Chapter Twenty-Three

Finley

" B eautiful, isn't it?" Finley squeezed Kage's hand as they stood on a grassy cliff's edge facing the turquoise waters of Porthcurno Bay.

The waves climbed high before smoothing closer to the sandy beach. A surfer disappeared under the water, but popped out soon after, dragging his board by the string attached to his ankle. Two others paddled further out, then stood up on their boards. The beach was otherwise empty, the weather far too chilly for casual goers to endure.

"It is." Kage smoothed his hair back, but the wind ruffled it again. His cheeks were flushed from the breeze and he huddled in his leather jacket, turning the collar up. "Did you ever surf?"

"Nah. Max tried to teach me, but I was shit at it. I was stressed enough watching him do it, even though he picked it up when he was eight and was pretty good early on." The surfers in front of them packed up and headed out. Finley clutched the urn under his free arm, the same one that he'd been talking to for two years. "I brought Max and his two mates to surf here once. This is the spot I took that picture of him from the album. He said he felt alive and free when he was riding a wave, more than during anything else. I think he'd like to be a part of the waves now." Finley's chest constricted as he let go of Kage's hand and opened the urn. He handed the lid to Kage to hold as he tipped the contents over the edge of the cliff.

"I thought I'd go into the waves with his ashes after I was sure his killers had been dealt with," Finley said, and appreciated the soothing touch of Kage's arm around his waist. "But now, I want him to surf alone a bit longer." The wind carried the ashes further over the empty beach and towards the angry water. "Be free, Max," Finley whispered through a lump in his throat. His tears felt hot over his cheeks, cooled by the wind that swept them away.

Knees weak, he knelt on the grass and took solace in the embrace of the man who'd been patient and understanding with him like no one had ever been before. He'd nursed Finley back to his feet after the shooting, gave him bollocking for leaving his socks on the floor, and supported him in taking small steps towards accepting Max's passing.

Kage replaced the lid and covered Finley's cold hands with his even colder ones. They sat like that until the sun turned the water red and the cool breeze chilled them to the bone.

When they stood up, Kage retrieved a box from his backpack. "So you can continue the album. Or get a new one." He handed Finley the gift and offered a small smile.

Finley opened it and pulled Kage to his chest. "You got me a Polaroid?"

"They're all the rage now and you like your pics on paper, so I thought—"

"Thank you." He traced his fingers over the device similar to the one he used to have so many years ago. "You must have paid a fortune for it."

Kage shrugged, but Finley saw his guiltily sneaky expression. "Nah. But even if I did, it would be worth the look on your face now."

Finley turned to the sea and pointed the camera at the sunset. The sheet slid out and he waved it to develop, but the image was far from perfect. That was the beauty of it.

"Can I?" Kage reached for the Polaroid, and Finley handed it over. "Sit there facing the water." He pointed at the ass prints they'd left moments before, and Finley complied.

A click and whirring of a picture being developed followed. Finley stood up to look at it.

The frame showed his profile with his legs bent, the edge of the cliff and the sunset behind him.

New life. New memories.

He pulled Kage close and kissed him with softness that he hoped relayed his gratitude. For the gift, for coming here with him, and for understanding him so well.

They spent the night at an old, but nicely maintained inn, in a room decorated with wooden carvings on walls and with a quilted bedspread on a twin bed. The breakfast shared with the owners, an elderly couple, and their cats was the peaceful culmination of the trip they both needed.

"I'll text Rod that we'll be late," Kage said from the passenger seat, glancing at the cars around them at a standstill.

They'd overslept and talked to the Inn's owners for too long, but it was the traffic on the motorway that ate into their travel time.

Or so Finley told himself.

Rod and Caleb were coming down from Bristol to visit Brian and E, so Finley had seen that as an opportunity to meet Rod on neutral ground before he committed to his services as a therapist.

With a sigh, Finley glanced at the red marking on the GPS map.

"Ask if we can move the meeting by a few hours. I want to go home and change first." Our home. Kage's place had become theirs. Instead of upgrading to a bigger flat or a house, they decided to spend the money on travel. Latif's friend-turned-boyfriend Jared had given them a list of BDSM clubs worth visiting around the world, including a few contacts that could introduce them to the local scene.

"They're going to Handcuffs for the evening. Should we meet them there?" Kage asked, repositioning his long legs despite the ample space.

"Sure. We'll find a quiet place to talk."

"And we can watch them first." Kage snickered, looking at his phone. "Rod says they scheduled a presentation of flogging and something extra but he doesn't want Caleb to find out what."

The idea of watching another couple at the club while standing next to Kage sent a spark of lust into Finley's groin.

"All that talking makes me want to turn into the woods and spread myself on the grass for you." Finley gripped the steering wheel, wiggling in his seat. "Except we're not passing any woods and we're stuck in traffic."

"But there are country roads..." Kage grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Take the next exit."

"Okay. And then what?" Finley needed to hear how filthy Kage's impromptu plan was.

"I have my leather gloves with me. I'll force your face into the hood of the car, spank your ass until it's red, then spread your tight hole with my fingers. By the time I sink deep into you, you'll be begging for my come to fill you."

A tiny whimper left Finley as he flushed, his cock already hardening.

He turned the blinker on to change lanes. Thank fuck he'd be getting off the motorway in less than five minutes.