Beauty is indignant at her position as a gift woman. Everyone is too protective of her, men are not even allowed to talk to her. And so far, real freedom is eluding her like sand through her fingers. But then a big, sexy New Species officer mistakes her for an enemy and puts her on her back...literally.  Shadow is stunned, crushing the woman-gift under him... a huge no... NO! But Beauty is fascinated by him and wants to get to know him better. She is full of newly discovered, unrequited passion, and he is exactly what she needs to satisfy her curiosity.  For Shadow, sex is pain and disgust. For Beauty - slavery and ridicule. Two lonely souls who have never known love find themselves together in a forest cottage. Every caress, every touch brings them closer to a life that they considered impossible even in their wildest fantasies.