Page 141 of Wrangled

“I suggested we could have a D/s relationship, long distance. I thought with enough determination, we could make it happen. Hell, Isowanted it to happen.” I swallowed. “Then he changed his mind. He doesn’t think we can make it work.” I sighed. “You know what? I never saw him coming.”

“From what you’ve said, he’s a little messed up right now, so I get why you didn’t want to screw with his head even more by telling him you’d fallen for him, not when you’d already told him that was something you didn’t do. That’s not a good base to start a more involved D/s relationship, not when his head is already all over the place over losing his precious Dom.” I gazed at him incredulously, and he smiled. “Don’t look so surprised. I might not play anymore, but I did once. You don’t forget shit like that. And I’m not sure a long-distance relationship would work either. I knew a guy who tried that. Said his sub was making all the right noises on the phone, in texts, etcetera, but… his heart wasn’t in it, and it didn’t last.” He leaned forward. “You know whatreallygets me? You didn’t have to come back here, so why did you?”

I arched my eyebrows. “Excuse me?” Except hadn’t I had that same thought, the day I left Salvation?

“You heard me. Your future doesnotrevolve around this place. You invested in it, sure, but—”

“I get it. You want to buy me out? Is that it?”And what would I do if he did?

The thought was there in my head in a heartbeat.

Go back to Montana, you dumbass.

He scowled. “Jesus, you’re prickly.”

My head was spinning, and I had to get out of there.

“You know what? I don’t have to listen to this.” I got up and went toward the door.

“You wanna know something, Toby? You’ve changed.”

I already knew that—I didn’t need Sean to point it out.

I wanted to head back to my apartment, shut the front door, and not think about fucking Montana.

Yeah right. Fat chance ofthathappening.

Friday, July 15

I sprawled on my couch, my phone in my hand, scrolling through my photos: Mirror Lake, with its calm waters and lush trees; Paul smiling as he groomed Rusty; Zeeb pulling a funny face; Butch posing; and Robert...

The sight of him made my stomach clench.

Should I call him?

I wanted to hear his voice, his laugh. More than that, I wanted to see that familiar twinkle in his eye, the one that reflected his sense of humor, his wit…

The door buzzer sounded, and I sighed.Now what?I went over to it and pressed the intercom. “Who is it?”

“It’s Sean. Let me in.”

I deliberated telling him I was busy for all of three seconds before pressing the button. Then I opened the front door and waited for him to climb the stairs. When he came into sight, I plunged ahead. “If you’ve come to have another go at me…”

He held his hands up. “Hey, I come in peace.”

I let him into the apartment and closed the door behind us. “I just made some coffee. Want some?”

“Please.”

I went over to the coffee pot and poured out two cups.

Sean sat on the couch, glancing at my phone. I placed the cups on the coffee table, then snatched up the phone.

He crossed his legs at the ankles. “Tell me about Salvation.”

I arched my eyebrows. “Google it if you’re so interested.”

“I’m serious. Tell me about the place.”