“Sweetheart,” Hades said slowly. “You smell different.”
22
PREGNANCY
It tooka while to sink in. “I... smell different?”
Aaren sniffed at himself, especially his underarms. Was it him, or did he catch a whiff of honey?
“You smell like honey, on top of the tulip scent,” Hades murmured, his head tucked in close.
There was no mistaking what that meant. Only pregnant omegas had an extra honey scent layered over their own floral scent.
“Oh gods,” Aaren said, his stomach dropping. “I’m still not ready to think about this.”
There might be a baby inside me. Oh gods, oh gods. What am I going to do?
“Aaren,” Hades murmured, rubbing Aaren’s back. “Remember, everything will be okay no matter what you choose.”
“But what if I fuck everything up no matter what?” Panic edged into Aaren’s voice.
“You won’t. Even if there were trouble, I’ll be here to help. It won’t ever become too terrible.”
That sounded like a lot to promise. All the same, Hades’ gaze was steady, his offer so reassuring that Aaren leaned into him.
“Do you want to take a test today?” Hades asked.
Aaren’s heart jolted. “Oh gods. Um.”
“What if we get a few kits just to have on hand? You don’t have to do them today. Just whenever you’d like.” Hades rubbed his back.
“Okay,” Aaren said slowly, breathing in and out. “Probably better to find out sooner than later.”
Hades brought Aaren to a drugstore, picking up three different brands of pregnancy test kits and ringing them up at the counter. Aaren couldn’t help blushing at the cashier’s curious look; he tucked himself against Hades and stared at the floor.
Hades kept his arm around Aaren, guiding him out of the store. “One last stop.”
“I thought the lawyer was our only stop?”
“Cookie. You’re doing really well, and I think you deserve a reward.”
Aaren’s heart skipped. “Okay.”
They stopped by Ben’s Buns, a bakery with butt-shaped buns decorating the shopfront. Hades asked Aaren to pick out a few butt-shaped cookies; and when they had been paid for and tucked into a paper bag, he gave them all to Aaren.
“Don’t you want any?” Aaren asked.
Hades shrugged. “I bought them for you.”
Aaren pulled out the most delicious-looking cookie, the dark chocolate one with extra chocolate chips, and handed it to Hades.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Hades grinned, breaking it in half and giving a piece back to Aaren.
The cookie was every bit as amazing as it looked. Aaren whimpered, trying to eat his half as slowly as he could.
“C’mon, let’s go home and get you ready for work,” Hades murmured, his mouth full of cookie. “Maybe you might even squeeze in a tiny nap.”
“I love naps,” Aaren said. He hadn’t quite recovered from his cold; he was still feeling kind of fatigued.
