Daniel Weir used to be a famous - not to say infamous - rock star. Maybe he still is. At thirty-one, he has been both a brilliant failure and a dull success. He's made a lot of mistakes that have paid off and a lot of smart moves he'll regret forever (however long that turns out to be).

Daniel Weir has gone from rags to riches and back, and managed to hold onto them both, though not much else. His friends all seem to be dead, fed up with him, or just disgusted - and who can blame them? And now Daniel Weir is all alone.

As he contemplates his life, Daniel realises he only has two problems: the past and the future. He knows how bad the past has been. But the future - well, the future is something else.

Beauty resents being labeled Gift Species. Everyone is way too overprotective, and males aren’t even allowed to speak to her, so far true freedom eludes her.

Then a big, sexy Species officer mistakes her for the enemy and takes her to the ground. Shadow is dumbfounded. He has a Gift pinned under him—a big no-no.

But Beauty is fascinated and wants to know Shadow a lot better. She is full of newly discovered, unrequited passion, and he’s just what she needs to satisfy her curiosity.

For Shadow, sex means pain and revulsion. For Beauty, it was enslavement and ridicule. Two lonely souls who have never known a lover’s touch, together in a cabin in the woods.

Each touch, every discovery brings them closer to a life they never thought possible…beyond even their dreams.