A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(53)

“Like what? You cannot expect me to understand if you don’t explain anything.” She’d taken a step toward him, even though some part of her knew it was dangerous. Whatever Hades had gone through in the night was still racing through his mind.

“I expect that you will trust me,” he said, standing. The admission shocked her. Then he added, “And if not me, then my power.”

She hadn’t even considered his powers—the ability to see the soul for what it was—raw and burdened. What did he see when he looked at Adonis?

A thief, she thought. A manipulator.

Hades put distance between them, refilling his glass at the small bar in his room.

“I thought you were jealous!” Hades was about to take a drink, but he paused to laugh. She was both angry and hurt at his dismissal.

“Don’t pretend you don’t get jealous, Hades. Adonis kissed me last night.”

Hades slammed the glass down. “Keep reminding me, Goddess, and I’ll reduce him to ash.

“So, you are jealous!” she accused.

“Jealous?” he questioned, and stalked toward her. “That...leech...touched you after you told him no. I have sent souls to Tartarus for less.”

She recalled Hades anger at Duncan, the ogre who had laid his hands on her, and she realized that was why he was on edge. He probably did want to find Adonis and incinerate him.

“I’m...sorry,” she wasn’t sure what to say, but his distress seemed so great, she thought she might ease it with an apology. She only made it worse.

“Don’t you dare apologize,” he said, and cupped her face. “Not for him. Never for him.”

He studied her and then whispered, “Why are you so desperate to hate me?”

Her brows came together, and she covered his hands with her own.

“I don’t hate you,” she said quietly, and Hades stiffened, tearing away from her. The violence with which he moved surprised her and the anger and tension she’d seen in him this morning returned.

“No? Shall I remind you? Hades, Lord of the Underworld, Rich One, and arguably the most hated god among mortals, exhibits a clear disregard for mortal life.”

He quoted her article word for word, and Persephone cringed. How many times had he read it? How he must have seethed.

Hades jaw worked. “This is what you think of me?”

She opened her mouth and closed it before deciding to explain, “I was angry—”

“Oh, that is more than obvious,” Hades’ voice was sharp.

“I didn’t know they would publish it!”

“A scathing letter illustrating all of my faults? You didn’t think the media would publish it?”

She glared at him. “I warned you.”’

It was the wrong thing to say.

“You warned me?” He set his gaze upon her, dark and angry. “You warned me about what, Goddess?”

“I warned you that you would regret our contract.”

“And I warned you not to write about me,” he stepped closer to her, and she didn’t back down, tilting her head to keep his gaze.

“Perhaps in my next article, I’ll write about how bossy you are,” she said.

“Next article?”

“You didn’t know? I’ve been asked to write a series on you.”

“No,” he said.

“You can’t say no. You’re not in control here.”

“And you think you are?”

“I’ll write the articles, Hades, and the only way I’ll stop is if you let me out of this Gods-damned contract!”

Hades went rigid, and then he hissed, “You think to bargain with me, Goddess?” The heat coming off him was almost unbearable. He inched forward—it wasn’t like he had much space—he was already so close to her. She stuck out one hand, clutching the sheet to her body with the other.

“You’ve forgotten one important thing, Lady Persephone. To bargain, you need to have something I want.”

“You asked me if I believed what I wrote!” She argued. “You care!”

“It’s called a bluff, darling.”

“Bastard,” she hissed. Hades reached out, burying his hand in her hair, he hauled her against him and pulled her head back so that her throat felt taunt. It was savage and possessive and she craved him.

“Let me be clear—you bargained and you lost. There is no way out of our contract unless you fulfill its terms. Otherwise, you remain here. With me.”

“If you make me your prisoner, I will spend the rest of my life hating you.”

“You already do.”

She flinched again. She didn’t like that he thought that and kept saying it, finding herself asking a similar question to the one he had offered earlier.

“Do you really believe that?”



He didn’t answer, just offered a mocking laugh, and then pressed a hot kiss to her mouth before tearing away viciously.

“I will erase the memory of him from your skin.”

She was surprised by his ferocity, but it thrilled her. He tore away the silk sheet and she stood naked before him. He lifted her off the ground and she wrapped her legs around his waist without a second thought. He gripped her bottom tight and kissed her. The friction of his clothes against her bare skin drove her to the edge, and liquid heat pooled at her core. Persephone raked her hands into Hades’ hair, grazing his scalp as she freed his long strands, gripping it hard in her hands. She pulled his head back and kissed him hard and deep. A guttural sound escaped Hades’ mouth, and he moved, backing her into the bedpost, grinding into her hard. His teeth grazed her skin, biting and sucking. It kept her from breathing, eliciting gasps from deep in her throat.