Page 1 of Love Unlimited

Chapter 1

Dustin

Dustin arranged a few more vegetables on the tray and slid it into the refrigerator. He had almost everything ready for the game “night” that had somehow turned into an all-day event. Dustin wasn’t a big fan of board games, but preparing the food for the people who made him happiest was his favorite way to relax.

He heard a sound behind him and turned. Alright, maybe cooking was his second-favorite way to relax.

Hey beautiful, he signed in ASL, his spread fingers fanning out over his face and then closing like a flower bud. His girlfriend, Lena, looked sleep tousled and adorable, her long, blond hair tangling in the darker scruff along her jaw since she hadn’t shaved yet today. She wore a soft blue dress with an oversized neckline that slipped off over her shoulder to expose her lean muscles and waxed chest. It didn’t hide the masculine angles of her body, but it softened them, especially when she moved with that gentle sway of her hips.

He’d never seen anything so gorgeous in his life.

She brightened with the praise. It was especially important to him, when Lena was opening up more of her genderfluid identity to him, that he let her know how much he desired her. She’d moved in with him—on a trial basis—over a month ago. But it was only last week that she seemed to really relax. Before he’d only seen her as Lena when she had hours to prepare, getting her jaw perfectly smooth and her makeup flawless. Now she would just toss on a clinging dress after her morning run and maybe dab on some lip gloss. She seemed to trust that he would still see her as the beautiful woman she was without all of the extra steps. That gave her more Lena time, which she seemed to be soaking up.

He’d only seen her present as male, as Landon, once since she moved in, to drive into school to pick up some books. He’d asked if she wanted to transition fully and maybe live in her female identity consistently, but she’d described it more as making up for lost time.

Hey. She blinked sleep from her eyes and stretched. Need any help with anything? She was already moving past him toward the cutting board that needed to be washed.

He snagged her arm, curling her around into his embrace. I think I need a kiss first…

She gave him a perfunctory smack on the lips, attention fixed on the cluttered cabinets. He couldn’t tell if she was being intentionally difficult, or legitimately focused on getting ready for their guests. Or maybe something was worrying her. That was often his first clue.

They’d spent the morning snuggling together on the couch and he’d loved tucking her into bed for a nap.

She was usually so regimented and in control of her schedule that he enjoyed encouraging her to stay up too late reading. She was a natural morning person and usually woke up at the crack of dawn during the school year. But over summer vacation he’d been encouraging her to sleep in or take naps—to indulge herself. Or better yet, to let him indulge her. She had a couple weeks before she started teaching summer school, but he’d never met someone so unwilling to relax. Even now she was all business, body stiff and mind focused elsewhere.

Did you sleep well? He pulled back just enough to sign with one hand, the other one still cradling her back and pressing her close.

Yep. She yawned. But you shouldn’t have let me sleep so long. Ash and Zhong will be here soon.

Everything’s done, he told her. And he wanted his snuggly girl back. He kissed his way up to her cheek, his lips brushing against the prickly hairs, before he nibbled at her ear.

She tensed for a moment longer, and then melted against him with a quiet moan.

He pulled back only for long enough to look her over. Are you worried about something?

She shrugged.

He narrowed his eyes, trying to decide if she was asking for his help to force it out, or just needed some time to think. What did we say about relaxing? he reminded her sternly.

She pouted, playing it up. That it’s summer vacation. And I’m allowed to relax. Dammit. I’m doing it again, aren’t I?

He nodded. You are, but I’m glad that you noticed. I know you’re trying to be a good girl for Daddy. He tightened the hand that he wasn’t using to sign around the back of her neck, letting her feel his control.

A moan escaped her lips. He knew she had no idea she’d made the sound since only he could hear it. He hoped she never realized how many needy sounds she made because it was one more thing she would try to control. He wanted everything about her to be free.

I’m trying Daddy, but it’s hard to remember. I just… get in my head.

And whose job is it to help you with that?

She hesitated for long enough that he thought she was going to push back, but then capitulated. Daddy’s job.

God, he loved her so much. There had been a few days when she woke up cuddly and clingy but usually she was like this: a prickly ball of focus and defenses that needed to be subdued. Though he loved her equally both ways. When she gave in to him like this, even reluctantly, he felt a rush of power and affection so intense that sometimes it took his breath away.

To reward her, and because he couldn’t hold back a minute longer, he gave her a lingering kiss, his hands slipping beneath her dress to cup her ass. Her panties were silky smooth, and he could feel her starting to get hard where she ground against his thigh. Her mouth was hungry for him, tasting of minty toothpaste and desire.

Fuck. It was tempting just to take her right now, in the middle of the kitchen floor. But they had guests coming over soon. He gentled the kiss, running soft fingers through her hair.

He pulled back and she chased after him. Nope, naughty girl. We don’t have time.