A Game of Retribution (Hades Saga #2)(26)

Her eyes brightened, and a beautiful smile broke across her face.

“Tell me,” he said, rounding the desk to be closer to her. “What else can I share with you now?”

She had turned toward him as he approached, and a pleasing tension grew between them. Persephone hesitated for a moment, then touched the picture on his desk.

“Where did you get this?”

He wasn’t sure why he stayed quiet so long. Perhaps it was because he could not read exactly how she felt about the photo, but it also meant revealing a part of himself he had never shared with anyone at all.

“I took it.”

“When?” A note of surprise colored her voice.

He smirked, humored. “Obviously when you weren’t looking.”

She rolled her eyes, and he drew closer. He wanted to take her mouth into a punishing kiss and worship her on this desk, though he knew her thoughts were much more wholesome.

“Why do you have pictures of me and I do not have pictures of you?”

“I did not know you wanted pictures of me.”

“Of course I want pictures of you.”

“I may be able to oblige. What kind of pictures do you want?”

“You are insatiable,” she said, hitting his shoulder playfully.

Hades’s hands locked on her waist, and he pulled her toward him, their bodies colliding hip to hip. “And you are to blame, my queen,” he said, mouth falling to her neck, his tongue touching her skin as he kissed down to her shoulder. “I’m glad you are here.”

“I couldn’t tell,” she said mildly. A tremor made her body vibrate beneath his hands.

He pulled back, but only enough to meet her gaze. His mouth lingered near hers as he spoke, hushed. “I’ve wanted to pleasure you in this room, on this desk, since I met you. It will be the most productive thing that happens here.”

“You have glass walls, Hades.” Her tone matched his, wavering.

“Are you trying to deter me?”

She tilted her head, her hands pressing into his chest, not to push him away but because he was holding her tighter.

“Exhibitionist?”

“Hardly.” He was not interested in sharing in any form, and he had said so before. He bent closer, his lips brushing hers as he spoke. “Do you really think I would let them see you? I am too selfish. Smoke and mirrors, Persephone.”

He liked the way she stared at him now. A light burned behind her eyes, and he knew she was aroused. He could sense it in how her body arched to his, the way her magic started to scent. She stared at him, then focused on his mouth and whispered, “Then take me.”

He was not one to deny her command, and as his arm tightened around her waist, intent on lifting her to the desk and calling up his glamour, someone cleared their throat.

Their heads whipped toward the door to find Lexa standing there, smiling.

“Hey, Hades,” she said brightly. “Hope you don’t mind. I brought Persephone for a tour.”

Persephone pushed against him to create distance, and he worked to stifle his disappointment.

“I have to get back to work,” she said, making her way to the door, but before she left, she turned to look back at him.

He realized he saw her nearly every day, had memorized every curve and detail of her body, yet she somehow still managed to arrest him.

“I’ll see you tonight?”

He would never say no, despite all the fires raging around him at the moment, and when he nodded, he knew he had made the right decision because she smiled so bright, it made his heart race.

After she left, Hades remained standing for a few minutes before sinking into the chair behind his desk. His gaze fell to the picture of Persephone, which he straightened, then he leaned back and closed his eyes, waiting for his lust to subside.

“There you are!”

“Go away,” Hades groaned.

“Excuse the interruption, my lord, but you are rarely here,” said Katerina.

Hades opened his eyes and stared at the director. Her eyes were lively, and she seemed far more energetic than usual, which was saying something, because she was always rather enthusiastic. It made her a better leader, as she was able to motivate people to do just about anything.

Even Hades.

“Which is why I have you,” he replied. “Actually, though, I may have something for you.”

He summoned Ariadne’s file, and Katerina approached.

“I need to know if any of these women sought sanctuary at Hemlock Grove,” Hades said, which was a safe house operated by Hecate. Katerina, like many of his staff, volunteered there.

Katerina frowned as she leafed through page after page of missing women. “There are so many,” she said.

“A true tragedy,” Hades said, and he meant it.

Katerina hugged the folder to her chest. “I’ll work on this today,” she said. “While you are here, I need your approval on a few things.”

“Fine,” Hades replied. “As long as it doesn’t take long.”





Chapter VIII

Secrets Unravel

It was two hours before Hades was finished signing off on designs and approving new fundraising opportunities for the Halcyon Project. As he went to leave, he dropped everything by Katerina’s office. She was hard at work, Ariadne’s folder open on her desk.