Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(76)

When Persephone nodded Hades hurried over to a squat table that sat between two white satin chaises and poured two glasses of wine from a bottle that had already been opened and placed in an iced container.

Lina smiled her thanks and took the crystal glass that was fil ed with golden liquid. Its fragrance drifted to her and Lina's smile widened.

"Ambrosia!"

"Rumor has it that you are fond of it." His lips twitched.

"Rumor should also have it that sometimes I'm overly fond of it."

"That is our secret." He smiled. Then he cleared his throat and raised his glass to her. "To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings," Lina repeated, touching her glass against his. As they drank their eyes stayed locked together.

Then Hades placed his glass back on the table. Without hesitation, Lina placed hers next to his. The dark God took a deep breath. Then he closed the smal space between them and took her in his arms.

"You are haunting me, Persephone. I cannot breathe without thinking of you." He captured her lips in a hungry kiss. Their bodies pressed together. Al she could think was, ohthank-you-final y! His hardness pulsed against her and she responded with liquid heat. Lina's hands roamed up and across his chest, the width of his leather chiton, and Lina wanted to curse in frustration. She had no idea how to get the thing off him. While his deep kisses sizzled through her blood, she directed her fingers until she final y found the ties that laced the leather together low on his side. She tugged and pulled, and they loosened enough for her to slip her fingers within so that she could stroke the hard muscles of his waist and abdomen.

Hades moaned against her mouth. His hand moved down to cup her curved bottom as he pressed her more firmly against him. Heat flooded his body as he felt her move against him in response. She nibbled on his bottom lip teasingly. Then she pulled back, but only far enough to meet his eyes.

"Take me to bed, Hades." She sounded breathless.

He swal owed, trying to clear the dryness in his throat, and nodded. Then he led her to his bed. Hades parted the silk curtain for her, but he did not fol ow her within. Lying back against his pil ows, Persephone looked beautiful and ultimately desirable. At his hesitation, the Goddess smiled questioningly up at him.

"I must tel you something first." Hades' voice was thick with emotion. "I have never before done this."

"You mean you have never brought a woman to your bedroom before?"

"It is true that I have never brought a mortal woman here, but that is not al that I have never before done."

Lina's eyes widened. "You have never made love?"

Hades' laughter sounded forced and nervous. "I have made love, just never with a goddess." Lina sat up. She wished desperately that she could admit to him the irony of their situation. He was nervous for the same reason she was feeling a herd of butterflies stampeding around in her stomach.

"Truthfully, I haven't been with anyone in quite a while." She reached and touched his hand. His fingers wrapped around hers. "And I can promise you that no god has ever made me feel the way you do."

He sat next to her on the bed, looking at their joined hands.

"When Alcetis cal ed you the Queen of the Underworld I was fil ed with unspeakable pride. To think that others believe that you might belong to me, that you could be content reigning at my side. I cannot conceive of anything that would bring me more joy." She released a long sigh. "I would be proud to be cal ed Queen of the Underworld, but I don't know..." She faltered, trapped between her promise to Demeter and her need to tel Hades the truth.

He cupped her face in his hands. "It is enough for now that I know that the idea is not repel ent to you. Time wil take care of the rest."

She placed her hands over his. "How could your wonderful realm repel me? I adore it," she said hoarsely.

His smile was dazzling, and Lina wondered how it was possible that the other immortals did not see him as she did. Then she was suddenly, fiercely glad that they did not. If they knew, then he wouldn't belong to her; he'd be like the rest of them. Hades kissed her gently, but she could feel the tension in his body through the corded muscles of his arms.

When he spoke his voice had deepened with his breathing. "Show me how to bring you pleasure. Just the thought of you, just a glimpse of your skin, makes my blood heat. But I know desire is not so simple for women." Despite his taut nerves Hades managed a chuckle. "And even with my limited experience I have learned that goddesses are, indeed, much more complex than gods. Teach me how I can flame your desire, Persephone."

Lina's mouth felt dry and she ran her tongue over her lips, feeling a shiver of pleasure as Hades'

gaze became riveted on her mouth.

"You could start by undressing," she said breathlessly.

With no hesitation, Hades pulled off his already loosened chiton, unwrapped his short undertunic and the linen loincloth that Lina had found so enticing when he was dressed only in it at the forge. Tossing his clothes away he stood before her naked. He was magnificent. The rich luster of his skin gilded his muscles, making him look dark and exotic. She had never seen such a beautifully made man. Her eyes traveled down his body and her breath caught in her throat. He was already fully aroused.

Lina felt a heady rush of pleasure at the knowledge that the power of a god was hers to command. She stood, resting her palms against his bare chest. Then, slowly, she drew them across his skin, loving the feel of the hard, well -defined ridges of his chest and arms. When her hands moved down to his lower abdomen, she felt a tremor ran through him.