Mahiro became a professional figure skater for one reason -- the object of his lust from the time he was a teenager, Alex Breschi. But he never advanced far enough for Alex to notice him. Now Alex is retired from skating and working as a thriller author, while Mahiro gracefully bowed out of competition to become a successful app developer and professional Dom in New York City.<br><br>Reality and fantasy collide at a penthouse play party when Mahiro meets his idol. Alex is researching a book, and he wants to learn more about the lifestyle. In fact, he wants to be trained as a submissive. By Mahiro.<br><br>Mahiro knows it's a terrible idea. He's hardly objective, and Alex is a novice. Still, all those years of longing shatter his reserve, and he cannot refuse to have the man of his dreams in his hands.  He's going to make sure Alex notices him now. It's only a business arrangement, and since Alex is returning to Russia in a few months, Mahiro can have some fun without divulging his past ... or his obsession. What does he have to lose?

Florentine

Alex waits a beat before doing a ridiculous victory dance on the landing, fist pumping and turning in circles. He jumps off the step and reaches the cab in three strides to find the cabbie laughing at him.


“Good work, my man,” the cabbie says and gives Alex a fist bump through the partition. Alex settles in the seat, gives him his address, and replays their night over and over and over.


He thinks he could love Mahiro. He really does. And wouldn’t that wreak havoc on his life? He’d have to move, come to New York permanently, and get an apartment and everything. Yes, it would be completely bonkers, but Mahiro could be worth it.


And if he realizes an hour later as he tries to sink into sleep that he didn’t learn Mahiro’s last name, it doesn’t bother him.  9


Mahiro leans into a spread eagle that takes him sweeping across the ice, the shush of his blades echoing off the boards and bouncing around the quiet of Sky Rink, completely vacant at twenty minutes past closing on Monday night.


Chapter 44