Merrick’s Maiden - Cosmos' Gateway, #5

USA Today Bestseller! Merrick Ta'Duran is the leader of the Eastern Mountain Clan on the Prime world of Baade, and he feels the weight of responsibility as the males within his clan become desperate to find mates among the few remaining females. When word comes that a new species has been discovered, he knows he must do what is right for his people - even if it means traveling to an alien realm to do it.
While on Earth, he is injured, captured, and experimented on. After months of captivity, he fears his life will end here - until one chance encounter gives him hope. Addie Banks' world has been one of silence since a devastating illness when she was sixteen. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she goes to school during the day and works at night to put herself through college. It's during her shift at Keiser Research that she stumbles across something she wasn't supposed to see.
Now she hears a voice in her head - and it is driving her crazy. Her only hope for peace is to help the strange man escape. A NY Times and USA Today bestselling author, the internationally acclaimed S. E. Smith presents a new story with her signature humor and unpredictable twists! Exciting adventure, hot romance, and iconic characters have won her a legion of fans. Over TWO MILLION books sold!