Epilogue

~ Wright ~

* Two Years Later *

"Xander, what are you doing?" Wright laughed at the light touch against his skin. His arms were already tied intricately behind his back. He sat on his favorite stool in their own playroom. He had a blindfold on, only at the insistence of his boyfriend. He didn't want to ruin the surprise he had for him for his twenty-first birthday.

Before living with the Lawson's, Wright never really had a birthday party. Not one that was worth remembering. His mom would sometimes bring a cupcake home for him, but presents were seen as unnecessary. The past couple of years were the complete opposite. He'd been showered with attention and gifts.

His first birthday with them, he'd been surprised with his extended family. It had been out of the blue, but Xander and Patrick sat him down to give him the choice if he wanted to see them or not. It turned out that his father, the high and mighty man he portrayed, hadn't even owned their house. The For Sale sign was because Wright's grandparents heard what happened and effectively disowned their son. They'd been lied to for years from his dad about their family, everything from his job to how Wright was doing in school. They hadn't known that his mom left. It wasn't until Raegan got in touch with them to build her case against him that they learned the truth. They wanted to make up for all the lost time and offered a section of their land up north for William to expand the FFR. Wright was hesitant, but he decided to at least meet them. He hadn't seen them since he was six. Xander stayed with him the entire time. After seeing each other face-to-face, they kept in touch. It wasn't a lot, but it was a start, and gradually, they built a relationship.

For Christmas last year, Xander surprised him with their own home. The Starlin Ranch was selling and offered him a great deal. The couple was older and had been selling off their land bit-by-bit since they couldn't keep up with payments and work. They were grateful that Xander wanted the remaining hundred acres. It'd taken a few months for them to renovate the house to their liking. And by them, he meant William redesigned everything and Wright got to watch Xander work shirtless most evenings. They both still worked on the ranch with Patrick, but Wright would be shifting his focus come next year.

This birthday, Xander one upped his surprise. How he could up reuniting him with family that accepted him and a whole fucking house, but he did. Xander explained that they were going to start up a new program. A horse rescue. He showed Wright all the blueprints, done by another designer William knew from school that specialized in barns and commercial buildings. He'd been working with the horses for two years and had job shadowed the vets that serviced their area to learn more. He'd taken a few courses to get a certification over the last year. He was excited for this next step. They'd celebrated with the family earlier in the day and now, they were having their own personal celebration.

"Shh," Xander said. Wright jumped at the close proximity of his voice. He had to be down right next to him. Another brush of his fingertips across Wright's stomach had him shivering. The simple touch made his whole body quiver with need and Xander knew that. "I've been planning this for weeks. Just sit there and look pretty."

"Aww, you think I'm pretty?" Wright teased out. He heard something. They were in their playroom. It wasn't much, just a small shed behind the house they lived in together. Xander had spent a month fixing it up, refusing to let Wright inside. He'd claimed it was where he was storing all the construction things. Turns out, he and William- bless his soul for helping design this space knowing what it would be used for- brought everything in and did the work themselves. There were ropes hanging neatly on the walls, the white carpet thick and soft below his feet. A giant mirror took up the majority of one wall and Wright knew he was positioned to face it right now. They had other toys in the room, but their favorite would always be the ropes.

"I think you're gorgeous," Xander said. "I'm going to lay something across your shoulders now."

Wright held his breath and waited. He'd been in this situation more than once. Xander loved to tie Wright up almost as much as Wright loved being restrained now. It had taken a bit of learning, figuring out what both of them were and weren't okay with. But they talked and stayed honest throughout all of it. Wright's therapy twice a week helped and by the new year, he'd gone to just once a week. Now, it was once a month to keep checking in.

He loved moments like this, but he also melted every time Xander planned them a romantic date night. It was either taking the truck out onto their own land or going into the city to dance, but they'd end the night with Xander making love to him. Sweet or rough. Wright got the total package with Xander.

A soft weight rested on his shoulder and he sucked air into his lungs. His toes curled against the floor. He let the sensation of the rope take over his mind and body. He was no longer afraid of them, knowing that they had no power. The person holding it did and Wright trusted and loved that person with every ounce of his being. Xander worked silently, tying and adjusting the rope against his skin. As the minutes passed, he could feel the places where the knots sat snug against him, changing the direction of the rope to create patterns across his skin.

"You look so beautiful like this, Wright. Shit, this should be my birthday present, not yours."

Wright wished like hell he could see himself. See Xander and watch him as he tied him up. The blindfold had been a recent endeavor of theirs. Xander joked with him that they should see if it kept Wright from coming too soon. He may or may not have come untouched just from being tied in different positions a time or two. Or three. He blamed Xander because sometimes their sessions could take up to an hour before he was satisfied with the placement of each knot. They'd almost had an incident with needing to use the restroom once. Xander made sure he was good before they started anything now. It was an inside joke between them.

"Will I get to see?" Wright asked. He played his voice as innocently as he could. He knew Xander couldn't resist it.

"When I'm done," Xander said. His voice was in front of him now. He felt his hands brush up his thighs. Wright was totally naked. "Move your right leg and put your heel on the chair."

Wright did as directed. He felt Xander's lips brush against his inner thigh and his cock stirred with interest. He knew he'd be hard in no time. His lips parted and he let out a moan when Xander started wrapping a rope around his leg, tying his thigh to his calf. The rope wrapped all the way down to his ankle. This was going to be a new pose. He was going to be so exposed. He felt a swell of pleasure course through his body.

"Fuck, baby." Xander's hand wrapped around his cock unexpectedly. Wright relaxed into the grip. He bit his bottom lip, hoping the slight pain would take away the growing pressure in his balls. "I don't know how I got so lucky with you."

"Oh, you know." Wright panted a few breaths when Xander's hand disappeared from his cock but his lips brushed against his inner thigh of the leg not tied up. Yet. He could hope to be fully tied. "Just a bit of trauma and you showing up like my cowboy in shining denim."

Xander made him change their safe word because of how often Wright joked about him being his cowboy. He didn't want there to be any confusion. Now, their safe word was grits. Because Wright would never willingly talk about them. He still didn't understand why people liked them. They were just gross.

"I'm so glad you're able to joke about it now," Xander said, his tone half sarcastic. It had truly been a long road for them the last two years. After his dad tried to take him away from the Lawsons, Reagan unleashed everything she'd been building against him. There were medical records, police reports, witness testimonies. Apparently, for all the time Wright people watched from his front porch, his neighbors noticed and they were all too happy to talk about how they could hear yelling and always saw Wright doing the yard work. His dad pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him the opposite. He got thirty-five years for everything. "You've come a long way, baby."

"Because I found someone that took a chance and loved me," Wright said earnestly. They'd had this conversation time and time again, but Wright loved it. He was happy with his life now. Loved everything about it. Another rope tightened around the shin of his left leg and he was effectively tied to the stool he sat on. "I couldn't have done any of that without you, Xander."

"Keep sweettalking," Xander said. His hands were on Wright's body again. This time on his chest. He was doing something, adjusting one of the knots. Xander loved to tease and edge him. Last time they'd come out to their play room, he'd spent a full hour placing the ropes just right. It'd only taken Wright ten minutes to come once he started fucking him. "I'm almost done."

"Already? Must be my birthday or something to not have to wait."

Lips landed on his and he opened his mouth greedily for Xander. He pulled against the ropes his hands were tied in, but it was no use. They had to be wrapped at least two dozen times in some sort of intricate design. He'd be able to see pictures later; Xander always took pictures of him. "Will you be quiet now?"

There was something new on his skin. Kind of cold, but small. It was resting in the center of his chest. But Xander was moving on. Wright bit his bottom lip to keep from crying out as Xander wrapped something around his cock. He'd never done this before. "Is this okay?"

"Totally," Wright said enthusiastically. "Fuck, Xander. You'll have to make whatever you're doing quick."

The room fell silent after that. Xander worked and Wright tried to keep his breathing even. He couldn't even shift his body to relieve any pressure or the energy running rampant through his body. His cock was pulled up against his body, Xander's fingers slipping the rope under another part and tying it. Or he thought he was. He lost track of time as Xander's hands touched him randomly. Adjusting the ropes or just touching his skin. Wright's body was on fire. He was itching to see himself.

"Happy birthday, Wright."

Finally the blindfold was pulled from his eyes. He blinked a few times to adjust to the light. It wasn't a dark room, a normal light hung from the ceiling. The walls were soundproof for obvious reasons. They didn't have a window so they could remain naked without fear of anyone stopping by and snooping, but there was a skylight that let in plenty of natural light. His eyes focused in front of him. His eyes traveled over his own reflection.

He looked amazing. Xander was truly an artist when it came to tying him up. The rope was red this time, contrasting nicely against his skin. It crossed over his chest and to his back. Three diamond shapes trailed down the middle of his body. His cock was leaking against his stomach, tied in place. The rope even wrapped around his balls. An intentional move on Xander's part to keep him from coming too soon, no doubt.

"What do you think?" Xander asked. Wright looked away from himself to see Xander standing behind him. He was fully clothed, holding a single slice of cake on a plate above Wright's left shoulder. "Did you look closely?"

Wright scrunched his eyebrows together and looked again. The rope, knots, his leg bent up and tied so he was on full display in the mirror. It was all beautiful and incredibly hot. He tried to shift in the seat and something shiny caught the light and his attention. It was positioned in the middle diamond on his chest. He forgot about his reflection for a moment and bent his head down to look at his body.

A silver band was tied to his body. A ring. Xander came into his vision and knelt in front of him. He took his time untying the ring. He held it between his thumb and forefinger and looked at Wright.

"I love you, Wright. So much. I know we met under the worst of circumstances, but you have been the best thing in my life these last two years. I can't imagine going through the rest of this life with anyone but you. Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Tears blurred Wright's vision. He shook his head, trying to get rid of them. Xander leaned forward and kissed him. "I love you so much," he said into the kiss. "Oh my god. This is perfect."

"I love you too, gorgeous." Xander's hands were on his body in an instant. He only untied his legs though, enough for him to stand up. Wright knew what was coming. "I can't wait to call you my husband."

"I can't wait for you to fuck your fiancé," Wright shot back. He let Xander turn him around and bend him over the stool. He smiled when he felt the band be slipped on his finger. He didn't have much time to admire the feeling of it before two wet fingers plunged into his hole. Wright cried out and if it wasn't for Xander's hand on his shoulder holding him steady, he probably would have toppled forward off the stool.

"What was that?" Xander asked, his tone cocky. He scissored his fingers quickly, stretching Wright open so he could get to the main event. "I love seeing you like this, baby. The trust you have in me is delicious."

Wright curled his toes and if it wasn't for the rope acting as a cock ring, he would have come. Xander's tongue was working alongside his fingers, opening him up. He writhed, twisted his hips, adjusted his legs to spread further. He needed his fiancé inside him now. He hung his head down, getting a partial view of Xander on his knees behind him. "Fuck, Alexander. I need you. I'll always need you."

"I'll always need you too, gorgeous. Here's to the rest of our lives."