A Touch of Malice (Hades x Persephone #3)(103)

They sat in the middle of the field, joined, until their breathing eased. After, Persephone stood on wobbly legs. Hades’ held her hands from the ground.

“Are you well?”

She smiled down at him.

“Yes. Very.”

Hades followed her to her feet and restored his appearance. After a moment, he held out his hand.

“Are you ready for bed, my darling?”

“As long as you are coming, too.”

“Of course,” he replied.

As they made their way back through the garden, Hades’ pace slowed to a stop. Persephone looked at him, wary.

“What is it?”

“When you said you wanted to…try…things with me. What things, exactly?”

Persephone’s face flushed—it was ironic, given that they’d just had sex in the field outside the palace.

“What are you willing to teach?” she asked.

“Anything,” he said. “Everything.”

“Perhaps we should begin where we failed,” she answered. “With…bondage.”

Hades stared at her for a long moment, before brushing a piece of her hair from her face.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I will tell you when I feel afraid.”

Hades rested his forehead against hers, and as he spoke, his breath warmed her lips.

“You hold my heart in your hands, Persephone.”

“And your cock, too, apparently,” Hermes said.

They turned to find the God of Mischief standing a few steps away looking thoroughly amused. He was dressed as if he’d stepped out of antiquity, in gold robes that shimmered in the night and sandals that squeezed his calves.

“Hermes,” Hades growled.

“I thought interrupting now was probably better than a few minutes ago,” he said.

“You were watching?” Persephone asked, torn between feeling angry and embarrassed.

“To be fair…you were having sex in the middle of the Underworld,” Hermes pointed out.

“And I have thrown you just as far,” Hades said. “Need a reminder?”

“Ah, no. If you are going to be angry at anyone, be angry at Zeus. He sent me.”

Persephone’s stomach dropped.

“Why?” she asked.

“He’s called for a feast,” he said.

“A feast? Tonight?”

“Yes,” Hermes looked at his wrist, which Persephone noted had no watch. “In exactly an hour.”

“And we must be in attendance?” she asked.

“Well, I didn’t just watch you have sex for nothing,” Hermes said mildly.

Persephone rolled her eyes. “Why must we attend? And why at such short notice?”

“He did not say, but perhaps he has finally decided to bless your union,” Hermes paused to chuckle. “I mean, why would he call for a banquet if he was going to say no?”

“Have you met my brother?” Hades asked, clearly not amused.

“Unfortunately, yes. He’s my father,” Hermes responded, then he clapped his hands together. “Well, I’ll see you two soon.”

Hermes vanished.

Persephone turned fully to Hades.

“Do you think it is true? That he is summoning us to bless our marriage?”

Hades’ jaw visibly relaxed before he answered, “I will not venture to guess.”

To Persephone, that translated to—I will not hope—and she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that it only made her feel more uneasy.

“What do I wear?” Persephone asked.

Hades looked down at her. “Let me dress you.”

She smirked. “Do you really think that is wise?”

“Yes,” he said, drawing her close with an arm around her waist. “For one, it will not take long, which means we have approximately fifty-nine minutes for anything you may desire.”

“Anything?” She asked, leaning close.

“Yes,” Hades breathed.

“Then I desire…a bath.”

While she’d just left them, she had spent the last few minutes rolling around in the grass with Hades. Needless to say, she felt a little dirty.

Hades chuckled. “Coming up, my queen.”



CHAPTER XXX – A FEAST UPON OLYMPUS


Hades walked a circle around Persephone.

She stood still, the center of his world, wearing a gown he had manifested with his magic. It was soft and black, accentuating the curve of her body. An elegant sweetheart neckline, and long, caped sleeves created a regal silhouette. A shiver vibrated down her spine, causing her shoulders to straighten and her back to arch slightly. She thought that Hades might have noticed when he spoke, because his words came out in a low, sensual growl.

“Drop your glamour,” he said.

She obeyed without hesitation, letting her glamour slip away to reveal her Divine form. Like Hades, she didn’t use this form often, save for events in the Underworld. It felt most natural here, among the people who recognized and worshipped her as a goddess.

As Hades came to a stop before her, the force of his presence stole her breath. He was stunning, robed in black and crowned with iron. His bright blue gaze trailed from her horns to her feet, snagging on her breasts and the curve of her hips.