Page 104 of Love Limits

Zhong scowled. He should really know better than to ask that.

Why should I buy food, if you’re just going to cook for me?

It was a joke, but it was also the truth. They almost never cooked for themself anymore. Between meals at Zhong’s place and the leftovers he packed for them, buying food was asking for it to spoil. Instead, they paid for a restaurant meal with Zhong about once a week and figured it was about even.

Zhong shook his head fondly. You have to buy the food so I can cook it.

I bet you have more snacks in your bag…

No more treats. Breakfast. Zhong grabbed their hands and pulled them to their feet, drawing them into his arms in the same motion. They rocked together that way for a moment, and he gave them a kiss on the forehead before they parted. I don’t know how you manage to survive when I’m not around.

I don’t, they wanted to say. I need you with me every second of every day as my Daddy and my Handler and my boyfriend. Please, please, please like me and my kinks and keep me forever.

Instead they watched Zhong’s gorgeous back as he walked out of the room. At least they had a delicious breakfast to look forward to.

Probably at the cafe around the corner once he looked in their fridge.

***

The day rolled by slowly. Zhong was tapping away on his laptop along one end of their wall-length desk.

Ash had given up on starting sewing projects they weren’t going to finish and was doodling around. Maybe they could write a comic book? No, that was a project they’d certainly never complete. Perhaps some illustrations, though?

The real reason they couldn’t settle, though, was Zhong.

They wanted to be close to him.

They knew that if they asked for cuddles, he’d move his laptop over to the couch and work beside them.

If they really wanted attention, he’d just close it and snuggle them all up.

It was like seeing everything they wanted as a reflection in a mirror. So real that you could touch it, until you bumped your head on the glass.

Zhong looked up. Your phone’s buzzing a lot.

It was plugged in right next to where Zhong was typing, probably annoying him with each vibration.

He’d mentioned it before, but Ash had been ignoring it. They knew that Landon would want to know how the evening went. Once he heard, he’d prod them to do something and… what if it didn’t work out?

Looks like messages from Landon and Josh. There was no expression on his face when he signed Josh’s name. You might want to get back to them.

Ash waved it away. Landon just wants to bug me and Josh is trying to reschedule.

You love Landon. And shouldn’t you reschedule? The dating club needs another episode.

This was the first time he hadn’t called it the Disastrous Dating Club. That hurt. Because it sounded like Zhong was pushing them away.

I don’t think I’m going to see him anymore.

Zhong turned around fully now, but Ash still couldn’t read anything on his face. I thought you liked him. He’s the best one so far, right?

No, the best one so far was already sitting in front of them. Maybe not.

You said he had a good reason for canceling, though, Zhong insisted.

Fuck. Why the hell were they even arguing about this?

Are you OK? Now Zhong looked concerned.