Page 107 of Love Lessons: Expanded Edition

Chapter 20

Landon

Landon checked his texts as he walked out to the car. Even though he knew to expect it, seeing Dustin’s name still sent a little jolt of pleasure through him. It had been a long day and this was just what he needed.

Dustin: How was the meeting?

Landon: Great. We’re mostly set for the event.

Landon smiled. It was kind of amazing having a boyfriend who remembered his schedule and checked in on him every night. He felt cared for and adored.

Sometimes he didn’t miss the kink at all. Or at least he forgot about missing it.

Dustin: Let me know when you get home.

Landon: I will.

Landon got into his car and drove the familiar route, wishing he were going to Dustin’s place instead. Not for any reason. He just wanted to be there.

They were spending so much time together, now. The weather was getting warmer and they went on picnics and long runs in gorgeous parks over the weekends. They’d even started spending a few more nights a week together. Not all of them, which Landon would have greedily claimed. But a lot.

Last weekend, Landon had eventually caved to both Dustin and Maggie nagging at him and brought Dustin over to meet his sister and the kids. Naturally, Dustin was great with the kids. He’d shown an unexpected skill in juggling, and they’d both chased the kids around the back yard for hours. Maggie loved Dustin, and it felt like Landon’s family was getting a little bit bigger.

Landon tried to cling to those happy memories as he drove home through the flash of streetlights, but other thoughts from the day started creeping back in. Another parent had asked for an after school meeting with him, seeking his advice on where to place her son next year.

He didn’t have much to say, since he’d never heard anything back from the district or his principal. The last day of school was just around the corner, and he still had no idea where or if he’d be teaching next year.

His last hope was the appointment with the superintendent next week. Apparently the director of special education services and the director of middle and high school curriculum were supposed to be there as well. He felt a little nervous, but he didn’t want to let his kids down. At least it was something that he could do.

That brought Landon’s thoughts back to Dustin. It was almost like a fairytale relationship in so many ways.

Except.

Except.

Except there were times like these when he really did miss the kink and just wanted Dustin to take everything away.

Landon wanted to be strong, though. To prove that he could do it. To really show his devotion and commitment by listening to his Dom. Even if his Dom wanted him to be vanilla.

Which was strange because most of their kinky relationship so far had been Landon letting out a rebellious streak he hadn’t even known he had.

That was very different, though. Rebelling was only safe when Dustin was there to catch him.

When they weren’t playing, the thought of disappointing Dustin made his heart hurt.

It sucked, because Dustin seemed absolutely happy with the way that things were going. That made Landon even more worried that anything he did wrong would mess things up.

He tried to be good. To be accommodating and helpful and ready to compromise. It was always what he did when he felt uncertain, because he hated conflict. And he really did like it when Dustin doted on him and took care of him.

Ash reminded him that relationships needed communication and compromise. Even his sister had talked about it when he went to see her.

The thing was, most of the time it was completely fine. When they were hanging out together, he was usually happy.

Right now, though, he was getting that itchy feeling, like a lizard that had outgrown its old skin.

He couldn’t fight the impression that Dustin was getting more tentative about kink instead of more confident. He’d finally asked for a spanking a few weeks ago, and he’d gotten one. The moment had been electric. It just hadn’t led to anything further.

The time when they might start exploring more of the kinks that initially brought them together seemed to be getting further away instead of closer.