Page 70 of Learn My Lesson
I have to have them inside me. I can’t wait.
I reach for him, but he catches my wrists. “Ah-ah.”
“But—”
“This is your punishment, love.” He presses a quick kiss to my lips and I shiver at the taste of Hercules. Hades tows me to the edge of the bed and gently guides me to my feet. He looks at me and then at Hercules, who’s already growing hard again, his blue eyes burning with the same desire threatening to incinerate me. “Since apparently I wasn’t clear enough previously, let me elaborate. No fucking. No cocks, no hands, no mouths, no toys.”
“And if we disobey?”
He gives Hercules a long look. “If you disobey, we’ll reschedule the public scene tonight.”
“What?”
His lips curve the tiniest bit. “One day you’ll learn that punishments weren’t created to be enjoyed, little Hercules.” He walks into the bathroom and I hear the sink running. A few minutes later, Hades emerges to find us exactly where he left us. He gives that little smile again. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I sink onto the edge of the mattress the moment the door shuts. “That backfired spectacularly.”
“It always does.” Hercules laughs and rolls off the bed. Thwarted desire doesn’t seem to bother him much, but then he rolls with the punches better than anyone else I know. He kisses me and moves away before I can sink into it. “Let’s take a shower and get ready.”
“I can’t promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
He gives me an arch look over his shoulder. “I guess I’ll have to maintain control for both of us because there’s no way in hell we’re rescheduling tonight. We both know Hades doesn’t bluff.”
The reminder dims my temptation to test our sanctions. Hercules is right. If we keep toeing the line, Hades will slap us down. We’ll deserve it too. Sometimes the pleasure is worth the punishment, but this one won’t be, especially since Hades ensured we took the edge off.
I sigh. “Being responsible is no fun.”
“Aw, Meg.” Hercules takes my hand and pulls me after him into the bathroom. “Don’t be too sad. You get to peg my ass tonight.”
“You’re impossible.” I laugh. “But you’re right. Planning all the delicious things I’m going to do to you is enough to cheer me right up.” I slap his ass and move past him into the shower. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Meg.” He sounds kind of in awe of it, like it just hit him that this is our life and it’s real. We’re real.
We’re happy. Really, really happy.
1 I can’t remember when I wrote this for my Patreon, but obviously I was thinking deeply about The Beast.
2 I just realized this is within the six weeks the doctor told them to hold off having athletic sex. Whoops!
3 His exasperation is deeply sexy to me. I can’t help it.
4 This is the tiniest of nods to Lucivar from The Black Jewels series. Probably my favorite fictional character of all time.
MAKING IT UNDERWORLD OFFICIAL
HERCULES
I’ve been in the public playroom dozens of times since I moved into the Underworld, all without actually playing. It feels different tonight and it’s not just because it’s filled to the brim with powerful people. Each set of couches are filled, and as I follow Hades and Meg on their winding journey to the middle of the room, I belatedly realize that there are exactly the same number of groupings as there are territories in Carver City.
Every territory leader is here tonight.
“Eyes forward, little Hercules.” Hades doesn’t look over his shoulder to ensure I hear his murmur. He simply assumes I’ll hear and obey because any other option is unthinkable. He’s right.
I focus on the middle of his back. He’s wearing one of his customary black-on-black suits and looks particularly dapper tonight. This scene might be for us, but it’s also for show too. Appearances matter. I shift my attention to Meg, which is a mistake because she’s distracting as hell. She’s wearing trousers and a cropped bustier thing that leaves a large swathe of her stomach bare and puts her breasts on display.
A space in the center of the room is cleared except for a St. Andrew’s cross and a chest that isn’t identical to the one in our bedroom but is close enough that I have no doubts about what it contains. My body goes hot and I have to concentrate to muscle down my physical reaction.
Hades motions and I obey instantly, folding into a kneeling position in the center of the space. I swear I can actually feel the attention of everyone in the room as their gazes trace my bare chest and back, examine the tiny black shorts Meg picked out earlier, flick over my thighs and feet. I keep my gaze on the floor in front of me. I’m not running this show, and relief is enough to make me shake. I trust Hades and Meg to take me where I need to, but I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed by the audience.
