A Touch of Ruin (Hades x Persephone #2)(61)

She gasped when his hand dipped between her thighs, her back arched as his fingers teased. She was molten for him—she didn’t even need the foreplay.

Hades inhale was a hiss. “So fucking wet. How long have you been like this?”

A moan stuck in her throat as she answered.

“Since I got here,” she said. “I wanted you on the dance floor. I willed you to manifest from the dark, but you weren’t there.”

“I’m here now,” he said, and bent to kiss her shoulder, down her back, and then her bottom all the while his finger curled, going deeper while his other hand worked her clit in soft, aching circles. She could barely breathe, focusing on the feel of him inside her, mindless with need.

“Hades,” she begged. “Please.”

He withdrew and Persephone gave a frustrated cry. She started to twist toward him. She felt rabid. She needed release and if he would not offer it, she would chase it herself.

But Hades’ hands clamped down on her hips.

“Stay,” he commanded, and she glared at him in the mirror.

He offered a devilish smirk. “It wouldn’t be punishment if I gave you what you wanted when you demand it.”

She stuck her chin out and said, “Don’t pretend you don’t want me.”

“Oh, I’m not pretending,” he said as he unzipped his trousers, took out his cock, and entered her from behind. Persephone’s breath caught in her throat. Was it possible Hades was somehow thicker? She took him in one, quick thrust, a guttural sound escaped her throat as he pumped into her.

At first it was like Hades wasn’t sure what to touch—his hands clasped her breasts, her stomach, her hips. Then he wrapped a fistful of her long hair around his hand like a bandage and pulled her head back so he could kiss her mouth. When he released her, his thrusts became languid and she felt him in the bottom of her stomach.

“This is for us,” he said. “You will share this with no one else.”

All Persephone could manage was a breathy whine. She felt the intensity of his words like she felt the rawness of his sex inside her. His arm cut into her stomach as he held her in place, and her nails dug into his skin.

“Some things are sacred to me,” Hades’ breath grew ragged, but he kept speaking, his words interlaced with Persephone’s moans. “This is sacred to me. You are sacred to me. Do you understand?”

Persephone nodded, sweat beading on her forehead and her brows drew together in a hard line. She was barely holding onto her sanity.

“Say it,” he ordered. “Say you understand.”

“Yes,” she sobbed. “Yes, gods-dammit. I understand! Make me come, Hades!”

The god spun her around to face him and kissed her, pressing her into the mirror, savoring her mouth before lifting her and entering her again.

Persephone groaned, fingers twining into his hair, and when he pulled away, his eyes glittered.

“I have never loved anyone as I love you.” He spoke like he was confessing. “I can’t put it into words—there are none that come close to expressing how I feel.”

Persephone tightened her hold on him, bending toward his lips.

“Then don’t use words,” she said.

Their lips collided and they slid to the floor. Persephone’s knees were bent, pressing into the hard marble floor as she straddled Hades, but she didn’t even notice, too focused on the pleasure building inside her. She twined her fingers with Hades, and guided his arms over his head, rocking against him.

“Fuck,” Hades cursed, breaking her hold. He gripped her hips and helped her move faster, harder. Their eyes held until the pleasure became too much. Persephone’s head lulled back as she came, and Hades followed soon after.

Persephone collapsed onto his chest, breathless and sated, comforted by the feel of Hades’ arms around her. They didn’t speak for a long time—not until their breathing had evened and their hearts had stopped racing.

Hades broke the silence.

“Marry me.”

Persephone sat back. Hades was still hard inside her, and the movement made eyes glittering like coals.

“What?”

There was no way she heard him correctly.

“Marry me, Persephone. Be my queen. Say you’ll stand by my side...forever.”

He was serious and she was...confused. Not about her love for Hades—but so many other things.

“Hades...I....” she couldn’t figure out what to say. “You were just angry with me.”

He shrugged. “And now I am not.”

“And you want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

She stood, stumbling back as her legs struggled to hold her up. Hades held out his hands to help steady her, but she refused them.

“I can’t marry you, Hades,” she answered, her eyes were welling with tears. “I…I don’t know you.”

Hades brows knitted together. “You know me.”

“No, I don’t,” she argued, indicating to her surroundings. “You kept this place from me.”

Hades dipped his chin, eyes narrowed. “Persephone, I have lived forever. There will always be things you learn about me and you should know you won’t like some of them.”

“This isn’t one of those things, Hades. This place is real, and it exists in the present. You hired Leuce to work here. I deserved to know just as I deserved to know about Leuce!”