Page 101 of Love Lessons: Expanded Edition

But instead, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again. She smiled, but it didn’t have the same bright eagerness she’d shown a few moments before. Sure. Let’s make dinner.

Maybe if you’re a very good girl tonight, there will be a reward. He couldn’t help adding it. Couldn’t help giving that little edge to their evening.

It was an in between space they were walking in. Flirting with dominance and submission, teasing at orgasm control. But it was still kink light, a sort of faded, vanilla version of the full depths that Dustin wanted to one day explore.

They’d both agreed to it, and in so many ways it was the right thing. They’d gone to a play and a movie. They’d tried each others’ favorite restaurants and snuggled together reading in little coffee shops. They’d tested out new recipes and cooked old favorites, mostly in Dustin’s spacious kitchen, but sometimes in Lena’s tiny apartment. They’d gone to the munch again, and she’d been practically glued to his side, getting up only to make brief introductions to a new couple.

Mostly, they’d spent hours and hours talking. The physical attraction was still there, God was it ever, but growing alongside it was something more solid and expansive. Dustin was learning Lena’s childhood stories and could practically recite her arguments against the school district decision himself.

Lena was also building friendships, and it warmed Dustin’s heart to see his two favorite people getting along so well. They’d gone to a charity event with Zhong and bid on a sculpture Ash made, though Ash told them to stop bidding when the price started soaring beyond their means. When Zhong had come over to plant the garden, Landon had spent the whole day with him, discussing the finer points of plant care with Zhong and explaining things to Ash. Dustin, meanwhile, had contributed by making lunch and watching from the back porch.

It felt increasingly like they were having double dates with Zhong and Ash, though of course the other two denied it. Zhong had been asking some… interesting questions recently, though.

Dustin realized he was getting off track. He pulled Lena against his side and guided her toward the kitchen.

What are we making?

I got some scallops. I was thinking we could grill them. The rest of the menu is risotto, salad, and asparagus. I got some berries for dessert, and we could whip some cream to go with them. Zhong wouldn’t eat the cream and Lena would have a tiny little scoop, but Dustin would enjoy it and Ash would be in heaven. It was nice knowing everyone’s preferences.

Cooking together was relaxing and sweet. Dustin paused for gentle kisses and ran his hands over Lena’s back when they crossed paths. Lena told stories about her students and Dustin got to share that his newest employee was finally, finally starting to work better with the team.

When Zhong and Ash arrived, they all decided to forego the board games for once since the weather was unseasonably warm. After dinner, they walked to the park and threw a frisbee around until it got too dark to see. Ash was charmingly terrible at the game, but a wonderful sport about it. Lena was happy to chase all of the missed catches, darting around in a pair of Dustin’s sneakers, her dress swishing with every step.

One the way back home, Lena and Ash trailed behind, giggling with each other about something. Since all of their communication was signed, Dustin couldn’t hear anything except occasional bursts of laughter, Ash’s higher and Lena’s lower. It was immensely adorable, and Dustin could just imagine the two of them having an age play playdate together some time. Lena would be the worldly wise teenager, babysitting her younger friend and no doubt leading Ash into trouble.

Dustin had a suspicion that the two of them were even giggling about something similar right now.

Dustin suggested the possibility to Zhong, who seemed startled and then thoughtful. Since Zhong was thinking, Dustin just wrapped an arm around his best friend as they walked peacefully home together.

That, too, was a joy. All of Dustin’s exes had been jealous of Zhong, if not directly, at least for the time that Dustin wanted to spend with him. Lena, however, seemed to accept Zhong’s presence in his life and even encourage it. So he didn’t worry at all about enjoying the familiar weight of Zhong’s arm around his waist or dragging his fingers through the back of Zhong’s hair in the crisp spring evening.

At the door, Dustin and Lena bid the other two goodnight and settled in to wash pots and fill the dishwasher. It felt cozy and domestic. Dustin pushed back thoughts of having Lena here every night like this, not in the distant future but immediately.

He pushed back that controlling side of himself, tempering it only with the reminder that he was doing things that were best for Lena.

When the last pan had been dried and the counters wiped down, Dustin turned to Lena. She had just finished putting the leftovers in the fridge. Feeling tired? Or do you want to do something else?

It was one of those rare days where Ash’s erratic nursing schedule let them have a game night leading into a weekend, so Lena could sleep in tomorrow if she wanted to stay up.

Not that Dustin was monitoring her schedule or anything. Well, maybe a little bit.

Lena had told him clearly that he could “hover,” but that wasn’t part of taking things slow and getting to know each other. Not to mention that he wasn’t sure that she really understood how much he thought about where she was and what she was doing each day. It was fortunate for both of them that she had a very predictable, if busy, schedule.

So he kind of checked from the sidelines and only occasionally pushed her to take breaks or go to bed early or whatever else she seemed to need. He couldn’t turn off the hovering thing entirely when her happiness was so important to him.

Lena crossed the kitchen, looking oddly nervous. Dustin’s thoughts immediately started racing, trying to figure out what was wrong.

Is everything OK? he asked.

He watched Lena’s unease slip over into seduction. It wasn’t the mask it had been before, but it was a fun side of her that was just starting to come out.

She’d been meticulous about not flirting with anyone else in the past month, even Ash. While Dustin appreciated it in some ways, it seemed like it dulled her spirit, too. He’d insisted that he didn’t mind, but it seemed like Lena was still being cautious.

That made it even more exciting to see her sexy, coquettish side come out again.

She walked right up to him, hips swaying and eyes promising glorious things. She ran one hand down his chest, ending just above the belt and lingering there. Everywhere she touched caught fire.

They were moving into new territory. She wasn’t taking charge, but seducing him, inviting him to play.