Chapter 6 #2
“You look good like this,” the alpha murmured, touching the corner of Aaren’s lips. “Pleased and satisfied. Your hair’s a little sweaty, your cheeks flushed. Picture perfect.”
“That’s the first time anyone’s said that about me.”
Hades growled. “They’re definitely missing out. Oh well. More for me.”
Hades made sure their clothes were presentable. When they got out of the car, he sprayed scent suppressant all over Aaren—he had a bottle in his glove box too. Like he had prepared for this.
“You’re really committed to getting in my pants,” Aaren said. “Do you do this with other omegas?”
Hades shook his head. “Just you. I’ve never tried to steal someone else’s omega before. But you seemed like you needed an escape, and I can provide it. So I am.”
“Thanks,” Aaren said shyly.
“Anytime.” Hades grinned down at him.
Flustered, Aaren tried to walk back to the Wine Shack, except he wobbled.
“Here, let me.” Hades swept Aaren off his feet in a bridal carry, bringing him around to the front of the bar.
“I can walk,” Aaren yelped.
The bouncer, Derek, laughed and waved them through. A few patrons looked over but most of them minded their own business. At the bar, Olson narrowed his eyes.
“What did you do to him?” Olson asked when they were close enough. “Can’t Aaren walk?”
“I gave him too much stress relief,” Hades said dryly. “He’ll be back on his feet in no time.”
Olson wrinkled his nose. “Please scrub your hands with soap, Aaren.”
“I was planning on it!”
In the kitchen, Hades set Aaren down on his feet. “How are you feeling?”
Aaren wobbled again. “Still a little shaky.”
“Sorry. I might have gone... overboard with you in the car.” Hades grimaced.
Aaren coughed. “Are you serious? That was the best kind of overboard anyone’s ever gone with me.”
Hades lit up. He looked younger like this, pleased and proud of himself, and Aaren wanted to see him smile like that again.
Hades pulled Aaren into a quick, firm hug, trailing his wrists all over him.
“I should leave before Olson kicks me out,” he said.
Aaren whined. “But before I go... What’s your favorite entrée in this place?
Something you love, that you don’t get a chance to cook very often. ”
“Oh. It’s actually not on the menu,” Aaren said, happy to share this with Hades.
“It’s a burger with an extra omelet stuffed into it, topped with cooked mushrooms, and onions that were sautéed with Worcestershire sauce.
And garlic mashed potatoes on the side—I have to stir garlic powder into warm milk before adding that to our regular mashed potatoes, to ramp up the flavor and spread it more evenly. ”
“That sounds delicious,” Hades rumbled.
“Do you want me to cook that for you?”
Hades shook his head, running his hand down Aaren’s back. “I should be leaving. Have some work to catch up on.”
“Aww,” Aaren said, disappointed.
Hades huffed. “I don’t want to distract you, sweetheart. Olson’s going to yell at me in a few seconds.”
“Fine. I’ll see you after work?”
“I’ll pick you up,” Hades said.
“You can’t go to the house immediately,” Aaren hurried to say. “Ballus will be there. But if you wait a while, he’ll leave for work. You can come in then.”
“Okay.” Hades dropped a kiss on Aaren’s head. “See you later. Have a good rest of your day.”
“You too.”
Hades gave Aaren’s ass a quick squeeze. Then he smiled and left the kitchen, leaving a warm fuzzy feeling in Aaren’s chest.
Aaren washed his hands and got started on the orders. It wasn’t long before Olson came into the kitchen again, with a twitch in his eye.
“Here,” Olson said, placing a handwritten note next to the order printing machine. “Fit this around the other orders. It’s for you.”
“For me?” Confused, Aaren went over to squint at the note.
Omelet burger, mushrooms, Worcestershire onions, garlic mashed potatoes.
His eyes almost popped out of his head. “Really?”
“He paid for it and left,” Olson said dryly. “Left a big tip too—” Aaren choked “—after saying he owed you lunch.”
“Oh,” Aaren squeaked. “Um, thanks?”
“You already had your lunch break,” Olson said. “But I need you to eat so you don’t faint on the job.”
“I said he had to feed me, but I meant his, um. Oh gods, I need to shut up.” Aaren clapped his hands over his mouth.
“Too much information,” Olson said. Then he dropped his stern tone and grinned. “I’m happy for you, kiddo. It’s about time someone good stepped into your life. Even if the rest of your life is a mess.”
“The rest of my life doesn’t exist.” Aaren folded up the order and tucked it into his pocket, next to the—the pickup lines. “Dammit! I forgot to read him Emmy’s pickup lines! I was gonna seduce him back!”
Olson snorted. “Do it after you get off work. Good luck with those lines.”
He headed back out, and Aaren grabbed his phone to send a quick text.
Aaren
Thank you for lunch. You didn’t have to
ESC
You’re welcome. I really do want to feed you
Aaren
With your cock?
ESC
Has anyone told you that you have a one track mind?
Aaren
It’s one track into the tunnel of my body
ESC
I’ll make sure to examine that tunnel later. But we should keep the distractions to a minimum right now. I need to wrap up my work so I can focus my full attention on you.
Aaren
Wow, that’s making me blush
ESC
You blush when you take me inside you, did you know that?
Aaren
YOU wanted to keep the distractions to a minimum!
ESC
Fuck. Yes, we should. Sorry.
You are a great temptation.
Aaren
I’m a Great Expectation!
ESC
I hope I’ll meet those expectations (smiling emoji) And you’re supposed to be working.
Aaren
Oops
Scarcely had Aaren tucked away his phone, when he realized that he had forgotten something.
Aaren
Oh! Can I ask you for a huge favor? It’s a pain, sorry
ESC
What is it?
Aaren
I used up the ingredients in the fridge last night, cooking for you
And I haven’t had time to replace them. I can’t sneak out in the day to buy them because B is there, but I can’t go after work either, coz the grocery store is closed. And the meat sucks at the convenience store
ESC
Give me a list, I’ll buy them
Aaren
Omg, thank you!!! I’ll pay you back. These are from Evergreen
Just so the packaging on the chicken stays the same
Bone in chicken breast, gold potatoes, Romano tomatoes, red bell peppers
ESC
Got it
Aaren
Thank you!!!!
ESC
(blowing kiss emoji)
Aaren
Wow, you’re really seducing me
ESC
Is it working?
Aaren
Your flying kiss landed in my eye like you accidentally jizzed in it
ESC
Lol
Go back to work, sweetheart. O’s going to yell at you if you keep this up
Aaren
OK BYE
Aaren sniffed at the fresh trail of cherrywood on his clothes, smiling as he resumed cooking.
He keeps calling me sweetheart.
It felt good to smile. Aaren hadn’t realized that he had stopped smiling for months, until he was doing it again.