Flesh-fruit -- priceless delicacy, forbidden fruit…Rand has a secret. Bitten by one of the deadly shadow-snakes, he's changed and will go to any length to see that he remains in charge of his planet -- and the flesh-fruit harvest -- including using his alien abilities to convince Agent Niamh Sullivan to lie to her superiors. His plan is simple, but what he doesn't realize is that his venom is an aphrodisiac. With it, Rand has become irresistible.Now Niamh must deny their overwhelming mutual attraction. But as their need for each other spirals out of control, the danger becomes apparent. Rand will take her humanity, take who and what she is. Niamh has to make the choice. Turn him in. Or succumb to his potent, forbidden temptation.