Before Leonor, for as long as Quinn could remember he avoided the touch of others as if they may give him an ancient plague. He was unaffectionate with and unaffected by others which was the way he preferred to live his life.
The only two people to get through his defenses were Leonor and Stephano—although it was lucky Stephano wasn't an affectionate person either or their relationship would have soured long in the past.
There was one point in Quinn and Leonor's relationship where he finally accepted her touch, realizing that was just the sort of affectionate person she was. She meant nothing by it other than friendship and he never thought of it any more than that.
That's why, when Leonor lifted her skirts and rushed down the front steps, unassisted by the duke who was walking beside her, Quinn readily accepted her hug when she jumped at him. He used his little defensive magic to keep himself from falling over.
