Noir Kioko had only ever seen one human before his undercover work brought him to the diner at the Luna Terminal, and that was at a distance. Humans are rare, most of them disappear without a trace, and he hopes hanging around the restaurant will give him a lead on the smuggling ring he’s investigating. There was no way he could’ve known the human would turn out to be his mate, and no way he can let it show without putting his mate in danger and possibly jeopardising his mission.<br><br>Max Welch is the proud owner of the only restaurant within a light year’s distance. He left Earth four years ago to create a better life for himself, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of scary alien pirates making his restaurant their favourite hangout spot. As a measly human there isn’t much he can do about it, but as one of the pirates starts coming by almost every day he has to come up with something before he loses all his customers. That the giant cat man is rather nice to look at changes nothing.<br><br>When rumours of another human arriving at the space station start to circulate, Noir's species trafficking infiltrate and observe only mission may need a revamp. But will Noir be able to protect his mate and another one of his rare species?

It Doesn't Translate

In a blink of an eye he heard the door to the freezer open and close, then Noir was back behind him.


“Thank you.” Max hadn’t meant to mutter.


“Stands behind me and sniffs my neck? Nope, can’t say he’s ever done that.”


Noir purred again but then cut it short. “No, I meant, Quam normally helps you prepare?”


“Yes, usually he does. Don’t know why he isn’t here.”


“Nothing, nothing, a human saying.” He glanced at Noir who was narrowing his eyes again. “Why do you do that?”


“You narrow your eyes, are you angry?”


“It’s a cat-man’s smile?” Max grinned, and when Noir flashed his pointy teeth, he couldn’t help but chuckle.


“You know many enough to make that judgement?” He didn’t, no one who hadn’t spent time planet-side did, and Earth had been closed off to almost every species for as long as Max had lived.


Chapter 17