Page 26 of Key of Kink

I felt like myself again almost straight away.

I shifted carefully, checking in with my body. Nothing sharp, nothing wrong, only that heavy, settled calm spreading through me, as if everything had clicked into place.

I felt warm.

“Take your time,” Max said.

I smiled, eyes still closed. “I am.”

“How do your nipples feel?”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “Like they’re still arguing with the pegs.” I opened my eyes. “But they’re fine.” I hesitated, then added, “I am sorry about the knee, though. I promise that’s not part of my usual technique.”

He laughed. “I’m relieved to hear it.” He studied me for a moment. “You enjoyed the scene.”

My grin widened. “What gave it away?”

I stood when I was ready, rolling my shoulders once, grounding myself in the room. The light felt a touch brighter now, the edges less sharp.

Nothing had changed, except that cream-in-my-veins sensation I hadn’t felt for such a long time, the feeling of being back in my own skin again, as if I hadn’t been there for a while.

Max handed me water without comment, and I took it, our fingers brushing for a second, a brief spark of electricity passing between us.

“That was good.” I didn’t see the point in pretending otherwise.

“I’m glad.” Max’s gaze stayed on me a second longer than necessary, as if he was checking I was steady, not just satisfied. “How do you feel?”

I thought about it. Actually thought.

“Clear.”

He nodded, as though that was the right answer.

I took another sip of water and didn’t rush to say anything else. The quiet between us didn’t need fixing.

It felt solid.

“Any questions?”

I breathed in slowly. “No. I liked the gag.” I hesitated, then added, “And you’re very good with your mouth.”

Max chuckled. “Thank you.”

“No, I mean it.” Heat crept up my neck but I didn’t look away. “You pay attention. You don’t hurry. You just… stay there.”

He went still at that, and it was so different from before that it almost caught me off guard.

After a pause that felt intentional rather than hesitant, Max said, “You did well.”

Something in my chest warmed at that.

“I liked listening to you.” I smiled. “Your voice is...” Another moment of hesitation. I couldn’t share the word that danced on my tongue.

Hot. Your voice is hot.

Max bit back a smile. “Is what?”

Another smile. “Effective.” Then I grinned, unrepentant.