Page 83 of Raising Hell
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
The stone rumbled beneath me,and the surface of the pool rippled, blurring my view of where my would-be murderer had stood. A chunk of rock fell from the ceiling, crashing into the water.
Realizing what was happening, I launched myself at Hades.
He caught me in his arms and held me tightly. But the cavern didn’t stop shaking.
“Think of me,” I said, cupping his face and kissing his neck.
“Iamthinking of you,” Hades seethed.
His hands tightened on me, and he pressed me closer, caging me and protecting me with his body.
“Not the way you need to.” I grabbed his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping my legs around him. He grunted when I purposely ground my hips against his.
“Think of me,” I said again. “Remember our bath together.”
I claimed his lips, determined to distract him from his anger. Instead, I struggled to recall why I’d started this when his hand moved to support my backside. His tongue slid against mine, coaxing and gentle as he arched his hips into mine.
The world and its hazards fell away. There was only Hades and his touch. He kissed me hungrily, taking everything I gave and giving more in turn. His other hand slid from the back of my head to my neck then down my front. I moaned at the heat of his palm covering my breast and dug my hands into his hair.
He broke the kiss, brushing his lips along my jaw as I gasped for breath and clung to him.
“Your mortal friends are safe,” he said, kissing my neck. “Forgive me for losing control. It wasn’t an attempt to manipulate this. Although, I am grateful for every touch you surrender. Allow me to search for the one who seeks to take you from me. I vow to maintain control.”
I didn’t care about half of what he said. I only cared about his mouth on my skin and that hand on my butt. No matter how much I wiggled and ground against him, he wasn’t moving it to where I wanted.
“Forgive me for this,” he whispered a second before untangling me from his torso.
I whined when he put space between us. But the space was exactly what was needed to break through the haze kissing and touching him had created. I realized what I’d done and, more importantly, what he’d done because of it.
He’d stopped me when I hadn’t been able to stop myself. He’d walked away from the one thing he vehemently claimed he wanted most. Me.
Overwhelming devastation was trying to outweigh the relief. I told myself that was just his godly pull affecting my thinking, but I knew it wasn’t. I wanted Hades for myself. And I now realized I wanted him more than I wanted to go home.
Staring at the floor so I wouldn’t be tempted to jump him again, I tried to calm my racing heart and the need coursing through me.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I said breathlessly. “We should focus on finding whoever that was.”
Hades’ finger gently nudged my chin until I looked him in the eyes.
“No knife has ever caused more torture than I feel now. I vowed to deny you nothing, yet, I am denying you what I most wish to give, and it cuts me deeply.”
His words helped soothe the ache in my heart.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “You’re right. Safety first; fun later.”
“Fun?” A slow smile curved his lips, and he brushed my mouth with a quick kiss. “Soon.”
When he stepped away from me, I caught myself reaching for him. He didn’t notice, thankfully. He was too busy staring at the pool. Images flicked across the surface but not of the goatee man.
“Should I try again?” I asked, forcing my focus to where it belonged and not on the sexy, shirtless god in front of me.
“The viewing pool allows me to see anything on Earth. If he is not appearing, he is no longer there.”
Hades turned, took me into his arms, and portaled us to the throne room before I could blink.
Disoriented, I glanced at Zotera, who was lounging on her bed off to the side as he settled me on his lap. She jumped to her feet and hurried toward us.
