“Guilty. What did I do now?” He opened his arms and smiled up at her.
“Charmed my ex-husband, that’s what. It’s ‘Finley this and Finley that’ whenever he comes to visit the girls.” She tapped the table with her nail, smirking. “Now I see why.”
“Right? And you haven’t seen his ass in leathers yet.” Latif winked at Finley, spurring on a burst of laughter out of him.
“I’m noMaster Kage,” Finley said with a flirty smile.
“Oof! Get a room, you two.” Sadie waved a hand, then turned to Latif. “I can’t stay now, but is it okay if I bring Barb with me to the show? My mum offered to watch the girls.”
“Of course. I’m so happy you can make it.”
She looked at her phone. “Shit. I need to pick her up. I’ll meet you there.” She ran off and half-hugged a well-built blond bloke on her way out. Brad Pitt circa 1999 Fight Club had nothing on this guy.
His heavy boots ate the distance towards them until his hand landed on Latif’s shoulder with a gentle tap. “Here’s the star of the evening.”
Latif introduced the man as his childhood bestie. “After years of being inseparable, Jared left me about seven years ago.” Latif sighed dramatically. “Travelled the world, ended up in Germany and, apparently, became a Dom.” He chuckled, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “So imagine my surprise when he came looking for work at the Handcuffs.”
“Yeah, he put in a good word for me with Jagoda.” Jared’s megawatt smile was blinding, but he had eyes only for Latif.
“Nah, she saw you for you,” Latif said with fondness.
Was Finley imagining it, or was there more than rekindled friendship between the two?
Latif stood up and pulled Jared with him. “Since you finally made it, let’s go so you can help me get into my dress.” He looped his hand into Jared’s arm and they left the pub.
“Do you want another shot of Bushmills?” Kage asked, nodding at Finley’s nearly empty glass.
“Sure, thanks.” Finley reached for his wallet but Kage waved him off as he stood up.
“I owe you a drink at the club tonight.”
Finley followed Kage with his gaze. The tight jeans he wore hugged his figure from his delectable ass down to where his calves disappeared into harness boots. The man was hot at all angles, that was certain. But it wasn't his perfect body that drew Finley to him the most; it was the way he made him feel completely at ease while coaxing his deepest desires to the surface.
Fuck, he was staring. He glanced around, but no one was paying him any attention. His ogling habit was fine at the club, but not in public. Besides, he wasn’t even out, not really. Then again, did he have to tell people that he was not straight? Did he have to choose how to define himself?A scary thought.
His new group of friends didn’t make assumptions, nor did they ask unprompted. Considering the vibe of The Golden Handcuffs, everyone was either queer or an ally, so no one was under scrutiny.
He had lived his life as a straight man, save for the occasional experiment while he was away from the island on business. Amongst his vanilla explorations with other men, no one had ever set his body on fire the way Kage had the first evening he’d seen him. His crush should have faded by now—he’d got a taste of what the man could do and he should move on. But no, thinking of Kage helped him get through the days he wasn’t at the club and couldn’t direct his entire focus on work.
It was terrifying. Finley had lived without a partner for years, not having that one person to have passionate sex with, talk to, and cuddle at night. Perhaps he was building up Kage in his head as a bandaid for all his ails. Maybe he was exactly that. Either way, Finley wanted more of him. Hopefully, Kage would want the same.
“Here’s your drink.” Kage’s voice rumbled next to Finley’s ear and his heart jumped, sending his pulse sky-high as the man took a seat in front of him.
“Thanks.” The ice cubes clinked as Finley took a sip of the amber liquid, cherishing the burn as it made its way down his throat.
Kage’s come would be thicker and hotter if he swallowed it.
Would he let him do that?
Kage sipped his drink and Finley followed the movement of his Adam’s apple, then looked at the face of a man with a fluidsense of duality. Whenever Kage smiled, Finley’s lips would always lift in return, and his chest would fill with warmth. At other times, like when Kage brought someone to their knees at the club, his serious, focused expression would send waves of lust through Finley which were so intense he could feel the shadow of them at a mere thought.
“It was nice meeting your brother today,” said Finley. “Does he visit the club often?”
“He says that it’s not his scene, but he and his wife always have a great time whenever they come. I think he’s still holding onto the image of the good boy he wants our parents to see him as.”
“I guess they’re not into kink?” Finley leaned over the table. “It’s never too late.”I’d know.
“Oh, God, no.” Kage chuckled. “They’re straight-laced, but firm allies. They live in Kent, but they come over every couple of weeks. Mum wanted to see what I do once, but she decided against it when she found out the dress code on the website.” He shook his head. “I’ve never hid what my job is from them, but it’s also good that they know where to draw the line for their own sanity. Although Mike says she’s so stubborn, she’ll come someday.”
