An atypical love, p.1
An Atypical Love, page 1
AN ATYPICAL LOVE
Shaw Montgomery
Published by Shaw Montgomery, 2023
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
AN ATYPICAL LOVE
First edition. June 2023.
Copyright 2023 Shaw Montgomery
Written by Shaw Montgomery
An Atypical Love
Rohan can’t quite decide if letting his friend Conner play matchmaker is the smartest thing he’s ever done or the stupidest. As an asexual Dom who’s never quite found Mr. Right, after a string of misses, even he’s starting to admit it might be time to let the crazy owner of Bound & Controlled steer the show.
Dayton knows he shouldn’t trust Conner when he has that look on his face, but when the wicked sub promises him Mr. Right, common sense goes right out the window. But with most Doms at the club being too scared of hurting him to let him submit, he’s crossing his fingers and hoping that love and domination are finally in the air.
Sometimes finding Mr. Right is easy and sometimes he’s wrapped in an unconventional package…but love will always find a way.
Author’s Note
I would like to thank the wonderful people who signed up for the highest level of my brand new Patreon and who’ve given me such incredible support as I’ve started this project. I truly appreciate everyone who signed up and who’ve given me great feedback and encouragement. I hope they love the stories I’m going to be putting on there as much as I love them.
My sincerest thanks to…
Melissa Ellis
Neil & Trish Wallace
Joyce Foster
Corrina Gilbertson
Kumiko Williams
Kelly Knight
Dezi
Ashley Diaz
Jessica
Ashley Sellers
Madison Hammond
Donna Sachs
Marie Hageman
Deborah Johnson
Melissa Washburn
Kirsty
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Prologue
Rohan
“You have to promise not to get offended or mad or anything like that because I’m just trying to help.” It was the innocent, I’m helpful and sweet look that made it clear she was up to something ridiculous.
“No.” Shaking my head, I knew better than to agree to anything when Melissa started a sentence like that. Of course, I was stubborn and it’d taken me a few times to learn that particular lesson. “I’m not that naïve any longer.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Shaking her head, she looked like she knew she was right and I should just follow along. “This is going to change dating for you. I know it.”
Oh, that made it sound even worse.
Dating was…difficult.
“No.” I was hoping if I kept repeating that answer it would sink in eventually. Unfortunately, we’d known each other so long she said I was family now and that seemed to mean boundaries weren’t a thing anymore.
Trying to turn the conversation, I gestured toward the display case in the bakery where they were showing off all their goodies to perfection. “Have you decided what to get for dessert?”
It almost worked.
She was a pastry whore but it seemed like we’d reached the point where ruining my day was more fun than picking out junk food.
I wasn’t sure how we’d reached this crossroad so quickly in life but I had a feeling it was due to my last dramatic breakup. Mario screaming at me in the middle of an expensive Italian restaurant that he was going to do something drastic if I didn’t fuck him hadn’t been exactly subtle.
I wasn’t sure what he’d missed when I’d explained what being asexual meant to me, but clearly there’d been a miscommunication somewhere because I wasn’t going to do that.
Ever.
It was just…no.
And according to the internet not every gay couple did it, so I still wasn’t sure what bug had crawled up his ass and turned on the crazy, but it hadn’t been anything I’d done.
“Don’t try to distract me. It won’t work.” Completely turning her back on the desserts, she folded her arms across her chest and glared at me like she was channeling her brother when he got pissed.
It might’ve worked if it’d actually been Jackson.
He was slightly younger than her, attractive, and funny…and I was asexual, not dead, but she didn’t have any of the right parts or personality for me to give her what she wanted.
“I’m thinking about getting something for now and then something for later.” Ha, that had her itching to turn around and drool but she was stubborn enough to dig her heels in.
“Not going to work.”
She was such a pain in the ass.
“How is work going?” That was a topic that always made her crazy because her boss was weird, and she always had the best stories.
“Not going to work either.”
I was starting to remember why Jackson avoided hanging out with us and always did his own thing. She drove everyone nuts. Yep, it was her fault I’d never hung out with the guy long enough to see what he’d think of dating someone who really didn’t have any interest in intercourse.
Hoping to just wait her out, I finished up the last of my sandwich and had decided on grabbing a couple of different types of croissants before she finally lost her patience.
“Fine. I’ll just tell you without your agreement. Consent doesn’t apply here.”
She was getting weirder and weirder lately.
“What have you been reading?” Or writing. This conversation screamed that it had something to do with the dirty things she was writing about. “I thought we’d agreed that you would only talk about the innocent parts of your new hobby.”
She kept insisting she was just playing around but that sounded like a copout to me.
“This has nothing to do with that.” Waving her hands around like she was pushing the words away from us, she was perfectly Melissa and only focused on what she wanted to hear.
But since she’d been doing it since college, I wasn’t expecting her to change now.
“You need to explore BDSM.” She paused dramatically like I was supposed to be dumbstruck like we were in a TV sitcom. When I just went back to looking at the croissants, she huffed. “I’m serious. There is a lot of ways to please a sub in that community that doesn’t involve…stuff you don’t like.”
Thankfully she was somewhat cognizant of where we were having lunch and kept her voice down. But that didn’t change the topic she was obsessed with. “I’m serious. There are a lot of aspects of it that I think would fit you really well. Clear conversations about what everyone wants and needs. Negotiated limits. People who are into other things that aren’t necessarily stuff you’ve run into.”
Good grief.
I had no idea what to say and that just gave her the room to keep pushing. “I met this guy online. He lives on the other side of the world, so he’s not someone worth me introducing you to unless you want to move to Australia?”
When I just shook my head, she sighed and nodded. “That’s what I thought, but when he was talking, he said some stuff that really hit me. He doesn’t need sex like you’re picturing to be happy in a relationship. He likes being touched and cuddled and that kind of stuff but what really gets him off is stuff like being spanked, having orders and rules to follow, and different kinds of…”
Melissa’s eyes darted around as she leaned forward. “Cock cages.”
What the fuck had she been doing online?
“That’s…”
Again, I just wasn’t fast enough.
“Brilliant, I know.” She was beaming like she’d just told me she’d helped me win the lottery. “Just think about it. You could have a partner who just wanted you to boss him around and to do a few simple activities that I don’t think would make you uncomfortable. Spanking. Restraints. Using toys on them. That’s all stuff you’re fine with.”
One time.
I’d gotten drunk with her one time.
“None of that is the point.” I wasn’t sure what was, though. “I’m not that…aggressive.”
She rolled her eyes and gave me a look that said she thought I was stupid. “Then just pick out the parts that do appeal to you and don’t go overboard. I’m not suggesting you find a guy who’s a complete sub and needs you to take control of his life. Just look into it and see if there’s something in it for you. Honestly, Roey, I think this would be good for you.”
I hated that nickname.
And I hated that she only used it when she was going to grab onto something like a dog and refuse to let go.
“Fine. I will look into it but only if you write that stupid book you’re always talking about.” Ha. It was my turn to be a pain in the ass. “And no fanfic shit.”
Whatever tha t actually was.
“It has to be your own characters and a book that could actually be published.” I knew she’d been talking about writing dirty stories based around other people’s characters for years, but if she wanted me to research BDSM then she was going to put up or shut up about the writing thing.
“Roey…” She tried to look sad but I stuck to my guns.
“No. How badly do you want this?” She was such a pain in the ass. “I research and you write or you don’t bring it up again.”
She had the attention span of a rabbit.
It’d last a week and then I could go back to ignoring the ridiculous discussion and she would have to stop talking about the dirty people in her head.
I wasn’t seeing a downside…so what could go wrong?
Chapter 1
Dayton
Five Years Later
“He doesn’t live in Timbuktu. He’s got that sexy businessman vibe going that you like. He’s smart but not a dick. Oh, and he’s not even allergic to cats.”
God. Make one guy break out in hives and no one ever forgot.
“It’s not my cat. It just comes over to demand treats and attention.” I’d always thought that was just a dog thing but clearly that’d been a misconception. Cats just liked to stare you down like Doms until subs gave in and did what they’d been told.
Conner raised one eyebrow and shrugged. “Not really the point.”
It was the point.
“He didn’t even tell me he was allergic to anything. It wasn’t even in his limits list.” It was not my fault and I’d go to my grave believing it.
How had I been supposed to know that his are you a dog person or a cat person question had been his way of trying to decide if he could safely come over?
I’d just thought he’d gotten it off some kind of get to know your new sub article he’d found. Hell, I’d been asked weirder questions just on regular dates, so it hadn’t raised any red flags.
Conner finally scrunched up his face. “Okay, I’ll give you that. It should’ve been on his limits list and I’ll make sure there’s a note about that in the new members info going forward.”
“Thank you.” I was a sub, not psychic. “Now, you were forcing another introduction on me?”
Someone sitting behind us just out of sight laughed quietly, and I had a feeling I’d been a bit too loud. Trying to do better, I reached for my Coke and took a drink. “I thought we’d discussed not tormenting me again?”
His only response to that was to snort and continue on like nothing was amiss.
“He passed the background check with flying colors and doesn’t work for the government at all, thank God.” Conner seemed dead set on getting his way and just ignored my sigh. “He’s also tall. I know that’s one of your hot spots. He’s been working on the West Coast for the past year or so, and that’s why I haven’t introduced you before, but he’s repented for that nonsense and is back where he belongs.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “What’s wrong with him?”
I wasn’t ugly or overly weird but I wasn’t anyone’s first choice for a sub. It sucked being a sub with a stupidly low pain tolerance but such was life. I tried not to let people’s reactions when they read my limits list get me down but it was hard sometimes…and it made me question how I’d gotten to be the sub Conner was trying to fix up with the mystery Dom.
What kind of bad decisions wouldn’t show up on a background check but would make someone a social pariah?
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Conner huffed and glared at me like I was the rudest creature he’d ever met, but I’d seen him give the same stare to the bartender when he told Conner that he couldn’t have a pink drink.
They made him even more naked than his current outfit that seemed to consist mostly of leather buckles and a jock strap.
Luckily for me, I was into tall mature guys and not twinks like me, so he wasn’t as distracting as he was hoping he was.
“Conner.” Looking around for his keeper, I frowned. “Where is your Dom?”
He was being a pain in the butt tonight.
“How rude.” Looking even more offended as more quiet laughter came from behind me, he finally broke. “Fine. If you would like to know what makes him a very special Dom and perfect for you, it’s because he’s looking for someone who is equally as special as he is.”
“That says absolutely nothing, drama queen. Now answer the question or I’m going to go find Ben and tattle on you. He won’t spank you for a month.” Well, probably just a week if I was lucky but the threat was scary enough to him that it worked.
Why on God’s green earth he wanted to be spanked was beyond me, but it was a good one to use to make him rethink driving me insane.
“You’re so rude when I’m being helpful.”
The fact that he honestly thought he was being helpful made me imagine doing dramatic things to the crazy man.
Unfortunately, he was one of the owners of the BDSM club I was currently sitting in, so I didn’t want to do anything that would get me kicked out.
“I’ll go find Ben.” I even set my drink down to show him how serious I was.
“Fine.” Making another dramatic sound, he flopped back in his seat and stopped trying to look sexy. “This isn’t breaking confidences. I’ve gotten permission to be as honest as I need to. He doesn’t want anything to surprise you.”
That did not make me feel any better and Conner must’ve realized that because he finally got to the point. “He’s asexual. He enjoys the toys side of things like sounds and that stuff more than penetrative sex or impact play. He actually has no desire to fuck anyone and would be perfectly happy with your limits.”
Wait.
Really?
I must’ve looked ridiculous because the annoying man giggled before continuing. “He likes restraints and light control but has only done impact play when it tickles the sub’s fancy.”
The ridiculous way he waggled his eyebrows and leered had me sighing and rolling my eyes, which Conner just ignored as he gave me the rundown on the Dom. “He’s looking for a slightly unconventional partner more than a sub. He hasn’t really found the right people in mainstream dating who got the asexual thing so he’s been exploring BDSM for the past few years.”
Okay, I was starting to connect the dots on why Conner had wanted to give me a head’s up first and why he’d come to me at all.
“He’s dated a bit here and there, and we’re doing better than the vanilla dating. So yay BDSM. But he hasn’t found the right sub.” Conner gave a very self-satisfied wiggle and smiled at me. “Because he hasn’t had me to find him the right sub.”
He was so annoying.
But in this case, he might not be wrong.
Okay, well, the guy could still be insane or have some weird thing like he couldn’t handle a sub drinking coffee or having dessert or doing anything fun. I’d dated some winners in and out of the BDSM community. But there were no red flags yet.
Wait…was that a red flag in itself?
“So he really won’t have an issue with having to be careful with pain things with me?” With even well-meaning Doms that usually became an issue. They tried but my limits were frustrating to a lot of old Doms and just men in general.
Guys never realized how often they manhandled their sub until they couldn’t do it at all.
“Nope.” Conner finally looked a bit contrite. “I didn’t explain everything. Honest. But I did tell him that you have a low pain tolerance and that things like impact play are non-negotiable to you and on the red side of your limits list so he understood I wasn’t just blowing smoke up his ass.”
Wonderful imagery there.
“That’s okay. Most people at least know that part.” It was why I rarely got asked to do scenes at the club and mostly just came to hang out and socialize.
I really didn’t see many people at work so just watching everyone flirt and chat was fun.
But as much as I wanted to jump right in and agree to meet the mysterious new Dom, I knew I had to try to be logical. “Can I ask something that might be considered rude? I honestly don’t know the right way to bring this up but it would be a deal breaker for me.”
Sitting up straighter, the teasing fell away and I knew I was looking at the club owner now, not the naughty sub. “Yes, just do your best to be polite. I knew you’d have at least a few questions because I wasn’t sure how much you knew about the asexual part of this.”
