Raithen - Scent of You
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains..."
Much as Raithen wanted to stay and greet his friends, there was a significant lack of Yuke faces. He promised his friends he would speak with them later and hurried down the main path. Past Kellen's fields, past the ranch, past the merchant's home and the market square, he walked, then jogged, then sprinted.
Gods, he hoped they were all right. He took the steps to their door two at a time, his long arms reaching out, yanking the door open.
He walked into the silent, still sitting room. Beams of golden light shone through the gaps of the curtained windows, dust motes danced over the comfortable chairs and long, low table. His family was nowhere in sight. "Julin?" he called softly. "Namarea? Salira? Harrier?" There was no response.
Perhaps they were avoiding the heat of the day in the cool, inner sanctum. Perhaps they were testing experiments, or studying, in the lower level. He hurried toward the descending stair. Most of their home was underground, perhaps they simply had not heard of his arrival. Clattering down the last flight of stairs, he flung open that door.
No one in the library, relaxing on a long couch or comfortable chair. No one in the study. No one in...he paused, then took two steps backward until he could look into the bedroom once more.
The sight that met his eyes made him smile, then grin wickedly beneath his helm. On their massive bed lay his three wives and young husband in various states of undress. Julin, his first wife, rose gracefully from her position and moved to take his dusty cloak.
"Welcome home, darling," she practically purred, delicate fingers undoing the clasps of his helm. She removed the contraption, then rose on her tiptoes to rub her cheek against his. Raithen sighed, enjoying the Yuke kiss. Her scent, rising from her white fur, passed to him in a heady wave.
Namarea was next, tugging at his trousers with a small smile. Her teeth shone white against her black fur. The shyest of his wives, Nama said nothing as she rubbed her cheek against his. Like all Yukes, she did not have to. Her scent was full of longing.
Playful hands tickled his sides, he smiled fondly at Salira, whose red brown fur stuck up wild in all directions. It was almost as wild as she was. They kissed, and her scent nearly bowled him over with lust. With a grin and a slap to her bottom, Rai promised himself he would bowl her over soon enough.
Last, but not least, his husband took his hand, twining his golden furred fingers with Rai's black ones. "We've prepared a bath for you," Harrier said. He, too, rubbed cheeks, and Rai leaned into his affection as if it were a steady shoulder.
"I would like that," Rai said, reaching out and touching each of his spouses in turn. "Thank you." He did not need to say it, for they could feel his gratitude, but he had gotten used to human ways, and they had gotten used to his rather un-Yuke-like behaviors.
They crowded him into the bathing room, finished stripping him of his garments, forced him into the tub. Rai submitted to their scrubbing hands and Harrier's gentle massage. Sighing, he leaned back and closed his eyes. It was wonderful to be home.