“It’s break time for me anyway. It shouldn’t take me long to get there.”
Excitement bloomed in Aaren’s stomach. “Um, could you pick me up on the next street? Violet Lane. So he won’t hear you.”
Hades sounded like he was smiling. “Sure. Be there in fifteen.”
Aaren squeaked. “Sorry, sorry. You weren’t supposed to hear that. I’ll go shower and get dressed.”
“Mmm. Sure. I’ll imagine what that looks like.”
“Don’t make me wet right now!” Aaren groaned.
Hades laughed. “See you in a bit, sweetheart.”
Aaren set down his phone and showered in record time, making sure to scrub his skin to get rid of Ballus’ scent. Not that it was difficult; Ballus hadn’t deliberately scent-marked him, so there wasn’t a lot of his boxwood scent to erase.
He dried and got dressed, threw his phone into his worn backpack, and hurried out of the house. As he turned onto Violet Lane, a black car rolled up on the cross street, heading toward him.
Hades was in the driver’s seat. When he stopped the car, he reached over and popped open the passenger door.
In the bright light of day, he looked just as good as he had last night. Still with that artful stubble, still with his intense gaze. Aaren climbed into the car and let himself look—at Hades’ broad shoulders, the thin shirt hugging his sculpted chest. His pants didn’t hide much either, and the whole car smelled like cherrywood.
“This is amazing,” Aaren said. “You’re so hot.”
Hades grinned. “Yeah?”
He reached over and cupped Aaren’s nape, drawing him over the center console.
Aaren thought Hades was going to kiss his mouth. But the alpha brushed a kiss against the corner of his lips, before tucking his nose into Aaren’s hair. “You smell good.”
“I smell like soap. If you see me later today, I’m going to smell like food.”
“No complaints from me.” Hades nipped his earlobe. Then he released Aaren, brushing the scent gland on his wrist against Aaren’s neck.
Aaren flushed deeply. “N-not that I don’t enjoy it, but I can’t go home wearing your scent.”
“You can wear it for the rest of your day, before you go home. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.” It sounded amazing, actually.
Hades pressed a small bottle into his hand. “Scent suppressant.”
Aaren’s heart skipped a beat. “So we’re really doing this.”
With the scent suppressant... Hades could get close to him, really close, and Ballus wouldn’t have the slightest clue.
“We are.” Hades smiled and began to drive. “Do you have any objections?”
“You don’t mind that I have a boyfriend? That I might sometimes sleep with him?”
A sharp smile flashed across Hades’ lips. “Sweetheart, I’m going to make you forget he exists. Why would I mind?”
Aaren’s breath hitched. There, in that smile, was a hint of the predator he had glimpsed last night. The dangerous thing that had sent Hades to prison.
Somehow, it roused a thrill in Aaren’s belly.
He fastened his seatbelt and stuck the scent suppressant in his backpack. Then he dared to reach over, poking Hades’ thigh.
Hades caught his hand and tangled their fingers together, keeping his eyes on the road.
