Hades winced, glancing at Aaren apologetically.
“Oh,” Aaren said. He pictured it all again—big, strong, competent Hades, defeated by a jug of cucumber water—and dissolved into helpless giggles. “You lost to the cucumbers.”
“I did.” Hades smiled wryly. “I promise to defend your honor better than that.”
Aaren giggled harder. Then he looked down at himself. Suddenly, the feathers, pink panties, and his flabby belly looked so unsexy next to Hades’ broad shoulders. What could Hades possibly see in all this?
“I should shower, get the cucumber scent off myself,” Hades said, turning away.
Aaren sagged. “Yeah.”
Maybe it was something in his voice. Hades turned back, a crinkle between his eyebrows. “Sweetheart?”
Aaren swallowed. “What?”
“What’s wrong?” Hades cradled Aaren’s face, tipping his head up to look into his eyes.
“I feel like I messed up,” Aaren mumbled.
“How?”
Aaren gestured at himself. “I’m not... that sexy.”
Hades frowned deeply. “Fuck, why would you think that? Why do you think I’ve had you in my bed this entire time? I can’t keep my hands off you.”
Aaren sighed. “But the feathers aren’t working, right?”
“Well. I can’t say the feathers are my kink,” Hades said slowly. “But you—you’restunning. I was kissing and sucking you all over before this happened, remember? Right now, I’d like to remove the cucumber scent so you won’t react to it again.Thenwe can get back to what we were doing in bed.”
Aaren chewed his lip. That sounded good, but he couldn’t help the irrational thought that he still wasn’t enough.
“Why don’t you join me in the shower?” Hades murmured. “If being close helps. Just... don’t sniff me before the cucumber scent’s all gone.”
“Okay.” It sounded better than being left out here all by himself.
“Okay if I take the feathers off?”
Aaren nodded. Gently, Hades peeled the tape off his skin, careful not to rip the fine hairs off his body. He worked the tape off Aaren’s back, off his hips, combing through his hair to free the feathers there. It felt like care, like reverence.
“Where did you get these feathers, anyway?” Hades asked. “I was there during your lunch break.”
“Emmy,” Aaren said. “He bought a bunch for his alpha.”
Hades smirked. “Knowing Emmy, the feathers might not even be for sex.”
“Well, he was going to stick some up his alpha’s nose.”
Hades laughed, eyes crinkled at the corners. “Please don’t do that to me.”
“I won’t,” Aaren said.
How would Hades react if Aaren tried it, though? Emmy always had the best ideas.
Hades watched him for a moment, sighing fondly. “Fine. You can try it on me. Just once.”
Aaren’s heart skipped. “Really?”
“Anytime you want, sweetheart.”
