Page 112 of Love Limits

Just looking at Zhong still made Ash go weak in the knees, and they wouldn’t trade him for anything. But Lena’s seductive smile could make their heart race, too.

Lena laughed. You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?

Yeah, they admitted. Sorry. Well, they were thinking about Zhong and Lena, but they weren’t sure if they should admit it.

Lena gave a rueful smile. No worries. Sometimes it’s fun to just flirt. It still doesn’t have to mean anything.

Thanks for understanding. I think I just… it’s really important to me that my Daddy feels like he’s enough. I don’t want him to think that I need to get something that he can’t provide. It had been two heavenly weeks since they got together, but Ash could still tell that their Daddy worried. He consulted his notebook all the time, which cracked them up, though they’d never let him know.

You know that it’s OK if you do need something else, right? Lena signed softly. You’ve been poly before, and you don’t have to get all of your needs met by the same person.

Yeah. I think it’s something that I need to demonstrate for him, though.

Lena shrugged. This is kind of my way of testing things with my Daddy, too.

So you’re going to go home and tell him all about this?

In great detail. I’m going to tell him all about how you brushed my hair, and cuddled up against me… She leaned back into Ash’s arms to demonstrate. Daddy will think it’s cute. Or maybe he’ll be all growly and jealous? I don’t actually know, but he said I could flirt. She paused. We’re still figuring ourselves out a lot more than you two seem to be.

Ash shook their head. We still have a ton to figure out, too. Just because we’ve been in this relationship for a while without admitting it doesn’t mean it’s all falling into place.

Want to talk about it?

Ash considered. It was mostly Zhong who needed to figure things out. Ash wasn’t in any hurry. Honestly, I’d rather tell you about my new leash.

Zhong bought you one?

Yes! It’s teal and black, just like my pup, and it has little paw prints on it.

I bet you look adorable in it. I can just imagine how cute you are! You know, I’ve never seen your pup. There went the flirting again with those smoldering eyes. Do you have floppy ears or are they perky?

Perky ears. Maybe I’ll let you see sometime… Now Ash was flirting, too, leaning closer and letting their eyes tease at possibilities. Even if they never followed through on any of it, it was fun. They’d talked with Lena enough that they probably weren’t sending mixed signals.

Or at least only the good kind of mixed signals. The ones that played with possibilities.

They felt their phone buzz and whipped it out of their pocket. Lena didn’t seem at all offended by the interruption, though she was trying to read over their shoulder. Ash let her see.

Zhong: Heading home now.

Zhong: I got something that my little Ash might enjoy.

Lena put her hand over her heart and pretended to swoon. He’s so perfect for you.

I know! I can tell him that I won’t be over for a while if you still want company while you pack.

Nah. It really won’t take me very long. It was awesome hanging out, though. Let’s do it more often.

Definitely.

Lena pulled out her phone to write to her own Daddy, sharing the display together while they giggled.

Lena: hey daddy

Lena: z got ash a leash.

Lena: how come i don’t have a leash?

Daddy: Is that how we ask for things?