Page 102 of Love Unlimited

There was a movie to watch, and he wanted to know what was going to happen next.

By the time the first movie ended, Landon was feeling so relaxed that he didn’t want to move.

His hip hurt, but he still didn’t want to get up. There was the chance that if he sat up, Zhong wouldn’t hold him again, or it might be awkward.

He’d forgotten the five-minute intermission between movies, though. As the overhead lights slowly brightened, Zhong stretched, gently shaking him loose. Landon decided to stretch, too. It felt good.

Want to go buy some popcorn? Zhong reached into his pocket and pulled out a five dollar bill.

The theater sold popcorn in red plastic solo cups for a dollar, fortunately only lightly buttered.

Sure. Landon took the money.

He had his own wallet, of course. And it was only a dollar. But it still felt like a very Daddy move.

Zhong caught his hand just as he was walking away and pulled him back. Thank you. Zhong’s eyes were full of some emotion. Like this meant as much to him as it did to Landon.

I didn’t do anything, Landon protested.

Zhong ran his thumb over the back of Landon’s hand, sending shivers racing through him. You let me see a part of yourself that you usually keep hidden, and I’m honored. That was very brave of you.

Landon shook his head, even though it was all true and he was still craving more of it. I didn’t feel brave. I felt angry and needy.

And you gave me the honor of sharing that with me. I’m proud of you and… that was very special for me. For the first time all evening, Zhong looked nervous. I hope that was OK for you, too.

Yeah, you got it just right. Very different from Dustin, but just right. Landon still wanted to go home and let the intensity of Daddy’s marks on his flesh push him into oblivion. But for now, the need was muted. The ants beneath his skin had gone back to sleep, and he could wait.

Zhong’s beaming smile made Landon grin in return. Can we still cuddle when you get back? he asked, still a bit hesitant.

Landon smothered a giggle that Zhong had been worried about the same thing. Yeah. As soon as I get back.

Chapter 17

Ash

Ash looked around their apartment. The dress fabric they’d been cutting out was still sitting on the couch where they’d left it nearly a month ago. Was that possible? A full month?

Zhong came up behind them and wrapped his arms around them. What do you need to get? he signed in front of both of their bodies.

Ash chuckled. It was more a question of what was left. Between spending two or three nights a week at Dustin’s place and another two or three nights at Zhong’s place, they barely saw their own apartment any more. Tonight they were just here to pick up some things before heading to Daddy’s apartment.

Ash’s sewing projects had ground to a halt, except for one outfit they’d been sewing patches on by hand. Just looking at the piles of bright fabric made them itch to pick one of those projects up again.

They hadn’t missed it much, though. Sewing was an excellent solitary project, but their life had been too full and beautiful these last few months to miss it. Now when they had alone time, it was usually the best type of alone time—with Zhong, or sometimes Dustin or Landon, working in the same room.

Even when Ash had two shifts on adjacent days and mostly just ate and slept in between, they still usually headed over to Daddy’s place because it was closer. And it had Daddy in it.

But Ash’s long, irregular days meant that they often had long stretches of time off when everyone else was busy. My sewing machine? they asked.

Zhong stepped closer to the sewing machine, and then looked over at the precarious towers of fabric. Some were full bolts and some were folded squares. Some were neatly pinned and labeled, waiting for the next steps. But most of it was piles of cloth, casually cast aside and moments away from an avalanche.

Is all of this coming too? he asked, slightly worried. Yet he never suggested that Ash shouldn’t do it. He was probably just thinking about where to store everything.

That was just the beginning of why Ash loved him so much. Nope. I’ll just bring what I need for a couple of projects. This is mostly storage for old projects or things I was thinking about doing.

Zhong grinned at him. So your apartment is basically your storage closet.

It was funny because it was true. Oh God. You’re right. Most expensive storage closet on the planet.