A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(44)

Maybe it had something to do with all the emotion she had invested in that moment in the dining room. It was all so…intense, and the aftermath left her feeling unfulfilled, neglected.

“It pains me to know I hurt you. What can I do?”

She was surprised by that question. “I…don’t know. I suppose what I have done must make up for it. I told you I wouldn’t write about Apollo—I promised you—and broke that promise.”

Hades shook his head. “We do not make up for hurt with hurt, Persephone. That is a god’s game—we are lovers.”

“Then how do we make up for hurt?” she asked.

“With time,” he answered. “If we can be comfortable being angry with one another for a little while.”

Persephone frowned, and the tears she thought had all dried up came again as she whispered, “I don’t want to be angry with you.”

“Neither do I,” he said, reaching to brush the tears away. “But it doesn’t change feelings and it doesn’t mean we can’t care for each other while we heal.”

Persephone stared at Hades and started to shake her head. “How is it that I was meant for you?”

Hades brows drew together. “We’ve discussed this.”

He didn’t sound angry, but she also knew this discussion had come up before and it hadn’t gone all that well, so she explained.

“I just feel so…inexperienced. I am young and rash and how could you want me?”

She choked on the words and covered her mouth to smother the emotion.

“Persephone,” Hades said gently, he covered her hand with his. “First, I will always want you. Always. I failed you here, too. I was angry, I didn’t take care of you, I didn’t include you. Don’t put me on a pedestal because you feel guilty for your decisions. Just…forgive yourself so you can forgive me. Please.”

She took a breath and bit her lip. Hades’ eyes fell to her mouth. Everything inside her was suddenly fire.

He was right. He hadn’t taken care of her and that’s what she’d craved. Despite their shared anger, she’d wanted him—his heat, his violence, his love.

She closed the distance between them, straddling him as they sat on the ground beneath the silver trees. Hades’ hands settled on her hips.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Her gaze was level with his, and his dark eyes reached deep. She knew he could see clear to her soul. “I love you. You can trust me, my word. I—”

“Shh, my darling,” he said, his mouth was inches from hers, his hands trailed up her thighs, and beneath her dress. Her stomach tightening with anticipation.

“I will forever regret my anger. How could I ever question your love? Your trust? Your word? When you have my heart.”

She kissed him, her tongue demanded entrance, and Hades gave it. Persephone’s hands tangled into his hair, pulling hard, she climbing up his body, kissing harder and deeper, bruising him as she bit his lips and sucked his tongue.

She was ruthless, but so was Hades.

“Where are you burning?” he asked.

“Everywhere,” she answered.

She pushed his jacket off his shoulders and Hades took over, shoving it aside as she unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest. She pulled away to admire him. He tried to reach for her, but she stopped him.

“Let me pleasure you.”

He didn’t speak, but his eyes burned, and that was enough of an answer. She guided him to his back and kissed his lips before working her way down the planes of his muscled chest, following the line of hair from his stomach until it disappeared beneath his slacks where his cock strained against the fabric. She unbuttoned them and wrapped her fingers around his warm, velvet flesh, and as she stroked him, she bit down on her lip, ready to taste him.

Hades growled.

“Keep looking at me that way, darling. I won’t let you have control for long.”

She raised a challenging brow and then took him into her mouth. Hades hissed as she circled the head of his cock with her tongue and took him deeper into her mouth. He groaned when he hit the back of her throat, his fingers twisting tightly into her hair. He seemed to grow larger, filling her mouth tighter as she moved him in and out.

“Fuck,” Hades’ curse encouraged her, and she moved faster, using her hands and her tongue. He came with a roar, and his come filled her mouth—salty and sweet. His smell filled her nose, a mixture of spice and chlorine. She took her time savoring him, licking every part of him clean until he dragged her up his body and brought her lips to his, rolling so that she was beneath him.

“Such a gift,” he said, inches from her mouth. “How shall I repay you?”

“Gifts don’t require payment, Hades.”

“Another gift, then,” he offered, and took her mouth in a searing kiss. He laid her bare beneath the trees and worshipped her body until the sky was full of stars, glowing full and bright with Hades’ magic.





CHAPTER XI - UNRAVELING


Persephone draped herself over Hades’ naked body and rested her head on his chest. She reveled in the feel of him against her. It was like coming home after all those nights she’d spent alone. They’d just come from the bathes after making love in the grove. Her body felt warm and limber, and her eyes were heavy with sleep. She should have succumbed, lulled by the soft circles Hades was tracing on her back and the smell of salt on his skin.