ONE RING.

Suncoast Society.

Tymber Dalton.

AUTHORS NOTE.

Amelias story is first introduced toward the end of Open Doors.

While all the books in the Suncoast Society series are standalone works which may be read independently of each other, the recommended reading order to avoid spoilers is as follows:.

1. Safe Harbor.

2. Cardinals Rule 3. Domme by Default 4. The Reluctant Dom 5. The Denim Dom.

6. Pinch Me 7. Broken Toy 8. A Clean Sweep 9. A Roll of the Dice.

10. His Canvas 11. A Lovely Shade of Ouch 12. Crafty b.a.s.t.a.r.ds 13. A Merry Little Kinkmas.

14. Sapios.e.xual 15. A Very Kinky Valentines Day 16. Things Made Right 17. Click.

18. Spank or Treat 19. A Turn of the Screwed 20. Chains 21. Kinko de Mayo.

22. Broken Arrow 23. Out of the Spotlight 24. Friends Like These.

25. Vicious Carousel 26. Hot Sauce 27. Open Doors.

28. One Ring.

Many of the characters in this book appear in previous books in the Suncoast Society series. All t.i.tles available from Siren-BookStrand.

DEDICATION.

To Sir. Always, and because.

Chapter One.

Amelia Parsons sat on the picnic table and watched the storm blow in off the Gulf. One of those grey, bl.u.s.tery, cloudy Sat.u.r.days, a late-winter weather system where it felt like Florida was simply phoning in its rep as the Sunshine State because it was too d.a.m.n hungover from partying with the tourists to give a s.h.i.t.

She watched this frontal boundary coming in through the bulls-eye formed by pinching her wedding band between her left thumb and forefinger and staring through it. But peering through this ring didnt bring the Eye of Sauron swinging around to pointedly look at her.

It only brought her a lot of sadness.

There wasnt much left to do except file the paperwork and move out. Mike refused to talk, refused to go to a counselor, refused to see there was a d.a.m.n thing wrong with their marriage.

And now that her eyes had been opened, she couldnt look away from the truth burning a hole through the middle of her gut.

Her husband was happy phoning their marriage in. Had been for several years now.

Shed just been too blind to see it. Willfully ignorant, thinking this was the best it would ever get, that she was stupid and ungrateful to the Universe if she challenged the way things were.

That she was lucky he was a hard worker, had a decent job, and didnt cheat on her.

It saddened her even more to realize that, at some point, she had fallen out of love with him. She wasnt even exactly sure when that had happened. Did she still love him? Oh, absolutely. He was a good man, overall.

In love with him?

No. That ship had sailed.

And then it hit an iceberg and sank.

When shed first showed up at her friend Marcias house to talk about it three weeks earlier, Fate had stepped in. From what shed read via joining the book club Marcia had steered her toward, to accidentally discovering her friends secret hobby. Shed never suspected Marcia and Derrick were into anything kinky in their private lives, much less that they ran a BDSM club. Looking back, she could clearly see their relationship dynamic, yes, now that she knew what signs to look for.

After twenty years of marriage, her friends were still happy and in love with each other. Which proved it was possible. That Mike was wrong about how the pa.s.sionless rut theyd settled into was normal.

Just because itd been good enough for his parents and two older brothers and their wives didnt mean it was good enough for her. She refused to settle.

And now she knew why her two sisters-in-law always looked miserable at every family get-together, always grousing about their husbands. Why her mother-in-law always seemed to be grumbling under her breath about her husband"until he died"and about her sons and who knows else.

Im an idiot.

She and Mike, fortunately, didnt have any kids.

Then again, you usually needed to have s.e.x to actually have kids.

Im thirty-seven and have to start my personal life all over again.

She didnt know when her charming, handsome husband, whod worked his a.s.s off to win her over in college, had turned into a moss-covered rock.

Today, his big plan was to sit in front of the TV in the living room and watch hockey, or basketball, or maybe cricket or something. She didnt know. Sports. That was what hed said when shed asked him last night if he had plans.

When shed asked if hed like to go out to eat, or see a movie with her, the reply had taken a sledgehammer to what little hope shed held onto.

Youre an adult, Amy. You dont need me to go with you. If you want to go out to eat or see a movie, go. Or call one of your friends. I dont want to go anywhere or do anything today.

That was another thing. He was the only person who called her Amy. Everyone else called her Mel. Itd started out as a joke in college, when hed called her that and teased her when she corrected him.

At the time, itd seemed playful, and a wee bit attractive, that he had a backbone and stood up to her, took a little bit of control.

It was only later that she realized no, it was just him being stubborn and not giving a s.h.i.t about her feelings.

It finally hit her.

She hated being called Amy.

And, for the first time, she could admit it to herself.

I am not Amy, she whispered. Im Mel.

Crushing the ring against her palm in her tightly clenched fist, she finally burst into tears.

Mel breathed a sigh of relief when Marcia answered her phone. Hey, sweetie, Marcia greeted her. How you doing?

Shed moved to her car for this conversation. The winds had picked up, and now drops of rain were starting to spatter against her windshield, making marks in the salt-spray residue that had already coated the gla.s.s while shed been parked there.

You know how you and Derrick offered to let me stay at your place for a while?

Marcias tone changed. Concerned. Yeah?

She took a deep breath. Is that offer still good, to stay in your spare room for a while?

Aww, sweetheart, of course. Are you okay?

No. But maybe I will be once this is all over.

Hes still refusing to go to a doctor or counselling?

Yes.

When the truth had exploded in Amelias face that Sat.u.r.day shed spent with Marcia and Derrick and their friends at the BDSM club, it had taken her nearly two weeks to finish digesting the information, everything shed seen, her own feelings. To research.

Only then had she approached Mike again, asking if hed reconsider going to counselling.

Another vocal, emphatic no.

She asked if he would go in for a check-up with his doctor. He was due anyway. She could go with him and ask about"

No.

Not just no, but a h.e.l.l no, from Mike.

I dont ask to go to your lady doctor. You dont need to go to mine. Im not a kid.

Yet, he was acting like one.

A spoiled one who didnt want to do any kind of hard work to earn or keep what he had.

Shed tried initiating cuddling and s.e.x with him and got turned down, his usual excuse being that he was too tired and not in the mood.

She doubted he was cheating on her. He never tried to hide his cell phone, there were no suspicious changes in his activities or schedule, and if he wasnt at work, he was usually at home, either doing ch.o.r.es or sitting in front of the TV.

There was no more try inside her. The well had completely dried up.

Im so sorry, Marcia said. Do you know when you want to move in?

I dont know. I wanted to make sure it was still available first. You sure you guys dont mind?

We wouldnt have made the offer if we minded, she said. Youre family.

I dont know whats going to happen with the divorce, she said. Ill need to talk to Ed and find out how much itll be. And whatever equity we have in the house will probably be eaten up by legal fees for both of us. I cant afford to keep the house alone.

Its okay, Marcia a.s.sured her. This will work out the way it should. Just keep remembering that.

Mike was supposed to be my happy ending. I thought he was the guy Id spend the rest of my life with.

People change as they age. Sometimes for the better, sometimesnot.

He sure as h.e.l.l has. They used to do things together, like go biking, hiking, walks. Movies. The beach.

Nothing expensive or ritzy, b.u.t.time spent together.

Now it felt like Mike could barely stand the sight of her despite what hed said.

Where are you right now? Marcia asked.

I drove down to Manasota Key. I was looking for sharks teeth.

Its a pretty c.r.a.ppy beach day.

I know. It was perfect. I had the place to myself.

Ah. Do you want to come over and go to dinner and the club with us tonight?

I was going to ask if I could spend the night.

Thats fine, too.

Thanks. Sorry to invite myself over like this.

Honey, again. Youre family. We extended the offer and we meant it. Go home and pack some stuff. Well do a late brunch tomorrow with some of the girls.

When was the last time shed just gone somewhere and hung out with friends?