“Yes, sir.”
He hissed, inhaling breath between his teeth. His fingers dug into her scalp, loosening her braid as she worked him with her hand and moved her tongue and teeth over the head of his cock. He tasted like salt and darkness, and he grew harder and heavier in her mouth.
She knew when she had driven him into mindlessness because he ground out her name and started thrusting into her mouth. She braced herself against the seat of the limo, unable to breathe, only able to take. He hit the back of her throat over and over until he came with her name on his lips.
Persephone took all of him, licking him clean. When she finished, Hades reached for her, dragging her up for a hard kiss before tearing away to growl, “I want you.”
Her eyes darkened, and she tilted her head, questioning. “How do you want me?”
He answered without so much as a second thought. “To start, I’ll take you from behind on your hands and knees.”
“And then?”
“I’ll pull you on top and teach you how to ride me until you come apart.”
“Hmm, I like that one.”
She lifted herself, and Hades helped her sit on his shaft. She groaned as he filled her, and Hades hands spanned her waist, helping her establish a rhythm until she moved of her own accord, using him for her pleasure. Her arms went around his neck, and she held him close. She bit his ear, and when he groaned, she whispered, “Tell me how I feel.”
“Like life,” he answered.
His hands moved between them, and he worked her, building the tension, until she could no longer stand it—her labored breathing gave way to a cry of ecstasy, and she collapsed against him, her face burrowed into the crook of his neck.
She didn’t know how long he held her like that, but at some point, they moved. Persephone slid from his lap, and Hades restored his appearance before letting Antoni know they were ready to arrive at their destination. Antoni entered a garage and parked near an elevator where Hades helped Persephone out of the limo. Once inside, he took out a keycard and scanned it, punching the button for floor fourteen.
“Where are we?” she asked, curiously.
“The Grove,” Hades replied. “My restaurant.”
“You own The Grove?” she asked, surprised. It was a favorite among the mortals of New Athens because of its unique decor and cozy, garden-inspired dining. “How does no one know?”
“I let Ilias run it,” he said. “And prefer that people think he owns it.”
The elevator opened to the roof and Persephone gasped at what she saw. The rooftop of The Grove looked like a forest in the Underworld. A stone path wound through beds of flowers and trees strung with lights.
Hades led her down the path, which opened onto an open space with a table and two plush chairs. The lights that were in the trees from the path crisscrossed overhead.
“This is beautiful, Hades.”
He smiled, pleased with her compliment, and led her to the table. A collection of breads and a bottle of wine waited. Hades poured them each a glass, and he toasted their evening.
She found herself laughing more than she ever remembered, the burden of her day long forgotten as Hades told her stories of Ancient Greece. When they finished eating, they walked through the forest on the roof and Persephone asked, “What do you do for fun?”
It seemed like a silly question, but she was curious. Over the months, she gathered that Hades liked cards, walks, and playing with his animals, but she wondered what else.
“What do you mean?”
Persephone laughed. “The fact that you just asked that says everything. What are your hobbies?”
“Cards. Riding.” He swirled his hand in the air, thinking. “Drinking.”
“What about things not related to being the God of the Dead?”
“Drinking is not related to being God of the Dead,” he said.
“It also isn’t a hobby. Unless you’re an alcoholic.”
Hades raised a brow. “Then what are your hobbies?”
Persephone smiled, and though she knew he was avoiding talking about himself, she answered, “Baking.”
“Baking? I feel like I should have known about this sooner.”
“Well, you never asked.”
Silence fell between them, and they walked a little further before Hades came to a stop. Persephone turned to look at him when he said, “Teach me.”
She stared at him for a moment, stunned. “What?”
“Teach me,” he said. “To bake something.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, and he raised a brow, not amused.
“I’m sorry—I’m just imagining you in my kitchen.”
“And that’s difficult?”
“Well...yeah. You’re the God of the Underworld.”
“And you’re the Goddess of Spring,” he said. “You stand in your kitchen and make cookies. Why can’t I?”
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. It wasn’t until now that she realized something had changed between them. It had been happening gradually, but today, it hit her hard.
She was in love with him.
She hadn’t realized she was frowning until he touched her face, brushing her cheek with his finger.
“Are you well?”
She smiled. “Very well.” She stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth, pulling away. “I’ll teach you.”
Hades smiled, too. “Well, then. Let’s get started.”
“Wait. You want to learn now?”
“Now is as good a time as any,” he said.
She opened her mouth to argue that she didn’t have the right supplies to do this in the Underworld, when Hades said, “I thought maybe...we could spend time at your apartment.”
She stared at him, and he shrugged. “You’re always in the Underworld.”
“You...want to spend time in the Upperworld? In my apartment?”
He just stared at her—he’d already told her exactly what he wanted to do.
“I...have to prepare Lexa for your arrival.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll have Antoni drop you off,” he said and looked down at his suit. “I need to change.”
Persephone had no difficulty convincing Lexa to have Hades over for an evening of food, baking, and movies. In fact, she screamed when she brought it up, which caused Jaison to run out of her room armed with a lamp.
His blue-grey eyes were wide and his dark brown curls wild. He looked ready for a fight, and when the girls saw him, they laughed.
Jaison lowered the lamp.
“I heard someone scream,” he explained.
“And you were going to save me with a lamp?” Lexa asked.
“It was the heaviest thing I could find,” he said defensively.
They laughed again and Persephone explained why Lexa was screaming.
Jaison rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow, Hades, huh?”
“Yes, Hades!” Lexa was thrilled, and then she reached for Jaison’s hand. “Come on! We have to clean the living room. He’s going to think we’re peasants.”
Persephone smiled as the two disappeared into the adjoining room. Jaison was still in possession of the lamp.
While they cleaned, she changed and shortly after, the doorbell rang. Despite all the time she’d spent with Hades, her heart still hammered in her chest as she went to answer the door.
Hades arrived in a black shirt that fit his muscles like a dream, and loose sweatpants. Persephone was shocked by his appearance. The manicured god could dress down and he was still magnificent.
“Did you own those before today?” she asked, pointing to the pants.
Hades looked down at them, grinning.
“No.”
She let him in and felt slightly embarrassed. This apartment was way too small for him—he was nearly as wide as the doorway, and he had to duck to enter. Persephone frowned.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said quickly, and moved around him. She brought him into
the living room where Lexa and Jaison had finished cleaning and now lounged on the couch.
She felt awkward introducing Hades.
“Um, Hades this is Lexa my best friend and Jaison, her boyfriend.”
Jaison waved from the couch, but Lexa got to her feet and hugged Hades around the middle. Persephone’s brows rose. She was impressed with Lexa’s fearlessness, and by Hades’ reaction. He didn’t seem surprised at all and returned Lexa’s hug.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“Very few have ever spoken those words,” he told her.
Lexa pulled away and grinned. “So long as you treat my best friend right, I’ll continue to be happy to see you.”
Hades lips curled.
“Noted, Lexa Sideris,” he said, and gave a little bow. “May I say, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Lexa blushed.
Damn, the Lord of the Underworld was charming.
Persephone took Hades into her kitchen. It was small for her and Lexa, even tinier with him. His head practically touched the ceiling, but his height came in handy, as much of what Persephone needed was on the top shelf in her cabinets.
“Why do you put everything up so high?” he asked as he helped retrieve her supplies.
“It’s the only place it will fit. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t live in a palace.”
He gave her a look as if to say, I could change that.
When everything was on the counter, Hades turned to look at her. “What would you do without me?”
“Get it myself,” she said simply.
Hades snorted. She turned to face him, and found he was leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. He was absolutely breathtaking, and she wanted to laugh because he was standing in her ugly kitchen making cookies.
“Well, get over here. You can’t learn from there.”
Hades raised a brow, smirking, and approached. She hadn’t expected him to stand so close, but he came up behind her, cradling her body with his, hands braced on either side of her.
His mouth touched her ear, warm and honeyed. “Please, instruct.”
She took a breath and cleared her throat. “The most important thing to remember when baking is that the ingredients have to be measured and mixed right or it could mean disaster.”
His lips brushed along her neck and then her shoulder. Her breath caught, and she cleared her throat.
“Scratch that. The most important thing to remember is to pay attention.”
She glared at him over her shoulder while he tried to look innocent. She reached for the measuring cup and handed it to him.
“First, flour,” she said.
Hades took the cup and measured out the required amount of flour. He kept his arms around her, working almost as if she weren’t there. Except she knew he was aware of her because she could feel his body hardening against hers.
“Next?”
Concentrate, she commanded herself. She cleared her throat.
“Baking soda.”
He continued like that until all the ingredients were in the bowl and mixed. Persephone took that opportunity to duck under his arm, reaching for a cookie sheet and a spoon. She instructed Hades to form the dough into balls no more than an inch in diameter and place them on the sheet.
After the cookies were in the oven, Hades turned to her, expectantly, but she was already prepared for him.
“We make icing.” She rubbed her hands together. This was the best part. Hades raised a brow, clearly amused.
Persephone began to instruct again, and Hades listened, mixing ingredients. The fun came when they divided the icing into separate bowls and mixed food coloring into it. Persephone was not the cleanest baker, and by the time they finished incorporating all the colors, her fingers were covered in icing.
Hades noticed and reached for her hand.
“How does it taste?” he asked, and drew her fingers deep into his mouth, sucking it clean. He groaned, “Delicious.”
She flushed and drew her hand away.
There was a long pause, and Hades asked, “Now what?”
Their eyes met.
Hades took two steps, planted his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the counter. She yelped and then laughed, drawing him close as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her hungrily, tilting her head back so he could reach deep into her mouth—but it was short-lived because Lexa came into the kitchen and cleared her throat.
Persephone broke the kiss while Hades head fell into the crook of her neck.
“Lexa,” Persephone said, clearing her throat. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you guys wanted to watch a movie?”
“Say no,” Hades whispered against her ear.
Persephone laughed and asked, “What movie?”
“Clash of the Titans?”
Hades snorted and drew away from her, looking at Lexa. “Old or new?”
“Old.”
He considered, tilting his head. “Fine,” and then he cleared his throat, kissing Persephone on the cheek. “Going to need a minute.”
He left the kitchen, and Persephone stayed seated on the counter, kicking her legs back and forth. When Hades was out of sight, Lexa started.
“Okay, first. Not in the kitchen! Second, he’s completely in love with you.”
Persephone’s cheeks heated. “Stop, Lexa.”
“Girl, he worships you.”
Persephone ignored Lexa and started cleaning up. Once the cookies were done, she left them to cool and the four settled in to watch the movie. Persephone cuddled next to Hades. It was there, nestled against him, that she realized how weird her life had become since she met the God of the Underworld, and yet she had some of her happiest times with him. This was one. He was willing to try mortal things with her. He had wanted to do the things that made her happy and learn them. She giggled at the thought of him in the kitchen, mittens on, trying to retrieve the hot pan of cookies from the oven.
Hades armed tightened around her, and he whispered against her ear. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“You can’t possibly know.”
“After what I put myself through this evening, I’m sure there are several things you are laughing at.”
It wasn’t long before she fell asleep. At some point, Hades lifted her and carried her to her bedroom. “Don’t leave,” she said, sleepily.
“I’m not.” He kissed her forehead. “Sleep.”
She woke to Hades hot mouth on her skin and she groaned, reaching for him. He kissed her urgently, like he hadn’t tasted her in weeks, before trailing his lips along her jaw, her throat, her chest. Then his fingers found the hem of her shirt. She arched her back and helped him pull it over her head. Tossing it aside, he descended, caressing her breasts with his hands and his tongue. It wasn’t long before she wiggled out of her pants and he parted her center, tasting her with his mouth. His thumb worked that sensitive bundle of nerves, sending her into delirious bliss.
When he finished, he climbed up her body and kissed her before divesting himself of his clothes and fitting himself between her thighs. She spread her legs wide to accommodate him as his cock pressed against her entrance. He sank into her easily, and she arched with the pleasure of him filling her so full. She had never felt more complete.
He leaned down to press his forehead against hers, breathing hard.
“You are beautiful,” he said.
“You feel good,” she said, hissing as she took in breath between her teeth, fighting the pressure building behind her eyes. The longer she experienced this euphoria, the less control she had. “You feel...like power.”
He moved slowly at first and she savored every bit of him, but this god was starved, and his thoughtfulness soon gave way to something far more mindless and carnal.
A fierce growl came from deep in his throat, and he leaned into her, kissing and biting her lips, her neck, pumping harder and harder, moving her entire body.
P
ersephone clung to him, her heels dug into him, her nails raked his skin, her fingers twined into his hair—she reached for anything that would ground her to him—to this moment.
Hades braced his hands against the top of her head to keep her from hitting the headboard as he drove into her—the whole bed shook, and the only sounds were their ragged breathing, their soft moans, their desperate attempts to feel more of each other.
Her whole body was electric, fueled by his intoxicating heat and he pushed her further and further until she could hold on no longer. Her final cry of ecstasy gave way to his, and she reveled in the sensation of him pulsing inside her. She would take all of him, drain him.
In the aftermath, they were quiet. Hades’ slick body rested against hers, and he slowly came off his high, as if his consciousness was returning to his body. It was then he seemed to realize he had lost his mind, that he had pumped into her so hard, they were crammed against the headboard.
He studied her and realized she was crying.
“Persephone.” A note of panic colored his voice. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she whispered, and covered her eyes. He hadn’t hurt her, and she didn’t know why she was crying. She just felt extremely emotional. She took in a shaky breath.
“No, you didn’t hurt me.”
After a moment, Hades pried her hand away from her eyes. She met his gaze as he brushed tears from her face.
She was relieved when he didn’t ask any more questions.
He moved to his side, and tucked her against him, covering them both with the blankets. He kissed her hair and whispered, “You are too perfect for me.”
She felt like she had just fallen asleep when Hades sat up beside her. She felt cold immediately and rolled over, half asleep, to reach for him.
“Come back to bed,” she said.
“Get away from my daughter.” Demeter’s voice was deadly.
That roused her immediately. She sat up, clutching her blanket to her chest.
“Mother! Get out!”
Demeter’s chilling gaze fell upon Persephone and she saw the promise of pain—of destruction—in her eyes. She could see the headline now: Olympian Gods Battle, Destroy New Athens.
A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1) Page 26