Import Quarantine

It was supposed to be a simple house call for a sick cat, so how'd she end up on a spaceship?

Caitlin's had some pretty weird house calls in her work as a veterinarian outside a small desert town. Feral burros, mischievous coyotes, dogs getting a little too close to cacti… The tall, gorgeous guy who shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night begging her to help his cat seems mundane by comparison—aside from the atomic attraction she feels toward him. Then he starts talking about aliens.

To help restore the emotions stolen from him by the Coalition of Planets, Marq was supposed to care for Meredith—the Earth cat his brother smuggled aboard his ship. Now, she's developed some kind of sickness he fears will endanger her life. He'll do anything to assist his pet, even make unauthorized contact with an Earthling. The trouble is, he isn't sure how to handle the rising desire in him to make…additional contact with her.

To get Caitlin's assistance, he must first convince her to trust him—though with soldiers on his ship who are still loyal to the Coalition, he's not sure who he himself can trust. Meredith's illness is not the only threat they will face. Can Marq save his cat, control his unruly emotions, and keep Caitlin safe?

Author's note: This novella was originally published in the Pets in Space® 4 anthology.

Main Content: Approximately 23,677 words, 122 (5.5 x 8.5) pages