Chapter 4
If he was completely honest, Toby had no idea what he was getting himself into.
Greg had called him from the club and asked for his help, and why on earth would he say no?
Especially to Greg, whom he owed a favor after sponsoring his membership to the club to begin with.
He was lucky to have made that connection, lucky that Greg saw him for who he was.
Maybe he’d be even more lucky and meet a great sub.
From what Greg had told him, this sub—Roper, an unusual name—could be quite a challenge.
He’d had a few hours on the very cushy, comfy limousine ride to upstate New York to think about it though, and to review the PDF file Greg had emailed him.
Roper was a whole world of things he knew nothing about—a bull rider, a New Mexican, injured…
though those things were mixed with issues he understood well—submissive, willful, proud.
He’d just have to see how things went. There was a publicity photo in the file, and the cowboy was easy on the eyes at least. Handsome in a rough way, great eyes, and he could see that stubborn edge in the set of the man’s jaw.
Roper had apparently been at the club before, but the notes said that he hadn’t found a Dom who could work with him.
Fascinating.
Or concerning.
Hm.
He took a breath as the limo pulled up in front of a magnificent home—stately, with tons of windows and a lovely view of the lake. The visit might be worth it just for the view, even if he didn’t connect at all with the sub—with Roper.
The door opened, a lovely man in jeans and a button-down shirt and boots coming out to greet him. “Hello, there. I’m Ryder; welcome. Hey, Alan. Would you like to come in and have a drink?”
“I’m Tobin Taylor, good to meet you.” He’d read that Ryder and Roper were twins, and he’d practically memorized that photo of Roper. He wasn’t sure he’d have been able to tell them apart if Ryder hadn’t introduced himself.
“Mr. Vales,” Alan, the driver, gave Ryder a nod. “I’m driving, of course, but something to drink would be great. Thank you.”
“It’s Ryder, please. I’ve got a nice pitcher of lemonade and some cookies.” Ryder held his hand out to him. “Please, Sir, come on in. I’ll introduce you to Mr. Charles.”
He followed Ryder. “This is a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. I love it here. I love how peaceful it is, you know?” Ryder offered him a warm, gentle smile.
“I can imagine. It’s a nice getaway from the city for sure. You have a place there too, right?”
“Yes, Sir. We’re there a few weeks a quarter for business.” Ryder opened the door for them. “Mr. Taylor. Charles Martin.”
A taller man with a kind face came to shake his hand. “Mr. Taylor.”
“Tobin. But everyone calls me Toby.” He shook Charles’s hand.
“Toby. Thank you for coming. I hope the ride wasn’t uncomfortable?” Charles sat again.
“I don’t think I’ve been in a limousine since I went to prom. It was great.” He laughed and took a seat. “I did all the research I could on my way here.”
“I’ll bring y’all lemonade and cookies. There’s a powder room right through that door, should you need to freshen up.” Ryder smiled and nodded to him. “Come on, Alan. Let me hook you up. How are you? It seems like it’s been a while.”
“It’s actually a quiet time of year…”
Their voices trailed off as the study door closed.
“Greg Carson tells me you’re not officially a member of the club, and your boy is not officially submissive either, but that many at the club consider you to be in the lifestyle, nonetheless. I fully support the lack of need for labels, but I have to admit I’m intrigued.”
Charles shrugged. “My lover is incredibly satisfied by service, and I have friends in the club who helped me make sure that he got what he needed. His twin brother is…much more conversant in the lifestyle.”
“So I understand. What made you call Greg? Do you think he’s feeling…anxious? Untethered?”
“If someone doesn’t help me with him, I may kill him.”
Oh. Oh dear.
He raised eyebrow and offered Charles a slight grin. “Well, that sounds unhealthy for everyone involved. When do you want me to meet him?”
“He’s in the shower. Ryder managed to get him up and moving a bit ago. He’s in a walking boot right now, so he isn’t on crutches.”
“I’m sure he’s thrilled. An athlete in a walking boot? What could he possibly be frustrated about?” He shook his head. “Poor boy. Do you have any idea how he gets what he needs on the road?”
“I’m not close enough to him to ask, I’m afraid. He had a few evenings at the club, but no one connected with him, and then he was on the road again.”
“And what specifically is frustrating you about him? Is he rude? Disrespectful?”
“Not to me, but to his brother, yes. He is needling my poor Ryder, and it’s starting to disrupt what we’ve built. I understand that he’s angry and frustrated, but Ryder is…a peaceful soul. Roper is not.”
“Mm. Okay. That’s why I’m here, I guess. I don’t know him at all so it feels a little strange, but I owe Greg a favor. I told him I would see what I could do.” Of course he wasn’t sure what he could do in one day if Roper was that much of a menace to their quiet and to his own brother.
“I appreciate it. Very much. I am woefully out of my league, and worse, so is Ryder.”
He didn’t think Ryder had a league when it came to this issue, but he didn’t say so because the boy came in with their lemonade. That was good timing. “Charles, may I ask Ryder some questions while he is here?”
“Absolutely.”
Ryder offered him a warm, genuine smile, but there was worry and stress around the edges.
“Ryder, between us, can you describe to me how you think your brother is feeling right now?”
“Frustrated.” Ryder shook his head. “He wants to be happy, but I think he’s too mad right now.”
“Mad about what? His injury?”
“I—” Ryder looked to Charles, who nodded. “I think because I found what I needed in Charles, and I didn’t even know I needed him. He knows what he needs, and he didn’t get it.”
Well, that was simple enough to understand.
With all of that, Roper must be feeling very alone.
“Thank you, Ryder. That’s helpful to know.
I’m going to see if I can help him find what he needs.
” He couldn’t assume that man would be him, of course, but on that score, he understood Roper’s frustration.
He’d gone a long while without, and his own needs weren’t being met either.
Still, he would do what he could and report back to Greg.
“I’d like that very much, Sir. I love Roper. He’s my best friend, but…well, we know how to hurt each other too easily.”
“Family can be like that, I’m told.” He and Gillian got along fine, mostly because they were almost never in the same place at the same time. “Thank you for the lemonade.”
“I’ll let you know if we need you, Ryder.” Charles had a warm smile for Ryder and that was all he needed to understand how good they were together. That was love. “Thank you.”
“Of course, Sir.” Ryder’s gaze was a caress of its own, and Toby could see how…awkward that might be for Roper.
He waited for Ryder to leave the room. “That was very helpful, thank you. How should we do this? He was in the shower? Probably not the best idea for me to just walk in.”
“No. No. I was thinking I’d make introductions and then take my Ryder for a nice long drive. Maybe find something lovely for dinner at the market. Have a pastry and a cup of tea.”
“Perfect.” That should take some pressure off Roper and let the boy be whoever he needed to be. He took a sip of his lemonade. It was homemade and delicious. Charles was obviously spoiled, and it seemed like both he and Ryder liked it that way.
Though it sounded like Roper might have other thoughts on the matter.