A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(87)

Silence fell between them, and they walked a little further before Hades came to a stop. Persephone turned to look at him when he said, “Teach me.”

She stared at him for a moment, stunned. “What?”

“Teach me,” he said. “To bake something.”

She couldn’t help it, she laughed and he raised a brow, not amused.

“I’m sorry—I’m just imagining you in my kitchen.”

“And that’s difficult?”

“Well...yeah. You’re the God of the Underworld.”

“And you’re the Goddess of Spring,” he said. “You stand in your kitchen and make cookies. Why can’t I?”

She couldn’t take her eyes off him. It wasn’t until now that she realized something had changed between them. It had been happening gradually, but today, it hit her hard.

She was in love with him.

She hadn’t realized she was frowning until he touched her face, brushing her cheek with his finger.

“Are you well?”

She smiled. “Very well.” She stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his mouth, pulling away. “I’ll teach you.”

Hades smiled, too. “Well, then. Let’s get started.”

“Wait. You want to learn now?”

“Now is as good a time as any,” he said.

She opened her mouth to argue that she didn’t have the right supplies to do this in the Underworld, when Hades said, “I thought maybe...we could spend time at your apartment.”

She stared at him, and he shrugged. “You’re always in the Underworld.”

“You...want to spend time in the Upperworld? In my apartment?”

He just stared at her—he’d already told her exactly what he wanted to do.

“I...have to prepare Lexa for your arrival.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll have Antoni drop you off,” he said and looked down at his suit. “I need to change.”

Persephone had no difficulty convincing Lexa to have Hades over for an evening of food, baking, and movies. In fact, she screamed when she brought it up, which caused Jaison to run out of her room armed with a lamp.

His blue-grey eyes were wide and his dark brown curls wild. He looked ready for a fight, and when the girls saw him, they laughed.

Jaison lowered the lamp.

“I heard someone scream,” he explained.

“And you were going to save me with a lamp?” Lexa asked.

“It was the heaviest thing I could find,” he said defensively.

They laughed again and Persephone explained why Lexa was screaming. Jaison rubbed the back of his neck. “Wow, Hades, huh?”

“Yes, Hades!” Lexa was thrilled, and then she reached for Jaison’s hand. “Come on! We have to clean the living room. He’s going to think we’re peasants.”

Persephone smiled as the two disappeared into the adjoining room. Jaison was still in possession of the lamp.

While they cleaned, she changed and shortly after, the doorbell rang. Despite all the time she’d spent with Hades, her heart still hammered in her chest as she went to answer the door.

Hades arrived in a black shirt that fit his muscles like a dream, and loose sweat pants. Persephone was shocked by his appearance. The manicured god could dress down and he was still magnificent.

“Did you own those before today?” she asked, pointing to the pants.

Hades looked down at them, grinning.

“No.”

She let him in, and felt slightly embarrassed. This apartment was way too small for him—he was nearly as wide as the doorway, and he had to duck to enter. Persephone frowned.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said quickly, and moved around him. She brought him into the living room where Lexa and Jaison had finished cleaning and now lounged on the couch.

She felt awkward introducing Hades.

“Um, Hades this is Lexa my best friend and Jaison, her boyfriend.”

Jaison waved from the couch, but Lexa got to her feet and hugged Hades around the middle. Persephone’s brows rose. She was impressed with Lexa’s fearlessness, and by Hades’ reaction. He didn’t seem surprised at all, and returned Lexa’s hug.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

“Very few have ever spoken those words,” he told her.

Lexa pulled away and grinned. “So long as you treat my best friend right, I’ll continue to be happy to see you.”

Hades lips curled.

“Noted, Lexa Sideris,” he said, and gave a little bow. “May I say, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Lexa blushed.

Damn, the Lord of the Underworld was charming.

Persephone took Hades into her kitchen. It was small for her and Lexa, even tinier with him. His head practically touched the ceiling, but his height came in handy, as much of what Persephone needed was on the top shelf in her cabinets.

“Why do you put everything up so high?” he asked as he helped retrieve her supplies.

“It’s the only place it will fit. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t live in a palace.”

He gave her a look as if to say, I could change that.

When everything was on the counter, Hades turned to look at her. “What would you do without me?”