Child prodigy, scientist, and professor Alistair Tarrellton knows research, not people. Hiding behind glasses and an overstated vocabulary, he faces panic attacks and headaches if situations become too uncomfortable. As head of the college's bioinformatics area of study, he teaches classes and runs two labs, but he prefers to hide in his private one at home.
A stop at the grocery store on his way home one night puts Alistair in the middle of a botched robbery. While a panic attack freezes him, he watches former Marine Rhys Blackwood take command with ease, and one touch from this powerful man pushes away Alistair's fear. Rhys quickly invites himself into Alistair's home and life, and while part of Alistair doesn't believe he can afford the distraction of a relationship, the rest of him wants the other man to never leave.