Tymber Dalton - The Reluctant Dom

To my hubby, who is definitely The Worlds Greatest Husband, who put up with a blubbering workaholic wife during the initial writing process. Hes probably my greatest supporter, and if it hadnt been for him pushing me to pursue my fiction, I might still be focusing on computer tutorials.

To Mr. B. He knows why.

To my friends and adopted family at the Sarasota Society, you are too numerous to mention. Thanks for inspiration, education, friendship and fellowship, and for making me laugh every time one of you asks (usually hopefully), Will that end up in one of your books? (Yes, it probably will end up in a book.)

And especially to Sir Vic and the spirit of Annie.

Lastly, although while alive she likely never would have read most of my books, but she would have been proud of my achievement for getting them published, for Granny. I wrote this book originally as a way of dealing with my grief over losing her the day before my birthday in 2008. Also, for Grandaddy, who we lost exactly three years to the day later.

Sometimes, life is truly stranger than fiction. Theres a running joke in my family that I suck at remembering dates. Believe me, that ones etched in my mind.

While this is a fictional story, the portrayal of a twenty-four/seven M/s relationship is not inaccurate. I have personally known people who use BDSM as a healthier, and safer, alternative to self-injurious behavior. Im not saying it should be a replacement for medical intervention, but everyone makes their own choices in life. Being active in the BDSM lifestyle myself, Im glad that I can write about it from a been there, done that point of view. This is, however, just one story, and a fictional one at that. There is a rich diversity to the lifestyle that most people never know about because their information comes from commercial BSDM fetish porn sites on the Internet. Try to define normal, either in a vanilla or kink relationship, and its truly impossible.

You might be more normal than you think

I made her three promises when we got married, Seth. I would never lie to her. I would always take care of her. I would protect her, never let anyone hurt her ever again.

Seth watched his friend swirl the bourbon and ice in his drink. Kaden had laid his glasses on the table, and his face looked haggard and worn. There was something deeply wrong with his friend tonight. Theyd known each other over forty years, since they were babies and their moms were best friends, and this was plain

Wrong.

Kaden met his friends concerned gaze. I love her, Seth. Shes my life. What am I going to do?

What are you talking about, dude? Youre freaking me out.

Kaden sat back in his chair. I went to the doctor today.

Seth felt a mental chill. Are you gonna make me beat it out of you or what?

Kaden took another drink. This was their weekly boys night out, but Seth knew this was nothing like any other night. Im dying, Kaden whispered.

This had to be a horrible practical joke. Kaden was always looking for a way to get one up on Seth and sucker him in. Dude, thats not funny. You dont fucking joke about something like that.

Do I look like Im laughing?

Seth studied him, a cold, hard rock of emotion settling in his stomach. What the fuck?

Ive got cancer. Best guess is a year or so.

Well you need to go get a second opinion! Maybe the doctors wrong. They can be wrong, you know.

Kaden looked at his glass again. This was my third opinion. Pancreatic cancer. Inoperable.

Numb shock engulfed Seth. This man was his brother in everything except name and blood. There were a few years they were separated by distance while Seth was in the Army, and even then theyd e-mailed and talked on the phone as much as possible. Other than that, theyd been close.

Theyve got medicine, radiation, chemo. Theres got to be something.

No. I refuse to spend the time Ive got left like that. They said itll only buy me a few months, if Im lucky. Id rather not spend it puking my guts up.

But theres got to be something

Kaden shook his head. I refuse to go out like my dad did. I go out on my terms. He took another sip of his drink.

What do you say in a situation like that?

Seth shook his head. Fuck. He took a swig of beer. Hows Leah holding up? he quietly asked.

I havent told her yet.

He stared at his friend in disbelief. What do you mean you havent told her?

I wanted to make sure before I did. I saw the first two doctors last week. They all agree on the diagnosisand the prognosis.

Poor Leah. Theyd been married nearly twenty years. Seth was overseas in the Army when Kaden met and married her in the span of three months. Seth had immediately liked her when he returned home and got to meet her. She was good for Kade.

Seth was lost in a swirl of emotions. Kaden had to repeat his question. Hows the apartment hunting going?

What the fuck? Kade had just dropped the bomb that he was dying, and now he was asking about that?

Seth numbly shook his head while still trying to process Kadens news. Im still looking. Its hard since Im in school and shit. Im sick of living at Bens place and need to get back out on my own. Seths older brother had insisted on him staying with them during Seths divorce.

So youre finally free of the bitch? I knew the papers had to be coming soon.

Paperwork came through last week. Im officially divorced. Only took two years and losing my ass. He looked at Kaden and refocused on the discussion at hand. Quit changing the fucking subject!

Kaden knowingly smiled. I wasnt.

You were.

Kaden sat back. We need to have a talk.

Fuck that. You need to get your ass home and tell Leah.

Kadens grey eyes settled on his. I need to talk to you first, he said, his voice dropping to a soft, steady tone. Seriously.

Seth took a deep breath. Okay, what?

I want you to move in with us.

Seth blinked. What?

Weve got plenty of room.

What? Hed wake up any minute from this nightmare. Or whacked-out dream, or whatever the fuck it was. This could not be real, couldnt be happening.

Kaden leaned forward and dropped his voice even further. I need you to hear me out, without interruption. I dont want you to give me a yes or no tonight, okay? Can you do that for me?

Seth slowly nodded.

Kadens eyes never left his. I need to tell you a few things about myself. About Leah. I need you to listen so you understand where Im coming from, because this is hard enough for me to talk about without justifying myself to my best friend, okay? Promise?

Seth nodded again. Kaden was the still waters run deep poster boy. They were close, but while Seth could dump everything on the table, Kaden played everything close to the vest. He always had. Maybe that was why hed been happily married for nearly two decades and Seth was on his third ex-wife.

Kaden clasped his hands together. You know I love Leah. Shes my fucking life. I have never cheated on her, and shes never cheated on me.

Seth nodded. He knew. Hed seen and envied their obvious love and passion for years. Any moron could see how devoted they were to each other.

Lucky bastard.

Theres a few things Ive never told you. About Leahs past. About how we met. Some of that doesnt need to be told tonight. Youll learn about it soon enough. Suffice it to say she was a fucking mess when we met. I probably saved her life. She had a horrible life before we got together.