Page 78 of Love Unlimited

Even if Dustin was acting adorably nervous right now.

The idea of climbing onto his lap for the meal was tempting. They were certain it would calm all of his nerves, and they were pretty sure it would feel just right.

Still, they wanted to take things slowly. All of their other reasons for not jumping into a relationship were still there.

Ash sat in their own seat while Dustin hovered over the table.

This smells delicious, Ash complimented him.

I know it’s your favorite. He looked away, like he’d been caught doing something wrong.

Ash was enamored. Especially when Dustin started preparing Ash’s plate first. He scooped out a fragrant serving of chicken spiced with olives, raisins, and apricots and added a spoonful of couscous beside it. Then he seemed to realize what he was doing and his cheeks colored. God. This looks like a date, doesn’t it? Or a Daddy thing?

Just an itty, bitty bit. Ash put two fingers close together and squinted through them, getting him to laugh.

Sorry. I didn’t even mean to get your food. Obviously you can do that. I really was just thinking about spending a nice evening together. I mean… that’s what we’re doing here, right? Getting to know each other better because we’re… metamours? He spelled the word out awkwardly. Wow. He really was nervous.

Ash put a hand on Dustin’s wrist where he still held the spoon, sending a warm jolt up their arm. It was hard not to be attracted to Dustin when he served them automatically, just like Daddy would have. It meant that he saw what Ash wanted and needed, and that was special.

That’s the right word. And that’s part of why we’re here, Ash agreed when they withdrew their hand to sign. But I think it would be more accurate to say that I’m here because I want to spend time with you. I don’t think we need to make things weird.

They were starting to have some hopes, though. A real sense that this could be something more, a tangle of interconnected relationships that harmonized and reinforced each other.

Dustin looked down at the salad tongs. So is it weirder if I get your food, or if I don’t?

That was an excellent question.

I think you should just do what comes naturally. For the last sign, Ash made a circle with their first two fingers and slapped them on the back of their other hand. What was natural for them now?

Dustin paused for a moment, then he went back to making the plates.

The simple act made Ash feel tingly everywhere. There was something that was just so essential and Daddy-like about being served a meal. The two of them had been lightly playing with this dynamic for a while, but this was the first time Dustin had really initiated it.

The care he took in picking through the sides showed how much attention he’d been paying, too. He knew that Ash loved black olives and wanted yogurt sauce on everything, but didn’t like too many of the raw onions on top of their salad.

Dustin gave Ash one more quick glance, and then cut the chicken meat off the bones for them. That must have decided something for him, because he finished by lifting Ash’s napkin from under their silverware and spreading it over their lap.

Total swoon. Ash was going to have to text Landon about this right after dinner, but first, they were just going to savor it.

Dustin sat down to eat across from them. It was a tender, perfect moment.

Dustin was different with Ash than he was with Landon, but that only made it more apparent that this was something special just between the two of them. Dustin had clearly gotten as much pleasure from that small exchange as Ash had.

Ash speared the first bite of chicken, letting the rich, complex flavors mingle on their tongue. There was just something so good about that succulent mixture of sweet, salty, and tangy. Especially when Dustin made it just for them.

They devoured half their plate before they even tried to talk, but every time they looked up, Dustin was watching them with amusement.

This is really good, they signed, mouth full and fingers sticky.

Dustin’s eyes sparkled.

It made them think of kissing his smiling mouth and curling up against his cozy shirt. They let that feeling envelop them as they ate.

Unfortunately, their stomach protested before they’d even made it halfway through their plate. They really wished they hadn’t gotten that crappy burrito.

I’m too full… they pouted.

Dustin laughed. I’m sorry. I should have told you I was cooking. Maybe your Daddy will put it in your lunch tomorrow.