Page 47 of Love Unlimited

It was a funny feeling, this compersion thing. Landon wanted to spend as much time with Dustin as possible, as his Daddy and his boyfriend. But he also didn’t want to interrupt this special time. Just watching it, or even knowing that it was happening if he wasn’t around, made him feel good. Like he’d done the right thing to make his Daddy happy.

Ash bumped Landon’s shoulder to get his attention. We should sneak downstairs. I bet they still have dumplings left in the kitchen. We could add them to our feast. Ash’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

OK, let’s do it. Landon let the playfulness of the action sweep him up. He was certain that the Daddies had made extras for them, no sneaking required. But this was much more fun.

The two of them tiptoed down the stairs—possibly pointlessly, since Zhong couldn’t hear them and Dustin might not make any sense of the sounds—but it was an adventure. When they hit the ground floor, they raced into the kitchen on pointed toes.

It was exhilarating. Landon was pretty certain that Ash was little, but with Ash the lines were kind of wavy anyway. Which meant that Landon was… well, not quite in middle space. But more open to it, maybe? Something like that.

He was enjoying sneaking around, giggling and probably making some sort of noise for all that he tried to move like people did in the movies when they were being quiet. He couldn’t hear it anyway.

Oooh! There was a whole plate of dumplings resting on a paper towel to absorb the oil. They each grabbed one, savoring the spicy blend of vegetables and meat even though they’d gone a little cold.

Ash pointed to the microwave, but didn’t make any effort to put the plate in. Because littles couldn’t use kitchen appliances, maybe? Landon popped it in for a minute.

Ash ducked down behind the kitchen island and Landon followed suit, giggling as he got into the spirit of the game. If they were hiding, then the Daddies, who were notably in another room and facing a different direction, couldn’t see them. He felt bubbly and euphoric, doing something so innocent and yet naughty at the same time.

He watched the microwave countdown. Would it beep and alert Dustin? Landon had no idea. Four. Three. Two... He raced over to the door and pulled it open. A touch showed that the dumplings were plenty warm, so he pulled them out.

Mission accomplished? he asked Ash.

Nope. Our mission needs sodas. And ice cream.

Landon gave Ash a critical look. Are you allowed to have ice cream?

It was funny to be asking that. A moment ago Landon had been playing with Ash like they were both kids, but now he was filling in the adult role like Zhong would do.

And both times he’d kind of slipped into it.

It was exactly like Zhong had said—Ash just led other people into things, just by being themself. But what did that mean for Landon? If he was following Ash’s lead, he should at least be consistent, right? Usually he was encouraging Ash to get into more trouble with their Daddy, not trying to take his place.

That thought shook him out of the game.

Daddy says I’m allowed to have ice cream after I eat dinner. And I ate dinner! Ash announced triumphantly. They waited a beat. So, can I have some?

Why are you asking me? Landon asked, both because it was the right response and because he was genuinely curious.

Because you’re going to be a very nice big brother and give it to me? Ash asked with a wide and hopeful grin.

Because he was… Holy shit. Was that what was happening? Could Ash even do that? Just adopt him as a big brother?

But it kind of made sense. Sneaking around without the Daddies seeing them and then limiting Ash’s ice cream intake because Daddy Zhong would want him to. Because… because Landon was the responsible big kid, but he didn’t have to be responsible all the time.

Do you really want me to be your big brother? he asked, still surprised at the title and everything it implied.

Last night they’d all talked about backing off on anything sexual, so Landon had assumed that would put some distance between him and Ash. Yet twenty-four hours later, Ash was leaning into something new between them from a completely different direction. He wanted to talk about it more, to pour over all of the implications for himself, but also for everyone in their crazy complex maybe-poly relationship.

Of course, silly. I mean, you can be my big sister, too. As long as you give me ice cream. I would like mint chocolate chip and raspberry, please. In the yellow spinny bowl.

OK, so maybe he was overthinking this. His… little sibling… wanted ice cream. And they were being as cute as can be. Maybe he needed to learn from Ash and just let things flow. He could feel himself hovering in between all of his adulthood anxieties and the relaxation of middle space.

With the froggie spoon, Ash added, hopping across the floor and making it tremble under Landon’s feet. The spoon they were talking about didn’t actually have a frog on it, just a decoration at the end of the handle that they’d decided looked like one.

Ugh. Why was Landon fighting this with himself? Ash was hopping gleefully, if somewhat unsteadily, across the kitchen, and he was having an identity crisis. Maybe he could just lean into this big brother thing and let everything sort itself out later. Yeah, that sounded fantastic.

You drive a hard bargain, he told Ash when they started hopping back toward him. I’ll be your big brother.

Ash applauded and darted in to give him a hug. God, they were a delicious armful of soft curves and wiggles, making him think of all sorts of inappropriate things. They’d hugged before, but recently everything with Ash just felt like… more.