Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(52)

Lina felt a jolt of recognition. It was Hades. Of course she'd already thought of him as handsome, and she had definitely been attracted to him... but... but... merda! She'd had no idea just how scrumptious he was. Until then he had always been so... fully dressed. Her mouth felt dry. He was so... so... not dressed. And muscular. And absolutely the sexiest thing she had ever seen. Apol o had been almost as scantily clad, but seeing Hades nearly naked was different. The God of Light was handsome, but his beauty was a tame kitten compared to Hades' wild and feral masculinity. Seeing him so gloriously sweaty and under-clothed cal ed awake fantasies within Lina that she thought she had permanently put to sleep.

Fantasies... charmed like a cobra, Lina stared at the God. Fantasies... she felt an ache deep within her body. It had been so long. Her thoughts flew free. If only Hades would stroke her with the same intensity with which he was working metal against metal. He looked so incredibly powerful. Lina shivered and imagined hot, sweaty flesh against hot, sweaty flesh. If only...

When she was younger Lina had dreamed about being passionate and unrestrained in bed; she had longed for it. Instead of finding a partner who matched her desires, she had married a man who thought quantity in bed equated to quality. So they "did it" a lot, quickly, and with boring regularity. Her husband didn't have the imagination or the inclination to experiment with passion. At some point in her marriage Lina's fantasies had died in a bed of boredom, and by that time she had hardly noticed their passing. Of course she had had lovers before and after her husband, not many - but enough. Long ago she had resigned herself to the fact that she seemed only to attract men who were more cerebral than sensuous. Her love life had been a bust. So it was with unexpected intensity that Hades' body resurrected her youthful fantasies. Not realizing he was being watched, Hades wiped his dripping face with the back of one hand and straightened, stretching his back to first flex and then release his massive shoulders. A little aching sound slipped from Lina's throat.

His head snapped around, and he saw her. She was standing near the doorway with a peculiar look on her beautiful face. Pleasure flushed his already heated body; she was wearing his narcissus in her hair.

Lina licked her lips and cleared her throat. "Um, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You haven't." He set aside the tongs and wiped his hands on a piece of cloth. Her voice sounded odd, like she was having trouble breathing. Perhaps the return ride from the World of the Living had taxed her strength. Concerned and wishing to put her at ease, he made a welcoming gesture with his hand. "Please, come in."

Lina walked toward him, trying to keep from staring at his chest. His bronzed skin was slick and inviting. Muscles... she wanted to moan with pleasure and run her hands up and down his sweaty torso. Act your age! she mental y scolded herself.

"I wanted to thank you for sending Orion after me."

She seemed breathless and maybe even a little jittery, which he found strange. What was bothering the Goddess? "He was happy to be of service to you." Lina's hormones shouted that they wished Hades would service her, but her voice was better behaved. "If you wouldn't mind, I would love to ride Orion again."

"I would not mind." Hades hesitated. Keep talking, don't stand there like a mute fool, his mind commanded. "I am quite sure that Orion would be pleased. Of course, there are three other steeds who wil be clamoring jealously for your attention, too," he said, wiping the back of his hand across his brow again.

His movement caused a single bead of sweat to slide from his neck. Lina watched as it traveled with agonizing slowness down his chest and over the well -defined ridges of his abdomen to disappear enticingly under his loincloth.

Her mind refused to formulate a response. Al she could do was stand there, speechless, and stare at the damp path the drop left on his glistening skin, wishing with X-rated intensity that she could fol ow it with her tongue.

"Persephone? I only meant to jest with you. Of course you may ride Orion," Hades assured her. Why was she not speaking? It was certainly not like her to be silent.

"Th-thank you." Lina's eyes snapped up to his face. "I'm sorry. I guess my thoughts are elsewhere." Hades nodded with sudden understanding. "Of course, it has been a difficult day." He looked down at her sheepishly. "I asked Iapis to report to me if Aeneas had entered Elysia."

"Real y?" Hades' words pul ed her interest from his body. "And what did he say?"

"I appear to owe you a crystal chandelier. The warrior's soul is, indeed, resting in the Elysian Fields. And, just as you predicted, he has only recently entered the Underworld." Concern wrinkled her smooth brow. "What are you going to do about Dido?" The God sighed and wiped another trail of sweat from his cheek. "I wil not rescind my decision. I suppose I must have Iapis keep watch on her and..." he broke off. The Goddess's instincts about Dido had been correct. Why not get her input? He gave her an appraising look. "What would you suggest I do, Persephone?"

Lina felt a little flutter of pleasure; Hades valued her opinion. "Wel , I don't think it's wise to leave them in Elysia together. Dido wil never get over him like that." Absently, she tugged at one long lock of hair as she considered what to do with the spirit. "I'm assuming that you don't want to send Aeneas out of Elysia?"

"No. The warrior has earned his paradise."