Page 84 of Love Lessons

Or, more likely, he’d started to feel insecure again.

Landon didn’t mind protective, really, as long as it was the right type of protective. He wanted growling desire, strict rules, harsh punishments, and maybe, just possibly, all-day cuddles when it was over. What he was getting was vanilla dates, a few light spankings when he asked for it, and long sensuous showers.

Not that he was complaining about the dates or the showers it was just… he wanted more, too. More of what they’d been building toward. Not this halfway place where Dustin was afraid of hurting him, and he was afraid of suggesting anything.

He texted Ash.

Landon: How do I get Dustin to punish me?

Ash: you know what i’m going to tell you

Landon: I already tried talking to him.

Ash: when you’re not in bed

Landon: I did! Really!

Ash: the bed part was a metaphor. when you’re not trying to seduce him.

Landon: ;) I did actually talk to him, though. We even looked at my list of limits together.

Landon: How do I make him not be afraid to punish me?

Ash: what’s he afraid of?

Landon: Subdrop.

He hesitated before sharing the next part. But Ash wouldn’t spread it around, and he really did need their advice if he was going to make a relationship work with Dustin. He felt like Ash was getting to be pretty close now, and Zhong seemed to trust them too, so he felt like it was OK.

Landon: I think he also feels guilty because he has auditory processing disorder and didn’t understand when his ex was asking him to stop one time. I think it was the only time he tried something kinky, too.

Ash: was his ex hurt?

Landon: It sounded like they weren’t playing with anything beyond spanking so I’m guessing it was more of a trust issue.

Ash: that sucks. it sounds like it wasn’t his fault.

Landon. I know. But what do I DO?

Ash: are you ready for some mind-blowing advice?

Landon: Please!

Ash: talk to him

Landon should have expected that. But he saw the text bubbles and held off on a sarcastic reply.

Ash: tell him what subdrop is like for you and how he can help you when it happens

Ash: then figure out how you can safeword with his APD

Ash: maybe use a bell if your hands are tied up

Holy shit. Why the hell hadn’t he thought of that? Not to mention, had he actually talked about what subdrop was like from a practical perspective?

Landon: You’re a genius!

Ash: i know. you owe me chocolate.