I was peacefully asleep, lost in the depths of a comfortable dream, when I suddenly felt something warm and wet against my neck. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw Yura, her lips and tongue gently caressing my skin. Startled, I pushed her away immediately, my heart pounding in my chest.
"What are you doing, Yura?" I exclaimed, my hand instinctively reaching for my neck. It was then that I realized the anti-pheromone sticker that usually adorned my skin was missing. Yura must have removed it while I was asleep.
Tears welled up in Yura's eyes. "I just wanted to smell your scent," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
At that moment, the system screen flashed before me.
[Reminder: The scent of your pheromones can soothe Yura.]
"I know, I know," I muttered, more to myself than the system. "I'm sorry, Yura. Please don't cry. But you can't do that again."
My serious tone only seemed to make things worse. Yura began to cry even harder, her sobs shaking her small frame. The sight tore at my heart, filling me with guilt.
"I don't understand, Jiyeon," she cried, anger mingling with her tears. "We're in a relationship now. Why do you push me away? Do you want to be with another omega?"
Her words struck me like a physical blow. How could she think that? The idea of being with anyone else was unimaginable to me. I quickly moved towards her and pulled her into a hug, trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, Yura," I whispered, stroking her hair gently. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
However, holding her turned out to be a terrible idea. The intoxicating scent of strawberries, her pheromones in full bloom due to her oestrus period, overwhelmed my senses. I could feel myself losing control, the primal instincts within me stirring. Panicking, I pushed Yura away once more.
She looked at me with a mix of confusion and hurt. "Why do you keep doing this?" she demanded, her voice breaking.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself. "Yura, it's not that I don't want to be close to you. It's just... your scent. It's overwhelming. It's hard to think straight when you're in oestrus."
Her eyes widened in realization, and she nodded slowly, understanding dawning on her face. "I didn't mean to make things difficult for you," she said softly.
"I know," I replied, reaching out to take her hand. "But we need to be careful. Your scent affects me a lot more than you realize."
She squeezed my hand gently. "I'll try to be more careful. I just... I miss you. I want to be close to you."
"I understand," I said, pulling her into a softer, more controlled hug. "We'll figure this out together. Just promise me you'll talk to me before doing anything like that again."
"I promise," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
We sat there for a while, holding each other, the tension slowly ebbing away. The system's reminder about my pheromones lingered in my mind. Maybe I could use them to help Yura, but it would have to be done carefully and with consent. I didn't want to risk another incident like this morning.
Yura's oestrus period had ended two days ago, and I was relieved that she was feeling better. I had just returned from the restaurant, the night already having settled over the city, blanketing it in a quiet calm. As I entered the manor, I was surprised to find it eerily silent. The usual hustle and bustle of the staff were absent. Instead, there was only Yura, sitting at the dining table, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Good evening, my love," I greeted her with a smile, moving to sit beside her. "And thank you for dinner."
"Good evening," she replied, her eyes shimmering in the soft light. "It's nothing. I wanted to thank you for taking care of me these past few days and apologize for any trouble I caused."
She scratched her head sheepishly, and I couldn't help but chuckle. We began eating in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the clinking of cutlery against the plates. The dinner was delicious, simple yet filled with the warmth of home.
"Yura," I said, breaking the silence, "why aren't there any servants in the manor? It's really strange."
"Oh, they're on leave until the day after tomorrow," she answered with a smile, and I nodded, accepting her explanation.
After we finished eating, I got up to clear the table, but Yura beat me to it. She gathered the dishes and took them to the sink, efficiently washing them before joining me again. Her energy and care were endearing, and I felt a surge of affection for her.
"How about we watch a movie tonight, Jiyeon?" she suggested with a smile.
"That sounds perfect," I agreed, feeling a warm glow spread through me. We moved to the living room, settling onto the plush couch. Yura selected a light-hearted romantic comedy, and we snuggled together under a soft blanket.
As the movie played, I found myself more captivated by Yura than the plot. Her laughter was infectious, her expressions animated and full of life. I cherished these quiet moments with her, where the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us.
Halfway through the movie, Yura leaned her head on my shoulder, her hair tickling my cheek. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer. The movie continued in the background, but our focus was entirely on each other.
She turned to face me, her eyes filled with a depth of emotion that took my breath away. The moment stretched between us, filled with unspoken words and shared feelings.
The movie ended, but neither of us moved. Instead, we stayed there, wrapped in each other's embrace. Yura's fingers traced light patterns on my arm, sending shivers down my spine.
"Jiyeon," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly, "can I ask you something?"
"Anything," I replied, my heart pounding in anticipation.
"Can you… can you kiss me?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.
Without hesitation, I leaned in, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. It was soft at first, a tentative exploration of newfound territory. But as the seconds passed, the kiss deepened, growing more passionate. Yura's hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, and I responded with equal fervor.
The world around us disappeared, leaving only the two of us, connected in a way that felt profound and eternal. When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless, our hearts beating in sync.
"I love you, Yura," I whispered, my voice filled with sincerity.
"I love you too, Jiyeon," she replied, her eyes shining with tears of happiness.
We sat there in silence for a while, simply enjoying the closeness. The warmth of her body against mine, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and the soft glow of the room created a cocoon of intimacy. It was in this quiet moment that Yura broke the silence.
"Jiyeon," she began, her voice steady yet filled with emotion, "can you… can you mark me?"