A/N: there's always something bittersweet about the final chapter. And here's something spicy, too

I wrote a scene in another story that had my readers giggling, and I couldn't resist bringing it back here. Gabe does like pain, after all

Gabe waved goodbye, Kaiya next to him on the couch, matching the movement with an equally joyous grin on his face.

They'd been in London for two months and Gabe loved it. When they arrived, Laurent had taken him to impressive sky-high apartments with amazing views, but Gabe had shown him the pictures for a two-bedroom duplex in a converted Victorian townhouse, with a tiny square of vivid-green garden, and Laurent had been signing the lease an hour later. Loki and Kaiya had the same idea, and now lived a few streets over.

They spoke to the guys back in New York at least twice a week by video call, and had just finished one.

"I should let you practice," Kaiya said, hugging Gabe before he grabbed his jacket and shrugged it on.

When Kaiya had gone, Gabe spent a few minutes tidying before he went upstairs. Their bedroom was perfectly made up and had been since early that morning when he'd gone to the Southbank Centre for the daily orchestral practice session. He had something else in mind than practice for now.

He went into the smaller, second bedroom and checked the time on his phone before putting it to one side, face up so he could see if a message came in – one of Laurent's requirements for him. There weren't many. Their kinks didn't necessarily roll the way of control over day-to-day things, though Laurent did have a number of protective instincts that Gabe was happy to work with.

He thought about that with a flush while he stripped and neatly folded his clothes. Most of the control rules were to give each of them excuses to enter into harsher, more masochistic play. And 'play' was the operative word.

One thing they had discovered was that Gabe didn't like being genuinely punished with pain. For all the sharp stings and brutal thuds – and shivering humiliation – he needed an undercurrent of praise, which Laurent was more than happy to provide and to make fun.

Today, Gabe didn't even have pretend punishment in mind, though. He took a firm cushion, placing it on the floor and kneeling, facing the door but with his head down and his hands behind his back. Although he didn't like kneeling when Laurent was in the room – or in front of anyone at the new club they found, Sanctuary – Gabe had discovered that kneeling in waiting position grounded his mind and allowed him to easily get into a pleasant, malleable, mindset.

He didn't have long to wait, hearing the slam of the front door only ten minutes later.

"Bambi," Laurent called, "I have something for you."

Gabe shivered at the promise in his tone but stayed silent, listening as kitchen drawers rattled and bags rustled. A few minutes later, he heard a heavy tread on the stairs and then the atmosphere in the room changed, becoming heavier, and he knew Laurent was standing in the doorway, watching him.

"Look at you. So patient." Laurent's voice was husky, already turned on. "Look at me, Bambi."

Gabe slowly lifted his gaze, travelling from Laurent's bare feet, up his denim-clad legs, over his white linen shirt. He must have showered and changed at the hospital, which usually meant a tough shift in one way or another. Gabe trembled, because that meant he would have some things to work through, which was exactly what he was looking for right now.

His eyes went to Laurent's hands, held in front of him.

"Is that-?" His eyes flicked back to Laurent's smirking face.

"Sure is. You want?"

"Yes please," he said breathlessly.

Laurent stepped closer, placing the peeler and paring knife on the bureau with a clatter and holding a hand out for Gabe, who took it and stood, less stiffly than he used to, now Laurent had him on a yoga and pilates kick for his health.

It took moments for Laurent to position Gabe on his front on the bed, a foam wedge holding his hips up. The scent of ginger was filling Gabe's nostrils, and his cock too, at what was to come.

"Going to be good for me? Take it?" Laurent asked, stroking his hand along the curve of Gabe's back until he reached his ass. The hand vanished from his skin for only a moment before it connected sharply, time after time, until Gabe was whimpering in aroused pain.

He looked at Laurent through watery, heavy-lidded eyes.

"You want it?" Laurent asked again, holding up the large, carved, ginger root, chuckling when Gabe blinked rapidly at the sting in his eyes.

"Yesss," he slurred, already sinking, his mind in the right place just on a few spanks and a promise.

He relaxed into the bed as Laurent inserted the root into him with the same careful consideration he always used when they did this, which made him murmur happily into the pillow his face was resting on. It took a few minutes for Gabe to begin to wriggle as the discomfort increased, in which time Laurent quickly washed his hands and returned to rub Gabe's shoulders, dropping kisses in between each stroke.

Gabe's head floated as Laurent's hands began to feel abstract, on some other person, as all his feelings were focused on the burn inside him. He gasped, thrusting his hips back into the sensation, tears wetting the fabric in front of him, vague mewling noises that he knew were coming from his throat.

"You okay, Bambi?" came the voice with hot breath, right by his ear.

"Mmmm," he mumbled. "More."

"More? As you wish."

There was vague movement inside him, and he heard the snick of the knife shaving the plug, and then it was pushed inside again, fresh oils hot against his burning skin. He rode the stinging flame, knowing he was drooling a little but not even caring, not when he could feel Laurent's hands more securely then, keeping him grounded, being his safety.

"So beautiful, Bambi," Laurent whispered, shifting until he was poised over Gabe.

Gabe felt the delicious drag as the plug was removed again, and then Laurent pressing against him.

"No, you'll h-hurt," he managed to stutter out, but Laurent chuckled, nibbling at his shoulder.

"Want to feel some burn too." He thrust inside at that, gasping and swearing, holding Gabe as he ground deep. "Fuck, that's incredible," he whispered.

The pressure inside Gabe felt like it was going to burst; an overwhelming heat and power that rubbed every sensitive point and tipped him over the edge with a pained cry. Laurent lifted his thigh, slamming inside until he, too, went over, collapsing by Gabe's side with a shocked laugh and pulling him close.

When they'd caught their breath and Laurent had carefully wiped them both down, they settled again, Gabe wrapped in Laurent's arms.

"We're doing it that way again," Laurent announced.

Gabe laughed. "Maybe you're a masochist too."

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm just a Gabe-ist."

"Oh my god, no! That was terrible."

Gabe giggled and shrieked as Laurent tickled his sides, nipping and kissing at every bit of skin he could get to. When they were both exhausted, they flopped back, Laurent against the headboard and Gabe wrapped around his torso in an impression of an octopus.

"Thank you," Gabe said, suddenly serious.

"For what?"

"For being you. For understanding me so well. For making me happy."

"It's only fair, when you're doing those things for me too."

And maybe it was. All Gabe knew was that his world-view, his self-worth, and his future had all changed, and all for the better. And he was going to hang onto that. 

A/N: that's it then. Would love to hear what you thought.

And my last chance, on this story, to push the discord I'm on, where we love to hear from readers and authors.

Code: https://discord.gg/UD7t7pN

And lookie here at all the authors you could chat with/ follow, it's not just about me