A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(114)

“I am Hades’ fiancée,” she said. “I visit Elysium often.”

Lexa giggled. “I’ve noticed.”

That also surprised her. “Have you?”

“I always notice Thanatos,” she said, blushing.

Suddenly Persephone wondered if souls could have crushes.

“If you are Lord Hades’ fiancée, then you will be queen.”

“I suppose I will.”

“Then you will have a crown and a throne,” she said. Persephone laughed. It was such a Lexa thing to say.

“I already have two crowns.”

Lexa’s eyes widened a little. “You must bring them,” she said. “I have always wanted to wear a crown.”

Persephone’s brows knitted together. “Since when?”

She shrugged. “Since...I came here. Will there be a wedding?”

Persephone sighed. “Yes, but I must admit, I haven’t thought much about planning.”

Between Lexa’s death and her abduction, things had been a little hectic.

“You will be a beautiful bride,” Lexa said. “A beautiful queen.”

Persephone blushed. “Thank you.”

Their conversation continued well into the afternoon. She probably would have stayed longer, but Hecate appeared and summoned her away.

“I must go,” Persephone said, rising to her feet. “I have to get ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“There is a gala tonight,” she said, and then grinned. “You would love it. There will be gods and goddesses, pretty dresses, and dancing.”

She would love it because it was the event she’d been working on before her accident. An advocacy dinner for The Halcyon Project, and it was being hosted at the Olympian, one of Hera’s hotels, a building Lexa had always admired for its beauty and architecture.

And because it was where most gods stayed when they visited New Athens.

“You must come back and tell me all about it,” Lexa answered.

Persephone smiled. “Of course. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

When Persephone returned to the palace, Hecate and her lampades helped her dress.

Hecate had chosen a red, off-the-shoulder gown. The top was lace and the skirt was full and made of layers and layers of tulle. Persephone loved the silhouette. It made her feel like a princess. The lampades smoothed her hair into soft, glamour curls, and applied natural makeup.

“We will let your beauty speak for itself,” Hecate said, looking at Persephone’s reflection as the goddess helped her accessorize with gold jewels and shoes.

She smiled. “Thank you, Hecate.”

“Of course, my dear.”

Hecate left when Hades appeared. He stayed near the door, admiring her from afar. He was dressed in a tailored, black suit—his signature color. His hair was slicked back, and his beard shaved close. He was handsome and regal, and he belonged to her.

That thought sent a wave of warmth through her.

“You look lovely,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling. “So do you. I mean...you look handsome.”

He chuckled and extended his hand. “Shall we?”

He drew her flush against him, wrapping a hand around her waist as he teleported to the surface where Antoni waited for them outside Nevernight.

As Persephone slid into the backseat of Hades’ limo, she laughed.

“And what is so amusing?”

“You know we could just teleport to the Olympian.”

“I thought you wanted to live a mortal existence when in the Upperworld,” Hades countered.

“Perhaps I am only eager to begin our night together,” she said, looking at him through her lashes. The tension in the cabin thickened, and Hades’ eyes glittered.

“Why wait?” he asked.

She moved first, grabbing layers of her dress so she could straddle him.

“Who chose this dress?” Hades asked, pushing aside the mountain of tulle that bloomed between them.

“You don’t like it?” she pouted.

“I’d really rather have access to your body,” Hades said.

“Are you asking me to dress for sex?”

Hades smirked. “It will be our secret.”

They kissed, and Persephone’s hands drifted down Hades’ chest to the waistband of his slacks. She unbuttoned them and freed his sex, stroking him as her tongue explored his mouth.

He groaned, and Persephone’s lips left his to trail down his jaw and neck.

“I need you,” he growled. “Now.”

He was hard as a rock, and Persephone’s breath caught in her throat, anticipating how he would feel inside her. She lifted herself, guiding his cock to her entrance and sank onto him.

They groaned and rocked together in the dark of the limo.

“You have ruined me,” Hades said. “This is all I ever think about.”

“Sex?” She laughed, holding him close, loving the feel of his breath on her skin as he spoke.

“You,” he said, his hands moved up, beneath her dress until he held her hips. “Being inside you, the feel of you gripping my cock, the way you tighten around me just before you come.”

She shivered. “You just described sex, Hades.”