Page 1 of Wrangled

Chapter One

Memorial Day Weekend

Toby

Why does he want to see me?

The bad feeling that had started after Tyler’s call was much worse by the time he rang the buzzer. I pressed the button to let him in, then opened the door to my apartment, my heartbeat quickening.

This isnotgoing to be good.

Not that Tyler had given me a clue as to the purpose of his visit, but those four little words had filled me with dread.

‘We need to talk.’

And then there had been his voice. He’d sounded nervous as fuck, and that wasn’t like him. Tyler was young, self-assured, and scared of nothing. I waited for that first glimpse of him on the staircase. I watched as he trudged up the steps, his footsteps as heavy as his expression. He saw me and gave a single nod.

“Hey.”

And that right there was another clue. The first word from his lips was usually Sir.

This isreallynot going to be good.

“Get in here.”

Tyler lowered his gaze and stepped across the threshold into the apartment. I closed the door behind him to find him standing in the tiny hallway, looking like a lost sheep.

I pointed to the living room. “You know the way.”

He went ahead of me, coming to a halt in the middle of the room, his gaze darting, his Adam’s apple bobbing sharply.

He wasn’t kneeling as he always did.

Then I knew we were done, and my heart plummeted.

This is going to be bad.

I closed the door. “Okay, let’s get this over with.” There seemed little point in prolonging the inevitable.

What’s happened?

Has he found another Dom?

Didn’t I meet his needs?

I thought I had. Hell, I thought we were a good match.

He blinked. “Sir?”

I shook my head. “Uh-uh. Too late. That should have been the first thing you said.” I gestured to the couch. “So… sit, and tell me what’s on your mind.”

Jesus, he was shaking from head to toe. I figured he sat down before his legs gave way under him.

Am I making himthatnervous?

I put my hand on his shoulder, and I swear, he almost jumped out of his skin. “Look, whatever it is you have to tell me, it can’t be that bad—can it? I mean, not bad enough that I’m gonna kill you if you tell me,” I quipped.

He swallowed. “Sir… I… I broke your rule.”