Page 210 of Key of Kink

Like they were promises, not chains

That sounded familiar. Not the exact phrasing, but the sentiment. What came to mind was the first time I’d stepped into Obsidian, spending ten minutes reading every rule posted on the wall before I’d even looked at the people.

Julian continued.

You knelt like it was gravity

Like stillness was a choice

Something shifted in my chest, and I straightened. That line…

That line felt very specific.

My gaze drifted across the room to where Max was staring at the floor.

Interesting.

You don’t ask me to be perfect

You just look me in the eye

Now my attention sharpened. That line was uncomfortably accurate. Max had said something very similar to me once.

I glanced around the room. Theo was watching Max. Sebastian had gone unusually quiet. Finnley looked as though he was trying not to grin.

Julian’s voice rose, and the words pierced the air.

You don’t want a cage

You don’t want control

You want structure that’s warm

And a hand on your soul

My breathing hitched.

The room seemed to tilt.

Those aren’t just abstract ideas. Those were words I’d used in Max’s kitchen, the night we’d talked about what submission meant to me.

My gaze snapped to Max, and at last he looked up. Our eyes met, and suddenly the rest of the song made terrifying, wonderful sense.

Every line. Every single fucking line.

My heart hammered.

Max wrote this.

He wrote it about me.

Julian continued singing, oblivious to the fact that my brain had completely stopped functioning.

You don’t want to be owned

You just want to be known

I couldn’t breathe. Without thinking, I pushed myself to my feet. I didn’t remember deciding to stand. I just couldn’t stay seated a second longer.