tell me that you fuck sometimes, no judgment, responded Landon quickly, though it seemed a little forced.
Actually, kind of the opposite. He’s asexual. We actually tried it once, well, I whacked off, and he watched me. But it was like he was watching mating habits of the sea manatee on the Nature Channel.
Landon raised his eyebrow. So you identify as a sea manatee?
He couldn’t help but laugh. Uh… no. It was just the first bizarre animal I could think of. At any rate, he doesn’t experience sexual attraction, but he really likes physical contact, so I cuddle with him a lot. People always used to think we were dating in college, and we still have a really close friendship. It’s not romantic but… he’s important to me. And we spend a lot of time together.
Dustin waited, nervous about how Landon would respond. Both of his exes had been jealous of his time with Zhong and he hated that.
That’s really sweet, actually. I wish I had a good friend like that.
Love Lessons (Love Language Book 2) Page 16
