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Max swallowed. “I didn’t plan to fall in love with you.”

Oh God.

“But I did.”

The words came out calmly, and completely unguarded.

“I love you, Quinn.”

My chest felt so full it ached.

I stood up and crossed the space between us, my breathing ragged.

Max didn’t move.

“You want to know something funny?” I said. “I realised the same thing last night. I think it happened somewhere between the part where you removed the nipple clamps and the part where you made me tea before taking me to bed.”

Max snorted. “That’s a very romantic timeline.”

I stepped closer, aware of the drumming in my chest. “For the record…” I slid my hands up to rest on his shoulders. “I love you too.”

He stared at me, eyes wide. A heartbeat later, his arms were around me as he pulled me into a kiss. I poured my heart and soul into it, my arms around his neck. I didn’t want to break this precious connection, my heart racing, my legs trembling.

When we finally broke apart, I swallowed hard. “Before we go any further—and yeah, this is me being practical and not romantic—there’s one thing we should probably talk about.”

Max’s eyebrows shot upwards. “That sounds ominous.”

“Our… arrangement.” His gaze sharpened, and I gestured vaguely between us. “You know, the part where sometimes you’re my Dom and sometimes you’re the man who makes me tea in the morning.”

Max chuckled. “That distinction has been confusing me too.”

I studied him. “Does loving me mean that part stops?”

The question hung between us.

Max shook his head. “No. If anything, it means we handle it more carefully.”

I tilted my head. “Carefully how?”

“It means the power exchange stays something we choose, not something that traps either of us.” Max’s voice was calm and thoughtful as he met my gaze. “Sometimes we’ll be lovers. Sometimes we’ll step into a dynamic. But neither of us disappears inside it.”

That warmth spread through my chest again.

“So we’re talking about a partnership… with optional kneeling.”

Max’s mouth curved into a smile. “That’s one way of putting it.”

I grinned. “Good.”

His eyes softened. “And Quinn?”

“Yes?”

“If you kneel, it will always be because you want to.”

I held his gaze. “That was always the plan.” Then I gave him a beseeching glance.

“Sing it again for me?”