A Game of Retribution (Hades Saga #2)(46)

It called to him, the perfect light to his darkness. It sought balance just as he did.

“Now, where are you warm?”

“Everywhere.”

“Imagine all that warmth in your hands. Imagine it glowing. Imagine it so bright you can barely look at it.”

It was how he saw her—a moon, a star, a sun, a sky at the center of his universe.

“Now imagine the light has dimmed, and in the shadow, you see the life you have created.” His lips touched the shell of her ear as he stared at the energy she’d summoned and used to paint a glimmering likeness of the periwinkle and phlox she’d wanted to grow.

“Open your eyes, Persephone.”

Her lashes fluttered as she followed his instruction, inhaling a breath, and as Hades directed her hands to touch the ground, her magic solidified and the flowers became real—living and breathing. He released her hands then but did not put distance between them, watching as she touched one of the petals, smoothing it between her thumb and forefinger.

“Magic is balance,” he said. “A little control, a little passion. It is the way of the world.”

She turned her head only an inch so that her cheek was against his and her body began to tense. His hands were flat against the ground, but he kept his knees up, cradling her. He wondered what she would do. Would she tear away from him? Put distance between them once more?

Instead, she turned and came up to her knees to face him. Her hands went to his shoulders and she stared at him with glassy eyes, but before she could speak, he plowed ahead, needing to speak.

“I love you. I should have reminded you when I brought you here and each day since. Please forgive me.”

“I forgive you, but only if you’ll forgive me. I was angry about Leuce but angrier that you left me that evening to go to her, and I feel so…ridiculous.

I know your reasons and I know you didn’t want to leave me that evening, but I can’t help how I feel about it. When I think about it, I feel… hurt.”

Her admission made his chest hurt and his throat feel tight.

“It pains me to know I hurt you. What can I do?”

“I…don’t know. I suppose what I have done must make up for it. I told you I wouldn’t write about Apollo—I promised you—and then broke that promise.”

All Hades could do was shake his head. “We do not make up for hurt with hurt, Persephone. That is a god’s game. We are lovers.”

“Then how do we make up for hurt?” she asked.

“With time,” he said. “If we can be comfortable being angry with each other for a little while.”

Tears slid down her face, and she whispered, “I don’t want to be angry with you.”

“Nor I with you.” He brushed her tears away. “But it doesn’t change feelings, and it doesn’t mean we can’t care for each other while we heal.”

She swallowed and shook her head. “How is it that I was meant for you?”

Hades frowned. “We’ve discussed this.”

“I just feel so…inexperienced. I am young and rash. How could you want me?” She could not know how those words hurt him.

“Persephone.” He took her hands in his and spoke softly. “First, I will always want you. Always. I failed you here too. I was angry. I didn’t take care of you. I didn’t include you. Don’t put me on a pedestal because you feel guilty for your decisions. Just…forgive yourself so you can forgive me.

Please.”

Her breath shuddered out of her, and his eyes lowered to her lips. He wanted to kiss her, to take her body into his and find the comfort they both needed.

She must have guessed his thoughts, because she moved forward on her knees until she straddled him, her arms twining around his neck.

“I’m sorry. I love you. You can trust me, my word. I—”

“Shh, my darling,” he soothed, his hands moving from her waist to her thighs. “I will forever regret my anger. How could I ever question your love? Your trust? Your word? When you have my heart.”

As his hands moved beneath the hem of her dress, she kissed him and he welcomed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. He had tasted her this way before, but it felt different, far more desperate, far more euphoric. His fingers pressed into her ass as he ground her against his erection, and while he was hungry for release, he was eager to please her more.

His mouth left hers, his tongue trailing along her jaw and neck. “Where are you burning?” he asked.

“Everywhere,” she answered, her breath catching in her throat.

Her hands slipped eagerly beneath his jacket, guiding it off. Impatient, Hades helped, unbuttoning his shirt and shoving it off. With his chest bare, her hands smoothed over his skin. He moved to reach for her, hoping to bring her close once more, but she caught his wrists. Hades’s eyes met hers, brow raised in question.

“Let me pleasure you.” Her words were almost a plea, and he had no energy to deny her. He let her guide him to his back as she hovered over him and kissed him, her body shifting along his hard cock as she made her way there, freeing his sex just to wrap her soft hands around him.

He took a deep breath, and the air that escaped his mouth sounded like a growl.

“Keep looking at me that way, darling. I won’t let you have control for long.”