Page 7 of Love Lessons: Expanded Edition

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 dark eyes and square jaw. 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. Zhong 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. For a while, Dustin had really hoped there was something more between them, but had reluctantly had to let it go.

It turned out that Dustin was attracted to men and women, and Zhong thought humans made good friends.

So Dustin shouldn’t have been blushing.

Zhong certainly wasn’t blushing.

Zhong was practically zealous about Dustin trying BDSM. Dustin couldn’t tell if he was just 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. Dustin knew from experience.

OK, so tell me what you were watching. Actually, wait. I want to see it, Zhong prodded.

I don’t know why I indulge you. It was a scene with a whip. Are you sure you want to see it?

See? That wasn’t that hard. And yes, I want to see it. Share your screen. What did you like about it?

Dustin sighed. Even though it led to some of the weirdest conversations ever, he kind of appreciated how calm and matter-of-fact Zhong was about sex. And kink now, apparently.