A Touch of Darkness (Hades x Persephone #1)(88)

“Get it myself,” she said simply.

Hades snorted. She turned to face him, and found he was leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. He was absolutely breathtaking and she wanted to laugh because he was standing in her ugly kitchen making cookies.

“Well, get over here. You can’t learn from there.”

Hades raised a brow, smirking, and approached. She hadn’t expected him to stand so close, but he came up behind her, cradling her body with his, hands braced on either side of her.

His mouth touched her ear, warm and honeyed. “Please, instruct.”

She took a breath and cleared her throat. “The most important thing to remember when baking is that the ingredients have to be measured and mixed right or it could mean disaster.”

His lips brushed along her neck and then her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat, and she clear her throat.

“Scratch that. The most important thing to remember is to pay attention.”

She glared at him over her shoulder while he tried to look innocent. She reached for the measuring cup, and handed it to him.

“First, flour,” she said.

Hades took the cup and measured out the required amount of flower. He kept his arms around her, working almost as if she weren’t there. Except that she knew he did because she could feel his body hardening against hers.

“Next?”

Concentrate, she commanded herself. She cleared her throat.

“Baking soda.”

He continued like that until all the ingredients were in the bowl and mixed. Persephone took that opportunity to duck under his arm, reaching for a cookie sheet and a spoon. She instructed Hades to form the dough into balls no more than an inch in diameter and place them on the sheet.

After the cookies were in the oven, Hades turned to her, expectantly, but she was already prepared for him.

“We make icing.” She rubbed her hands together. This was the best part. Hades raised a brow, clearly amused.

Persephone began to instruct again, and Hades listened, mixing ingredients. The fun came when they divided the icing into separate bowls and mixed food coloring into it. Persephone was not the cleanest baker, and by the time they were finished incorporating all the colors, her fingers were covered in icing.

Hades noticed and reached for her hand.

“How does it taste?” he asked, and drew her fingers deep into his mouth, sucking it clean. He groaned, “Delicious.”

She flushed, and drew her hand away.

There was a long pause, and Hades asked, “Now what?”

Their eyes met.

Hades took two steps, planted his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the counter. She yelped and then laughed, drawing him close as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her hungrily, tilting her head back so he could reach deep into her mouth—but it was short-lived because Lexa came into the kitchen and cleared her throat.

Persephone broke the kiss while Hades head fell into the crook of her neck.

“Lexa,” Persephone said, clearing her throat. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering if you guys wanted to watch a movie?”

“Say no,” Hades whispered against her ear. Persephone laughed and asked, “What movie?”

“Clash of the Titans?”

Hades snorted and drew away from her, looking at Lexa. “Old or new?”

“Old.”

He considered, tilting his head. “Fine,” and then he cleared his throat, kissing Persephone on the cheek. “Going to need a minute.”

He left the kitchen, and Persephone stayed seated on the counter, kicking her legs back and forth. When Hades was out of sight, Lexa started.

“Okay, first. Not in the kitchen! Second, he’s completely in love with you.”

Persephone’s cheeks heated. “Stop, Lexa.”

“Girl, he worships you.”

Persephone ignored Lexa and started cleaning up. Once the cookies were done, she left them to cool and the four settled in to watch the movie. Persephone cuddled next to Hades. It was there, nestled against him, that she realized how weird her life had become since she met the God of the Underworld, and yet she had some of her happiest times with him. This was one. He was willing to try mortal things with her. He had wanted to do the things that made her happy and learn them. She giggled at the thought of him in the kitchen, mittens on, trying to retrieve the hot pan of cookies from the oven.

Hades armed tightened around her, and he whispered against her ear. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You can’t possibly know.”

“After what I put myself through this evening, I’m sure there are several things you are laughing at.”

It wasn’t long before she fell asleep. At some point, Hades

lifted her and carried her to her bedroom. “Don’t leave,” she said, sleepily.

“I’m not.” He kissed her forehead. “Sleep.”

She woke to Hades hot mouth on her skin and she groaned, reaching for him. He kissed her urgently, like he hadn’t tasted her in weeks, before trailing his lips along her jaw, her throat, her chest. Then his fingers found the hem of her shirt. She arched her back and helped him pull it over her head. Tossing it aside, he descended, caressing her breasts with his hands and his tongue. It wasn’t long before she wiggled out of her pants and he parted her center, tasting her with his mouth. His thumb worked that sensitive bundle of nerves, sending her into delirious bliss.