Page 60 of Loved By Aphrodite

“No, but I like babies.” She took the child from Aphrodite and held her up, staring into its eyes. “She’s a shifter.” Pressing her nose to Phoebe’s temple, she took a sniff. “Smells like one too.”

At that moment, Phoebe let out a wail.

“She’s crying,” Psyche said.

“Here, let me,” Aphrodite began.

“No, I got it.” Psyche held the baby close and began to rock her. “Slow, gentle motions help soothe an upset baby.”

“I think she wants her mother,” Aphrodite said, trying to be polite as Phoebe continued to cry.

“Is the baby sick? Colic? Maybe she has an upset stomach? Has she been burped?” She frowned. “I read three baby books in preparation for my stay here.”

“You did?” Artemis asked. “Why?”

“My father said I was to make myself useful while I was here, so I thought I could offer my services as a babysitter on my off days.” Of course, she had to practically shout that over the din of Phoebe’s screams.

“What in the world is that racket?” Eros said as he came up behind Psyche. “Oh, it’s you.” His lips pursed as he stared at the child. “Don’t you do anything but scream and cry?”

“It’s a baby,” Psyche said. “It’s how they communicate as they have yet to learn any language skills. They develop?—”

“Here, let me have her.” Without warning, he took Phoebe from Psyche and perched her on his hip. “Be. Quiet.” To everyone’s surprise, the child stopped crying. Her blue eyes went wide as she reached out to smack Eros’s nose.

“Yeow!” he yelped. “What did you do that for?” The child, however, seemed amused at the god’s discomfort as she let out a peal of laughter. “Oh, is that funny?

“I didn’t think you’d be good with children,” Hephaestus remarked.

“Probably a fluke. I think something is wrong with this child.” Phoebe, however, curled up against his shoulder and began to suck on her thumb. Eros’s nostrils flared as Hephaestus covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. “Don’t think I’ll be babysitting for the two of you anytime soon.”

Aphrodite sent Hephaestus a meaningful look. Of course, they had talked of having children of their own, and they agreed they might try in the future. But for now, they were happy to be together and make up for all the lost time apart.

“So, are you the new nanny?” Eros looked Psyche up and down. “I’m no baby, but you can sit on me anytime.”

“Eros!” Aphrodite admonished. “Psyche is a guest of your Alpha.”

“He’s only my Alpha because of this stupid punishment.” He licked his lips at Psyche. “What did you do to get stuck out here, sweetcakes?”

“Did you know titanosaurs have no toes on their front feet?” she said, her voice flat and emotionless.

“Huh?”

“They evolved that way, no one knows why,” she continued. “They walk around on these stumps made of metacarpal bones.”

Eros blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“Titanosaurs,” she said flatly. “They’re a type of dinosaur.”

“Psyche is getting her PhD in paleontology,” Cade offered.

“Paleoichnology, to be exact,” Psyche said. “With a focus on paleoclimatology.”

“How interesting,” Aphrodite said. But that wasn’t the only thing she found interesting, as she couldn’t help but notice her son scowling at the she-wolf, his face a mix of confusion and perhaps, some fascination. Most women who first meet Eros were immediately enamored of him, and he turned even the sternest matrons into giggling girls. This Psyche, however, seemed immune to his charms. A first for the god of love and desire, probably.

“I think everyone’s waiting for you two to start the festivities,” Artemis said. “Right, H?”

“What does that mean?” Aphrodite lifted an eyebrow at him. “Hephaestus?”

“Look,” he began. “I know we said we wouldn’t have a fancy program or formal reception. But there was something we didn’t do at our first wedding.”

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