He doesn’t elaborate on the “so” at the end of his sentence, but Rowan’s brain is rattling around in his skull like a crash-test dummy’s. Because surely Mal can’t mean that was his first kiss?

[RC] Wait like your first first kiss??

The fact that his fingers have typed out and sent the message proves that the tact he’s been working on developing isn’t coming along as smoothly as he’d thought.

[MS] i’m 28 man not fuckin 15

[RC] That wasn’t a no…

[MS] christ

[MS] NO, my 1st kiss wasn’t with my fuckin dom in a sex induced haze

[MS] not gonna have the chastity pigs after you prince charming

The laugh that bubbles up from Rowan’s chest has him feeling lighter than he has in days. It’s nice to be able to laugh at the situation that he’s been angsting over for what feels like ages.

[RC] In this context chastity pigs sounds like some fetish shit

[MS] oh ya? you into that farmer brown?

[RC] Dunno, you could look hot in a chastity belt

[RC] Trapped in a castle and chained to a bed or something

[RC] Hard pass on the furry junk though

[MS] jesus you’re worse than i am

Rowan can practically hear Mal trying to hide a smile through his message.

[MS] got a virginity fetish or somethin?

[RC] I’d be shit outta luck with you if I did since we met at a gangbang

[MS] ya that ship sunk a long fuckin time ago

[RC] That’s definitely not the right expression Mal lmao

[MS] what the fuck ever you know what i mean

[MS] so a knight in shining armor complex then?

[RC] I do think I’d look pretty good in some medieval armor

[RC] Chainmail and feathery helmet and shit

[RC] Get a huge lance or something and some fair maiden’s token to complete the look

Mal’s next text is an eye roll emoji.

[MS] don’t expect a flower crown from my ass red

[RC] I’m sure I could find some stable boy to give me one if push came to shove

[RC] Though I would much rather have your ass than some flowers

[MS] alright well you can kiss my ass next time, how’s that

Rowan grins to himself, and yeah, that actually sounds pretty fantastic. If Mal’s lips are off limits, his ass will have to do. Fake medieval scenario or otherwise.

They chat a bit longer, keeping the conversation light even if mostly still tangentially kink related. Rowan slips in the occasional comment about what’s currently happening on the latest episode of The Great British Baking Show, which Mal predictably responds to with another eye roll emoji. Once, Rowan manages to wring a cake emoji out of him, followed by a peach emoji and knew you liked cake, red that sends an involuntary shudder down Rowan’s spine.

As their conversation winds down and it’s nearing the wee hours of the morning, Rowan lets himself dip back into the more serious topic they’d been on earlier.