What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 2)

by Vi Keeland

“QAL’s working on rooting out the rest of Bastower’s minions. We suspect we’ve seen the end of Hij’Rozhod’s reign of terror for sure. But Lilly, there’s something else.” Dallas flicked his eyes to Thaegan who nodded. She had no doubt now that they’d saved her life they were headed out to their next QAL assignment.

  “It’s okay.” She tried not to let the sadness and disappointment color her words. “Bounty hunting’s been good to me. Despite what Tervoss hopes, deep space will continue to crawl with criminals. You two—”

  Dallas put a warm finger to her lips, stopping her verbal diarrhea. “My turn to talk.”

  She blinked and nodded.

  “I donated the blood. It works in your organs the same, well, sort of the same. But I’m pretty sure it’s going to affect your,” his hand waved up and down her body, “your gift. I’m not sure how that works exactly, but if it’s something in your blood—”

  “We suspect Dallas broke it,” said Thaegan.

  Lilly’s heart did a stutter-step at the thought. Her ability to affect men had been Lilly’s proverbial albatross, and her neck ached from carrying it all these years. “I’m not sure that will be the case. I’ve tried transfusions before…” She shrugged casually, not letting any of the joy pounding in her heart escape. “…though that stuff is synthetic.” She stared at her hands, unable to truly comprehend the possibility.

  “It’s not like we could ask the docs how they thought it might work on a Seraphelium.”

  “You’re an ass, Thaegan.” Dallas turned back to Lilly. “Truth is, I’m finding out new things all the time about how this stuff affects me. I’m just not sure what it’s going to do in your system. Sorry about that.”

  “Guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to me if I had to take down the bad guys with good old-fashioned police training.”

  “Yeah, we wanted to talk with you about that too.” Dallas shot another awkward look at Thaegan.

  “What my partner is trying to say is that we’ve already got orders for our next assignment.” The big alien stood and swung the chair to the corner of the room.

  Despite the sudden joy of a moment ago, her heart splintered. Lilly had barely spent any time with these men, yet she’d given them both a part of herself she hadn’t allowed anyone to see. The thought of them taking it away tore at the very fabric of her soul. “Wow, that’s fast. I guess QAL must be anxious to put you two heroes to work.”

  “Fuck QAL,” Thaegan said. “They’ve done nothing but screw us over for five years. We’re leaving them in our dust.”

  Color crept up Dallas’ cheeks again. “We’ve already got a new assignment with a new agency and they’d like us to start as soon as possible.”

  “Like last week kind of soon.”

  “Shut up, Thaegan.” Dallas furrowed his brow. “The fact is, there’s not that much of a rush. They’ll wait as long as we need them to—”

  “Sorry Lilly, but we already accepted. They’re working out the details as we speak,” Thaegan said. “But Dallas thought we needed to talk to you—”

  “Seriously Thaegan, shut the hell up.”

  She laid her hand over Dallas’ fingers, which hadn’t stopped stroking her arm. “It’s all right. I’m sure I’ll be out of here—”

  Dallas touched his lips to hers. Lilly lost herself in the sweet heat of his mouth pressed so gently to hers. She blinked when he pulled away, trying to stall her tears.

  “That shut you up?” Thaegan laughed. “We’re going to have to remember that, partner. When the woman gets out of hand, just kiss her.”

  She looked from Dallas to Thaegan and back again, but no answers were found in their expressions.

  “Tervoss’ head of security offered us a job. That’s the position we accepted,” Dallas murmured.

  It made her feel better that Dallas didn’t sound all too enthusiastic about it. “Sounds like a great job,” she said tightly, not allowing the sadness burning in her throat to betray itself.

  “See, I told you she’d like it,” Thaegan said as he punched Dallas’ arm. His enthusiasm eluded her.

  “So, you’re okay that I accepted for all of us?” Dallas asked. “Well, I mean, now that you seem to be out of danger, Thaegan will head out first to join them. But I told them I’d hold on for a week or so until you’re back on your feet and—”

  “You don’t need to wait for me. If that blood does for me what I witness with you, Dallas, I’ll be fine in no time.” Actually, Lilly’s heart couldn’t bear to let the goodbyes linger. Like a bandage removal, she wanted their departure to be quick. “You go with Thaegan. The job sounds—” And then she replayed in her head what Dallas had said. Us. “Wait, what did you mean by us exactly?”

  “You, me and Thaegan. Who else?” asked Dallas. “I tried to negotiate without Thaegan, but seeing as he held down Bastower while the man morphed through all versions of his Braugtot self, Tervoss’ security team thought he might be an asset.” He shot Thaegan a mocking look. “Despite my best efforts, it seems we can’t get away from including him in the deal.”

  “It’s nice someone appreciates my talents,” Thaegan said.

  Lilly had barely heard a word beyond Dallas saying they wanted her as part of their next assignment. “Me?” she asked quietly, afraid to hope. “You want me on the team?”

  “Of course we do.” Dallas smiled, his full lips curving up slow and steady, his dimple dancing. “You’ve got a special touch we couldn’t live without.”

  The physical and emotional pain forgotten, Lilly looked into the chocolate depths of Dallas’ eyes and at the red skin of Thaegan’s handsome face, seeing the truth of all they wanted from her.

  A lover. A partner. An equal.

  Exactly what she’d always wanted as well.

  She yawned absently, willing herself to show indifference rather than the heart-pounding excitement surging through her veins. Not only had she finally found a man who loved her as she was, she’d been doubly blessed with two. “Well, I guess if we must work together. Sounds like a done deal to me. Who am I to argue with two of the Premier Commander’s finest?”

  And wasn’t she just about the luckiest woman in deep space?

  Author’s Bio

  USA Today bestselling author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.

  Eventually, reading about alpha males and the journey to find their happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to pen her own stories of fated loves and soul mates. Nina’s discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, it’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heartwarming aroma of romance.

  Nina resides in New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-eight years. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with their three grown children, one love-sick son-in-law and a cute-as-a-button grandson.

  Nina enjoys hearing from her readers. You can reach her at Nina@NinaPierce.com. You can also keep up with all her newest releases on her website http://www.NinaPierce.com or by following her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/NinaPierce and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NinaPierce

  Author Page:

  Amazon

  Brie Learns the Art of Submission

  Submissive Training Center

  Red Phoenix

  Brie Learns the Art of Submission

  Copyright © 2014 by Red Phoenix

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  RedPhoenix69@live.com

  Edited by Amy Parker

  Book cover design by V
iola Estrella; Phoenix symbol by Nicole Delfs

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales are purely coincidental.

  Adult Reading Material

  Disclaimer: The material in this book is for mature audiences only and contains graphic sexual content. It is intended only for those ages 18 and older.

  Note from the Author

  When I wrote Brie’s First Day of Submissive Training in the spring of 2012, I had no idea she would capture the imagination of readers. What a wonderful ride it has been sharing Brie’s journey of self-discovery with my fans since then. I have been deeply honored by readers writing to let me know how this novel has changed their lives and/or improved the intimacy in their marriages. I had hoped to inspire women with this little piece of fiction, but I never anticipated how enthusiastically Brie would be embraced by women and men alike. Thank you!

  It is my belief that all of us deserve and should expect a happy and healthy sex life. It doesn’t matter how old we are, if we have little kids, or how long we’ve been married. Communication, trust, and a willingness to explore together can open up a whole new world of sexual joy. There is no shame in sex, in our bodies or our own desires.

  BDSM encompasses a wide variety of techniques and instruments from the commonly associated whips and handcuffs to decorative bondage, sensation play, and role playing. There is one element that is true of all BSDM play, it MUST be safe, sane, and consensual – at all times.

  Warning: Although the story has personal experiences mixed in, this is first and foremost a fantasy. This is my idea of the perfect training school with the most experienced trainers teaching their students in a college-like setting. Written as my fantasy, I purposely chose not to include condoms although safe sex is important in the real world. If you feel it might bother you, just add the line, “And then he put a condom on…” every time one of the submissives has intercourse. Understand that I am all about safe sex, just not when I fantasize.

  People often ask if I wrote this novel from personal experience. My husband is a private person, but I will say that we have enjoyed a variety of the experiences written in both Brie Learns the Art of Submission and Brie Embraces the Heart of Submission. Our lives have been enhanced by our exploration in the bedroom and we are now more in love and lust with each other than we were when we first started out years ago. We have found that the bedroom is a beautiful playground.

  Along with the lovely fan mail I’ve received, I have made dear friends through my writing. I am blessed to have tons of fans who believe in Brie’s message and have joined me in the journey. However, there are a few friends who have stuck by me through thick & thin and have volunteered tons of behind-the-scenes time, sweat and passion to help me. I would like to personally thank these four now: Brandi – my talented graphic artist, Marla – my encouraging marketer, Jacque – my original pimp, and Christina – my image lady.

  There is one more person I must thank. My dear husband of twenty-two years who rescued me, believed in who I would become, was patient with me as I grew into the confident woman I am now and who still encourages me to fly higher. The deep emotion shared in my writing is directly linked to the man who makes each day a beautiful love song.

  Sincerely,

  Red Phoenix

  (Day 1)

  Brie’s First Day of Submissive Training

  The Invitation

  Brianna put the money in the register and slammed it closed. It was another dull day in the tiny tobacco shop. This was so not what she wanted for her life. She had gone to college and studied for four long years to get her degree in film, only to find that it would open no doors for her here in Hollywood. It was all about who you knew or who your daddy was. Four years and thousands in debt—and for what? To work full-time in this little tobacco shop day after day, making her homemade movies on the weekends and hoping for a break? Pathetic.

  She adjusted her ponytail. It was one of those mornings when her curly brown hair refused to cooperate. Luckily for Brie, she looked good in a ponytail. Well, at least that was what she told herself.

  “Brie, don’t forget to put out the new cigarettes. Several people complained about having to wait while we searched for their brand,” Mr. Reynolds called out from the back of the shop.

  It was technically Jeff’s job, but the lazy shit never did anything. All the grunt work fell on Brie’s shoulders because she was reliable. What a horrible thing to be. Being labeled as ‘the reliable one’ meant that she was stuck doing everyone else’s job. Brie didn’t hold it against her boss, Mr. Reynolds, though. He wasn’t responsible for hiring the staff. The owner did that, and he mainly hired people within his family (which Brie was not). To his credit, Mr. Reynolds gave her a nice raise every time her evaluation came up. Still, she always got stuck taking up the slack, and it wasn’t fair. Not in the least!

  Brie bent down and began opening the boxes to shelve the cigarettes. The sound of a man clearing his throat caused her to look up.

  She was startled to see a strikingly handsome couple standing before her. The woman had long, red hair and the most tight-fitting leather outfit Brie had ever seen. Somehow, the lady didn’t look cheap in the hot little outfit. No, this woman oozed confidence and sex appeal. Very classy.

  The man, however, made her tremble a little. His intense gaze seemed to go right through Brie. He was tall and incredibly attractive, with short, brown hair and chiseled facial features. However, it was those eyes that commanded her attention.

  “Miss, could I have a pack of Treasurer Cigarettes?”

  Brie smiled apologetically. She knew they were some of the most expensive cigarettes made. “I’m sorry. We don’t carry those here.” The cigarettes were almost forty bucks a pack and the little tobacco shop did not serve that type of clientele.

  The gentleman looked around and nodded. “Satisfy my curiosity and tell me what brand is in the box over there.”

  He pointed to a box just out of her reach. Brie bent down and opened it up. She chuckled when she saw what was inside. “Sorry, these are just Marlboro Lights.” She stood up and turned to face him. Brie caught him staring at her butt and blanched. No one ever looked at her that way. It was embarrassing. Well, somewhat embarrassing. Okay, it was kind of cool…but how dare he?!

  The man raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. It was exhilarating.

  “Do you have any Fantasia Cigarettes?” the stunning redhead asked.

  Brie grinned. “Now those we do carry.” She stood on tiptoe to get a pack off the top shelf and handed it to the woman. “Is that all?”

  “Do you like it here?” the man asked in a low, alluring voice that sent chills through her.

  Why was he asking?

  “Not exactly,” she answered, but her heart started racing at the thought that this might be her lucky break. The gentleman could be some big-time producer who wanted to give this little tobacco shopkeeper a chance.

  “I’m not surprised. You don’t look as if you belong here.” The man put a hundred-dollar bill on the counter.

  “I’m sorry; I don’t have change for that.”

  He shrugged. “No matter. I don’t need the change.”

  The man lightly stroked the length of his girlfriend’s arm. It looked so sensual and loving. Brie wished a guy would touch her like that. He caught her staring at them. She quickly glanced away, berating herself. How pitiful am I?

  The redhead picked up the cigarettes gracefully and slipped them in her purse. She took her lover’s arm and smiled up at him. “Thank you, Sir.”

  Brie thought it a little odd that the woman had called him ‘sir’, but the man kissed her hand tenderly. “I’m sure we can find a way for you to repay me.” They walked out of the store without looking back.

  Brie watched them leave, wishing she could trade places with that woman. She looked down at the counter and saw Benjamin Franklin staring up at her. Her heart raced again. Would it be okay to pocket it
when the man had obviously wanted her to have it? She rang in the price of the cigarettes and hesitated before picking it up.

  Underneath the bill was a business card. Brie took a closer look and read:

  The Submissive Training Center

  25 Years of Excellence

  She looked down at the bottom and saw a phone number and website address. Brie wondered if the gentleman had accidentally left it behind, so she stuffed it in her pocket just in case he returned. Brie stared hard at the money before she put it in the till, deciding to talk to Mr. Reynolds about it. The change from a hundred-dollar bill was not worth her reputation.

  When she got home after work that night, Brie fished out the business card. Out of curiosity, she typed the web address into her laptop. The screen that popped up looked exceedingly professional. The organization appeared to be a community college of some sort. She pressed the information link and her jaw dropped.

  The pictures at the top of the screen showed women in various B&D poses. One girl had her hands tied behind her back, and she was kneeling before a man dressed in leather. Another girl was facing the camera, but Brie could just see the swell of her naked ass. The guy behind her was holding an unusual whip and looked as if he were about to take a swing.

  Brie quickly exited the site, shocked by what she’d seen. Why would the man carry around a business card like that and why would he give it to her? She shivered when she thought of him checking out her butt and was extremely glad she hadn’t kept his money.

  She went to bed with those images still etched in her mind. Although she was tired, she couldn’t sleep. Eventually, curiosity got the better of her and Brie grabbed her laptop, bringing it to her bed. She revisited the site, wanting to check out the rest of the pictures. Even though she found them shocking, seeing the girls in those various poses was exceedingly hot.