Page 7 of Love Lessons

Well, that was cryptic.

“I’ll think about it, Sir.” It was the easiest response.

Landon took a quick shower and changed into the thin t-shirt and shorts that he always left at the bottom of the bag that he took to the club. They were supposed to be back-ups, but they’d work well enough tonight.

He tied the laces in his sneakers tight. Then, he checked out at the front and ran all the way home, his bag banging awkwardly even when he held it across his chest.

When he finally made it home, he was floppy and tired and mentally relaxed. He’d just needed that little boost of impact play, and he knew he’d be back to himself in the morning.

But Master Hiroto’s words still circled at the back of his mind, like fish nibbling at fallen leaves. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else out there.

Chapter 2

Dustin

Dustin jumped in his desk chair, heart racing, as the blue Skype screen and distinctive low chimes overtook his monitor.

After taking a calming breath, he clicked the green button anyway, since it was Zhong and he knew he’d get a kick out of this.

Just a sec, he signed once the video turned on. I need to close something.

He rapidly closed the other window and then switched back to his best friend’s round face. Zhong peered at him inquisitively.

You look a little frazzled, Zhong observed, also in ASL.

No, you just surprised me.

Still working? Is it the client or your employee?

Neither. Though the client that his company was consulting for was driving him batty and he was pretty sure that his new employee wasn’t going to make it past her probationary period. He usually loved both coding and managing his small team, but this month had been rough.

Which was his excuse for what he’d actually been doing when he finished up work for the day. He adjusted himself in his pants, glad the camera showed only his face and shoulders.

Oh… Zhong smirked. I “interrupted” something.

You’re such an ass.

You’re allowed to watch porn. His best friend paused for effect. As long as you tell me about it.

Watch your own porn!

But it’s so much more fun hearing about yours. Zhong was asexual and found the entire concept of porn mystifying. What were you watching?

Dustin tried hard not to blush. This was Zhong. They’d actually made out when they were roommates in college trying to figure out what interested them. It turned out that Dustin liked men and women, and Zhong thought kissing was alright, since it was a bit like “tongue cuddling,” but still didn’t get turned on by anything.

So he shouldn’t have been blushing. But ever since Alan had dumped him a few months ago and he’d spilled out all of his secret desires one drunken night, Zhong was constantly on him about trying BDSM.

Dustin couldn’t tell if Zhong was trying to be supportive or if he was fascinated by the concept. Who knew? Maybe this was all sociological research to him. Or maybe he just liked seeing Dustin get flustered.

You’re going to think it’s weird.

Nope. I don’t think any of it’s weird. Or any weirder than anything else. I mean, touching excretory organs to other excretory organs is weird. He had to fingerspell “excretory” and Dustin rolled his eyes. I mean, you poop and pee out of those. Have you ever thought about that?

Ugh. Only around you. I’ll make sure not to touch you with my excretory organs.

Actually, I probably wouldn’t notice.

It was true. The first time that Dustin had popped a boner while they were cuddling back in college, Zhong had asked some slightly embarrassing and personal questions. Then he’d watched Dustin whack off the way a scientist would watch someone dissecting a squid. It had been an interesting evening all around and had cemented their friendship.