Page 96 of Love Unlimited

Zhong nodded. That helps to understand. I thought I was doing something wrong. She’s much harder to read than Ash.

I know, Dustin agreed. She definitely keeps me on my toes. He looked inordinately pleased. Then a shadow of something else crossed his face. You know I have feelings for Ash too, right?

That part was easy. Believe me, Ash told me the second we got upstairs after your guitar lesson last week. They were bouncing on the bed.

Dustin laughed. Oh, good. I was waiting for a time to talk with you about it. Is that OK with you?

More than OK. I know that Ash still loves me most of all. I can’t think of anything better than having the two most important people in my life care for each other. I don’t think I really know how to be jealous. I still think you guys should have sex, if you all want it.

Dustin snorted. I definitely get jealous. And if we’re going to have sex, we’re not there yet. Did you talk with Ash about that?

Yeah. I understand it better now. I still think it would be good for everyone.

For you, too?

Yes, Zhong replied sternly. I’ve been telling you that from the beginning.

Dustin sighed. We just don’t want to leave you out.

I’m going to be left out of some things anyway. I already am. But that doesn’t mean you all shouldn’t do something you enjoy.

It doesn’t work that way. Dustin shook his head, but he didn’t explain further. He pulled Zhong’s other foot into his lap. Tell me about your glowy feelings with Lena.

That seemed like a change of topic, but maybe they could come back to it. Zhong wanted to talk about Lena anyway. He checked to make sure that her back was still turned. He liked feeling so close to her—so close to all of them—but he needed to talk things through before he addressed it with her.

It probably would have been strange to some people that he was talking about it with Lena’s boyfriend instead of addressing it with her directly. But Dustin was who he’d always come to first with everything. And maybe in the strange ways of kink, coming to her Daddy was appropriate, too.

I only noticed a few days ago. I think it’s been happening for a while, though. I was cooking in the kitchen and I saw someone come in. I thought it was you, but it was actually Landon and… I was just really glad that he was there with me.

Can you tell me more about the glowing feeling? Specifically for Lena, I mean? That’s how you’ve talked about romantic feelings before.

Yeah. It’s hard to describe, though. I like seeing her smile, especially if I’m the one to make her smile. Her eyes are this startling gray color, and I like watching them change when she’s being sincere or naughty or flirtatious. I like watching her with you and with Ash. She’s not as direct with me sometimes, but when she feels comfortable around me, I feel warm in my chest. I don’t know. Does that help?

Yeah. That sounds different from how you’ve described things with me or Ash, though.

Zhong shrugged. I think I started noticing it earlier with Lena than I did with either of you. I also feel this thing in my belly. Like it gets all tight when I see her sometimes, and that doesn’t happen with you two.

Did you used to feel that way with Ash, too?

Zhong thought back. Yeah. Not for very long. But right after the puppy mosh, I felt that way all the time. It made everything feel more intense.

Dustin smiled. That’s anticipation, I think. You’re feeling anxious that she won’t be interested and hopeful that she will?

Zhong sighed in relief. That’s exactly it. God, I’m still really not used to this. So you think this is something, too? Not just friendship? I mean, even before I would feel happy when she was happy or I could make her happy. That’s the closest I feel like I can come to describing what I feel for you or Ash. But I don’t know if there’s that much difference for me between attraction and friendship. I would want her to be happy anyway.

Nope. You’re not allowed to say that. Dustin looked annoyed.

What?

We spent fifteen years not acknowledging the attraction between us because you didn’t know what it was and I didn’t know how to talk about it with you. Your attraction is real. It means something. Dustin lifted up Zhong’s foot and kissed the tip of his toe. It means something to me.

Zhong felt like he was floating. It means something to me, too. He could feel himself grinning. And do you think that will be OK with Lena? If I’m attracted to her, but I still don’t want sex? Or most of the kinky things you guys do?

Dustin sighed. I think that she knows a lot about you already because of me and Ash, and you’ll need to figure things out between the two of you. But I promise you, you are enough for me and you are enough for Ash. We don’t all need to give each other the same things.

OK. I just… I really have no idea what I give her. With Ash, I know. I give them all of my attention. Every time I make their lunch or get them dressed, it’s special. With you… well, I can’t really explain it as well. You don’t need my attention the same way.

You don’t ever have to explain it with me, Dustin told him. And you give me plenty of attention, because you’re always, always there for me. Just being around you is enough. You make me feel calm and centered. I think you’re not just my family, you’re my home.