Page 55 of Dad Next Door

“And I’ve never really subscribed to the whole ‘sex is sacred’ narrative,” I continued. “Intimacy isn’t sex, and for me, intimacy is something I can only share with someone I care about. But sex is a physiological function. Friction equals blood flow, which creates an erection, and eventually an orgasm. I’m a scientist, and my expertise is animal medicine and animal behavior. Nature is crazy if you actually deep dive into it, so things like polyamory or triads or using sex as a tool for capitalism aren’t crazy or unnatural concepts to me. They make sense if you look at science and remember that humans are animals too. I’m not wired to have sex with strangers or be in an emotionally intimate relationship with more than one person, but that doesn’t mean it’s not natural for other people.”

“It really doesn’t bother you?” he asked, or rather, croaked.

Seeing this side of Quinn was strange. He was always so optimistic and the one helping me work through my insecurities. How many people did he have in his life that he could talk to about this stuff? How many times had he been hurt by people he thought cared about him because they couldn’t wrap their heads around separating Quinn from Stone?

“Nope. I watched some of your scenes the other night.”

He braced like he expected me to say something horrible. “What did you think?”

“They were exactly what you said and didn’t do anything for me.”

His eyes bugged out comically.

“But,” I rushed on, needing to make sure I got my full point across. “That’s because all I could see was Stone. You were playing a part. I get how other people might lust after that, but I know you. I know who you really are. That’s the person I’m attracted to. That’s the man I wanted on my arm tonight, the man who rocked my world and gave me the best kiss of my life.”

I was taking a huge chance by showing all my cards, but Quinn deserved to hear the truth after everything he’d shared. He needed all the facts to make an informed decision about what he wanted.

“I will say that your dancing does it for me. That video you have up on your OnlyFans with the red lighting? That one is hot as hell. But you’re an actor. Your scenes and solo stuff are work. I’m divorced. Does it bother you that I was married for so long? That I’m a single dad?”

“Of course not. None of that has anything to do with me.”

“That’s how I feel about your sex work. It’s your job, and it has nothing to do with me.”

Relief shone in his eyes. “You have no idea how twisted up I’ve been about that.”

“Don’t be. I promise it’s not an issue for me. It’s kinda cool that I know an actual influencer, and I get to be friends with someone famous.”

“So that’s what we are, friends?”

“Yes. But we don’t have to just be friends.”

I had no idea where my confidence or nerve was coming from, but I was rolling with it.

Things with Quinn were going to be complicated, no matter what we decided. Mixing sex into our friendship was probably one of the stupidest things we could do, but I was tired of always doing the smart thing.

I wanted Quinn, and amazingly, he wanted me.

But more than that, I trusted him.

I hadn’t even considered being with anyone since Simon left. I still had a sex drive and desires, but the thought of dating and hooking up with strangers again made my skin crawl.

I’d resigned myself to being lonely and focusing on my son and our future, but what if this was the answer to my problems?

I trusted Quinn, and I was comfortable with him. As long as we were open and honest with each other, he’d be the perfect person to get back on the horse with, so to speak.

Something he said earlier popped back into my thoughts.

“Wait. You said you haven’t been with anyone since you filmed your last scene?” I asked, needing to make sure I’d heard him right.

“Nope.” The corner of his mouth curled up in a smirk. “And not while I was filming either.”

My brain did another little stutter.

“Hard to believe, huh?” His smirk intensified, but I could see the pain in his eyes. How many people had called him a liar because they didn’t understand who he was?

“No. Not when I think about it. I can only imagine how difficult it is to date or have any sort of relationship when you’re a sex worker. But even without all that, if you say it, I believe it. You don’t need to justify your past to me. You don’t need to explain anything.”

“I’m bad for that.” He relaxed, exhaustion clouding his features. “Overexplaining things. My dad says I do it because I’m trying to add context to situations, like I don’t believe that people could ever accept me without having all the facts or take me at my word.”

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