Two weeks later, Saturday morning after Thanksgiving

Kevin woke up slowly, to find Patrick sitting up in bed watching him. He blinked his eyes a few times to focus his vision and tried to think why he felt so groggy. Oh right. Last night. He smiled in remembrance. Well, he had lasted till Thanksgiving, but after that, all bets had been off and last night he'd pounced.

'I know why you're smiling.' Patrick poked him in the shoulder, not gently at all, with a hard pointy finger.

'I was just thinking about what a lovely Thanksgiving we had. How nice it was. Very civilized. Very grown up' Kevin lied. But Patrick wasn't fooled.

'Wow. So the memory of having dinner with my friends is responsible for your massive hard on this morning? I'll be sure to tell them the effect they had on you.'

'That's just morning wood babe. Nothing else.'

'Kevin I watched you wake up, I just saw you looking at me and then I saw your dick grow. I think I know the difference between morning wood and lechery.' Patrick was not letting him get away with anything.

'Well, do you feel like doing anything about it?' Kevin asked hopefully.

'We're meeting the realtor in half an hour, so I suggest you think sad thoughts or take care of it yourself because I have to shower and get ready.' Ahh...moodiness explained. Patrick was not a big supporter of the house search.

'Why don't we shower together?' Kevin asked, all optimism. 'And that way we conserve water too, so we're doing our part for the environment.'

'Is there any scenario where you don't get what you want this morning?' Patrick asked resignedly. Kevin pretended to think of it over, and then shook his head in mock regret.

'I don't think there is.'

'Come on then. Let's get it over with' Patrick sighed dramatically, walking slowly to the bathroom. He was a terrible actor, and his martyr act was clearly just that, an act, as Kevin could tell from the very obvious tent in his boxer briefs. Let him pretend he was doing Kevin a favor. After last night, Kevin was pretty much forever in his sexual debt anyway. And what a glorious night of fucking it had been.

Tying Patrick up to the bed had been everything Kevin had imagined it would be. And whatever Patrick might say in the cold light of the morning, he had been an enthusiastically willing, though slightly terrified participant.

At first he hadn't quite believed Kevin when he'd produced the silk ties, and he'd laughed, thinking it was a joke. But as Kevin continued to stalk him, his face not cracking a smile, Patrick had eventually started taking it seriously and he had backed away nervously.

'We don't have to do it if you don't want. But I think it would be really fucking hot and I think you'd love it.' Kevin had cornered him, pressing him up against the wall, caging him within his arms. 'And if you let me, I'll stop anytime you want. But I don't think you'll want to.' Kevin had nuzzled Patrick's face, and holding the ties in both hands, had traced them down Patrick's arms and back up again. 'I think you'd look fucking amazing on that bed, stretched tight, at my mercy, not able to stop me from dong anything I want to do to your body, and I fucking want to do it all. I want to lick you, and I want to suck your cock till you feel you're going to explode, then I want to fuck you slowly and play with your body while I do...and all the time, you won't be able to touch me in any way. You won't get to kiss me unless I let you, and you won't be able to push me to go faster...all you'll be able to do is beg me.' Kevin had whispered in Patrick's ear, gradually taking hold of his wrists and pulling them behind Patrick's back, so Patrick could get a sense of what if would feel like to be helpless.

Patrick's breathing had escalated, and his cock was so hard Kevin could feel it through their jeans. He rubbed himself against Patrick, but when Patrick leaned forward to kiss his mouth, Kevin held him off with his arms behind his back.

'Say yes' he'd whispered into Patrick's neck, licking and sucking at the skin there, soothing where he took little bites.

'You'll stop if I ask?' Patrick had managed to gasp eventually.

'The moment you ask' Kevin had had finally kissed Patrick's mouth, plunging his tongue in.

'Ok' Patrick had whispered...but it had cost him. His eyes were huge and terrified, but he was so obviously turned on, that Kevin had pushed through his lingering reluctance, and eventually had Patrick on the bed fully naked, his arms spread wide and tied down, his legs shifting restlessly as he tried to get comfortable.

'Relax. It will be easier if you don't struggle' Kevin had stroked his chest, trying to both calm him down and rev him up. As for his level of excitement, the bounty of the body spread before him was driving him out of his mind. He didn't know where to start, so he decided a simple methodical exploration from one end to the other was the best strategy. And by exploration he meant stroking ever so gently, softly, lingeringly, with his fingertips. Biting lightly with his teeth before soothing the skin with long slow loving licks of his tongue. And of course as always, alternately sucking his skin deep within his mouth and then kissing the beautiful red bruises he would bring up. Over every gorgeous inch. Over and over again.

Patrick was moaning and pulling at his wrist restraints within minutes, trying to get free to pull Kevin down on him, but he couldn't and with each passing moment he turned more desperate and his pleas turned more explicit. He promised Kevin all sorts of sexual favors if Kevin would let him go, and he begged Kevin to put him out of his misery and just fucking fuck him, suck his cock, do anything that would get him off. But he never once asked Kevin to simply untie him.

When Kevin finally pushed his fingers into Patrick to prepare him, Patrick had arched off the bed and writhed as best he could while still having his arms stretched tight.

'Fuck, fuck, fuck.' He'd panted, and when Kevin finally pushed his own painfully hard cock into Patrick, he'd gone fucking wild, trying to work himself on Kevin, trying to get the rhythm he wanted from Kevin...but he was helpless, and it was Kevin who set the pace, and Kevin, out of his mind with lust, pounded Patrick into the fucking mattress.

Foreplay had lasted forever, but once he was inside Patrick it had taken barely a few minutes before he felt his head exploding in an intense orgasm and Patrick's eyes rolled back in his head as he came all over Kevin's chest. They both lay there, panting, trying to catch their breaths. Then Kevin had started playing with Patrick's body all over again, this time grazing and sucking his nipples, bringing his hands low down on Patrick's abdomen and then skirting his crotch to travel all the way down his sturdy things. On the way back up though, his hands tagged Patricks' cock and his balls, and minutes later, his cock was deep in Kevin's mouth and again, as Patrick tried to pull on the restraints so he could hold onto Kevin's head, all he could do was moan and gasp, begging Kevin to do it already, to suck him harder, deeper...so Kevin did and Patrick shot down his throat, bucking and punching his hips. Kevin had swallowed every drop, and then had come up Patrick's body and kissed his mouth deeply.

Patrick had been wiped out but every time he seemed to be falling asleep, still tied up and helpless, Kevin would revive him and bring him back to the brink, until Patrick would be a mindless mess, putty in his hands.

Not even at the end, after god knows how many orgasms, had Patrick asked to be untied. He had pretty much been ready to fall asleep exactly as he was, but Kevin had tenderly untied him and kissed his wrists before he took him in his arms and cradled him as he fell asleep.

Out of gratitude for the previous night's pleasure, Kevin didn't make Patrick do any of the work in the shower. He quickly and efficiently brought them both off with his soapy hands, kissing his sweet boy tenderly.

'I'll be sure to thank the boys for this morning's pleasure, since it was the wonderful Thanksgiving we shared that so inspired you this morning.' Patrick had teased him as they got dressed. Kevin simply smiled.

'It was fun though. Thanksgiving I mean. It didn't go nearly as badly as I had imagined it might.'

'Well that is a ringing endorsement.' Patrick rolled his eyes.

'No, I mean it. Of course I already get on well enough with Agustin since he's been subjected to my relentless charm campaign these past few weeks, but the others, well, they were pretty cool too. Even Dom.'

'What does that mean? Dom's a great guy! Why would you think he wouldn't be?' Patrick was indignant.

'Patrick, I know you think it's perfectly normal to be surrounded by your ex-lovers all the time, but did it ever occur to you I might not be that excited about it?' Kevin asked him, shaking his head.

'Oh my god. It was years ago. And we never even had sex.' Patrick laughed.

'What? I thought you said you hooked up?' Kevin was confused.

'We did. But, well Dom is strictly a top as you might imagine, and I wasn't into being so...versatile' Patrick blushed. How old would this man be before he would stop blushing about sex, Kevin wondered. 'So we did other stuff.' Patrick continued.

'I don't think I want to know. I don't think I could face him again if I knew the actual details.' Kevin grimaced.

'But he's a great guy and absolutely one of the best friends I could ever imagine having, they both are actually, him and Agustin, and Doris is hysterical, though she has NO filters and I love that she's like obsessively loyal to Dom, and of course Eddie...well I don't know him so well but he seems pretty funny and Agustin is obviously crazy about him, so I want you to get to know them and like them, and I want them to get to know you and like you. Which they will. And I appreciate the effort you made to be nice at Thanksgiving and not be all sarcastic and Britishy like you can be.' Patrick rambled on.

'Britishy, Patrick? Really?'

'Sorry, no you're right. I mean thank you for not being a total cunt like I know you can be. Is that any clearer?' Patrick asked sweetly.

'When have I ever been a cunt to you?' Kevin exclaimed indignantly.

'Every time you make fun of me, every time you make fun of Americans, every time you laugh at me, every time you mock the way I talk, every time you make fun of the way I eat...'

'Wow. Are you grumpy because we're going to look at more apartments?'

'Why should I be? The sooner you find an apartment the quicker I get my own space back and the less I have to listen to your frankly really annoying British accent. God knows why I ever thought it was cool.' Patrick huffed.

'I love you too babe.' Kevin laughed. Patrick sighed and finally cracked a smile.

'I'm just grumpy because I'm hungry and you kept me up most of the night and then I still couldn't say no to you this morning, so...yes...I'm in a bad mood. It's nothing to do with the fact that we're going to a showing' Patrick tried to insist. Ok. Kevin would let it go. But honestly, every time the subject of Kevin finding his own place came up Patrick's mood plummeted and he found any one of a myriad of reasons to pick a fight.

'All right. Let's go see this one place she has lined up and then I'll take you to brunch. OK?'

'Let's do it.' Patrick agreed reluctantly. 'Oh...and by the way...I feel the same, as you said before.' He mumbled quietly as they walked down his corridor.

Kevin took his hand and squeezed it.

Later that day

'So? What did you think of that place?' Kevin asked Patrick, sitting across from him in the diner while they shared a late brunch. They had seen at least ten different apartments this week, and Patrick had strong opinions about each one of them. Always negative. But he couldn't imagine what he'd have to say about the one they had just seen this morning. He waited expectantly.

'It was beautiful. Really. Those floors and those windows,' Patrick sighed. 'I love that old San Francisco look. Those period details were just stunning.'

Kevin still waited. He knew Patrick would love it. What could he possibly come up with to object to?

'But...you know, I'd have to change two buses to get there, and I just don't see how that would work.' Ahh. There you go. Kevin suppressed his smile.

'Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem.' He agreed seriously. Unless you just bit the fucking bullet and moved in with me, he wanted to add, but...too soon. Patrick was finding every reason he possibly could to prevent Kevin from finding a new home, but at the same time Kevin worried that he'd hyperventilate and faint dead away if Kevin suggested the obvious solution. They should just fucking admit that they were living together and do this search properly. Instead, they carried on this charade of looking for apartments for Kevin, and when Kevin finally found one that met Patrick's approval, and when they'd settled into it, what he was basically counting on was that one day Patrick would realize he hadn't been home in weeks, that all his stuff was over at Kevin's and he'd just accept the inevitable with no hand-wringing and no drama. But for that to work they still have to pick a fucking place first!

'Why don't you narrow down the list of areas we're searching in then, so that the commute for you is easier. And while you're at it, since you have some quite specific requirements, why don't you just email those to the broker too so she can show us places that meet your criteria.' Kevin suggested.

Patrick looked up from the omelette he was devouring and grinned.

'Really?'

'Yeah. It will save us looking at places that we'd just reject anyway.' Kevin answered casually, shrugging. Patrick obviously liked the sound of that as his gaze lingered a little on Kevin's face before he got back to the serious business of eating.

'You know, I definitely think you should only look at pet friendly buildings.' He said after a few moments of silence. What?

'And what pet exactly did you think we should get?' Kevin asked once he got over the shock. Did Patrick even notice how he kept using the word 'we'? If so, he hadn't commented on it. Which was probably a very good sign and Kevin couldn't keep the smile off his face.

'A dog obviously, but definitely a rescue one. We always had dogs growing up and I always imagined myself having one.'

'And how would that work, with us being at work for most of the day?'

'Kevin, I don't know exactly how much you make, but given the budget for the apartment you've given the broker, I think it's safe to say you can afford a fucking dog-walker.'

'Right. A dog walker. So, an apartment within easy commute of your place, pet friendly, hardwood floors, big windows, outside space, modern bathroom...'

'And a good kitchen too. That's a must. No more eating out all the time, or takeout every night.' Patrick pointed his fork at their plates, as if horrified by the quantity of food they were eating.

'Do you know how to cook anything other than mac n'cheese?' Kevin was curious.

'I've always wanted to learn. Maybe we could even take classes together? Maybe Dom could teach us?' Patrick was getting excited at the idea.

'Wow. A dog and cooking lessons.' Kevin nodded. 'It seems I'm acquiring responsibilities and hobbies I wan't expecting.'

'It'll be fun! Taking the dog to the park, having friends over for dinner parties. I think it sounds pretty great.' Patrick assured him happily.

'Well...there is a problem with getting a dog though.' Kevin frowned as he picked up his coffee mug. 'I mean, I've only got two years on my visa left. What would I do with the dog when I have to leave?' he asked as if trying to solve a confusing problem.

The look on Patrick's face was priceless. But then a second later Kevin felt like a total shit because Patrick went from shock to confusion to panic in quick succession, and he just stared at Kevin, totally at a loss for words. That was a really dick move.

'I'm kidding.' Kevin tried to joke. 'I sold my soul to MDG and they're never letting me go. They've already offered to sponsor me for a green card. It's just paperwork, formalities. It's all sorted as soon as I get round to it.' He continued, reassuring Patrick.

'Ok.' Patrick sighed. 'Jesus. I keep forgetting about the visa thing. Though, two years is a long time.'

What the fuck did that mean? It was Kevin's fault for bringing it up though, and he wasn't going to press Patrick for explanations. Patrick had come a long way since Kevin's stoop declaration. He'd taken Kevin back, he'd expressed love for him, they were living together, whether Patrick accepted that or not. Kevin really had to stop pushing him for more. Time to get back to a happier subject.

'So, email the broker with your list, and we'll see some new places this week. And hopefully, there's something out there which won't totally bankrupt me.'

'Right. As if. But don't be impatient, OK? Finding the right home can take time. Agustin and I knew immediately when we walked into our apartment that it was the one, but we were ridiculously lucky that it was one of the first ones we'd seen. Sometimes you have to wait for the perfect place, but when you see it, you just instinctively know it's the place you've always wanted, that's it's the right one for you. You just fall in love.' Patrick spoke earnestly.

God. Did he even know what he was saying? How he'd perfectly described Kevin's life since he'd moved to San Francisco? You just sometimes instinctively knew when you saw something you wanted that it was totally right, and you just fell in love.

Patrick looked up at Kevin, probably confused by his silence. When he saw Kevin's smile though, he must have known exactly where Kevin's mind had gone to because that blush Kevin loved so much swept across his face and he broke out into his embarrassed grin.

'I think I know what you mean.' Kevin said softly.

'Good' Patrick replied, looking back down at his rapidly emptying plate. Then a second later, he looked back at Kevin's plate. 'Are you going to finish your bacon?'

Kevin laughed as Patrick stretched over to take it from him, but the laughter died as he saw Patrick's wrist hovering over his plate. He grabbed it gently, and stroked at the red marks.

'Sorry' he said sheepishly, looking up at Patrick apologetically.

'Sure you are.' Patrick raised an eyebrow as he shook Kevin's hand off to spear the bacon with his fork.

'No, really. That looks pretty bad. You should have said something.'

'I didn't even realize it till after...you know...you untied me' Patrick mouthed the last two words, looking around to make sure no one was watching him.

'I told you to stop twisting so much. You should have listened to me.' Kevin said gravely, working hard to suppress a smile.

'Yeah, well, sorry I couldn't, you know, control myself fully, but, it was a slightly...new experience' Patrick was indignant. 'And you can wipe that smile right off your face' he continued, pointing his fork at Kevin's chest. 'Because that is NOT happening again.'

Kevin pouted.

'But you LOVED it. You know there are ways you can tell when men are really enjoying themselves. Would you like me to explain?'

'Ha fucking ha. Very funny. I didn't say I didn't like it...ok love it, but, still, it was very very weird.'

'Ok babe. We won't do that again. Though it was fucking hot. Made my head explode just seeing you like that.'

'Would you please keep your voice down? I don't think the other patrons of the diner need to know just how much of a pervert you are.' Patrick whispered furiously. Kevin nodded his head contritely and remained silent for a moment. But he couldn't resist.

'Would you like to have a turn?' He asked innocently. Patrick's head shot up and his eyes widened in shock.

'Fuck yeah' he exclaimed, all consideration of the other patrons gone.

'Do you think you could handle...all this?' Kevin looked down his own body before bringing his head back up to stare at Patrick.

'Fucking bring it' Patrick shot back.

'I will keep that in mind' Kevin grinned.

'Nothing more though, right? I mean, no toys or anything. I'm not into that.' Patrick suddenly seemed very nervous, making Kevin laugh outright.

'Relax. We had that conversation, remember? That Sunday morning, the Sunday you turned up in your little leather vest?' Kevin reminded him.

'Oh god. Fuck. That vest. I was so fucking embarrassed.' Patrick grimaced.

'Well I almost went cross-eyed trying not to stare at you in it' Kevin laughed.

'Really? I didn't know.' Patrick seemed happy with the revelation though. As Kevin thought back to that day, remembering the sight of Patrick looking so sexual and delicious, he also remembered the other feelings that day had brought. The feelings of confusion, of abandonment, of jealousy as Patrick had left so suddenly, with no warning. That had also been the end of what he considered their happy flirting phase.

'What happened that day?' He asked, staring at Patrick.

'What do you mean?' Patrick looked genuinely confused.

'Well, one minute we were sitting there, chatting, laughing, and yes, flirting, and then you were gone. You just got up and left, and I thought we'd been having a really good time.'

Patrick stared back at Kevin as if considering what he should say. Kevin just waited patiently. That evening had been such a watershed for him, and he had been so confused about it for so long that it was suddenly very important that he get some answers. Patrick sighed.

'You mentioned Jon.' He said simply. Kevin raised his eyebrows in surprise.

'Excuse me?'

'You said how Jon wouldn't let you eat any fried food.' Patrick must have thought he was making things clearer with this explanation but he really wasn't.

'Patrick, we'd been talking about Jon on and off the whole day! I'd even gone to meet him at the apartment. Why did mentioning him then suddenly freak you out.' Kevin pushed.

'Because of Agustin. Because of what he said.'

'Agustin? He said something about Jon?' this was more confusing than ever.

'No. He said something about me. When we were at the office, while you were at home with Jon, he told me I was having a fantasy relationship with you and that I had to realize that my life was pretty empty but you got to go home to your boyfriend when we were done flirting and...whatever it was we were doing.' Patrick shrugged. 'So when you said that you wanted to get fried chicken because Jon wouldn't let you...I just felt that I was a substitute for you, for the real thing, which you would also get to have when you got home, so...I picked myself up and left.'

Fuck. That made a lot of sense. And it also made Kevin feel like a fucking shit-head for having been so casually cruel to Patrick, even though it had never been deliberate. He hadn't thought for a minute what it might be like for Patrick to want him all the way back in those early days and to believe that he was unattainable.

'I'm sorry. It was thoughtless of me. Which is pretty much a description for most of my behavior before you dumped me. Not really thinking about your side of stuff. I'm so so sorry.' Kevin took Patrick's hand and squeezed his fingers, wanting Patrick to feel his remorse. Patrick smiled at him and stroked his thumb.

'I still like the idea of you looking at me in that vest, though. I think I might have to look for it again. It's probably at the bottom of my closet, the one which you have pretty much taken over.'

'You were fucking gorgeous in that vest Patrick Murray. You made my heart stop.' Kevin was grateful for Patrick's change of conversation. Though that itself brought up more difficult memories. What the fuck was wrong with him? They'd been having such a nice brunch and now he was flooded with all the painful crap of the past. But fuck it. In for a penny, in for a pound.

'Did you wear it when you went out that night?' Kevin asked. Patrick's face gave him the answer he dreaded.

'Hmhmm.' He nodded, taking his hand back.

'And did you go and meet your friends at a bar?' Kevin persisted.

'Yup. I went to meet them at the End Up' Patrick replied, biting his lip. 'Look, Kevin, I don't know what the point of...'

'Did you meet Richie that night? Wearing that vest?' Kevin interrupted. Patrick sighed and looked at Kevin.

'I did. And yes, it was the night we hooked up.'

Now it was Kevin's turn to sigh. Well, he'd already known that Richie was part of Patrick's past, but the thought of him seeing Patrick in that vest really bothered him.

'Kevin, you were the one that said what we did in the past with others didn't have any bearing on what we do now together, right? That we could do the same things we've done before but that because it was the two of us, that it would be different. Well, that's true for me too. And I know you think it's strange that I'm still friends with Richie, but I'm also friends with Dom and you saw how we are together! There's nothing but real friendship there, regardless of what we had in the past. Right?'

Kevin nodded hesitantly.

'And you know what? I never told Richie, actually I never told ANYONE before that I loved them. So... there's that.' Patrick trailed off.

Patrick still found the words hard to say. But he was right. Kevin was the only person that Patrick had ever said the words to. So yes, Richie got to take him home that night, the night that Kevin stayed in the office feeling bewildered and betrayed, and yes, he'd had a piece of Patrick for a few weeks, but today, Patrick was sitting across the table from HIM, eating brunch, planning dinner parties, fantasizing about owning a dog, making lists of specifications for what would actually be their home together, whether he realized it or not. And he was the one that got to tie Patrick naked to the bed and play with his body for hours the night before. And he was the one that Patrick wanted to tie to the bed next time, and have his turn. And at that thought, Kevin's day turned bright again, and harmony was restored. They didn't need the leather vest, though if Patrick wore it he certainly wouldn't complain. Just the two of them naked was enough to blow his mind, and he got to have that every night of the fucking week.

As if Patrick could sense the direction Kevin's mind had taken, he put his fork down next to his now totally clean plate.

'Where did you learn about how to do that, but the way? With the ties?' He asked curiously.

'Looking for instructions?' Kevin grinned.

'Jerk. Just tell me.' Patrick insisted.

'Have you heard of the internet, Patrick? Oh wait...yes you have. I seem to remember some official work papers about some of the more interesting web pages you visited...'

'You're such an ass' Patrick complained, rolling his eyes.

'Yeah, but you love me anyway' Kevin gave his very very cutest smile.

'Yeah. I guess I do.' Patrick admitted, grudgingly.

Kevin watched Patrick for a moment, as Patrick tried to get the waitress' attention to get the check.

'I don't mind showing you. You know. The knots. When we get home.' Kevin said casually. Patrick's head spun round.

'Now? In broad daylight?'

Kevin shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, but just at the thought, he whole body was springing to life. Patrick grabbed his phone and started texting.

'What are you doing?' Kevin asked.

'Texting Agustin to get the fuck out of the apartment. That's one of the benefits of him never paying any rent. Guilt free temporary eviction at a moment's notice.'

'Tell him to stay away till tomorrow morning.' Kevin prompted. Patrick raised an eyebrow?

'You sure you can handle that?' he teased Kevin.

'As a wise man once said, Fucking bring it.'

And they both did.