Lieutenant Commander Stefan Lundquist is more than happy with his life. As a member of the US Coast Guard, he gets to work in the Gulf of Mexico, saving lives. As a Dominant in the BDSM lifestyle, he gets to play with submissives who are under no illusions their relationship will go beyond a D/s one. As a Shibari Master, he gets to create beautiful works of art on those submissives' bodies with his ropes. Life is good-until it comes crashing down around him. Cassandra Myers knows each of the D/s contracts she signs with Master Stefan are for exactly one month, with an option to renew, but when she realizes she's fallen in love with him and that love is one-sided, she requests he remove her collar. Despite her broken heart, she tries to move forward with her life. Working as a cardiac rehabilitation technician is something she loves to do but going back to school to become a registered nurse is now her goal. When Cassandra discovers her new patient is none other than the Dom she can't stop thinking about, she's determined to help him recover. As she tries to hide her feelings and protect her heart as best she can, Stefan's new lease on life has him comprehending how short his time on earth could be. Can he convince Cassandra he now wants more than he ever thought he would or has he lost her forever?