Malcolm Tate hung up his flogger two years ago when his submissive sought out another Dom and landed in the hands of a serial killer. Convinced his lack of domination was what sent his sub away, Mal spent those two years blaming himself for the death. But when his best friend convinces him to re-evaluate his worries and finally gets him back to the local dungeon, he's more than a little grateful. Especially when he wins beautiful, submissive, firmly-closeted Kyle Bingham in a charity auction. Too recently out of college, Kyle hasn't had time to save up the money to move out of the loft his rich, conservative, very homophobic parents bought him, much less replace the car that's still in their name. When he's won at auction by the incredibly hot, amazing Mal, he's shocked that someone like Mal would want him. But Mal does want him and Kyle doesn't worry as much as he should. When Kyle is outed to his parents, his world comes crashing down around him. He must find a way to trust in Mal, in the relationship they've built, or he could lose the one thing he's got left.