Tiffany has been actively pursued by many of the single men in the caves, but only feels truly safe with one. After being sexually assaulted during the initial kidnapping by the bad aliens, she is deeply afraid of intimacy.
She has become good friends with the male, Salukh. He has known for a long time that Tiffany is his mate, but they keep not resonating. He still pursues the friendship in earnest. One day she comes to him, asking him to help her learn how to be intimate again, and he jumps at the chance to spend alone time with her.
The way that the relationship blossoms in this novel is lovely. I teared up at points, fully feeling with Tiffany in her fears at times. Salukh is patient, kind, and completely respectful of her, never pushing her, and making consent look sexy. One of my favorites in the entire series.