Learning To Command

Intricate Ties #5

by A.E. LeMercier

The student is ready. The mentor is waiting. But the lesson is more than they ever imagined.

Darren and Miles Bennet have built a life on the beautiful, steady rhythm of "Safe Authority." Miles has found his healing in surrender, and Darren has found his soulmate in the man who lives to serve. But Darren knows that for Miles to truly be whole, he needs to experience the other side of the the weight and the wonder of holding someone else’s heart in his hands.

What begins as a series of intimate mentorship sessions soon evolves into a transformative journey. As Darren guides Miles through the nuances of their lifestyle dynamic and joint leadership, Miles begins to see himself as Darren sees as a man capable of providing the safety he once craved. But this training isn't just about their marriage; it’s a preparation for the unknown.

When they set out for an exclusive showcase event, they aren't just looking to perform; they are looking for the missing pieces of their "found family". A couple whose love is absolute, yet who have reached the limits of what they can explore alone. Waiting in the shadows are two men whose bond is iron-clad, but whose deepest desires for surrender require the very thing Miles is learning to a steady, commanding leadership at his husband's side.

In this "spicy and cozy" tale of growth, Darren and Miles learn that the ultimate act of devotion isn’t just staying together - it’s growing together to welcome someone new.

Genres: BDSM

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2026

Reviews

[Chrissy_reads2727 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ No Notes

I thought these spicy green flag novellas could t get any hotter. Luckily I can admit when I'm wrong and boy was I wrong 😮‍💨🥵

Darren and Miles now 3 years in their secure relationship are ready to take their dynamic and relationship to new heights. Darren guides Miles as this muscle service sub stretches his now baby dom legs!

We get Darren in lingerie and Miles role playing in hid old officer uniform 🫠🫠🫠🫠 and if that isn't enough to send you into sub space this pair is ready to consider adding another person or pair to their dynamic 🥵 so add exhibitionism/voyeurism to this spicy recipe and we're really cookin now! 😮‍💨🫠🥵

Running to Expanding Command where MM turns into MMMM 🏃‍♀️

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Love Love

I got to ARC read and y'all, book 5 is HOT. Watching Miles and Darren grow and evolve further in this new installment was so rewarding. The switching was handled with care and authenticity and added depth to their connection that really hit home for me. Their dynamics between the sheets and living their domestic bliss gave all the warm fuzzies. High heat, all heart. Can't recommend enough.

[Barbara Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC 📖 review
Overall: 4.5 stars ⭐️

MC’s: Miles & Darren
Characters: 5/5 ⭐️
The Story: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 5/5 🌶️

❤️ Book 5 – Learning to Command
The beginning of Season Two, where a devoted service sub becomes "polydominant" to serve his husband's pleasure and his own personal growth

The Story of Miles and Darren continues, a few years into their marriage and their Dom-Sub relationship.
The story is full of continued high heat combined with the sweetness of love and devotion. I’m totally hooked on these two MC’s and their journey!

Tropes:
❤️ Established married couples
🧡 Pleasure Dom x Service Sub &
💛 Science Nerd x Theater Queer
💚 Green flag poly
💙 First love reunion (Nerd x Jock)
💜 Lifestyle Power Couple
❤️ Brother's best friend
🧡 Lacy Lingerie
💛 bd$m mentorship
💚 Switching / sub learns to lead
💙 High heat MMMM
💜 Novella duet (~150 pages each)


Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book

[Nicola Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't have gr when I arc read this and the previous books!

Darren and Miles are the absolute epitome of made for eachother, their relationship from book one has grown so beautifully and the trust between the two of them....too sweet.

With each book we get to fully understand their dynamics and how the give and take is equal.
This book is even more beautiful when they have to trust eachother endlessly in order to progress to their next exciting step.

I'm really looking forward to book 6!!
I can't wait to see what happens.

These books are so gently written and have gave me a greater understanding of what makes a great trusting relationship work.

[Jess Macker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked by Darren and Miles from the beginning. Not realizing I had already read book one it took me a bit to realize why they seemed so familiar. I loved seeing Miles morph so naturally into a Dom and his Dom husband, Darren, morph into the submissive role he needed to experience.. The sex scenes were well played as were the domestic interactions. Seeing them move on to looking for outside partners is exciting. Cannot wait for book 6!

[Keia Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

This is the fifth book in the Intricate Ties series. This one was good. It’s setting up for the next book in the series.

This one has Darren and Miles looking to expand their relationship. Which doesn’t make any sense to me especially since they were doing just fine in their relationship. Why mess up a good thing?
I do like when Miles is the dom and bossing Darren around. It’s surprising that Darren is able to switch so easily.

I am kind of interested to see what happens with the new couple they’ve just met in the next book.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible installment

I just can’t get enough of this series. The masterful way the author tackles kink and relationship topics with care and respect is so refreshing. This book is like a warm hug… if it was also super hot and sexy. Love love love, can’t wait for 5he next one!

[Tori Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miles and Darren. MM. I love this couple…. But I am OVER the stories being like 100 pages each. Just write a book would you?

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed the series from the beginning and this is definitely the next step in the journey. The blurb lays the whole premise out, and the book delivers. Miles is unsure about this new path, but trusts Darren implicitly, learning new things about himself and ready to explore his dominant side and open their marriage to play with a new couple once they find the right one.

As usual, the encounters between Miles and Darren are scorching hot as they attend a kink street fair, do rope harnesses for charity, string up a friend, and do demonstrations at an event, along with their usual everyday play, and Miles begins to explore his dominant side in the kitchen with Darren as a precursor to the next step in their relationship.

Looking forward to the next step in the evolution in the lifestyle of this couple when they find their ideal couple and the dynamic of their marriage and relationship expands. If high heat and exploring dominance and submission is an interest, this is the series for you. Check it out if you haven’t, I think you’ll be glad you did.

[Beau Regarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, LOVE where the author is taking the couple - both the potential of new submissives to play with and grow their abilities together (what a hobby to share! heehee) and because it feels very true to a lot of queer and kinky couples I know, which is always very refreshing to find in MM Romance. The progression from domestic bliss to 'what value can we bring to someone(s) new' felt very natural. The play scenes between the two of them were delightfully spicy and loved a bit of lingerie kink coming into play with the impact play (love a masc man in lace, YUM.) 5/5 no notes other than MORE PLEASE!

[Mystisith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that was really getting repetitive. The dirty talk in bed particularly needs some creative input. So much "fuck!" & "fucking" that it becomes off putting.
This particular book starts with the Dom donning lingerie & pumps which is also so very NOT sexy for me.
The sharing aspect is mostly hinted at at the end & we get a TBC for a 6th book but I'm going to stop there. That lemon is all out of juice.

[Luulu Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute HONOR of ARC reading this book and...you guys....why are you reading this review when you could be reading this book?! Books 1-4 set the stage for this new shift in the life of Mile and Darren, allowing us to see a whole new side of their dynamic. I barreled through book 5, and now I'm vibrating with excitement for book 6.

[Jennifer Ervine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Miles wants to command also and I love that Darren is so supportive and gets just as much out of it. The way they get worked up watching each other with someone else is so hot. I can’t wait for them to meet the other couple to complete them.

[Gale MR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fluke of luck made me stumble upon this author in a moment when I needed an engaging book with spice and sweetness. And this one delivered in spades or in buckets whatever you prefer. How to describe a book that is pure addiction, seducing the reader from the first chapters until stopping is impossible. I loved Darren and Miles as a couple and liked how their versatile roles were presented / and I am not talking about the top/bottom kind of roles/. Step by step Miles grew as a Dom under Darren's loving guidance. The idea of polyamory as a next level of their relationship felt natural too and not like a kinky exploration with expiration date. Opening a relationship isn't easy and the author has done it beautifully, slowly warming the reader to the concept of a couple that will turn into something more if the right circumstances present themselves.
I definitely found an author I will enjoy reading in the future.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this couple.