Page 8 of Raising Hell
“You just want to see me naked again.”
He smirked at me. “It is a rare prize you allow me.”
“It’s a rare prize Persephone allowed you, and I understand why. It puts ideas in your head.” I picked up the pile of clothes.
“I’ll be right back.”
The privacy screen he had set up in the middle of the room disappeared as soon as I took a step toward it.
I huffed out an annoyed breath and turned to him.
“Undressing in front of you is like touching. It wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t make it out to be more than it is. Can I please have the screen back until I can trust you to behave yourself?”
The self-satisfied look in his eyes slowly faded into something more focused, like he was really seeing me, Ashlyn, for the first time. It gave me so much hope that I almost smiled. I didn’t, though. I swallowed it back just in time, remembering how much it tended to freak him out.
“So be it,” he finally said.
The screen reappeared, and I stepped behind it. The divider remained in place as I removed my dress and hung it over the top. Putting on jeans without any underwear felt awkward. The shoes without socks didn’t bother me nearly as much. I stepped out from behind the screen, fully dressed, and made a show of tying the laces before standing and spreading my arms wide.
“See? Doesn’t this look more normal for me?”
His gaze swept over me from head to toe, lingering on my legs.
“It is a peculiar ensemble, but you wear it well, Goddess. The sight of your limbs is very pleasing to my eyes.”
“I can look even more pleasing,” I said, feeling inspired. “If you let me talk to the youngest fury, I’ll have her bring clothes that—"
“No. You will leave my daughters alone.” Golden script flared into existence on his skin, just over his left floating ribs. “You swore.”
I absolutely did want to swear. Obviously, Persephone had done something bad to Hades’ favorite daughters.
Or she’d wanted something really badly.
Curious, I moved closer to read the contract, leaning in and squinting to make out the glow. For an extra day on Earth, Persephone had agreed not to bring harm to the furies in any way by her own hands or that of others under her control. It continued after that, but the letters fell into the shadowed dip between his ribs.
I reached out and brushed my thumb over his skin, moving it gently. The muscles jumped under my touch, but I could read what it said.
The one who breaches the contract forfeits their right for a season.
I wasn’t exactly sure how Hades could break a contract that was obviously in his favor. Steal Persephone home early? But didn’t he just admit that he couldn’t leave Hell? Rather than trying to figure out how it would affect him, I focused on the rules.
“It says that I can’t hurt a fury,” I said, straightening. “It doesn’t say I can’t talk to them.”
His gaze locked with mine. There was something in the depths of his smooth brown eyes that called to me on a level I didn’t understand. He seemed to see it too.
“Kiss me, and I will call one. Let me taste your lips again, and I will be your slave.”
There was no reason not to give him what he wanted so he could give me what I wanted. A few minutes with Megan, and I was positive she’d help me figure out what I needed to do. Pulse fluttering, I shuffled closer to Hades.
A flicker of red flared in his eyes, and from my peripheral, I saw the corner of his mouth curve slightly. It was enough to realize what I was doing and tear my gaze from his to stare at the floor for an unsteady moment.
“Stubborn,” I muttered.
The whoosh of my pulse in my ears quieted quickly enough to hear his responding sputter of disbelief.
“Goddess, even knowing all that you would lose, you continue to ask for what you’ve already agreed is not yours. What more could define stubbornness than that?”
“I have no interest in hurting a fury. They spend most of their time on Earth with humans, right? The youngest can prove what I’m saying. Humans have phones now. Devices they use to store pictures and memories of the past. I’m sure someone, somewhere, has a picture of me living my human life.”
