Page 43 of Raising Hell
“No, you don’t. I could strip and lie on that bed just like you said, and you wouldn’t be actually happy. You want more than a body to love. You want the person, Hades. You wantherto love you back.” I uncrossed my arms and went to him, letting my pity show. “I wish more than anything that she was here so that could still be a possibility for you. But she’s not. She’s gone, Hades, and I’m so very sorry for that.”
The anger slowly faded from his gaze as he studied me.
“I go mad with wanting. Wanting this version of you, the softer, sweeter one that I remember from the beginning, to be real. I don’t care who you are. Goddess… Human… Kiss me. Touch me. Love me.”
“If I do any of that, it would only feed your dream that I am her.”
“Why do you care? What does it matter if I dream of lies?”
“If I give you everything you ask while thinking I’m her, you’ll never let me go.”
He flashed a silent snarl at me and pivoted away.
“The baths were interesting,” I said, hoping to distract him before the building shook again. “Back home, bathing is done alone. Here, it seems like a social gathering more than wash time.”
He paused his pacing to glance at me.
“They haven’t seen each other for a very long time. Do you deny them their unions and conversation?”
“No. I’m just surprised by all the nudity. You didn’t think my sudden interest in the ceiling tiles was genuine after walking through the group of men, did you?”
He slowly turned toward me.
“You noticed their forms?”
“Hold up. You can’t get mad about that when you’re the one who dragged me through there.”
“Did you notice their forms?”
“Seriously? There is zero reason to be jealous. I just told you I was looking at the ceiling instead of what they had wagging about. They obviously didn’t realize aggressively talking with their hands would move things around like they did.”
Hades burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he held his side. And I could only stare. How could he go from accusing jealousy to laughter?
“He’s insane,” I said, more to myself than him. He still heard and closed the distance between us.
“You noticed their forms. Did any please you?”
He sounded happy. Excited even.
“Did you run into a wall again?” I asked.
“No, my beauty.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “No walls.”
“Would you mind telling me what’s going on then? Why laugh when I see some guy’s penis but freak out when I wave at another guy?”
He exhaled slowly and leaned back to look me in the eyes.
“You removed your ability to witness the male form thousands of years ago to punish me. You never again wanted to see the beauty of something that had once caused you so much pain.”
My mouth dropped open. His hungry attention zeroed in on it, and I snapped it closed before he could dip his head and steal the kiss I knew he so desperately wanted.
“I will not waste this gift,” he said, stepping away from me and spreading his arms wide.
“Look upon me. Look upon your king.”
As he spoke, his pants disappeared.
And, gods help me, I looked.
