Page 95 of Key of Kink

Two scenes, not three. He knows what we did tonight was sex, pure and simple.

I gave an internal smile. There was nothing pure about that fuck.

Quinn picked up his mug and moved into the living room. He came to a halt in front of the couch, staring at the bare seat cushion. “You cleaned it.”

“As soon as you were in the shower. I meant what I said. This isn’t my flat. Its rightful owner is working in the States at the moment.” I chuckled. “The cover is in the washing machine. I wasn’t going to leave it. I didn’t want to have to explain that stain to Niall when he comes back.” I gestured to the couch. “Sit down.”

We sat next to each other, and the atmosphere felt awkward.

Of course it does. Go back an hour or so. You were eating him out on here.

What wouldn’t leave me was Quinn’s calm acceptance. And then the penny dropped.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve been asked to sleep on a floor, is it?”

He smiled. “You’re good.” His face tightened a little.

Go back. Approach this conversation from a different angle.

I leaned against the cushions. “You know, I’ve been dying to ask this ever since I met you.” I tilted my head. “How did you get into kink?”

His breathing hitched. “That’s… a long story.”

I held up my mug. “We have time.” Then I smiled. “And you’re not going anywhere, not tonight.”

What came to mind was Leo Hart’s assessment of Quinn.

He enjoys the structure. The surrender. That’s fuel, not a vacuum.

When they kneel for joy, you don’t have to carry them. You get to meet them.

Suddenly I wanted to meet the real Quinn.

Quinn

Where do I start?

That was easy—at the beginning.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Max said, his voice even.

I smiled. “I know.” I took a breath, then another, organising my thoughts. “I think I always liked rules. That part isn’t dramatic.” I grinned. “I was a very annoying child, always asking why something worked the way it did. I didn’t cope well with ‘because I said so.’”

Max snorted. “Yeah, I can see that about you.”

“I was calmer when instructions made sense,” I went on. “If someone explained expectations properly, I’d stick to them. I didn’t mind being told what to do—I minded being told randomly.”

His lips twitched. “You liked precision.”

“Exactly.” I shifted, tucking one leg under me. “I didn’t know it was kink back then. I just knew I reacted differently to calm authority. Teachers who set clear rules? I’d work twice as hard for them.”

“Because you trusted them,” Max said.

“Yeah. And because it felt good to be noticed for doing something right.” I paused to take another deep breath. “When I was about sixteen, I started noticing something else. It wasn’t crushes, exactly, more like… moments. Someone correcting me without making me feel stupid. Someone setting a boundary and keeping it. The relief of not having to make every decision myself.” I huffed a small laugh. “Not the easiest thing to explain when you’re meant to be a normal teenager.”

Max waved a hand. “Pfft. Normal is overrated.”

I laughed, and my shoulders felt a little lighter.