Page 150 of Key of Kink

Quinn bit his lip. “No.”

“You don’t look intimidated,” Sebastian remarked. “You seem more amused than anything.”

Quinn’s lips twitched. “I enjoy provoking him,” he admitted.

“A fact I am aware of,” I added.

Theo leaned back in his chair. “Does he always talk like that around you?”

Quinn glanced at me, his eyes bright. “Yes.”

Everyone around the table laughed.

Julian leaned forward and asked in a low voice, “So what do you do when he’s being like this?”

Quinn didn’t miss a beat. “I behave,” he said solemnly.

The table exploded, and I narrowed my eyes at him. He met my gaze, then leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head, at ease in my world. He wasn’t overwhelmed. I watched as he laughed, nudging Milo’s shoulder.

Quinn caught my gaze for a second before addressing Julian. “And if he tries to out-stubborn me,” he said, gesturing with his glass, “I escalate.”

“Escalate how?” Sebastian demanded.

Quinn paused, looked at me, and smiled. “That’s classified.”

The table howled again.

The ground shifted under me.

Quinn wasn’t just someone I played with. He was sitting with my family, talking, laughing…

Belonging in a way no one had ever done before.

And when the weekend came, I’d get to meet his family.

Milo had nailed it at rehearsal.

I was done for.

Finnley leaned across the table towards Quinn. “So,” he said, lowering his voice conspiratorially, “I need to know something.”

Quinn blinked. “That sounds ominous.”

“Have you always been like this?”

He frowned. “Like what?”

Finnley gestured vaguely. “Unreasonably cheerful.”

Quinn appeared to consider that. “Mostly.”

“Even during scenes?”

He grinned. “Especially during scenes.”

Finnley stared at him. “That’s… terrifying.”

Quinn shrugged. “I like what I’m doing. Why wouldn’t I enjoy it?”