Page 23 of Love Lessons: Expanded Edition

Yeah.

Now that was interesting. Landon was so outgoing that he would have figured he’d choose a similar comic book character. Was that how he saw himself? Academic and serious, but with an appearance that didn’t match? Now that he thought about it, a lot of the books on those shelves indicated a bit of a science nerd, which made sense for a math and science teacher.

I forgot about Beast. He was pretty awesome.

Landon gave him a small smile but didn’t take the bait. Dustin felt a sense of unexpected loss. He hadn’t expected to be instant best friends, and he knew this was just supposed to be a “lesson,” but he really would like to get to know Landon better.

Landon eased back on the couch, showing off the long lines of his torso, the graceful length of his legs. It was an unmistakable invitation and completely transformed him from the shy comic book geek back to the flirty man Dustin had met before.

Landon was just so… sexual, sitting there with all of that gorgeous skin on display. Dustin wouldn’t lie to himself and say that he didn’t want to climb all over him. His muscles were smooth and inviting, his long hair just waiting to be caressed and tugged.

But that confident sexuality was also intimidating. Especially when Dustin was supposed to be taming or controlling it somehow.

Dustin scrambled for something to talk about, but he felt like an idiot even as he was signing it. How was dinner with your family?

Landon looked guilty, though Dustin couldn’t imagine why. Oh, it was great.

How old did you say the kids were?

They’re seven and four years old. The older one is really into Pokémon cards and the younger one wants to be, but he has no idea what he’s talking about. His shoulders were still tense, but his smile was genuine. So, he wasn’t lying about the kids, but he was feeling guilty about something else.

It probably shouldn’t have been Dustin’s business, but everything about Landon had him intrigued. He was a puzzle and Dustin wanted to solve it.

Landon had been so open and friendly this morning, ready to talk about anything. But here in his home, he seemed guarded. And definitely hiding behind sex. He reverted to it whenever things got uncomfortable.

Or maybe he just really didn’t want more than their formal teacher-student relationship. He probably wanted to do their lesson and send Dustin home.

But that nervous evasiveness just made Dustin want to know more. To break through that protective shell and see Landon relax. It sounds like they’re lucky to have you in their lives. Do you play Pokémon with them?

Landon covered his face with his hand, but he seemed to be acting out embarrassment more than feeling it. He looked up between his fingers. I do. I actually played it until I was like, fifteen or something. Now the kids have all of my cards. Did he look wistful?

Dustin could envision Landon as an awkward, gangly high school geek. He must have been adorable. He wondered if he still felt that way under that sexy, mature exterior.

For the first time Dustin felt like maybe this could work. Landon was more human and touchable now. Dustin wasn’t sure whether it was easier to talk about Pokémon because he’d already given his cards away, because they’d already paved the way with comic books, or because he liked his sister’s kids, but he was glad Landon was opening up.

Landon luxuriously stretched and Dustin couldn’t keep himself from staring. God, he had that casual sensuality down to a T, his body language enticing and unquestionably erotic.

Alright. The first two times had been sexy, but the third one was a bit of not-so-subtle hint. Landon wanted him to get started, but Dustin still had no idea what he wanted or how to get there.

He kept wondering if Landon had any friends when he was younger. Growing up Deaf or gay wasn’t usually easy, depending on where you lived. While Landon certainly seemed to have a lot of friends now, it didn’t sound like he was close to anyone except his sister.

He cast around the room, trying to prolong their conversation for a few more minutes. He was about to ask about the potted plants when Landon captured his attention.

Ready for your lesson? He made it look so dirty, the way that he moved his body and tilted his head when he signed “lesson.” But of course, it was dirty. And it was kind of hot to think of it that way.

Dustin was a little sad, though, that he wouldn’t get to talk to Landon a bit more. He was intrigued by all of his contradictions and wanted to get to know him better.

And, if he was being honest, he was still terrified about what would happen next.

He knew that Landon was a switch, which made it even worse. What if Landon was even better at this than he was? Would he be getting advice from Landon as another Dom or a sub?

He was starting to regret his decision to come over at all. But since he was here, his best option was honesty. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.

That’s alright. We’re not going to do anything that we don’t talk about first.Something seemed to occur to Landon, and he strutted across the room. Picking up his phone, he settled back onto the couch, but much closer to Dustin’s chair.

Dustin could see him slipping into “teacher” mode as he launched into a lecture. In a strange way, he looked much more comfortable like this than when he’d been posing on the couch.

The first rule about any encounter is that, as the Dom, it’s your responsibility to choose activities that the sub is interested in or willing to try. It’s true that the sub is really the one in control, because the Dom can only take the control that the sub is willing to give him. Do you know about hard and soft limits?