29. Chapter Twenty-nine Dex

Chapter Twenty-nine: Dex

P enelope was an attractive redhead several inches shorter than Dex with a sprinkling of freckles over her nose and a girlish look to her that belied the sheer ruthlessness of her persistent nature.

“I’m seeing someone now. I’m sorry,” Dex told her after they’d greeted one another and sat down.

“Yet you came to meet me,” Penelope said. “I take that as a good sign.”

Before Dex could reply, the waitress approached their table to get their drink orders.

“I’m ready to order if you are,” he told Penelope, who did after a quick look at the menu.

“Will this be on one tab or two?” the waitress asked after Dex told her what he wanted.

“I’m paying for both,” Dex said.

When the waitress left, Penelope grinned. “Thank you. Very gentlemanly.”

“It’s the least I could do since I’m wasting your time.”

“You’re not wasting my time. I wanted to meet you.” Penelope picked up the glass of water closest to her and took a sip. “You’re really cute.”

Dex felt himself blushing. “Thanks. And you’re quite attractive. But, as I said, I’m seeing someone.”

“That’s not what your mother told me.”

“I haven’t told my mother about my new relationship yet.”

“Oh? How come? She seemed really worried you’d never find someone.”

God, how embarrassing , Dex thought. “I’ve been out of town, and I wanted to see how it went first.”

“Is it someone you just met?”

“No, I’ve known—“ Dex started to say “him,” then thought maybe he should say “her” just to keep him from having to explain, then almost changed it to “them.” But it was too late; the fact that he hesitated would call attention to an ambiguous pronoun. “Listen, it doesn’t matter. I’m just here because my mother took it upon herself to try to get us together, and that wasn’t fair on you because I’m not free. I’m sorry.”

“You’re really nice,” Penelope said with another grin. “I like you. Seriously. Not many men would bother to do what you’re doing. I get that you’ve met someone you’re potentially interested in, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right? And if this relationship of yours doesn’t work, maybe we can be more.”

“I don’t know if—“ The waitress interrupted Dex by bringing their food.

“This looks so good!” Penelope enthused, digging into the pasta she’d ordered.

Dex concentrated on cutting up his steak and buttering his baked potato.

“What do you do for a living? Your mom said something about computers?” Penelope watched him with curious blue eyes.

Dex told her a little about his job, and then politely asked about hers.

“I’m a dog trainer,” she told him, sprinkling a little salt on her pasta before taking another bite.

Dex wondered why his mother thought they’d have anything in common. Dex liked dogs, but he didn’t own one.

“How do you know my mother?” he asked between bites of asparagus.

“She didn’t tell you? My mom is Garfield’s sister, Cordelia.”

Oh. That explained the old-fashioned name, as all the Sommerton’s had them. Dex had met Garfield’s younger twin brothers, Ambrose and Otto, as well as another sister, Ada, at a family gathering a few years ago. It also explained why his mother had chosen Penelope for him—her family was loaded.

“No, Mom left that part out,” Dex said.

“I visited Uncle Garfield and Aunt Bea in June while I was at a dog training seminar in Boulder. I saw a photo of you on the mantel at their house and asked Aunt Bea about you.” She flashed Dex another smile. “Like I said before, I think you’re very attractive.”

“I’m flattered,” Dex said.

“You know, it isn’t a good idea to close the door on other prospects. This girl may not be the one for you.”

“Right now, I’m happy with this relationship and am not looking for anyone else.”

“But we can be friends?”

“I’m not sure how plausible that would be since you live in Nettleton. That’s over an hour away, isn’t it?” Dex asked doubtfully.

“Oh, I get to Redding a lot because I have clients here. Didn’t your mother tell you that?”

Dex shook his head. His mother had told him very little.

“There’s a couple who have a Saint Bernard that I’m always having to re-train because they get lazy with the rules and undo everything I accomplished with him before. One of the vets here keeps my cards and gives them out, so someone’s always calling and asking me to come out and train their dog to behave. I’ll be back here for a new client next week.”

Penelope continued chatting amiably, and Dex was actually surprised that the encounter didn’t turn out to be as tedious as he’d feared. When they parted, Penelope said she’d text him sometime.

As he drove home, he decided he really needed to tell his mother he was gay sooner rather than later.

Back at the mansion, Dex changed into his Taekwondo uniform. When he got to the bottom floor, Seo-jun was waiting for him, also barefoot and in his Taekwondo uniform, although while Dex’s belt was blue, Seo-jun’s was black with five gold stripes embroidered on it.

“How’d it go?” Seo-jun asked.

“Better than I thought it would. She was nice, she understood and wants to be friends.” Dex didn’t add that Penelope seemed to be hoping his new relationship would tank and they could have more down the road.

“Friends?” Seo-jun asked doubtfully.

“She’s actually related to my mother’s husband. Mom had left that part out. Anyway, she’s okay. I’m glad we got it ironed out. It’s just underlined the need for me to tell mom I’m gay and seeing you, though.”

“Ready to practice?” Seo-jun stepped onto the mat.

Facing each other at attention stance, they both bowed low.

“Ap Chagi,” Seo-jun said, and Dex moved into fighting stance, with his weight on his back leg. Swiftly, he kicked out with his front leg, aiming with the ball of his foot at Seo-jun mid-chest, which Seo-jun avoided by shifting to the side. Dex’s adrenaline surged as Seo-jun counter attacked, spinning his body in a roundhouse kick that aimed his shin at Dex’s head. “Dollyo Chagi,” he called out the move.

Dex managed to block the blow with his forearm before striking out with his right leg in an attempt to undercut Seo-jun that failed because Seo-jun anticipated it and quickly moved out of range.

Dex barely managed to step back before Seo-jun came at him with a powerful sidekick at his ribs with the heel of his foot.

“Yop Chagi.” Seo-jun shook his head. “You should have immediately lunged for my face or chest.”

Dex nodded, acknowledging his mistake. Moving back into attention stance, Seo-jun gave Dex another move: “Naeryo Chagi.”

Ax kick.

Dex had found this move challenging when he first tried it. He had to lift his leg above his head before bringing it down upon his opponent’s shoulder, which took a lot of balance to stay steady as he kicked high and chopped down forcefully with his leg. But he’d practiced the move again and again until he mastered it, and he was able to execute it perfectly for Seo-jun now. Seo-jun side-stepped, retaliating with a roundhouse kick that landed Dex on his ass on the mat.

Seo-jun lent him a hand up. “Good. Now, let’s spar.”

The next ten minutes were filled with the two men maintaining a defensive guard and balanced stance while moving around each other, seeking an opening to attack while, at the same time, being ready to countermove whatever came at them. Dex avoided Seo-jun’s powerful back kick, got in a punch that was blocked, then executed a perfect spinning hook kick, taking Seo-jun by surprise, which rarely happened. With a 360 degree turn and hooking motion of his leg, he made contact with the top of Seo-jun’s head as he ducked too late, sending him sprawling onto his back on the mat.

“Are you okay?” Dex asked, standing over Seo-jun.

“Ouch!” Seo-jun said, hand to his head as he sat up.

“I really thought you’d avoid that,” Dex said, holding out his hand and pulling Seo-jun to his feet.

“Good move. I anticipated a side-kick.”

As always, Dex felt Seo-jun’s praise like sunshine after a storm.

Finished for the day, they both headed into the locker room and the showers where Seo-jun startled Dex by joining him in his stall.

“You dropped the soap,” Seo-jun said with an evil grin when Dex fumbled the bar and failed to catch it before it hit the floor.

Suddenly very turned on, Dex moved so his back was to Seo-jun and deliberately bent over to pick up the soap. He heard Seo-jun’s quick intake of breath over the spray of water and looked at him over his shoulder.

“Gonna take advantage of the situation?” Dex’s eyes moved from Seo-jun’s down his wet, toned body to where his long cock stood at attention, the head fully free of the foreskin. Not sure what had gotten into him but knowing beyond a doubt what he wanted at that moment, Dex wiggled his ass at Seo-jun.

Taking a quick step forward, Seo-jun brought his erect cock level with Dex’s hole.

“Do you really want this? Now?”

With a loud groan, Dex placed a hand on the wall of the shower. “God, yes. Fuck me, Seo-jun.”

The next thing Dex knew, Seo-jun had doused his erection with hair conditioner from the bottle on the sill and was pushing inside him. The stall filled with the scent Dex associated with Seo-jun, and that only served to ramp up his ardor. He didn’t care if it hurt, he just wanted Seo-jun to give it to him.