Page 58 of Love Limits

Zhong: Hey Ash, just checking again to see if you want to come over. No pressure, but I’m about to put the focaccia in the oven, and it’s better fresh. =)

There was a picture of a puffy rectangle of dough, glistening with olive oil and herbs. It looked delectable.

Zhong: Hope you’re having a good evening. Let me know if we’re still on for tomorrow night.

Dammit. The texts had been sent over the course of the past four hours, and Ash had totally missed them. They probably wouldn’t have skipped the mosh just to see Zhong, especially since they were going over tomorrow after work. The shorter drive was their excuse to stop by on the way home.

But the invitation made them feel all warm inside.

Was midnight too late to write back? Ash figured that the nice part about texts was that people didn’t have to read them until the next day.

Ash: so sorry! i was at a thing.

They found a picture of a dejected puppy and sent it.

Bubbles formed, so they waited in the lobby to see the reply. The spring days were warm, but at night it was still too cold out to stand around outside.

Zhong: Are you doing OK?

They’d intended the picture to show their feelings about missing out on homemade focaccia, but since Zhong was asking, they shared a bit more. Zhong had made them feel comfortable with everything so far.

Ash: i’m ok. long day. kinda tired and lonely. can’t wait to see u tomorrow.

Zhong: Want to come over tonight? You can sleep over.

They felt a rising excitement. Was it really that easy? Zhong might not be their Handler, but he was exactly who they needed right now.

Ash: rly?

Zhong: Yeah. Couch or bed. Your toothbrush is still here.

Zhong: I’m tired, though, so no hanky panky. ;)

Ash actually laughed aloud, then turned to see if anyone heard them. No one was staring, so they must not have been too noisy. They loved that Zhong was comfortable enough to joke about sex—or his lack of interest in it—with them.

They wouldn’t have minded at all if Zhong got up to some “hanky panky” with them. Though seriously, that phrase? He must have chosen it just to sound ridiculous.

There was something really nice, though, about knowing that they could get all of the snuggles that they needed without having to worry about where it was going.

What they wanted tonight was just to fall asleep in the arms of someone who cared about them. Zhong, for all that he claimed that he wasn’t a Daddy, was perfect.

Ash sent back a picture of a bed with a puppy curled up in the blankets at someone’s feet. Even in hooman mode, they were still clinging to the last bit of pup time, especially since they had someone to come home to.

Zhong: Awesome. Text me when you’re here. Drive safely!

Ash sent back the smiling emoji, but the symbolic yellow grin wasn’t as big as the one on their face.

The streets were nearly empty this late at night, so Ash made it over in record time. They texted to be buzzed up, and Zhong met them at his door with tousled hair and a sleepy smile. Ash realized that they’d probably gotten him as he was falling asleep earlier, which made it even sweeter that he’d invited them over.

Zhong was wearing a pair of loose boxers and nothing else. Ash couldn’t help but notice all of those lickable muscles, which felt even better under their hands when Zhong crushed them into a warm hug.

Ugh. Zhong complained. Your jacket is cold.

Ash started to undo their zipper, but of course they forgot that their duffle bag was hanging across their chest and got stopped halfway. It was just… all of those smooth planes and shadows where the light hit him just so. It was completely reasonable to get distracted, right?

God, and those legs. A light dusting of hair and so strong. Ash knew he worked out in the basement gym each day since he didn’t leave the house much with his job, but… damn. He was just delicious everywhere. And seeing him undressed was just so intimate.

It was really, really hard to remember that this wasn’t supposed to be sexual.