One discovery put him in danger. One man changed everything.

Dawson St. Claire has built a life defined by quiet order, cataloging rare flora, keeping his distance, and finding clarity in patterns most people never notice. The world beyond his coastal estate has never asked anything of him he couldn’t avoid. Until the day he discovers something impossible. A rare orchid, long believed extinct, hidden deep within a dangerous sea cave only he can reach. What should have been a triumph becomes a threat when word spreads, drawing the attention of a corporation willing to take whatever it wants. Suddenly, Dawson isn’t just protecting a discovery. He’s protecting himself.

Xaiden Merchand doesn’t ask questions. He’s brought in to secure the situation, contain the risk, and keep the St. Claire heir under control. But nothing about Dawson fits the profile he’s used to handling. The man moves through the world with a quiet intensity that unsettles him, sees details others miss, and resists every attempt at control without raising his voice. As the danger closes in and their isolation turns into a fragile alliance, the boundaries between them begin to shift. Dawson knows the terrain. Xaiden knows how to survive. Together, they become something neither of them expected. Something built on trust, pressure, and a connection that refuses to stay contained. When the threat finally reaches them, survival will demand more than skill. It will demand a choice neither of them can take back.

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