Page 77 of From the Noblest Motives
"Ha. Well, yes, but I was thinking more of a happy feeling. A scent that makes you cozy and, ah, wistful, I guess."
"I don't think there's such a word. Not for sex," Damien murmured from Blaze's other side. "But there are words like that. Petrichor."
"Yes! I know that one."
Blaze's other eye opened so he could squint up at Shudder. "Don't lie."
"I do. It's an earth word. The lovely smell of the dry earth as it starts to rain."
"Fine. I'll give you that one." Blaze hummed in thought as he stroked Shudder's back. "Vellichor."
"You made that up." Shudder matched him, squint for squint.
"It's a legitimate word." Damien rose to sit cross-legged, quite distracting, since he was still naked. "The smell of old bookstores, and the nostalgia that comes with it."
"Antiques. Of course." That exact scent came back to him so sharply his breath hitched. "My mom used to take me. I think she hoped that I'd learn to read more easily with physical books."
Blaze's expression softened, the teasing annoyance gone. "Did it help?"
"Not really." Shudder fought the way his mouth wanted to twist into a scowl. "But I loved the illustrations." He slid off the bed before either of them could offer words of sympathy. More of that, he didn't need right now. "Play time was wonderful, my lovelies, but I need to get to work."
Damien slid off the other side and started handing Shudder his clothes. "What do you need?"
Putting his underwear back on without falling over felt like a huge accomplishment.Go me. "I need to call a staff meeting. So if one of you could go down to the lodge and tell that to whoever's hanging around there, the word will get to the right people."
Damien cocked his head to the side, and Shudder was certain he was being judged.
"Fine. It's not the most efficient system, but it's the best I have right now."
That got a nod, and before Blaze managed to gather the energy to roll out of bed, Damien was dressed and gone.
"I really should've installed a Damien comm system before." Shudder sat on the bed next to Blaze to get his boots back on and gave him a little nudge. "I'd like to keep him. Can we keep him?"
Blaze rolled his eyes. "Idiot."
"But I'm your idiot." Surprisingly, this got Shudder a kiss atop his head, which made him think about his hair again. "Do you think I need a hat?"
"Shuds…" Blaze pulled him into a one-armed hug. "This is family. Your family. You can't hide from them."
"Right. All right." He left his bootlaces undone, since he was just going two rooms away, and left off the hat, even though his habits all screamed to do the opposite of what Blaze said to annoy him. Now wasn't the time. "If you and Damien and Dr. Parma could join us, please? They need to hear everything we know."
Fifteen minutes later, everyone had gathered around the table in the conference room, delayed only by the need to find extra seating—Toby brought a couple of crates—and Airmed insisting that Dr. Parma have water at hand. Shudder remained standing to run through introductions.
He stopped behind Blaze's chair first and wrapped his arms around that bull neck from behind. "Blazey, I think you know everyone."
"Yeah, we've met. Hey." Blaze kissed Shudder's wrist before he could pull his arms away, and Toby's jaw dropped.
"Boss," Toby whispered, though the whole table could hear him. "Isn't he your, um, ex?"
Shudder couldn't have stopped the grin if he tried. "Yes, and now he's my ex-ex." He moved over to Damien and placed a hand on his shoulder. Damien reached up to offer a squeeze. "And Damien is my never-ex."
Airmed shook her head. "We love you, boss, but it's scary that what you just said made sense."
"Damien, Dr. Parma, you've met Toby, our chief of security and quartermaster."
Toby gave a by now unnecessary wave.
"Airmed—" He was careful to pronounce itArvehj, as was proper. Some of the kids weren't so kind about that. "Our head of medical."
