Humans have an uneasy relationship with the aliens in their part of space, and Tom hopes that his ship never sees another war. Other than that, he has few ambitions. He's given up on finding a strong woman who will indulge his need to be dominated, especially since he tends to intimidate everyone. That's part of his job as a security officer.
However one of his crew is alien, and Da'shay's seems intent on pursuing Tom. She's aggressive, which Tom appreciates in a woman, but he doesn't know if he can trust her. When an undercover operation sends them deep into slavery territory, Tom is captured and he must trust Da'shay or lose his life. As the danger deepens, Tom begins to realize that Da'shay is more than just their eccentric pilot. He fears his lust is leading him astray, but he can't help but wonder if Da'shay is the Dominant he's been seeking-someone who will trust him to shoot the enemy during the day and tie him to a bunk at night.