Learning to Love & Submit Read online

  

  The Tiger's Lair 6

  Learning to Love & Submit

  [Menage Amour: Consensual BDSM Contemporary Menage a Trois Romantic Suspense Romance, MMF, with MM elements, bondage, flogging, spanking, sex toys, HEA]

  Time after time Thomas Thompson, the resident dungeon monitor of the Tiger’s Lair, has seen his friends fall into relationships. Ménages at that. He wants what his friends have. Love and the submission of a man and woman.

  Security guard Gerard Monahan has been drooling over Thomas for quite a while but has yet to do anything about it since his position seemed so lowly compared to Thomas’s. He realizes he needs to do something about his feelings.

  All her life, Carrie Newton wanted love but never received it from the person she craved it from the most. Studying hard, she has made a good life for herself. Working a second job wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she did it. After an invitation to the Tiger’s Lair, Carrie steps into a new world and meets Thomas and Gerard, and her heart has found new life.

  Can Carrie learn submission to find happiness? Can the three find love together?

  Length: 61,900 words

  LEARNING TO LOVE & SUBMIT

  The Tiger's Lair 6

  Eileen Green

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Learning to Love & Submit

  Copyright © 2019 by Eileen Green

  ISBN: 978-1-64243-974-8

  First Publication: September 2019

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2019 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  I want to thank my readers who continue to enjoy my stories. You are the reason I write.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  LEARNING TO LOVE & SUBMIT

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  LEARNING TO LOVE &

  SUBMIT

  The Tiger's Lair 6

  EILEEN GREEN

  Copyright © 2019

  Chapter One

  “I can’t believe you do this for a living!” the woman next to Carrie exclaimed. “It’s two in the morning, and you’re pounding the streets to make money. You’re a beautiful woman who should be out partying in the clubs on a Saturday night, not doing this!”

  “Ma’am, I appreciate your kind words, but I have obligations to take care of, and this is the easiest thing for me to do outside my normal career.” Carrie Newton got irritated whenever people spoke their minds about what she did as a second job, mainly because she was a private person.

  The truth was, Carrie hated this job. To make half-way decent money, she had to work late hours on Friday and Saturday nights, because that’s when the good money happened. There were so many people who needed the service she provided.

  Stanford had been hard on her financially since she had only received a partial scholarship. The student loans added up, and she had begun to pay on them a year ago for she didn’t want them to consume her life like she had heard they do to most people. Her daytime job provided Carrie with a decent income at least to live from frugally. Now, everything had changed. With money she had inherited unexpectantly from an aunt, she had paid off about three-quarters of the money she owed and was now working on the rest.

  What she did at night was considered dangerous for a woman, picking up strangers. She carried pepper spray, but that wouldn’t stand up to someone with a gun or knife. Occasional stories circulated about someone getting mugged, a drunk attacking, or an outright pervert who took advantage of the ladies.

  Doing ride-share was a blessing as of making her own hours, but the wee hours of the morning could be dangerous. On Friday night after she left work, she would head out to start driving, and she would go home after three in the morning. On Saturday, she would begin driving around three in the afternoon and work for twelve hours, and then work another eight hours on Sunday during the day.

  It had been six months of working seven days a week that had her exhausted, but she persevered. The woman in the passenger seat was only trying to help, but Carrie was irritated anyway.

  Taking a deep breath, for she would like to get a tip, Carrie sighed. “I have student loans I’m trying to pay off. This works with my schedule.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound condescending.”

  “It’s okay. It’s hard, especially when I work a full forty-hour work week, and then I come out to do this three days a week.”

  “What do you do for your other job?” the lady asked as she shifted in her seat.

  “I’m a mental health counselor. I specialize in pediatrics.” Carrie was proud of what she had accomplished. She had managed to graduate high school despite her alcoholic mother and absent father, getting straight A’s. That’s how she was able to obtain a scholarship.

  “Wow.” The woman sounded genuinely impressed.

  In the dim light of the car, Carrie could see the woman was a beauty. She had platinum blonde hair that was pulled back in a severe ponytail that showed off her high cheekbones. Her eyes were dark, but in the light, Carrie couldn’t see what color they were. She was wearing a trench coat and what Carrie thought were leggings, and she had on a pair of stilettos, all of which Carrie had thought was an interesting get-up considering where she had picked the rider up from.

  The only building with a full parking lot in the middle of the night in a business park was where the pickup had been. The only lights came from the glass doors at the front of the place where the picture of a tiger graced each door.

  Carrie hadn’t thought much of it when she first picked the lady, but now Carrie was curious. “So, what has you out this late at night, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  A throaty chuckle sounded from the woman. “I kind of work where you picked me up from.”

  “Kind of?” That was odd.

  “I teach classes when they need me. Otherwise, I go there to play.” The woman dug into her purse and pulled out a business card.

  Well, this was getting interesting. What could possibly be in there that she could have fun and teach classes?

  “Carrie, wasn’t it?”

  Clearing her throat, Carrie responded. “Yes.”

  “I like you.” She smiled. “You know what they say about all work and no play, don’t you?”

  “Uh-huh.” Where the hell is this woman going with this?

  “What I’m going to tell
you is a delicate subject. Have you read any romance novels? Have you heard or read about BDSM?”

  Carrie giggled. What the hell? “I’ve read about it.”

  “You have to promise not to repeat anything I’m about to tell you.” The woman turned serious.

  Sometimes Carrie felt as if she was a bartender or a priest. Her riders confided in her or told her stories about themselves. Sometimes she heard things in the small confines of the car that the passengers assumed she didn’t hear. Occasionally, things shocked her, so she was curious to hear what this woman had to say.

  “You won’t be able to get into that building unless someone takes you with them, but where you picked me up is a club. A BDSM club. I’m a Domme.”

  Well, that takes the cake!

  Carrie did everything she could to keep her eyes on the road. “You’re a dominatrix?”

  The woman now giggled. “No. I am a dominant woman. A dominatrix is a woman who gets paid to dominate a person. Being a Domme is who I am. Some people are dominant, and some are submissive. I am in control of my life, and I like to have control when I have sex.”

  Carrie began reading romance novels when she was in high school. Her mother would get them from garage sales or thrift shops, letting them pile up in a corner of the living room. When Carrie would finish her homework, and extra credit work, she’d grab one of the books, hide in her room, and read. And yes, there were some dirty stories.

  “How did you know you liked that? I mean, why…um…” Carrie really didn’t know how to ask what she wanted to without being too nosey or insulting.

  “I was dating this guy in college who asked me to tie him up and spank him. At first, I didn’t want to. I was like you. What the hell was up with this guy?” Then she chuckled. “The worst part of it was how turned on I got once I thought about it. Then I began to wonder what was wrong with me.”

  A glance over at the lady told Carrie that she was happy. The woman continued. “My girlfriends told me to go for it, so one night I decided to play his game, and I liked it. There was a safe word in case I hurt him, but he didn’t use it. We played like that until we graduated. He went home to San Francisco, and I eventually came back here. It took me a while to find a place where I was happy, and when this one opened, I found myself a home. It’s a lifestyle that you have to feel one hundred percent confident in yourself.”

  The GPS announced that they had arrived at the woman’s drop-off location. Pulling up in front of a nice townhouse, Carrie put the car in park before she pressed the button on the app to complete the ride.

  The woman handed Carrie the business card. “If you have any questions, or if you want to delve into a new world, give me a call.”

  Taking the card, Carrie was still shocked. “I don’t think I will, but thank you for the conversation,” Carrie said, hoping she didn’t hurt the woman’s feelings. She then looked down at the card. In bold red letters, it read ‘Mistress Eliza.’

  “Well, if you change your mind…” Eliza didn’t finish that sentence as she opened the car door. “Thanks for the ride and be safe.”

  “You’re welcome.” Carrie didn’t know what else to say as Eliza climbed from the car. Once the door was closed, Carrie could have left, but since Eliza was alone, she watched the woman walk up to her front door, open it, and walk in. Then, once the door was closed, Carrie drove off.

  The streets of Denver were nearly empty as the club crowds were now on their way home. Not very many businesses were open at this late hour, and Carrie knew she should head home. Turning off the app, satisfied with what she had made for the day, she headed home, her thoughts on Eliza’s revelation.

  * * * *

  “I’m heading out,” Thomas said as he stood. He, Alex “Tiger” McDaniel, Jackson “Sloth” Malone, and Shane “Beast” Owens had stayed after the club closed to have a beer. They were sitting at one of the pub-high tables in the kitchen area of the Tiger’s Lair.

  The four of them, along with several others that frequented the BDSM club that Alex had built, had all served on the same Navy Seal team. Once they had achieved their discharges, they all congregated in Denver, supporting each other in work and play. Alex owned the place. Jackson was the assistant manager, while Shane owned a security company that provided security for the Tiger’s Lair and a plethora of other businesses.

  Thomas Thompson was employed by Alex as a dungeon monitor, his position, to make sure all scenes went smoothly. He dealt with a handful of volunteers who would monitor sections where he couldn’t be as the size of the club was so large.

  “Do you need a ride to the airport in the morning?” Jackson asked. “You could stay over here, and I’ll take you. That way your car won’t be sitting at your house while you’re gone.”

  “Naw. But thanks anyway. I’m taking the car in for some maintenance, so I’ll take a ride-share from the car dealership. They’ll keep the car until I get back.”

  “Just let me know if you change your mind,” Jackson let him know.

  A few days off were needed as he hadn’t had a day off in a year despite Alex trying to get him to do so. He was arranging to meet his brother Greg in Vegas for some gambling, sightseeing, and brotherly connection. Neither one of them had been to the Grand Canyon, so they thought it would be a good time to go. Plus, it had been a few years since they had been able to get together as Greg was still serving in the Marines.

  “Don’t get into any trouble,” Alex teased. “I don’t know if I want to come bail your ass out of jail.”

  Chuckling, Thomas flipped off his friend and boss as he pushed through the doors that led to the lobby.

  This was the time of night Thomas looked forward to. Making his way through the lobby afforded him the opportunity to see a man that got his motor running. Images of having Gerard strapped down to a spanking bench and filling the red-headed man with his cock had Thomas’s prick swelling in his leathers.

  Gerard had been working at the Tiger’s Lair for about a year now as one of the security guards. He was contracted in by Owens’s Rocky Mountain Security, the company owned by Thomas’s friend Shane Owens. Shane’s guards were paid well, so they weren’t the mall guard type. These men were highly trained in martial arts, weaponry, and customer service.

  An incident five months ago had Gerard in hiding for a week, no one knowing where he was. A villain had tried to gain access to the club, and when Gerard figured out the man didn’t belong, he chased him out the front door. The man had run through the business park until he had lost Gerard. Alex’s outrage along with Shane’s had Gerard fearing he was going to lose his job, so he didn’t show up for work the next day. Or the next.

  It was then Thomas realized he wanted the man. The loss of not seeing him each night had put an ache in Thomas’s heart. Thomas kicked himself for not ever talking to the man, or gaining his information, but once Gerard was back at his post, Thomas couldn’t bring himself to talk to the man. Sly glances were all Thomas could afford, acting as if he was back in middle school.

  Walking briskly, Thomas made it through the second set of doors into the lobby from the club, the entrances to the bathrooms, locker rooms, and the main elevator in that section. Once he was in the lobby, desire flooded him when he spotted Gerard at the front door unlocking it for Thomas.

  “Saw you in on the monitor, Sir,” Gerard explained nervously. “I understand you’re off for a few days?”

  Gerard’s emerald-green eyes raked up and down Thomas’s body and then stopped at Thomas’s face. A pink tinge appeared on Gerard’s freckled cheeks before he lowered his eyes. Yes, the man was a submissive, just one more thing that turned Thomas on, and Thomas really wanted to see if those freckles were all over his body.

  Thomas had been dominant all his life, something he credited the foster care system making him grow up quickly and take charge of his life. He had to wonder why Gerard was submissive.

  He had asked a question. Oh, yes! “Yes. I’m going to spend some time with my brother since he�
��s on leave.”

  “Well, I hope you a have a good time, and be safe.” Gerard’s voice had dropped to a husky near whisper, the sound shooting straight to Thomas’s cock. “Also, you’ll be missed, Sir.”

  “Tha”—” Thomas couldn’t believe that he had gotten so nervous he couldn’t speak. He cleared his throat. “Thank you, babe.”

  Aw, fuck! Sheesh! He really did it this time.

  Gerard’s dark red brows lifted high on his forehead while his entire face turned red. His nostrils flared and his lips parted, and Thomas did everything he could to keep from reaching out, dragging the man to him, and kissing those tempting lips.

  Neither one spoke a word as the awkwardness spread between them. Unsure of what to say, Thomas nodded at the man and then rushed out the front door. His black Dodge Challenger was parked in his reserved parking space, four down from the front door. Alex, Jackson, and Emma, Alex’s fiancée and the club secretary, all had the first three spots. Since Thomas began earlier in the day than any of the other nighttime employees, he had his own spot. Security had their parking spots on the other side of the doors.

  Getting in the beauty he had restored, he started the engine and listened to it purr while he thought about his blunder. Was it really one though? He had spoken his mind after so much time.

  So, why had it freaked him out so much? He was comfortable with being bisexual, something he had known about himself since foster care. Men and women both turned him on, but this was something more.

  Gerard had him thinking of long term. Living together, nights in front of the fireplace besides being at the club. Thomas wanted the man to be at his side as they watched scenes and discussed whether or not Gerard would like them.

  However, a part of him thought about having a woman in his life also. Would Gerard want that also?