“I’m not expecting you to say anything back until you’re ready, but I wanted you to know how I feel. How could I not fall in love with you, Kieran?”
He got choked up, so Derek lay on his side and pulled Kieran into him, letting him cry. Kieran still had a long way to go in his recovery, and it wouldn’t all be easy, but he knew giving his heart to this beautiful young man had been the easiest decision of his life, and he’d spend every day reminding him just how worthy of love he was.
EPILOGUE
KIERAN
Two years later
“Can you help me with these?” asked Kieran, exasperated.
Hassan chuckled and helped Kieran fasten his cufflinks. He pulled on the jacket, completing the outfit.
“Look at you, all grown up,” said Hassan. “It’s like a fairy tale, getting married to your stepdad.”
There was laughter from across the room. His sister, Kelly, was here with him on this special day. He still had to pinch himself that he was getting married. The last two years with Derek had been incredible, although not all plain sailing. Even now, Kieran would still have moments when he got lost in the past, but Derek always knew what to do, whether that was just holding him or doing something a lot dirtier. They’d experimented a lot in the time they’d been together. Derek had worked sensitively with Kieran, so he knew his limits. He loved their scenes together, but when it was just the two of them with no role play, making love and getting lost in each other for hours, that was his favourite.
Being reunited with his sister, Kelly, had been difficult. After their first meeting, they’d barely spoken for six months. She had a lot to get her head around. Finding out Kieran wasstill alive had irreparably damaged her relationship with their mum, and they no longer spoke. Kieran wondered what she would think of him marrying Derek. He’d already warned Hassan not to bring the stepdad thing up in the best man speech. Kieran had also spoken to Hassan’s husband. His best friend would do anything that man asked of him. Kieran was the last in their friend group to get married. Liam had married Austin earlier in the year, and Milo was officially the UK’s first gentleman after he’d married the now prime minister. Kieran found it bizarre that the prime minister was to be the best man for his future husband, but theywerebest friends. Kieran still couldn’t resist giving Edward a hard time over the latest issues whenever they had dinner with him and Milo. He was always polite and listened, whilst the others tried not to laugh.
“Where is your husband?” asked Kieran.
“He’ll be keeping my seat warm for me,” said Hassan with a smile.
“Such agood boy,isn’t he?”
“Do you want me to tell Derek you’re being a brat?”
Kieran shuddered. Derek had threatened him with a cock cage last night when he was being whiny about them not spending the night together. The whole “not spending the night together before the wedding” was heteronormative bullshit that he didn’t want to be part of. Derek had said it would be best, though, so Kieran would be able to walk down the aisle the next day, which had only made him hornier.
“Let me get a picture of you with Kelly,” said Hassan.
“We’ve got a photographer.”
“They take weeks to come back, and this one you can have straight away.”
Kelly walked over, looking stunning in the bridesmaid’s dress she was wearing. Kieran was so happy to have her back in his life. He’d done her first tattoo a year ago, and she wanted to follow in her big brother’s footsteps, so he wastraining her up. Kieran had his own shop now, which was based in Holloway, so near to where he lived with Derek in Highgate. He loved Kelly working with him.
After being at another tattoo shop for a year as the assistant manager, he felt confident enough now to know how to run the business side of things. Derek helped him where he needed it and was also one of his regular customers. After Kieran had tattooed the portrait of Derek’s old dog, he’d become one of his best customers. Derek still insisted on paying Kieran for his skills, which was an argument they’d had several times, especially as he wasn’t allowed to pay for a drink in The Back Room.
Once they’d taken a few pictures, and Kelly took some of Kieran and Hassan together, it was time for them to leave. They were getting married at a country hotel in Essex, so had stayed there the night before, and they’d had a delightful meal with friends and family– well, limited family, but those who mattered had shown up. Now it was time for him to marry the love of his life.
The plan was for them to walk down the aisle together, so when he got to the room they were waiting in, he took a deep breath before opening the door. Derek had been looking out of the window, and he turned to face Kieran with a big smile. He looked so handsome in his wedding suit.
“Wow. You have to fuck me wearing that later,” said Kieran.
Derek chuckled. “Let me get a look at you,” he said, walking over to Kieran, taking hold of his hands, and looking him up and down.
“I still can’t believe this is happening,” said Kieran.
“You’re the one who proposed.”
That was true. Derek hadn’t said he didn’t want to get married again, but with two failed marriages behind him, it wasn’t something they’d ever discussed. Kieran knew he’d have to take the lead, but instead of planning some big elaborateproposal, they’d been watching TV in bed, and he’d suggested the pre-booked holiday they were going on to the Caribbean should be their honeymoon. Derek had agreed immediately, and here they were. The wedding had been planned in three months.
Derek stroked his face and pulled him into a gentle kiss.
“Aren’t we supposed to wait until we say, ‘I do,’ before we do this?” asked Kieran.
“We’re hardly the role models for following convention,” he replied, making Kieran laugh before deepening the kiss.
