James got his fill of domineering behavior in his last relationship, so he immediately shies away when he meets Hikaru, who makes his interest aggressively clear from the start. While James can’t deny that he wants Hikaru, he can’t push past his issues and relax around him. Hikaru isn’t going to take no for an answer because he can see the undeniable desire in James’ eyes. An erotic encounter after work confirms that they both want the same thing and know exactly how to give it to each other. When Hikaru meets—and is threatened by—James’ ex-boyfriend, he begins to understand why James can’t open up completely. Now his priority is not only protecting James but also showing him how fulfilling complete surrender can be with the right person.