Book 9 in the New Species series. While each New Species book is a standalone, the greatest enjoyment will come from reading them in series order.Beauty resents being labeled Gift Species. Everyone is way too overprotective, males aren't even allowed to speak to her and so far, true freedom eludes her. Then a big, sexy Species officer mistakes her for the enemy and takes her down—literally.Shadow is dumbfounded. He has a Gift pinned beneath him—a big no-no. But Beauty is fascinated and wants to know Shadow a lot better. She's full of newly discovered, unrequited passion and he's just what she needs to satisfy her curiosity.For Shadow, sex means pain and loathing. For Beauty, enslavement and ridicule. Two lonely souls who have never known a loving touch, together in a cabin in the woods. Every caress, every discovery brings them closer to a life they never thought possible...beyond even their wildest dreams.