Sebastian first sees David at night, in the park near campus, where David is in the middle of hooking up with another boy. The next time Sebastian sees David is on the first day of classes, sitting in his seminar on English literature. So begins Sebastian's obsession with the handsome but mysterious David, who at first keeps Sebastian at arm's length despite Sebastian's best efforts to get to know him. Then Sebastian finds out why: David tells him that he doesn't think Sebastian can endure his dominant, sometimes sadistic, desires.
Sebastian objects, and promises to submit to David's every whim, every wish, every command. But can he really withstand David's dark and overwhelming love?