Aaren hurried over with his feathers fluttering. “I was afraid that you wouldn’t like this.”
“Don’t even think that,” Hades growled. He caught Aaren’s hips and pulled him close, stroking his large, warm hands up Aaren’s back. “I can certainly appreciate the work that went into this. And I appreciateyou,no matter what you’re wearing.”
Aaren blushed, swaying closer to his alpha. “Phew. I’m so relieved.”
Hades pressed a soft kiss to Aaren’s belly, then trailed more kisses up Aaren’s front, taking Aaren’s nipple into his mouth. When Aaren tipped his head back on a moan, he found several butt blessings taped to the ceiling above their bed. He gasped. “You stuck them on the ceiling!”
“Exactly like you asked, sweetheart.” Hades tugged on his other nipple. “The rest are in the doorways.”
Aaren peeked. There was an orange square in the doorway, exactly where you’d hang mistletoe. “That’s amazing!”
Hades didn’t even know what a butt blessing was, and he had done this just because Aaren had asked.
“You’re so good to me,” Aaren whispered, awed and grateful. He stepped even closer; Hades’ warmth soaked into him like a cozy hearth welcoming him home.
“I want to be deserving ofyou,sweetheart,” Hades murmured, wrapping his arms around Aaren.
“I’m not all that—”
“Youare.” Hades brushed his fingers through Aaren’s hair, bringing his face closer to kiss his lips. “You’re perfect.”
Aaren’s heart leaped. Hades trailed kisses down his jaw; he kissed Aaren’s throat and collarbones, then down his chest.
This put his hair right in front of Aaren’s nose.
On any other day, this would’ve been fine.
But right now, Aaren caught a whiff of—of all things—cucumber.
His body revolted. His stomach heaved.
I’m going to puke,Aaren realized, shoving Hades off and making a mad dash for the bathroom.
“Sweetheart?” Hades asked, sounding confused.
Aaren skidded over the tiles and barely made it to the toilet, throwing up into it.
For a moment, that was all he knew. Then Hades cursed, and he was right next to Aaren, crouching down next to him.
“You’re sick again?” Hades asked.
“It’s your hair,” Aaren whined between retching.
“My... hair?” Hades rubbed Aaren’s back and frowned.
“It smells like cucumber! Oh gods, why does it smell like cucumber?” Aaren caught another whiff and retched again.
“Oh.” Hades winced, leaning away. “It was an accident.”
“How?!”
“I... You won’t believe me if I said I tripped and fell into some cucumbers, will you?”
“No.” Aaren squinted suspiciously. He accepted the glass of water that Hades handed him, rinsing out his mouth. Hades flushed the toilet. “What happened?”
Hades sighed. “I was in the kitchen earlier making cucumber limeade. Thought I could hold more limes in my hand than I actually could, while also holding a jug of cucumber water. The limes began to slip. In my hurry to catch them, I slammed the jug on the counter and lunged for the limes. The limes fell anyway. I didn’t realize how precariously the jug was balanced on the counter’s edge.
“When I retrieved the limes and stood up, I... forgot about the jug. We had a collision,” Hades said dryly. “Cucumber water went everywhere, including all over me. My priority was getting it off the cabinets and floor; I didn’t bother washing it off myself. I didn’t realize the scent would stay in my hair and give you such a strong reaction. Sorry.”
