Page 89 of Raising Hell
“It’s not hidden. There have simply been few occasions to show it.”
“Then we’ll need to work on finding more.”
He moved closer to the edge of the pool as I continued to remove all my gold ornamentation.
“I thought I would regret losing that contract,” he said distractedly. “But I find I like watching you remove them.”
“Because you know I’ll wear them again when we’re done?”
He shrugged lightly and rested his arms on the pool’s ledge, continuing to observe me.
I knew what he was waiting for, and it made my insides go hot and cold. When I’d offered to undress for him, I’d wanted to distract him so I could push him into the pool. But I’d also meant it. I wanted to watch Hades watch me. I wanted to know that the hungry look in his eyes was really for me, Ashlyn, the person undressing in front of him, not because of the memory of his dead wife.
I set the last piece on the table, leaving the rings on, and retreated a few steps.
“I’ve been naked in front of you before, but I’m still nervous about doing it again. How dumb is that?” I asked.
He slowly shook his head.
“You aren’t foolish. I’ve given you much cause to doubt me.”
Just like you doubt me,I thought.
“I need you to say my name this time. Who’s undressing in front of you?”
That doubt crept into his gaze even as he said, “Ashlyn is undressing for me.”
I didn’t hide my disappointment as I tugged the dress off over my head.
Hades made a pained sound, which I ignored as I neatly folded the dress and set it next to the jewelry. The cloth binding my chest followed.
When I was completely bare, I looked at him and held out my arms so he could look his fill.
“Do you see any hate, cruelty, or plotting in me? Look at my hands. I’m trembling. It’s not cold or due to disgust. It’s nerves. I’m afraid of how much I want to swim with you. I’m afraid of liking what will happen so much that I won’t care about the consequences. But more than all of that, my heart’s breaking that you think that all of this is an act.”
He exhaled heavily and pushed back from the edge of the pool.
“You wish me to believe this is not a game? Then give me what I crave.”
“You want sex? Fine. Then what? I’m human, Hades. If you send me home, I won’t be able to come back to you because I don’t know how.
“What happens when the appropriate amount of time passes and I don’t return like Persephone always did? Would you believe me then? Would you shake the very foundation of Mount Olympus for being tricked by a human? Because that’s what you would think, wouldn’t you? Even though I’ve repeatedly told you that I’m not her?”
“Only the fates know the future,” he said, watching me with a frown. “We must content ourselves with the present and our memories of the past.”
“But you don’t have all yourpastmemories, or you would remember who is trying to kill me and how I found you.”
He flashed me an annoyed glare.
“I don’t wish to speak of this. We came here to enjoy ourselves.”
He was right. So when he turned to swim for the stairs, I stepped off the edge and dropped into the pool. Bending my knees, I stayed submerged to my shoulders in the warm water. At the sound of my splash, Hades turned around.
We watched each other, both obviously wary.
“Now what?” I asked.
He sank into the water to match my height.
