Page 29 of Powerless
"Don't tell me things like that," I snapped, a knee-jerk reaction.
"Then don't ask questions like those." He nipped at my neck and it was frustrating how good that felt, too.
"Fine. Forget I said anything."
"Mm, can't put that genie back in the bottle now, sugar." He rested his chin on my shoulder as his arms circled around my waist. "Just imagine if there were two or three of me," he added in a sultry whisper.
"What?"
"Four hands massaging you." He began kneading my thighs under the water's surface. "Two mouths kissing all your little hot spots so we don't miss a single one. Roughness and sweetness at the same time. Would you like that?"
"Reaper," I lifted myself away and turned around to face him. "What are you talking about?"
"Pleasing you even more," his voice was thick with desire, "by bringing in another man."
"I don't want another man." The words came out before I could think, and I bit my tongue too late. It wasn't a true confession of anything, but still felt like it all the same.
Reaper cocked an eyebrow. "I don't know if that's entirely true." His fingers skimmed through the water, reaching for my hands. "It's okay, Mari. If you're into one or two of my men, I can work with that."
"What the hell?" I pulled further away, confusion twisting in my gut. "Do you do this with every woman?"
"No." Then softer, "I'veneverdone this before." He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair, making water droplets rain down on his face and shoulders. "And I'm doing a bang-up fucking job, it seems."
"You want to pass me around to your men like a pitcher of beer for what, exactly? So you can have free rein to fuck other women?"
"Fucking Christ, Mari. When have Ieversaid shit about other women? That's not what this is about."
"If you were done with me, you could have just said so." I dug myself into a hole and apparently insisted on digging even deeper. I was being ridiculous, pulling assumptions out of thin air most likely. But it dawned on me I could finally do what escaped me the last few days.
Protect my heart.
"You've got it all wrong, sugar. But fine, have it your way." He leaned back, propping one elbow on the edge of the tub as he looked out the window. "Leave."
I blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in attitude. "What?“
"You want us to be done? Fine. We're done. Get the hell out of my tub."
"I didn't say—“
"Get. Out." He looked at me with pure venom. "Before I do something I regret."
I stood up and stumbled so quickly out of the tub, it was a miracle I didn't slip and fall. Gathering up my clothes, I stole a glance at Hades with his head on his paws and ears back. He looked at me with such sadness with those big soulful eyes. I wanted to give him one last hug for comfort, but didn't dare.
I walked out of the bathroom, feeling crushed under Reaper's hurtful stare, with my clothes bundled against my chest. With shaking hands I got dressed in the bedroom as fast as I could. A high-pitched whine came from the bathroom.
"Hades, stay," Reaper commanded.
So thiswasthe end. He wouldn't even allow me a goodbye with the dog. For some reason, that cut deeper than him telling me to leave.
I hurried out as quickly as my feet could carry me, not caring that my clothes were now wet and I dripped water everywhere. This room was going to suffocate me if I didn't get out.
“Mariposa.”
I froze in my tracks. “What?”
"Leave the door open for the next girl," Reaper called out cruelly.
I placed my hand on the doorknob, gripping it so hard that my palm ached. A white-hot flash of anger brought a moment of clarity to the confusion swirling around in my head.Fuck him if he thinks he can still tell me what to do.
