One Ring (Suncoast Society #28)(13)

Meaning she was the perfect kind of play partner for Don.

Carl had played with her a couple of times, because she was an experienced bottom who didn’t mind helping break in newbie Tops. But he wasn’t attracted to her in the slightest and usually left her to Don.

Carl was quickly coming to find he needed to have some sort of mental or emotional attraction to a person to really enjoy a scene with them.

They’d settled in at one of the tables to watch others play when Marcia returned with the unknown woman.

And, lucky them, made a beeline right for them.

Don leaned in. Under his breath he said, “Don’t f*ck this up.”

Marcia pulled out a chair for her friend. “Hey, guys. This is my friend, Mel. Mind if she sits here for a few minutes? Mel, this is Don and Carl. I’ll go get you some water.”

The woman—whose eyes were hazel, it turned out—looked a little subspacey and out of it. “Hi. Thanks.”

“No worries,” Don said. “First time?”

“No, second. First time I’ve ever tried anything though. That was great.”

“Fire cupping’s pretty cool,” Carl said.

Next to him, he was aware of Don covering his eyes with his hand.

Before Carl could verbally trip over himself any further, Marcia returned with a cup of water. “Don, Carl, they need me out in the office for a minute. Would you mind sitting here with her and keeping an eye on her, please?”

“Sure, no problem,” Don said.

In other words, Marcia was saying she trusted them, and to not let anyone else bother Mel until Marcia returned for her.

And to not f*ck things up.





Across the room, a guy had a woman suspended from a rope harness in the middle of the large, metal A-frame that dominated the space.

“Do you guys do that?” Mel asked.

“We’re into rope,” Carl answered before Don could, “but not suspensions. I’d like to eventually reach that level of skill. I’m not there yet.”

“Oh.”

“I’m newer than he is,” Carl added, then he flinched.

If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear Don might have kicked him under the table.

But they were cute. Don had gorgeous blue eyes and brown hair. Carl had green eyes and dark-blond hair that was almost brown.

“I don’t know what the protocol for this is, but would you tie me up?”

They exchanged a glance.

“I mean, I went to that class Marcia taught a couple of weeks ago. For new people. But I’d really like to try some different things.”

“How did you get into this?” Don asked without answering her question.

“Accidentally.” She found herself rambling about her horrible marriage, and the book club, and Mike, and accidentally seeing Marcia working on the website, and then…

When she finished, the men were staring at her and she realized she probably sounded like a psychotic idiot.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “That was probably way too much information.”

Marcia picked that moment to return. “So? How are we all getting along?”





If they weren’t being set up, Don would eat his goddamned rope bag. He’d been warned about Tilly and Eliza, but he would not have picked Marcia as a matchmaker.

“I think I just told them too much about me,” Mel said.

She was damned adorable. If Carl didn’t go after her, he was liable to, although he usually preferred they had a little more experience first.

Marcia slid into a chair at the table. “Mel is in a transition period in her life right now,” Marcia told them, giving them a knowing gaze Don had no trouble interpreting. “I want to make sure I introduce her to safe players, people Derrick and I trust, to help teach her about the lifestyle. If you guys wouldn’t mind playing with her, I would consider it a personal favor.”

Don Corleone might as well have sat down and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“Sure,” Don said. “We’d be happy to.”

Marcia smiled. “Great! We’re her ride, so unless she wants to go back home early, she’s here all night.” She stood and rounded the table, patting the men on the back and leaning in. “Thank you. I greatly appreciate it.”

“What about Crissy?” Carl asked.

Don wanted to backhand him.

“Crissy?” Marcia asked.

“Yeah, you know her,” Carl said. “The little redhead.”

“Oh. The flake.”

Ouch. “Yeah, her,” Don said.

Marcia smiled. “If she shows up, I’ll make sure she hooks up with Scrye or Kel. They’ve flown her before.” She patted them on the backs again and turned, leaving.

Oookay.

Don gave Mel a smile. “I guess if you’re new, we should start at the beginning, huh?”

She smiled again, so trusting and vulnerable, and he felt something tug on his well-shielded heart, just a little.

Oh, boy.





Chapter Six


The men took her over a quiet corner, grabbing a couple of MMA mats and towels and sitting down with her.

“Is there anything you have questions about?” Don asked her.