A Touch of Malice (Hades & Persephone #3)(16)

“But I like this one,” Hermes whined. “It was just getting good.”

She gave him a scathing look.

“Besides, you know Hades is just making a list of all the ways he wants to f—”

“Enough, Hermes!” Persephone got to her feet and made her way down the hallway to the bathroom. She closed the door and sank against it. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she exhaled—it was a failed attempt to release the strange feeling that had been building inside her. She couldn’t describe it, but it felt thick and heavy.

Then the air stirred, and she tensed, feeling Hades’ body cage her own, his cheek touched hers, his breath tickled her ear as he spoke.

“You had to know your actions would ignite me,” his voice was raw and rough, and it made the bottom of her stomach tighten. His body was rigid, a force barely contained.

“When have I left you wanting?”

She swallowed hard and knew he wanted the truth.

“Will you not answer?”

He lifted his hand to her throat—not squeezing but forcing her gaze to his.

“I’d really have rather not found out about your sexual exploits via a game in front of my friends,”

she said.

“So you thought it better to reveal that I had not satisfied you in the same manner?”

Persephone looked away. Hades’ hand was still at her throat, and then he leaned forward, his tongue pressed lightly against her ear.

“Shall I leave no doubt in their minds that I can make you come?”

He lifted her skirt and tore at her lace underwear.

“Hades! We are guests here!”

“Your point?” he asked as he lifted her off the floor, leveraging her weight against the door. His movements were controlled but rough—a peek at the violence awake beneath this skin.

“It’s rude to have sex in someone’s bathroom.”

Hades licked across her mouth before his tongue parted her lips and her protests were drowned as he kissed her hard—to the point where she couldn’t breathe.

Why did I provoke him? Because I wanted this, she thought. I needed this.

She’d wanted to anger him, to feel him rage against her skin until she no longer remembered a past where she did not exist with him.

Her sex clenched as she felt the head of Hades’ cock graze her opening and in the next second, he was fully sheathed. Persephone’s head rolled, and a sound escaped her lips—raw and unabashed, as a wave of pleasure welled inside her.

Then there was a knock on the door.

“I hate to interrupt whatever’s going on in there,” Hermes said. “But I think you two will want to see this.”

“Not now,” Hades growled, his head rested in the crook of Persephone’s neck. His body was hard and rigid. She recognized it for what it was—an attempt at self-control.

It was a trait she wished he’d abandon.

She turned her head toward his, tongue grazing his ear, then her teeth. Hades inhaled; his hands squeezed her ass.

“Okay, first, it’s rude to have sex in other people’s bathrooms,” Hermes said. “Second, it’s about the weather.”

Hades groaned and then growled. “A moment, Hermes.”

“How long is a moment?” he asked.

“Hermes,” Hades warned.

“Okay, okay.”

Once they were alone, Hades left her. She felt his absence immediately—an ache that grew.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath as he restored his appearance.

“I’m sorry,” Persephone said.

Hades’ brows furrowed. “Why are you apologizing?”

She opened her mouth to explain—maybe for her jealousy or because they’d had to stop, or because of the storm—she really didn’t know. She closed her mouth, and Hades leaned toward her.

“I am not upset with you,” he said, and kissed her. “But your mother will regret the interruption.”

Persephone wondered what he meant, but she didn’t question him as they left the bathroom. From the hallway, she could hear the television blaring.

“A severe ice storm warning has been issued for the whole of New Greece.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s started to sleet,” Helen said. She was at the window, the curtains parted.

Persephone approached. She could hear the faint tap of ice as it hit the window. She grimaced.

She’d known the weather would get worse, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

“This is a god,” Ben said. “A god cursing us!”

Persephone met Hades’ gaze. A tense silence filled the room. The mortal turned to Hades, demanding. “Do you deny it?”

“It is not wise to jump to conclusions, mortal,” Hades replied.

“I’m not jumping to conclusions. I have foreseen this! The gods will reign terror down upon us.

There will be despair and destruction.”

The oracles words settled in the bottom of Persephone’s stomach like a stone, cold and heavy.

Despite the fact that she thought he was insane, she could not deny that what he spoke was completely possible.

“Careful with your words, oracle.” It was Hermes who spoke this time. It was unnerving, seeing him so severe, so offended, and the tone of his voice sent shivers down Persephone’s spine.