As a black belt, Tyler helps his students face their fears, but he has yet to come to terms with his own bisexuality. When he finds a new sparring partner in Jaime, an openly gay man struggling to find his place in the dojo, Tyler is surprised at how right it feels to be intertwined with him.<br><br>Determined to put his partying days behind him, Jaime returns to martial arts training and swears off one-night stands. He is finally ready to look for something more when Tyler approaches him with a request - help Tyler explore his new found sexuality. Their physical relationship intensifies in secret. It isn’t long before their time together becomes about something more than just sex.<br><br>Despite their growing closeness, Tyler refuses to acknowledge their relationship in public. Now Jaime must choose between returning to his former lifestyle and falling in love with someone afraid to embrace him in front of their friends. Tyler doesn’t want to lose Jaime as a student, much less as a lover, but can he overcome his fears and accept his new identity?

Spar

“What’s gotten into you tonight?” Jaime rubbed his jaw as they returned to the center of the dojo.


Tyler had somehow managed to evade all of Jaime’s attempts to bring him to the ground. Tyler was prepared to fight until his muscles snapped and his last breath was spent if Jaime tried to pin him.


“Had enough?” Tyler taunted Jaime, knowing it would only encourage him to press harder.


Panting and bleeding from a few superficial cuts, Jaime smiled as he brushed his long bangs out of his face. He was tougher than anyone gave him credit for, even himself.


Jaime couldn’t remember the last time he’d been challenged so hard and felt like he could take whatever Sempai Tyler threw at him. He was enjoying the match as much as his opponent seemed to be. As hard as Jaime tried to find an opening to take him down, Sempai Tyler always found an escape and came back with a shot to the ribs or a kick to the head. Jaime had never seen anyone so eager to fight.


Chapter 27