It was at a nice mansion in the Heights. Quinn honestly should have been expecting that, but he still felt surprised as security guards greeted them and asked to see their credentials. Foolishly, Quinn had forgotten to bring his I.D. and that would have caused problems if Noah hadn't snatched Quinn's phone and called Mr. Winters from it.
He then handed the phone to the guards after explaining the situation and they spoke to who was probably their employers. Quinn got a mild scolding from the guard for not bringing his I.D. which Quinn took on the chin, before they were allowed in and sent to the parking lot.
It had started snowing again by the time they'd gotten out of the car and began to head towards the giant, lit up mansion. They were the only ones coming in, everyone else probably having arrived on time, if not a little early. Noah sighed loudly as they hit the cleared pathway, shaking his head.
"Damn old man. Still bothering me, even now. Can't believe he made us fucking late." Noah grumbled and Quinn laughed. He patted Noah on the shoulder.
"It's okay. We're here now, they know we're on our way, everything will work out." Quinn said, his pulse thudding in his ears. Damn, he'd been so worried about getting here on time that he'd almost forgotten what kind of party they were heading to. He should have been asking Noah questions while they were driving here, but instead both of them had been caught up in their own thoughts. Quinn had nothing prepared, his body cleaned and washed, but he'd done nothing else to mentally prepare himself.
"Still doesn't feel good." Noah grumbled, before he sighed and shook himself. "Either way, we're here now, and Quinn? Take a few steps back and hide behind that bush right there, okay? I want to get some footage of just myself heading into the party that Leo can use to leak to the press." Quinn furrowed his brows, glancing over at the bush in question and sighed.
"I'll just go behind the corner of the building. That's less ridiculous than hiding in a bush, Noah." Quinn said, turning and following the path back a few steps. That gave Quinn some time to examine the area around them.
It was a mansion, of course, but not many mansions like this had parking lots like grocery stores next to them. It wasn't a super new build, probably 10 years old at the latest, but whoever had built it had taken care. It was made in a style that was similar to older builds that were similar to some of the Greek houses that he'd seen when he was younger. Quinn was trying to remember the name of the style. It had classical in it, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
He was looking up architectural styles for houses when he heard Noah calling his name. Quinn shoved the phone back into his pocket, coming around the corner at a brisk pace as he scanned the home again.
Yeah, the thick pillars, all in a white, glowing colour, several balconies, cute shutters in a pretty green shade around each window. The shrubs and bushes around the property were taken care of even in the winter. It was a nice-looking house. Quinn was a bit surprised that Mr. Winters owned it, but then again, he might not. Someone else might, and he just rented it and acted like the host.
He wouldn't ask, in case it was a sensitive subject.
"What were you doing while I was walking?" Noah asked and Quinn shrugged.
"Looking up the style this house was made in." Quinn responded and Noah snorted.
"Of course you were, nerd." Noah muttered and Quinn took exception to that.
"Hey! I'm not a nerd, and if I am, you have no right to call me that." Quinn pointed out. Noah's lips curled up in a smile as he waved a hand dismissively, getting to the broad steps that led to the front door.
"Yeah yeah. Whatever. I at least work front facing, you can't say the same." Noah said and Quinn huffed.
"One of us had to for our dream to happen." Quinn said angrily, knowing that Noah was just saying this to rile him up but he couldn't back down. They'd even had a long, serious conversation about it before they made their plans. They had agreed on who would be front facing and decided Noah would be the better option because he was a dominant alpha. Quinn couldn't believe he was saying this to him right now. It was like he was looking for a fight.
The door opened before either of them could say another word, Mr. Winters standing there in a sleek, black silk robe with his initials on it. He smiled, opening his arms to both Noah and Quinn as they approached.
"Boys! You've made it!" He called, pulling Noah in for a hug first because he was closer, and then pulling Quinn in as well. He was all smiles, his eyes warm as he scanned them before ushering them inside. "Come in, come in! Out of the cold and gloom of the day. Can't believe that it would snow today of all days, but a perfect excuse to stay inside and play, hmm?" He joked.
Quinn nearly swallowed his tongue.
He knew that he had agreed to come here, that he'd even met with Mr. Winters, all of that, but speaking about it, and actually being here was something else entirely. The entryway was supposed to be dark. That was how Quinn had seen it in his mind's eye. Honestly, he thought it was going to be dark and dingy like he was going to a club.
That wasn't it at all.
The entryway was huge, fitting of a mansion like this. It was sparkly, full of light, and there was a small coat check next to the door that was being managed by a very professional-looking attendant who honestly looked bored.
Beiges and whites, good lighting, a sweeping staircase that led to rooms upstairs and people milling about in the same sleek black robes that Mr. Winters was wearing. The floor was tile and as Quinn looked down, he realised that Mr. Winters was barefoot. Quinn flushed.
He was so in over his head right now.
"Quinnie, you look like you've seen a ghost. Are you alright?" Mr. Winters asked and Quinn flushed. He was quite shocked, yes, and he was having a hard time grappling with everything. Especially the way that the others were looking at him.
"Are we the last ones to arrive?" Quinn asked and Mr. Winters smiled.
"Yes. The others are quite anxious to meet you, too. Come, let me help you through the process. It's standard that I do, so don't think I'm treating you two any differently." Mr. Winters said with a wink. Noah snorted, crossing his arms and adjusting his stance next to Quinn.
"Oh, be still my fluttering heart." Noah drawled and Quinn shot a glare towards him. He was about to elbow him when Mr. Winters laughed.
"Oh, for you Noah? I'll be happy to give you some special attention if you want it. I had no idea you thought of me that way." Mr. Winters said and Noah gagged.
"Gross. Enough. I have no desire to get to know you that way, Leo. Keep those thoughts directed towards Quinn." Noah said. Quinn let out a small squeak.
"Noah!" Quinn hissed and Noah glanced at Quinn, his eyes sparkling.
"What? Am I wrong? You like that kind of attention, you're just shy. Otherwise you would have said no to this situation without hesitation." Quinn's face burned as Noah's words rang true. Mr. Winters laughed, gently nudging both men towards the coat check.
"Come now, we can argue semantics later. For now, let's get you all nice and cozy and settled in, hmm? I can walk you through the rooms before things truly start so that you can get a grasp of everything available, and walk you through anything you might be confused about." Mr. Winters said with a smile.
Quinn swallowed, nodded, and felt his face continue to burn. He probably wasn't going to stop blushing for the whole damn day. He could feel it.
At the coat check Mr. Winters explained that they would be handed the same kind of robe that Mr. Winters was wearing, with their own initials on it, and they could go off to the bathroom to get changed into it or just do it here. It was completely up to their comfort level and what level they wanted to undress to, but most of the group remained naked under the robe. Mr. Winters even flashed some of his thigh to prove his point.
"Don't get too excited, Noah. Wouldn't want you to get a nosebleed." Mr. Winters joked and Noah rolled his eyes.
"For your pasty ass? No, thank you." Noah told him plainly and Mr. Winters laughed.
"I'll have you know I make sure that when I tan I do so naked. I don't get tan lines." He bragged. Well, at least Quinn knew that they actually were friends.
Quinn and Noah opted to go get changed without prying eyes. Quinn's personal bag felt a little foolish now that he knew that most remained naked under their robes. Of course they wouldn't get dressed up. At least he was already blushing so no one would think anything of him blushing more at his own foolishness.
Quinn and Noah handed over their shoes first since that was another rule. No shoes. The floors were heated so no one was getting cold, but boots were out of the question. Quinn wanted to ask why but from the firm look in Mr. Winters eyes, there was a story behind it and it was not a good one.
He let them go get changed, directing them to the bathrooms and the change rooms just to the left of the stairs and off Quinn and Noah went. It was only a few moments, but when Quinn changed out of his clothes and shoved them into his bag and pulled on the soft, silky robe with his initials on it, he finally felt it.
He was here. He was doing this.
Quinn turned, staring at himself in the mirror for a moment. He looked completely flustered, his cheeks a warm red tone, his brown eyes bright. He did look feverish, like Noah said, but Quinn hadn't brought any medication to help his fever go down if that was the case. He also didn't feel strange. Just embarrassed.
Quinn left the changeroom, Noah waiting for him outside in his own robe and the two headed back to Mr. Winters and the coat check. Each person had their own little box to store their things in, and Quinn watched as his stuff was put away and then Noah's. A soft hand touched his lower back.