Chapter Twenty-Two

Kage

F our months later.

Finley's move into Kage's flat happened organically, with his clothes and belongings slowly accumulating there as he recovered. By the time he was ready to go to work, neither of them could imagine sleeping separately ever again. The bedroom was theirs; the bed smelled like them, and Kage wouldn't have it any other way.

Tonight, Finley would return to the club for a bar shift, but until they had to leave the house, Kage would keep him in bed as long as possible. Starting with a cup of morning tea.

He was humming some song from a superhero movie they'd watched the night before. Kage had never been convinced that any of them could be decent, but Finley wanted to continue watching the new ones that had come out in the past two years. He'd told Kage that going to the cinema with Max to see every superhero movie had been their tradition, but he hadn't had the drive to watch them alone. To his surprise, after suspending his disbelief, Kage had enjoyed the ones they'd seen so far. So much so that Finley had sent him links to slash erotica online that had given them costume ideas for the upcoming Halloween party at the Golden Handcuffs. Kage planned his Winter Soldier arm to be custom made of leather, and Finley's latex version of Cap was bound to send many jaws to the floor at the club.

A noise behind Kage startled him. "Fucking hell." He grappled to catch the mug trying to escape his fingers, but Finley snagged it and settled it next to the kettle.

"Sorry I scared you." Finley chuckled, his stubble scratching Kage's cheek as he kissed it.

"I guess I'm still not used to you loitering in my kitchen." Kage pushed Finley away playfully and poured hot water over the tea bags.

"You better be. I can't throw out my tenants now." Finley nuzzled Kage's neck, his light-hearted banter helping Kage curb his racing heart.

"Fine," Kage grumbled with fake annoyance. Since the night Finley had got shot, Kage flinched at rapid noises, his brain replaying the evening he'd almost lost the love of his life. Again. That event also marked a pivotal moment in their relationship, after which they gradually began to discuss their issues with the same honesty they'd been discussing their kinks and limits.

"We can drop off the games at Latif's on our way back from your physio today." Finley poured a splash of milk into their teas and took them to the living room. "I hope the girls will love them as much as Max did." Finley was parting with some of Max's stuff he'd kept out of sentiment but wouldn't use and was unable to display. He'd said it was easier when he knew someone could take good care of his games and collectibles.

On an especially emotional evening a few weeks back, Finley had showed Kage his albums packed with photographs of his kids. Finley had shared memories of the happy days over a bottle of whiskey with Kage, telling him about Max's passion for surfing and their quiet life on the island peppered with short trips abroad. The last photograph in there was of Max, and when Kage had asked about it, Finley admitted he hadn't taken pics since his son's death. Snaps with his phone of stuff for work or receipts, but no photographs. He hadn't seen the point. Finley's photography probably wouldn't win any awards but the raw beauty that the man captured in them was a joy to look at. Kage's heart hurt that Finley abandoned the beautiful way of capturing and displaying important moments of his life.

Maybe Kage could help bring that passion back?

Finley hadn't sold his car, even after moving to London, and he'd insisted on driving Kage to his physical therapy every week. Taking the tube took forever and his leg hurt too much after the session to ride his bike.

That day the physio was especially brutal. His therapist, Drea, was the most stubborn woman—apart from Jagoda—that Kage had ever met. Her ‘you can do it' attitude had pissed him off at the beginning, but it had pushed him to the point where he was truly making progress. His leg hurt a lot less and he could cut down on his pills by nearly half after consulting a doctor.

Tired and feeling like he'd survived a battle in a ring, Kage sat in the passenger seat of Finley's car as they headed home. He reached into the glove box for some CDs, only to find it empty. Finley either used a flash drive that held dozens of albums or connected his phone to play from a music streaming service.

Cold sweat broke on Kage's back as he closed the glove box.

The setting reminded him of his recurring nightmare, of the day he'd survived. Only now he'd realised that he hadn't dreamt of the accident since Finley moved into his bed. Maybe holding Finley all night, and feeling his heart beat under his palm, helped him cast the nightmare away.

Kage touched the necklace around his neck, and hair stood up on his nape. "Can we drive by Highgate Cemetery?"

"Sure. Is that the Camden one? Just put it into the GPS." Finley patted Kage's thigh, but kept his eyes on the road.

Finley didn't know London well yet, but they didn't drive much for him to do so. Living in the heart of the city allowed them to have many major events within a walking distance or a quick cab ride.

The Victorian cemetery, one of the "Magnificent Seven", greeted them with its glorious entrance as they walked towards it from the parking spot Finley miraculously found. Kage paid for their tickets and intertwined Finley's fingers with his.

"You okay?" Finley asked once they passed the gate.

Kage realised he was squeezing Finley's hand as he used the other to strangle his crutch. "Yeah. I'm fine." Not true, but he wanted to be here right now. With Finley. Kage led them through Gothic tombs and buildings, some old enough to be falling apart, the inscriptions barely visible on the grey stone.

They stopped at a grave made of slick marble and Kage let go of Finley's hand.

"Beloved son." Kage read out loud. "I was so mad that they didn't add ‘and boyfriend', but now I see how silly that was."

"No it wasn't." Finley took a step closer and put his hands in the pockets of his bomber jacket.

Kage was torn between wanting Finley to hug him and not touch him at all.

"We were so in love." Kage swallowed the lump in his throat, recalling the happy moments he'd shared with Rohan, their studying for exams and breaking only to eat and fuck. "But we were young, too. It took me years after losing him to realise that maybe we wouldn't have lasted forever. That being in love in my twenties didn't mean we would grow old together. Anything could happen in life, from breakups to accidents like ours. But I still couldn't let him go." He looped his arm through Finley's. "Please don't judge me."

"I'm the last person to do that, believe me." Finley covered Kage's hand with his big and warm one.

Kage turned to the grave and took a deep breath. "Rohan, this is Finley. He proved that I'm lucky enough to find love twice in one lifetime." Kage fiddled with the clasp at his nape, unfamiliar with the shape as he didn't take it off often. Now, the necklace dangled from his fingers like a relic of a past life. He closed his fist over it and leaned into Finley, cherishing his man's strong arms around him.

Wet drops landed on Kage's cheeks, but they weren't tears. The clouds opened to let out a chilling drizzle, as if knowing that despite the sadness that came with closing a chapter of his life, Kage wouldn't cry. The patter of the rain over the marble of Rohan's grave intensified and Kage shivered, even in Finley's embrace.

"I need a moment longer." Kage pulled away and kissed Finley's cheek.

Finley offered a small smile full of understanding. "Do you want me to wait in the car?"

Kage nodded.

"Take your time." Finley's footsteps were quiet on the muddy grass, just as his silent support had been when he'd stood next to him.

Kage knelt by the grave, his hand tracing the carved stone. He had half a mind to drop the necklace through the small crack at the joint of the marble, but he wasn't burying his past. He was accepting it. "The Kage who was ready to introduce you to his parents will always belong to you. But someone else has my heart now, and he deserves all my love and attention."

He slid the necklace into his pocket and took his cane to walk back to the car.

Finley drove them home, where they washed off the rain and had leftover curry. Sitting on the couch, Kage watched Finley sift through the articles from Kage's website he'd printed out.

"I think these should come first. From a newbie perspective, I'd like to know the basics, but also how to start experimenting already. I'd hate to be forced to read five self-help books before buying as much a butt-plug."

Kage chuckled. "You're not that new to it anymore. And some people just jump right in."

"Because everyone suggests they need to do soul searching and a year of research first. So they say fuck-it, try something on a whim, and scar themselves or end up in the emergency room. Your articles are to-the-point about sex and safety, I like that, but they also have simple instructions for beginners."

"You really think those could work as a book?" Kage nudged the pile with a toe and Finley smacked his foot away.

"Of course. But first we have to organise this mess and look into publishing it."

"I'd need an editor."

"Remember when you told me to read about Rod and his services on his website?" Finley put Kage's leg on his lap and massaged his calf absent-mindedly. The initial self-consciousness about his scars was non-existent around Finley, and now he adored his man's touch on the places he'd been hiding from view for years. "He published a book about the psychology of BDSM. Maybe ask him about the technical stuff when he and Caleb come down to see us next week."

After Finley had opened up to the idea of reaching out for help, he'd arranged a meeting with Rod to see if he'd like to work with him on his trauma. They were due to meet at a restaurant to talk, then go to The Golden Handcuffs for the evening.

"I will." Kage took in Finley's profile, his fiery hair, and the sprinkle of freckles on his face. He was big and handsome, but the care he'd shown towards Kage since they'd met overshadowed even the beauty of his tattooed chest. Kage wiggled around to straddle Finley's lap and his man's green eyes reflected the light overhead as he looked up at Kage. "Thank you for coming with me to the cemetery." Kage cupped Finley's stubbled cheeks in his hands. I thought no one would be so patient with me.

"Of course." Finley slid a hand up Kage's chest to the open top buttons of the shirt. "It's bare without the necklace."

Hopefully, not for long.

"I will forever be his sub. But now I'm letting him rest—the memory of him in my heart and his necklace in a box." Both Kage's heart as well as the space around his neck belonged to Finley now.

"I never tried to replace him." Finley's hands danced up and down Kage's sides, soothing.

"And you're not. You're my separate story, a new journey." He kissed Finley's nose. "And you will never be in his shadow. He is my past, but I'd love for you to be my future." At that, Kage lifted a finger in a give-me-a-sec gesture, stood up and retrieved a black box from his bedroom.

Sitting next to Finley, he took his hand.

Finley's eyes widened at the sight of the box, so Kage opened it and pulled out the contents.

He placed the thick titanium necklace in Finley's palm.

"I thought I was helping you figure out your sexuality and kinks." Kage paused to take a breath. "I was such a blind fool. Because you've been the one helping me all this time since the moment you looked at me." He cupped Finley's cheek, caressing it with his thumb. "God, how I love your smile. The one that reaches your eyes and reflects the joy in you. I don't remember being this happy before you."

"Oh, Kage…" Finley turned the gold padlock in his fingers and the silver key next to it. He frowned and met Kage's gaze.

"It's thick and short to go with your style and—" Kage swallowed. "Would you do me the honour of wearing it as my partner? My sub?" My entire world.

"Yes." Finley's whispered syllable rang loudly in the room as he took Kage's lips into a quick yet searing kiss. "With pride. But why is there a key next to it?" Finley's Adam's apple bobbed as his gaze darted to Kage's hand where he held another necklace.

"Your silver key fits my padlock, and mine," he showed Finley an identical chain but with a silver padlock and a gold key, "fits yours."

"So we belong to each other."

Kage nodded, showing Finley the tiny inscription with the word mine on the padlock, and yours on the bow of the key. "You unlock the best in me, and I want the whole world to know it."

It was their own collaring ceremony, on a quiet rainy evening.

Kage used the key from his necklace to unlock Finley's padlock, then locked the ends of the chain with it around his partner's throat. It sat high, so even when Finley wore a t-shirt it would be visible, but it was close enough to his skin to make it impossible for anyone to grab and pull when he was on security duty.

With steady hands, Finley unclipped the key from his chain and unlocked Kage's padlock, repeating Kage's process until they both wore matching collars.

"Your wearing a new padlock will make people think that you're a sub," Finley said, his fingers tracing his new piece of jewellery.

"I don't care. I just want everyone to know we belong to each other. That you're off the relationship market."

"I never joined that market in the first place." Finley smirked. "But I'm glad you're into dragging broken goods home."

"Don't make me put you over my knee." Kage failed to keep a straight face when Finley was grinning like a madman. No, like he was happy. Which in this case, was the same thing. He remembered days where he'd probably felt that way, but not the feeling itself.

Kage's breath hitched when Finley popped the buttons of his shirt one by one, with unhurried movements that drove Kage insane. But that was the point. No matter how they touched each other, if they fucked hard and fast, had a long pre-planned session, or languidly rocked until they both came, it was perfect.

Their bodies knew and understood each other by now, and they both could read reactions like they were their own.

Bare-chested, Kage took Finley's t-shirt off and tossed it aside. They continued the mutual strip-tease until they were naked and Finley pulled Kage to straddle his lap.

Kage held on as Finley stood up and walked towards the bedroom. His thick thighs ate the distance with ease, his upper body strength manifesting in the effortlessness with which he carried a grown man.

Sure, Kage was a Dom, but he needed just as much care and affection as his Sub. After years of being alone, he finally let himself luxuriate in the love Finley showered him with. Kage buried his face in Finley's neck and nibbled.

That overwhelming feeling in his chest, spreading through his body must be happiness. And love.

Finley laid on their bed, leaving Kage straddling him. Undulating his hips, Kage teased Finley's hard-on, loving how Finley threw his head back and gripped the headboard.

Not all sex was about the power exchange, but Kage adored how Finley craved it, how his submission came natural to him.

Kage manoeuvred them around until Finley's legs were over his shoulders and he was licking the precome off Finley's cockhead, a lube bottle on hand. He took the thick erection into his mouth halfway while prying Finley's hole open with two lubed fingers.

The whimpery moans coming from Finley fuelled Kage even more, but the need to be inside his lover overrode his desire to draw out Finley's orgasm. He nuzzled Finley's balls, inhaling the musk of an aroused man, then kissed his thigh as he pulled away. Lubing his hard-on, he looked down at Finley, his cheeks flushed, his triceps bulging from how hard he was gripping the rails of the headboard. And a collar around his neck reflecting the dim light of their bedroom.

"Fuck me, Kage. I need you inside me or I'll burst."

"I won't fuck you." Kage circled the head of his cock over Finley's rim and smirked at the look of betrayal Finley gave him. "But I'll make love to you."

The whimper Finley released turned into a gasp when Kage slid in halfway. He cried out as Finley welcomed him into his tight channel, angling his hips up to take more of Kage's dick. They had evenings of raw fucking, of handjobs in the shower, and quickies in the kitchen after a day of not seeing each other.

But other evenings, they could take their time to enjoy a good old-fashioned missionary.

With shallow thrusts, Kage made his way deep into Finley, covered him with his body, and captured his lips. Their languid kiss matched the slow rhythm of Kage's hips as they moaned together, inching towards climax. Once it washed over them, it wasn't a tidal wave of ecstasy, but a warm blanket of pleasure filled with mutual trust and love.

They held each other, Kage stuck to Finley's abs with come, his cock deflating but still inside his lover.

"Kage?" Finley wrapped his arms around him, keeping Kage in place. Kage would forever be in awe of how much bigger Finley was than he, yet chose to leave that physical strength at the door when he didn't need it.

"Mmhmm?" Kage rested his cheek on Finley's sweaty pec.

Finley took Kage's hand, kissed it, then held it over his chest. Kage understood the gesture as the silent I love you it was.

"What do you say about a trip to Cornwall?"

"Sure. When?" He flicked his tongue over Finley's nipple and grinned when his man sucked in a breath.

"This weekend. I found a nice inn to stay over on the way."

"Then we better start packing." Kage kissed Finley quickly, then slid down his body. "Now let me lick that cock clean so we can go to sleep."