The Ownership Clause

by Ki Brightly

The Man Made of Stone
Albion Guthrie has a reputation for being unapproachable. He’s emotionless. The only thing he “loves” is his job. When Albion’s boss asks him to keep Wade Lee Sawyer in check at the office after an attempted white-collar mutiny, Albion has no choice. Wade signs a contract stating he will work for Albion and follow his directives, and if Albion can manipulate anything in his favor, it’s paperwork.

The Traitor Who Craves Love
Wade Lee Sawyer only ever wanted to be loved. Was that really so wrong? He was hungry for any positive attention, which led him to make the worst mistake of his life. He trusted the wrong man and accidentally got caught up in a plan to destroy the company he loves. Now he’s paying the price. Following Albion’s orders at the office is easy for him, and he begins to enjoy it more than he ever thought he would.

Always Read the Fine Print
Every choice has consequences. Spending so much time with Wade has Albion acting in ways he shouldn’t. Falling in love isn’t mentioned anywhere in the contract they signed, and Albion makes it his mission to never let that happen. Wade wants something meaningful, and he knows Albion could never fall for him after the way he acted.

Or can he?

This story takes place in the beautiful city of St. Loren, Louisiana, which is part of the New Gothenburg world.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Abuse, LGBT

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

I spend most of my days writing, editing, and perfecting the craft of storytelling.

A note to readers: I don't hang out on Goodreads or social media, so if you have any questions about my books, please check out my website, which I host with M.D. Gregory.

Reviews

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

he made out with the other guy's fucking shoe. thats, like, peak romance.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeez, that was an uber-intimate and intense read. I was plastered to the pages. So many different feelings and thoughts run through me, love, hate, disgust, sadness, and joy.

Wade Lee Sawyer knew Albion Guthrie hated him, it was his right to do so because Wade did something wrong.
Albion wanted to punish Wade badly, he was disgusted by Wade for what he did.

And that’s what happened, punishment after punishment, humiliation, name-calling.
What Albion didn’t expect Wade Lee was a natural sub, he even enjoyed the punishment and seems to need them.
Albion is known for being emotionless and unapproachable. Still, he acts differently toward Wade.
Being a Dom and part of the BDSM community Albion recognizes Wade’s appearance. Oh boy, he should recognize his own!

Even when they were more involved Albion kept telling Wade Lee he doesn’t like him and only enjoys his power over him. Who is he lying at, because, Wade Lee was his perfect little slut, submissive AF.

My heart, I wanted to slap Albion, showing us only his frozen side!
Underneath, there’s so much more, and thank goodness we get to know that part too.
Wade Lee was something special, I loved him from first sight.

What a wonderful extraordinary story this is. I adored it, all those feelings.
Please give Albion a chance, wait for it!
The chemistry between them was of charge, the dynamic enthralling, I couldn’t get enough of them.
There are thousands of things to enjoy!!
The story was hugely captivating and strongly written.
Overall an excellent read with a very satisfying end

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ki Brightly]

Albion isn’t very nice to Wade at the beginning of The Ownership Clause. He’s really, really not nice to him. He is not a good example of a Dom. Please note that we are aware of this and want to stress that this is not a healthy representation of a BDSM (or any!) relationship. In fact, Albion is downright awful. I think it would be safe to say he doesn’t even like Wade at the start of things, but M.D. Gregory and I always come through with a happy ending, so buckle up for a wild ride!

Stay safe out there, but please enjoy your trip into fiction.

~Ki Brightly

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I love a good humiliation kink and a good praise kink but I've never read one that went together and it totally worked here. As the author mentions in the beginning of the book , their situation in the begining isn't a healthy Dom/sub relationship (Albion very much hates Wades ) but it grows and changes into a healthy situation that works for both of them in the end. The intimate scenes were -hot damn -🔥and when Albion starts to have feelings for Wade it's *happy sigh* . This book worked for me in a lot of ways and that epilogue was the perfect ending for them .



:Thank you to my friend and fellow kink lover Mariah for buddy reading this one with me :

Favorite quotes :

He was such a good boy. Fuck, what was he doing to me? I wanted to devour him, shove him somewhere that no one could find him or touch him. He was a toy that belonged to only me.

“You’re mine for now,” he murmured, then attacked my mouth, thrusting his tongue in deep.

Wade was mine to control. Mine to dominate. Mine to care for. Mine to do with as I pleased. My responsibility. He was my shoelicker. My pretty boy.

The fear of losing him was, quite bluntly, absolutely terrifying.


“Fuck, you’re just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I laid an array of kisses along his jaw. “So fucking perfect for me, aren’t you? My sweet obedient sub. So good for me.” His whines grew louder, and he rolled his hips. “Always for you, Sir. Fuck. Albion. Love you. Love you so much.”

[Lauri MissDysfunktion · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ownership Clause is set in New Gothenburg world.
This was my first time reading both authors. I enjoyed the writing and the story and I’m curious to read others they’ve written.

[Savy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story resolves around the relationship between Wade and Albion. Even though they have a quite unconventional relationship, there is a lot of personal growth. The story was never boring, even though there wasn't much suspense or action going on.

At the end, I was left wanting more. More of the story, which I feel could have been fleshed out just a bit better. I felt like Wade's relationship with his brother could have been more. Now, it almost feels like a side-note and nothing is really resolved between the two of them. Even so, it was a good read and I enjoyed it.

The story is told from Wade and Albion's POV, first person. Even though it's a stand alone, I think the story is more enjoyable if you read 'Cuddle Bear' first, as there are some events and characters from that book that also play a part in this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greatly written. Like the book and the characters even if they are not in their right minds 😉 but it’s sadly not memorable to me. It’s a like like not love for this book from me.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Strong Dom and a Sweet Hurt Man Who Needs The Dom!

How can a story about a very controlling Dom be sweet? Read this book and you will find out how. Wade had nothing except his urge for an education and a job to pay his brothers bills. He found a very controlling Dom whose job was to punish his errors. What they found together was much more! Two people who felt in.each other what they needed. Good Series!

[Kindle Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started really well but then it kind of dragged a bit IMO. I think it was a bit too long.

I appreciated the word at the beginning explaining that this is not a healthy BDSM relationship at the beginning (it’s always better to know what you get into) but I would have also loved CW for cancer/heart diseases…Honestly I couldn’t have done without all the medical drama surrounding the MC’s brother and MC.

Some things were a bit off as well:
- the big medical issue itself doesn’t seem to be talked about more after a certain point which was weird.
- the brother not reacting more when the MC has to go to the hospital was disturbing, especially after he’s been taking care of him for so long…They never have a big talk either.
- The big reason behind the arrangement with the treason was too vague. I thought we’d get more details as we got farther in the story but we never really learn what happened and it seems that no one ever learn that the poor guy didn’t do anything wrong. It even ends with “it will take years for his coworkers to trust him again” which was really harsh IMO.
- the epilogue was weird. First it says they’re on their lunch break but then go home? And if you book a fancy/private restaurant for your big gesture it makes no sense to work so much you’re late for the booking and to do it during a work day. And I get the whole D/s dynamic but “I love you shoelicker” was a bit too much for me for a first declaration…

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book has its issues but it deeply entertained me. There's a lot of sex stuff as you can expect from a BDSM book but it still has enough plot to keep you invested. Low angst if you're not in the mood for big drama.

Albion is so toxic at the start and he's not opposed to humiliation which can be too much for some folks, but once you're through that point it's gonna be okay.
Well, mostly. The thing is Wade is a really anxious person, he's pretty miserable and lonely if you ask me, and he gets off on the said humiliation. It's all consensual though. And there are parts where Wade — even though he's extremely submissive — shows some teeth for a second.

The writing itself is okay but the amount of times Albion laughed, chuckled, snickered, snorted and Wade whimpered made me wanna tear my hair out.

The issues aside, I still enjoyed the story, and these two things really made it all worth it:
1)The way Albion takes care about Wade (eventually).
2)The scene at the club towards the end. It was hot, it was sexy, and somehow filled with love.

I wonder if there's a story about Massimo and Avery 🤔


Some things that can be spoilers but you maybe wanna be aware of:



Shoe licking. Literally.
Words like "whore" and "slut" are used a lot.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since reading Cuddle Bear about Maurice and Wick, I’ve been looking forward to Wade Lee and Albion’s story. Not gonna lie, I think Maurice and Wick turning Wade Lee over to Albion to ‘punish’ him still feels out of character for both of them. Especially if they witnessed any of the abuse that Albion put Wade through. It was really hard to root for Albion when he was so cruel and heartless towards Wade. I love a good Dom/sub story, but Albion actually hated Wade at the beginning. It was uncomfortable. Once they established their contract and laid out boundaries and limits, it went a little bit better. I adored Wade and he was just trying to get by. Listen, he did the wrong thing by backing Xadrian, but knowing Wade Lee’s character it was easy to see that he would not feel comfortable crossing his supervisor (Xadrian). I have a lot of feelings in regard to how Wade was treated-lol. Once Albion started softening towards Wade, the story changed. It became more relatable and I actually really liked these two. The changing nicknames were pretty sweet and went along with what part of their relationship they were exploring. I am very curious about Massimo and Avery. Can’t wait to see what Meg and Ki come up with next.

I received an ARC for my honest review

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to read another book set in the New Gothenburg world. This story heavily features humiliation and degradation kinks and starts out pretty rough into a relationship that is at first adversarial and distrusting. Wade works as an architect, but his previous supervisor bullied the boss and attempted to hurt the company, pulling shy, unwitting Wade into his scheme. Now, the supervisor has left in disgrace, but the boss has given Wade a second chance, left under the supervision of Albion.

Albion is a harsh taskmaster, determined to put Wade through all types of embarrassing jobs to humiliate him and even encourage Wade to quit. He doesn't like that Wade was involved in the scheme to damage the company. He starts by having him clean the bathroom floor with a child-sized toothbrush.

Gradually, he notices that Wade is actually enjoying the humiliation and reacting strongly. This ticks Albion's natural dom tendencies, but he still doesn't trust Wade. In addition, Albion is a cold man, committed to being distant from any future loving relationship, as he never recovered from the death of his father. Can these two men find their HEA past all of the obstacles? This book have many kinky good times, a gradual healing relationship arc, and a hard-won love.

[Lettura Arcobaleno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensione a cura di Lettura Arcobaleno:

✂️Albion è un capo senza scrupoli che non si crea problemi nell’umiliare il povero Wade, che segretamente ama questo trattamento. Quello che gli fa fare è lontano dalla sfera della professionalità, ma per non farsi licenziare e per piacere personale, Wade accetta. Un contratto sarà pronto ad aspettarlo, che altro gli chiederà di fare Albion? Basta leggere per scoprirlo!

🥡Preparatevi a tanta degradazione, ma sempre consensuale. La relazione tra questi due personaggi è molto particolare, ma le loro due personalità si sposano benissimo. Albion reclama Wade in tutti i modi possibili e immaginabili, chi lo avrebbe mai detto che alla fine anche lui sotto sotto nasconda un cuore tenero? Se Albion ci va con il freno a mano, Wade si lascia trasportare in questo mondo nuovo e dinamico, nel quale ci mostrerà tutta la sua dolcezza.

💳 Non è la prima volta che leggo un romanzo di questi due scrittori, e come sempre mi sono piaciuti moltissimo. Se siete alla ricerca di un libro scorrevole e con una percentuale di dominazione e sottomissione fin sopra le stelle, allora con questo andrete sul sicuro!

[Gabrielle Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a sweet romance. Yet it is a romance and it will pull at your heart. Albion hates Wade for his part in trying to destroy the company and he is more than ready to make his life a living hell. Just because the company owner has a soft spot it does not mean Albion has one but something begins to happen between the two as they spend more time together. Albion begins to see the true Wade.
I enjoyed getting to see more of Wade and Albion. The men each have depth to their personalities and their own issues that they are dealing with. The two are made for each other and it was nice to see the way their relationship shifts and blossoms. Both men have lessons to learn and both have insecurities that need to be dealt with. It was nice to see the way the two try to find a middle ground and learn to communicate. Not only did I like Wade and Albion but the supporting characters made an impression and I am eager to return to this world to see what will happen next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tiffany Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book! I loved it from start to finish. Sure, for some people, there were some spots they might not like if they’re not into it like degrading and humiliating situations. But one of the main characters, Wade, is into that kink so it didn’t bother me reading about it for that reason. If Wade truly had been upset by it, I might not have liked it as much but he does like it, love the humiliation in fact so it was a fantastic read.
Albion had a very cold personality at first but as you get into the book, you realize he has very personal reasons as to why he’s like that. And he does warm up, all thanks to Wade. I loved reading about the start of their relationship and I hope that Ki Brightly mentions them again in a future book stationed in St. Loren, Louisiana which is the location of this book. If you like BDSM and an enemies to lovers start, then this is the book for you. Give it a try! You won’t regret it! Happy Reading!

[Belinda Zamora]

Albion truly hated Wade in the beginning.
Wade's betrayal cut him deep because his bosses and coworkers are good people and he cares about them.
Albion was aloof, cold, calculating and cruel.
Poor, sweet Wade made a huge mistake but his nature just wouldn't let him go against a superior telling him what to do.
Luckily he came to his senses and was able to hold on to his job but only barely by the skin of his teeth.
Wade has a lot of difficulties going on and he truly needs someone to care for and protect him.
Despite his best efforts Albion slowly finds himself enthralled with Wade and slowly changing his ways.
The issue with Wade wasn't surprising but it still hurt to see him be hurt that way.
It did end up serving a purpose and it completely softened Albion to Wade.
Their play/scenes were scorching hot and I loved that Albion truly knew how to give Wade exactly what he needed without making him feel like less than.

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ill admit it, I really disliked Albion to begin with. He was cold unfeeling and downright rude. Apparently not just to Wade, but even his assistant was weary of him.
However, I do understand some of the mistrust directed at Wade. Mostly due to the fact hes so submissive and feels he deserves everything thats sent his way. But when Albion grows feelings and learns of Wades background, he changes. He understands Wade better, and learns ways to help Wade flourish, grow friendships and it rolls over into his own relationships with others. Wade is the character you love and adore, you want to protect and coddle him, but by the end of this story we see he can grow teeth

Now, I will say this story is hot hot hot and just hot all over, its D/S, with praise and insults, but its what the characters need.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albion + Wade

The Ownership Clause takes us back to St Loren. Ki and Meg introduced Albion and Wade in Cuddle Bear, as they both work for Wick. Wade has made some poor choices, which leaves him needing to atone and re-gain trust. What starts off as a punishment for Wade by a vindictive Albion quickly turns into the perfect arrangement for them both. The authors are very upfront that this does not begin as a healthy representation of a BDSM relationship. Albion is a jerk, and while he has his reasons, it makes him a bit of an unlikeable character. He did start to grow on me though. I wanted a bit more depth and detail from both of the main characters. I never felt quite like I had their whole story. But by the end of the book, I was rooting for them to have their HEA. I absolutely loved getting glimpses of Massimo and Avery, and I’m super curious about Kiran!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this book is not real life or a true representation of a BDSM relationship but I also really did not like Albion's personality or treatment nor did I care for Wade's enjoyment of certain things that make me squirm or pain. I did however like how Albion changed in how he treated him and genuinely cared for him, protecting him and nursing him. I enjoyed how Wade's beaten down and insecure attitude disappeared after being nurtured by Albion and feeling cared for. Not enjoying all the subject matter does not exclude me from appreciating quality writing and portrayals of diverse characters and Ki and Meg brought it with this one. It opened my eyes as to what some people want or need. I received a copy of this book through Booksprout and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not gonna lie...this was disturbing as all get out but...The authors pulled no punches and this was all in your face...you either love it or hate it...Well I am one of the ones who loved it...LOL...I was hooked from the start. Albion and Wade Lee dom/sub relationship was consensual. How can you be angry if both parties are into that kink??? I had many feels for Wade Lee tho...he was a tragic character and just in need of a break...love...comfort...somebody to care. I'm sooooooooooo glad things turned out the way it did. Albion was a complex character and I enjoyed his journey of discovery. Intense to the very end...very nice ending. All I can say is it's not for everyone but I enjoyed it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[BookRealmRoamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by these authors, and I didn’t completely love it. It had some great parts that I really enjoyed, but it felt like a very big part of the story was missing.

This book says it can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book which I’m told clears up what happened that lead to The Ownership Clause.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and found myself skimming at some points.

But I really liked the use of safewords and that it was respected. I also enjoyed the more tender moments between Wade and Albion. The ending happened quickly, and I was hoping we got more of them once they fell in love. But overall it was a decent read.

[Neats · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like these authors, I appreciate they write about things most ppl won't. They also explore fetishist people are unaware of or people might not understand the appeal. But building a relationship on hate and non-consent. Well, swirl it in a happy ending and it still doesn't matter. Because the mental scars and confusion is there. I know welcome into the world of fantasy. But Albion is as the warning said is a vindictive jerk.

Don't get me wrong, they have walked the line The princess starts with nonconsent and a bit of black mail. But it was different. No hate, n it felt different. That was 4 stars.

[Jeanette Phippin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this book gives a warning that this is NOT how BDSM relationships should go in the beginning. The main character, Albion even feels a little upset with himself about it as a Dom. That being said I did enjoy this book. I liked how Albion and Wade Lee came to care for each other. I liked the how Wade grew as a person and a sub. I always enjoy Ki Brightly's and M. D. Gregory's books. I look forward to the next release.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is way more intense than Cuddle Bear. This is a standalone for Wade and Albion, but I recommend reading Cuddle Bear for the Familiarity with the Company and the side characters. Albion is not a likable man but read on as you will grow to understand him a bit more, and he will soften towards Wade but still remain the in-control man he is. Poor Wade got himself in deep in here. It was good to see there was no insta change in Albion, it all progressed naturally through time together and situations. I was routing for Wade all the way!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Wade

I definitely didn't like Albion at first but that was the whole point of the story. We were meant to hate him for how he treated Wade because then we were meant to love him as he softened and fell in love with the perfect sub. Once Albion got past his own dislike for Wade, he was practically a different person and it was almost lovely...lol!!

I've never read a D\s where the sub got off on both pain/degradation and praise but it worked for Wade and the spicy scenes were definitely SPICY!!!!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of power dynamics and emotional vulnerability. Set against the backdrop of corporate intrigue, the story follows Albion Guthrie, a man known for his stoic and unapproachable demeanor, who is tasked with managing the rebellious Wade Lee Sawyer. As the plot unfolds, readers are taken on a journey through the intricacies of their contract, which binds them in an intricate dance of authority and submission. The book delves into themes of trust, the desire for connection, and the unforeseen consequences of every choice.

[J K H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ki Brightly and MD Gregory are some of my favorite authors - fantastic writing, unpredictable storylines, rich and complex characters and never a shortage of heat. Albion deals with Wade’s disloyalty by making him a whole host of unusual things, each more interesting than the last but what he never counts on is catching feelings! Loved this book and all of its heat and spice! (Btw - my workplace is never this exciting!)

[FHR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mistakes leaves Wade in Albions care. What starts of as an arrangement of atonement for Wade leads to something more the more they spend together and Wade finds all that he craved being in service to Albion.

A story like no other which is enthralling in its tale. Albion and his initial treatment of Wade keeps you cautious of liking him as a character but the authors redeem him well and the ending was perfect for these two. Definitely do heed the triggers on this one.

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dynamic between Albion and Wade Lee does not start from a good place. Brightly threads an excellent line between creating a toxic relationship, but due to the emotions involved and a lack of specific education on Wade Lee's part, but not necessarily an abusive relationship. The "charm" of this story is how Albion's attitude toward Wade Lee changes as he realizes the unanticipated treasure he's found in Wade Lee and the way they fit together perfectly in a kink dynamic.