Tough agent Marina of the Interplanetary Enforcement Unit was determined to investigate the kidnapping of three earth women. The victims had been sent to planet Xarta, a known BDSM planet. Marina's contact, Kaden, formerly from Xarta, was to play the part of her Dom. As soon as they met, the undercover operative Kaden felt her spark of reluctant arousal and recognized that she was at heart a submissive; but Marina was an independent, aggressive woman who didn't even like the concept of submission, much less actually undertaking an assignment that would require her to live as a sub on a BDSM planet.

Right away Marina argued with him-totally the wrong thing to do with a Dom-and Kaden told her commanding officer that Marina would not be suitable. Achiever that she was, Marina could not let a challenge like that pass. As a committed member of her unit, she was determined to go on this mission, whatever it took. After dinner in a public restaurant, Kaden subjected her to her first taste of submission, proving that she would be able do her job but at the same time teasing her with the potential of becoming a true submissive to his erotic sexual Domination.

The plan was to plant her as a slave on Xarta so she could find evidence of the three kidnap victims; she would be kidnapped, prepared and put on the auction block where Kaden would purchase her. When he was back on Xarta in the guise of a Dom shopping for a sub, Kaden described Marina in detail, her light eyes, copper skin and buxom physique making her unique. Back on earth, Marina flaunted herself around the clubs where the other three women had disappeared. Things went just as planned. Someone lured and drugged her and kidnapped her to fill Kaden's order, but when she awoke two days later, she had no memory of what had happened or how she had arrived.

Compelled by the nature of her job, the independent Marina knew it would be difficult to pretend to submit to the will of a man. She was certain she could manage to endure the role for the sake of rescuing the victims and bringing the evil kidnappers to justice. Little did she anticipate how much Kaden was planning to enjoy taking Marina on a journey into subspace. Little did Kaden know what his own reactions would be, or how Marina would be affected.

Jaci Burton strikes a nice balance between story and erotica. She has written a sensual bondage tale between a passionate couple on the verge of a relationship neither of them expected. The interplay between her reluctance and his determination, her receptivity and his skill, her innocence and his knowledge, reveals an understanding of the "power exchange" in the Master/sub relationship. Be aware that this is not a tale of abuse, but one of power, control and fulfillment. A hot read.

Reviewed By: Maitresse
© July 2004