(Note this story changes from Erotic Horror to Nonhuman, to Sci-fi & Fantasy. To me it seems to fit best in this fashion. But is it really....Romance?)
*
The old shopkeeper looked up in surprise when Harlen walked into the store with Hea the first time.
Harlen knew Hea was nervous but he felt that taking her with him was part of their lives becoming normal.
That first night she had appeared at his ranch house had been a surprise, she had that need but was also terrified, it was her very first time being away from her people.
There should have been no reason for her to fear, she easily had 5 times his strength, if not more, and Harlen was not a weak man by any stretch of the imagination.
No matter, she was hesitant, but the need overpowered the fear. Somehow Harlen knew and understood, these people did not seem to have the ability to repress urges like those of mankind on Earth.
One might think that Harlen would have been repulsed, Hea's body was covered with fur, nearly every inch of it. The hind legs curved backwards oddly, different from an earth human but functional that way. The odd squatting down that he had seen them do was defensive, the first leap could easily cover 25 feet in the light gravity of Earth.
He had discovered that under the fur, the oddly shaped rear limbs, the high set ears and three toed paws was a human woman. Different, yes, but human nonetheless.
She had stiffened at his touch, which was more of an inspection than lovemaking. Harlen was very careful, overly gentle. He sensed her fear yet knew why she had come to him. He had no idea how he knew, he just did.
Then she had relaxed, and just allowed his touch. He had found the bump on the inside of each of her paws, that extended outward when she wished to grasp, a functional thumb. There was another smaller one on the outside of each paw that did similar. What Harlen had thought was just a three toed paw was actually five, just like his own, complete with fingerprints in the bare flesh on her feel and palms. Each digit had a sharp claw on the end, kept retracted unless needed. They were an obvious very serious weapon, but perhaps just a tool? Pressing back the tuft of fur, he had discovered those, they looked like fingernails somewhat, just thick and razor sharp, the ends pointed and curving downward.
Her nose was dark and wide, hairless and flattened slightly, the eyes were large and set at a steep angle. Her skin was several shades darker than his, and Harlen was well tanned from days on end out in the sunlight working on his farm.
Harlen was also surprised at the gentleness of their lovemaking, she had waited until he seemed satisfied with his inspection. Then she had in turn inspected him, touching and nuzzling everywhere. Their joining was not like anything he had ever experienced, it was not a building to a climax. Rather it began as one and kept on for several minutes.
Then he was surprised again when he woke up the next morning and she was still there, he had expected her to retreat.
He got his first serious look at her in real light, realizing she was squatting there with her eyes drawn down to slits. She looked extremely uncomfortable, moving backwards as the morning light gained ground across the floor. He stepped over and pulled the drape at his upstairs window. She relaxed but then just stood up on her rear legs, waiting for something.
"Morning, Hea."
She looked at him puzzled, even tipped her head.
"Helllo."
"Hungry?"
That got another puzzled look, so Harlen held out his hand to her. She looked down, then reached out to take it.
He made a bowl of oatmeal, she looked at the spoon he set beside the bowl in confusion. She picked it up, placed the large end in her palm, then set the spoon back down. Harlen was going to show her how to use it but standing up, she was out the door in a flash. She was back in seconds, one hand shading her face from the outside sunlight. She held a small cloth sack, it had laces across the top. It was covered with symbols, decorations. She reached in and picked up a utensil, it fanned out like a poker hand with a simple flip of her thumb. She used that to scoop up the food, ate with relish.
Harlen saw she really liked the oatmeal.
They spent the day inside with the drapes drawn, that evening he heard sounds outside and went to investigate.
Jaha stood there, Hari at his side. The boy was now a good three feet tall, and solid looking.
"Thank you." He told Jaha, understanding.
Jaha just nodded, turned and vanished into the darkness.
Harlen looked at the boy, his eyes so large and dark, fathomless. He was naked, his body was covered with far less hair than the rest. He seemed to be mildly shivering, too.
Harlen held out his hand, the boy took it without hesitation, he led him inside. Hea jumped up and ran to Hari, making a fuss. They chattered in that almost musical tone for quite awhile, nuzzling each other in pleasure. Harlen just went and sat in his chair and watched.
Later, he showed Hari what was to be his bedroom, watched as the boy tugged and pulled the blankets into a circle, almost like a nest. He circled and kicked at it until finally satisfied. Hari looked at him and smiled, then curled into a tight ball on top of the blankets and slept. Hea slept with Harlen but on top of the covers, curled up in the same fashion, a portion of the blankets tugged up around her.
He had expected more lovemaking, but she showed no sign of interest in that. He had even reached for her, but all that happened was she showed confusion. It took him awhile to understand that her cycle was months apart, and when she felt the need she came to him. The rest of the time she did not.
Finally she realized that Harlen had different needs, after that she used her hands to help him. Harlen's entire sexual life before had been just once each year, a trip to Reno for a week of pleasure, the rest was solo sexuality.
He relished in the change, it was fine.
Just one time Harlen had hinted that she use her mouth. Her expression was first one of realization and then shock, she darted to the corner of the room and squatted down facing him. Even her claws came out. It took a lot of coaxing to get her to return to the bed, Harlen never suggested that again. Oddly, she would nuzzle his groin, though.
That part Harlen never completely figured out. There were no words that he knew to try and explain or ask, and there seemed to be no words in her language at all. It was a knowing somehow, Harlen felt it also.
