Suited

Dearest Reader

Hey, y'all, Mikey here <3

Before we begin, thank you so much for enjoying my other work The Commonalities of Silk and Leather. It's a wild ride working on it and I'm having a blast. I love my men and the world I've created for them. Gabriel and Haydn have come so far, haven't they? They used to be so awkward (and so was my writing) and now they're—well—I guess I should let you get caught up. I don't need to spoil it. We're not done with them.

Speaking of spoilers, you don't need to read S+L before this book. They're rather congruent but, if you're just picking this book up and you've never seen my other, I'd suggest reading to chapter 14 if you're a fan of tension and build-up and all those lovely writing techniques we authors like to throw in to keep you on your toes. However, the prologue of this book will get you caught up to speed as far as the Haydn/Lucas situation. That is not to say the prologue is entirely skipable. It sets up the rest of the story and explains some important dynamics at the illustrious Highest Standard.

The rest of this book, though happening along S+L's timeline, is its own story. This is not just a perspective shift. If I wanted to do that, I would have put it in there.

What is this book for?

I found myself asking that when I threw the first few thousand words in my notes app. Why do I want to explore and understand and almost reframe Lucas Alberici? He's not a good person. He's a rather dangerous one by the looks of things. It should be a clear-cut melodrama. Lucas bad, Haydn good, when's the wedding and what cake flavor are we getting?

But life isn't really like that, is it? Life is messy and people make choices that make it messier and sometimes it feels like there's no escape. Like you're stuck in a mudslide and the world is against you. Other times you find yourself making choices that hurt other people and you want to make it better. And sometimes you don't want to make it better.

This book is about grudges. This book is about pain. This book is about family issues. This book is about drug addiction. This book is about complicated relationships. Most of all, I think this book is about redemption.

Not just Lucas. We have a few other complicated people on these pages, don't we? Lawrence? Chairman Whitacre? Hell, Genevieve Whitacre! Ken's even in here a little bit (but I'm working on something else with him bc he's got his own shit going on). Gabriel is here too, as are Haydn, Heidi, and Diletta. It's like Smash Bros.

...I'll see myself out.

It wouldn't be fair to continue writing S+L without showing the other side. I breathe my stories. They consume me. Though I'm not the most fond of Ernest Hemingway's work, I do agree, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." However, I'd like to add that there is more than blood on these pages.

Sometimes I sit at my station and I cry. Others, I sit at my station and vomit. And sometimes I sit and I'm no better than any other man and I require something to get me off.

Figuratively of course—aside from the crying and being horny. That's pretty accurate. I won't pretend I'm not human.

This book is selfish. This book is fun. This book is gratifying. This book is sad. This book is sexy. This book will make you mad. This book will make you fall in love with people you never thought you could—never thought you should.

And this book is fucking kinky. S+L was my first serious shot at erotica aside from the fanfics in my hard drive and I remember being so shy to begin it and it wasn't until recently, over a year later, still working on it, that I could confidently type cum, dick, slut, whore, pet, etc. without blushing because, in the time I've worked on S+L, I've learned so much more about my community and fleshed out my lifestyle with my partner (hi pookie<3) and it's finally become less scandalous and more freeing and if you're caught up on S+L, you know we're getting into the good shit now.

But there are so many types of good shit.

Luckily, I have a shit ton of characters.

I am a bit of a sadist though, so expect the following, dearest reader:

- BDSM dynamics galore
- Hurt/Comfort
- Emotional Edging
- Restraints, Impact Play, Breath Play, Humiliation, Humility, Chasity, Piss (+more)
- The Closet™️
- Cliffhangers
- Throw-Your-Phone Frustration
- Closing Tabs at Mach Speed
- Confusion/Less Than Reliable Narrators/Maybe IDK We'll See
- Health Concerns

...and whatever else ends up in here because I'm writing this foreword after just finishing chapter 9/?? So there is room for so much more. This book is rated M. Rated R. XXX. Whatever you wanna call it. If this is your first queer BDSM romp, might I suggest The Commonalities of Silk and Leather? It's lighter and there's less big sad and then you can come back here and find out who tf that one guy is and what different collars mean and how Lawrence almost d—

Oop. My bad.

You'll find out in a bit. Calm your nerves, love. Drink a tea, grab a blanket, and wash your hands. Lock your door, put on some music, and bring good vibes.

Trust me. You'll need them if you think this book will be suited to your tastes.

—M. R. xxx