Review: The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton

The Reluctant Dom (The Suncoast Society)
by Tymber Dalton

Love hurts...if you're lucky.

Kaden knows he's dying, but before he goes, he has one problem he needs to solve - he must ask his oldest friend Seth to take over as his beloved wife's Dom and Master after his death.

Seth has always seen himself as the perpetual screw-up and Kaden as the strong and steady one, so his friend's request rocks his world. Now Seth finds himself immersed in a role he's far from comfortable with: inflicting pain to provide emotional comfort for the woman he's secretly loved for years. Can he deal with his crushing grief and learn the skills he must master in time to become THE RELUCTANT DOM?

Warning: m/f/m menage, anal sex/play/toys, BDSM, bondage, D/s relationship, and the lesser-known "normality" of the world of BDSM.

Excerpt

Seth awoke Sunday morning to bright daylight streaming through his window and hitting him in the face. He was surprised to see it was after eight. Leah hadn’t brought his coffee in yet, even though he smelled it brewing.
His TV was still on, too.
He got out of bed, used the bathroom, and shut off the TODAY show while Lester Holt was in the middle of talking to someone about innovative pet accessories.
Sudden, irrational fear flooded him. He hoped Leah wasn’t upset at him for not playing with them last night after class.
That’s stupid. She’s not yours to play with, dude. No matter what the two of them say. This should be Kade’s time with her.
It still disturbed him.
He walked out to the kitchen and didn’t look into the living room as he passed. He poured himself a mug of coffee, debated whether to shower or go jogging, finally opted for a shower. He could spend time swimming that afternoon. Frankly, it was probably too hot already for a good run. Dropping dead of heatstroke wouldn’t help anyone.
He turned to walk down the hall and froze as he passed the living room doorway.
Kaden was stretched out on the couch, reading the Sunday paper and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.
Leah was…
Holy fuck!
She was…
Fuck!
Kaden had bound her to the sturdy coffee table.
Not on.
To.
The rope harness formed intricate patterns around her torso. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she was trussed on her knees, ass in the air. Kaden had looped the rope around her legs in such a way that they were spread, leaving Seth staring at her open and defenseless shaved pussy. The rope was looped multiple times around her legs, forming another intricate pattern.
Seth’s jaw gaped.
Kaden looked up and reached for his coffee mug. “Oh, good morning.”
Seth stared.
Kaden took a sip of coffee, put his mug down, and went back to reading his paper.
Seth stared.
He didn’t know how long he stared, only that not only was his morning boner back with a passion, it was probably standing straight out in his boxers. He couldn’t bother looking. The sight of Leah tied to the table…
Holy fuck!
Seth slowly walked around the back of the couch. Kaden continued reading the paper, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. When Seth finally made it to the other end of the couch, where he could see Leah’s head, he realized she had a pillow beneath her and she lay with her left cheek against it, staring at him and Kaden. She was also gagged. When she caught Seth’s eye, she winked.
Holy freaking fuck!
Kaden read the paper.
Seth swallowed hard. “Um.”
Kaden nodded. “Shibari. Also known as kinbaku, depending on who you talk to.” He held up the rest of the paper, offered it to Seth, who numbly shook his head.
Kaden went back to reading the paper.
After more long, silent minutes, Seth managed to form vowels. “Is she…comfortable?”
Kaden didn’t look up from the paper. “Are you comfortable, sweetheart?”
Well, they obviously weren’t formal this morning.
She made a sign with her right hand. From this angle, Seth could also see the harness formed a sort of bra around her boobs, pushing them out in a way that didn’t help things on his end.
Kaden glanced over the top of his glasses at her hands. “She’s comfortable.”
He went back to reading the paper.
Seth stared. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there and stared. He was sure, however, that if Leah didn’t have the ball gag in her mouth she’d be smiling. He knew that playful look in her eyes.
Seth walked around the couch and sat at the end, near Leah’s head, staring at her. The knot work looked intricate, amazing.
That was when he noticed the paramedic scissors and Leatherman tool for the first time. Kaden had laid them on the table, near Leah’s right knee.
“What are those for?” Seth hoarsely croaked.
Kaden looked to where Seth pointed. “Just in case. Never do rope bondage without them.”
He went back to his paper.
“How long are you leaving her like that?”
Kaden glanced at the cable box. “Another ten minutes. Then her torture starts.”
Seth thought Leah moaned, but it wasn’t an “oh, shit” moan. It was an “oh, goodie” moan.
“Torture?”
“Yeah. For being a little on the pushy side yesterday. She’s going to spend the day being tortured. Aren’t you, love?”
She definitely moaned that time.
Seth stared, realized he still held his coffee mug and that his hands were trembling. He set it on the coffee table near Leah’s head. Somehow that didn’t feel right, so he picked it up and moved it to the end table.
“Do I want to know how you’re going to torture her?”
“You should. You’ll find this very effective.” He lost himself in the paper again.
“Um, dude. Focus. What are you going to do to her?”
“Keep her on edge all day long, not let her come. Later tonight, if she’s a good girl”—that comment he directed at Leah—“I might let her have an orgasm. If she’s very good, I’ll let her have two.”
She moaned again.
Nope, definitely an “oh goodie” moan.

My Review - 5 Stars and so much more!!!

Seth's best friend Kaden has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer but that's not the real bomb that he drops on Seth.  Kaden needs Seth to care for his wife Leah after he is gone.  It is the ultimate favor to ask of a friend, but wait there's more.  Kaden and Leah have a loving and beautiful marriage to those on the outside looking in but behind closed doors unbeknownst to their close friend Seth, Kaden and Leah live a lifestyle that may shock some and intrigue others.  Kaden is a Dom and Leah his submissive.  In order for Seth to properly take care of Leah's needs he will need to learn all he can from Kaden  and become Leah's Dom before Kaden is gone.  Seth is reluctant to except Kaden's proposal thinking that he himself is already a failure in his own marriages so what would make him think he could do this for his friend.  FRIEND, that is the key word for Seth.  Kaden and he have been friends for over 20 years and regardless of how tough thing have gotten for Seth, Kaden has always been there for him.  Seth excepts his proposal and moves in with him and his wife Leah.  His training begins and he learns not only the great responsibility he now holds but also of the horrific life Leah once lived before meeting Kaden.   A new life starts to unfold for Seth and he begins to understand what this will mean to Kaden and Leah.  He must succeed for his friends. 

This is first and foremost a truly beautiful love story.  Not just the love between a husband and wife but the love between true friends.  

When I sat down to write my review I drew a blank on how to describe the heart wrenching out poor of emotions this book wrung from me. I can only think of this book as a masterpiece, a work of art and a true gift to readers.  Tymber Dalton's character's emotions come right off the page and just fill your heart with joy, warmth and heartache.  The amount of talent it takes to create that much written and not spoken emotion is just unbelievable.

What you will need for this book is a minimum of 2 boxes of tissues and be prepared to seriously UGLY cry. I myself had to take breaks just to get through the final few chapters of the book because it just ripped my heart out. Now don't get me wrong the story is sad but you still get your HEA by the end. However getting to that point almost killed me. But when it is all said and done author Tymber Dalton wraps you up in a nice warm blanket of happiness and sends you on your way to HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

If you are looking for a book, the book, book of the year kind of book, than The Reluctant Dom is the book for you. This book will stay with you forever and challenge and tempt you to read it again when your done. 


Meet the Author

Tymber Dalton lives in southwest Florida with her husband (aka “The World’s Best Husband™”) and son. She loves her family, writing, coffee, dark chocolate, music, a good book, hockey, shoes, and her dogs (even when they try to drink her coffee and eat her shoes). She is active in the BDSM lifestyle.

When she’s not dodging hurricanes or writing, she can be found doing line edits or reading or thinking up something else to write. You can drop her a line through her website/blog and keep abreast of the latest news, views, snarkage, and general ramblings she feels like posting when the mood strikes her.

(Also published writing as Lesli Richardson, Macy Largo, and Tessa Monroe.)

                           

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