Bad-ass Bella is always on the defensive and sick of being burned by guys who run out on her after a month. When she's given a Psychology assignment on the connection between pleasure and pain, she ends up doing research at Sexapalooza, smack in the middle of the BDSM section. She meets Darius, a sexy whip-maker who's more than willing to give her a practicum on pain. Yet Darius has an unexpected soft side, and his particular method of inflicting pain produces highly unexpected -- and highly pleasurable -- results. He knows a bit about psychology himself, and he's determined to convince Bella to let down her guard and let him into her life.