Epilogue

Kage

O ne year later.

Kage turned the ring on his finger round and round, listening to Finley explain the layout of the venue they'd been looking at. He wasn't happy with anything they'd considered so far, so they might take Mat and Peyton up on their offer of throwing a wedding at their home in Barbados after all.

Keeping a grin off his face was so hard that Kage stopped trying as he recalled the night Finley proposed. A year ago, he'd thought great sex and the pleasant company of Caleb and Rod would have been the best the evening could have brought, but he'd been sorely mistaken.

Before they'd left the club, Finley had made arrangements for a video chat with Rod as their first session. Not only had he been visibly happy with his decision, he'd thanked Kage for the push he needed for so long.

Kage's heart broke at the thought of Finley having never had someone who'd taken care of him but he was happy that the privilege belonged to him now. He promised himself that he'd do everything for Finley to know the depth of his love and devotion.

Once home, Finley knelt on one knee and asked Kage to marry him. The simple rings he'd purchased matched the necklaces they already wore, and Kage said yes before Finley finished talking.

"I want the non-kinksters to know you're my everything. And it would be easier to explain to your parents." Finley grinned as he slid the ring onto Kage's finger in the privacy of their home. They spent the rest of the evening curled on the couch, weaving plans for their future. Finley had ideas on what he wanted. "A ceremony at the club for friends, since we can get paperwork signed at the Register Office later. And a party whenever we're ready."

Now, a year into their engagement, Finley was going full Bridezilla on wedding planning, scheduling every detail and roping their friends into the event. Brendan was organising the flowers, Jared would take pictures, and Lucy was in charge of the music and a show. Even Don Murphy offered a discount for Finley to purchase Whiskey from the distillery he used to run. Finley was paying everyone handsomely, saying that it was the best thing he could spend the money on. But during quiet evenings at home, Finley would recollect his past and Kage knew that his savings had been intended for Max's university and future, and the wedding craze was compensating for the small impromptu ceremony he'd had with Maggie.

"Kage, are you even listening?" Finley kicked the leg of the chair Kage was sitting on, bringing him back to the present.

"Yes." Kage took in Finley's raised eyebrows and the smile he was trying to hold back. Busted. "Well, no. I lost you at the pattern on the forks."

"There's no patter—You asshole!" Finley kicked the chair again. "It all needs to be perfect, but that's not the important part. I want to spend my life with you and remember the day our friends and family celebrated our happiness with us."

"I know, and I love that. Can you tell me about the name plates? My mum requested to sit next to you."

Kage's parents treated Finley like a third son, and Kage noticed how Finley's eyes got teary during those casual family dinners. Every time he saw Finley genuinely happy, not only smiling when someone was looking at him, his heart swelled with more love than he'd thought himself capable of.

Kage sat on Finley's lap as they continued going over the wedding details. They were used to spending evenings in each other's arms, but every casual touch still brought a tingle of excitement.

Life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, though, and Finley had kicked Kage's ass in regards to his issues.

For years, it had been easy for Kage to avoid the nagging of his parents, the worried looks his brother had given him, or the gentle nudge from Lucy. But Finley took no shit when it came to Kage's wellbeing, body and mind.

Thirteen months of physical therapy had done wonders, and Kage was significantly less reliant on pain meds. He'd caved and let Finley help him with the every-day massage, quickly learning what he'd been missing when Finley's hands strayed from the muscles in Kage's leg towards other areas. His scars were a reminder of his past, but no longer brought the feeling of guilt whenever he looked at them—especially after he'd covered them with intricate tattoos Caleb had designed for him. It had been a decision Kage had made the day he and Finley had got matching handcuff tattoos on their forearms.

Kage's phone pinged, and he read the message. "Brendan says you're not picking up your phone. He needs you to approve the flower arrangements he's prepared."

"Oh, shit, it's still on mute after my shift. I'll call him back in a moment."

Kage recalled how wobble-legged Finley had been when he'd taken him to their private room at the club after work.

"I'm happy Hugh and Brendan's party will be the first you'll organise," Kage said as he nuzzled Finley's neck. "Some people need more time, but these two have waited long enough for Brendan to want a collar."

"It's shit that their ceremony had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, but I'm working with them on something special. Since we'll be officiating their collaring and vows exchange at the club, they want a wedding party for the family the day after. I'm making notes of the things that won't work for us, but they might like, so once it comes to planning theirs, I'll have the necessary info." Finley pointed to a separate folder. "Latif and Jared are next. Theirs will have a Karaoke and divas theme. I'm not organising as much as roping people together, that's all. They're all so eager to be a part of the celebrations and help…" He swallowed, tightening his arms around Kage.

"What is it?" Kage kissed Finley's forehead.

"Sometimes all that support and positivity is overwhelming." Finley released a long breath, then smiled. "Speaking of which, I want to throw a party for your book release—" Finley shushed Kage with a finger on his lips before he managed to protest. "Latif advocated for a fisting event, or a leather night at the club, but if you want something smaller, I thought we could just have our closest people over at the flat."

"A house party sounds nice, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it. It's not going to sell in millions."

"I don't care. It's a huge fucking deal, and you'll have to accept it." Finley thrust his chin up in defiance. That hint of bratty behaviour was working in Finley's favour as far as Kage was concerned, and the man knew it.

"I just want it to reach the people I wrote it for, that's the most important thing," Kage said.

"Of course it will. I mean, you've got Jagoda stocking it at the club and Renata putting it in the kink shop. Then we have a meeting at the London Alternative Market next Sunday, and I'm sure we'll find people who'd want it at their stands." Finley kissed Kage's cheek.

"Aren't we picking suits for our wedding then?" Kage frowned, opening the calendar on his phone.

"No, that's on Saturday. Thank fuck Latif and Mike are taking their best men duties seriously and coming with us."

"Between my brother's inclination towards stiff lawyer suits and Latif's sparkling taste, it's gonna be a long day." Kage was lucky to have Mike in his corner for the chaos surrounding the wedding. "Whatever we decide on, you'll look beautiful in it. And I'll be waiting to undress you right after the first dance."

"No, no, no, no." Finley waved a finger. "Your mom helped pick the cake. We'll cut and eat the damn thing first or she'll have my head on a platter."

"Fine. I'll eat your cake." Kage nuzzled Finley's neck, reaching for his fiancé's fly in the process.

"Filthy, filthy Dom."

"You love me that way, my Toy." Kage cupped Finley's balls, wrenching a moan out of him.

"I do. I love you so much." Finley wiggled out of the grip and hoisted Kage up. "I need a break from organising and decision making."

Kage wrapped his legs around Finley's waist. "Take us to the bedroom and I will tell you what to do until your mind is filled with pleasure and your body is limp from orgasms."

For eight years, Kage had been fooling himself that he was living a decent life, when he'd been merely surviving on helping others by means of BDSM. Now, nearly a decade after his accident and the loss of his Dom, Kage's life was so full of joy, he was afraid he'd wake up and find out he'd imagined Finley, his freckles, and his easy smile.

To his relief, every morning he woke up next to Finley, his hand over his fiancé's heart, his mind imagining the future of them spending the rest of their lives together.

THE END