Epilogue
Rory
Rory smoothed his hands over the seat of his black trousers and looked around the dining room. They’d taken the tables and chairs out to accommodate the arrangements of blue roses and the photography equipment. Nolan had toured the house the week previous and deemed the dining room the best room for the shoot because of the large French doors that led out onto the seldom used deck.
He turned in a slow circle, assuring himself that everything was perfect. Nolan had set up his equipment and circled the room taking a series of test shots. Along the farthest wall, there was a buffet. The usual trinkets were cleared off and, in their place stood tall white candles. Two square velvet boxes sat on the polished surface. Silver collars sat inside waiting for submissives. His submissives. He smoothed his hand over the tops of the boxes, then pulled his hand back and turned to Nolan.
“Have I thanked you yet for doing this?”
Nolan stopped and looked at Rory. “Have I told you yet that photographing three extremely attractive men is no hardship.”
Reaching up, he touched his newly dyed hair, smiling at the memory of Andrew, who insisted he get to help. “Well, two attractive men and a sort of cute queen with blue hair.”
Nolan grinned and shook his head, hiding his face behind his camera again. Laughter filled the house and Rory smiled as it got closer to the dining room. Rory took a deep breath. This was it. It was the moment Rory never knew he’d always been waiting for. Nick and Andrew were his everything.
It had been six months since Andrew and Nick moved in and Rory waited for five months before tentatively broaching the subject of permanent collars. Nicky had clung to them both and quietly explained the meaning and significance to their bewildered cub. He’d never forget the way their eyes shimmered, glassy with emotion, when Andrew had said yes, followed by Nick’s cheeky reply of what took you so long?
Nick and Andrew rounded the corner, hand in hand, both shirtless, like Rory and wearing matching black trousers. The subject of nudity for the shoot had been discussed, and they’d collectively decided that they wanted pictures they could share with people. Those pictures had been taken a few minutes ago. Before they knelt, Rory would get the joy of watching them disrobe.
“You’re beautiful.” Rory exhaled, the tension leaving his shoulders. “Both of you.”
Behind him, Rory was vaguely aware of a camera shutter clicking in the background. Rory stood in the center of the room and waited for his men to come to him. They approached, Andrew following Nick’s lead, like always.
Nick ordered Andrew out of his pants. As he stripped the camera clicked furiously and Rory relished in the knowledge that he’d forever have these moments. He watched them strip then kneel and finally, wait. They’d wait there for hours if Rory wished it, but he didn’t. He had everything he’d always wanted, and his patience was too thin now that the moment was here. He didn’t want to prolong it.
He fetched both velvet boxes and brought them back to his submissives. “I made these special for the two of you. I’ve had them tucked away in my office for months.” He opened the first box and took out the silver chain he’d crafted. Handing the box to Andrew, he unclasped the necklace and slid it around Andrew’s neck. It was a simple chain that fastened together using a latch system that he’d crafted to look like a carabiner. The silver chain was fashioned to look like rope. He whispered his promises to Andrew, to love him, to protect him, to keep him safe as he secured it. He kissed his newly collared sub sweetly, lingering for too long, and not long enough. But he had time to come back to that later.
He opened the second box and removed Nick’s necklace, a length of chain with a clasping device that looked like handcuffs. He repeated the process, sliding the chain around Nick’s neck. He repeated the words, made the same promises then kissed Nick. It was a hard-won kiss full of years of want and need, devoid of fear, full only of hope. When the kiss ended, Rory licked the taste of him from his lips and exhaled a breath heavy with emotion.
Rory took the empty boxes back to the buffet then turned. Two men kneeled for him. Two men relied on him to look after them. To protect them. To love them and nurture them. Rory took a deep breath and blinked at Nick, who’d somehow produced a smaller velvet box.
The camera continued to click softly in the background. “What’s this?”
Andrew flushed pink. “We wanted to get you something.”
Rory took the box from Nick and opened it, then smiled. He remembered the rush order for the custom bracelet. A silver rope and a silver chain braided with a strand of smooth metal. The bracelet was an infinity bracelet and Rory teared up at the symbolism. The camera had stopped clicking and Rory glanced up in time to see Nolan quietly retreat. He caught Rory’s gaze, smiled, nodded, then left him alone with his boys.
He sucked in a deep breath. “You two are the craftiest boys ever.” Rory slid the bracelet onto his wrist and admired it. “I love it. And you. Both of you. Always.”
The End