Page 130 of Key of Kink

I ignored that. “To quote you, it isn’t a glamourous job, but someone has to do it.”

He leaned forward. “Max… You look after people. Even when they can’t give you anything back.”

I swallowed. “I do it because no one should feel small at the end.”

Quinn cocked his head. “Do you not tell people what you do because you’re embarrassed about it?”

“I don’t advertise it, that’s all.”

“Thank you for telling me.” His voice was warm.

I smiled. “It’s not a secret.”

“It’s yours.”

I finished my eggs in silence, and he did the same. I hadn’t planned to share that part of my life, but what shocked me was it didn’t feel like exposure.

I feel… understood.

That was infinitely more dangerous than embarrassment ever was.

“Do you ever get attached?” Quinn asked.

I leaned back in my chair. “You’re not supposed to.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

I exhaled slowly. “Yes.”

Quinn nodded once, as if that made sense. “My nan used to forget my name sometimes, near the end. But she still knew I liked jam doughnuts.” His face glowed. “I used to hide them from my mum so I could have one before tea.” He smiled. “Nan would’ve have liked you.” Then his eyes twinkled. “Except you’d have told her off for giving me too much sugar.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, that sounds like me.”

He went quiet again, and I wanted to know what was going on inside that pretty head. And it is a very pretty head.

Come to think of it, the rest of him was just as gorgeous.

I’d recognised that during our first scene. I hadn’t thought about it since. It was as if part of me had switched off such revelations.