Page 139 of Hell On Earth
I found myself inside the opaque square with the toilet. Alone. Hades’ hands pressed against the outside of the square, blotches of dark red against the milky white.
“You have seconds, Ashlyn,” he said. “Hurry.”
“But I want to brush my—”
My mouth was immediately minty fresh and clean.
“Seconds which are fading quickly,” he said.
He removed his hands and gave me a few moments to myself. When I emerged, he didn’t look any calmer. His hooves clacked against the floor. I didn’t feel a shred of fear, though, as I turned to the shower.
“Bathe with me, Hades. Then let’s check on Zotera.”
“Our daughter is fine. She is allowing her human some rest while she cooks for him.”
I paused, testing the water, and looked over my shoulder at the god of the Underworld in all of his winged magnificence.
“Can we still go back to Earth together to see my friends?” I asked with an edge of worry.
His expression softened. “I will not deny you time with your friends. If you wish to see Zotera now, I will take you there.”
“Not right this second. We can return to my house first and send messages to everyone so we don’t interrupt anything. Now, are you getting in here, or are you going to magic yourself a seat and watch me wash?”
“Temptress,” he muttered again.
“Lonely, sad temptress,” I said with a fake little pout.
He was holding me tightly a beat later. I could feel his fear and desperation.
“Wait. I was teasing, Hades. I didn’t actually mean I was sad or lonely. I just wanted you to join me.”
He exhaled into my hair, and I felt him slowly shrink.
“Allow me to wash you,” he said.
“My body is yours,” I said.
He groaned, and I saw the flicker of red light in his eyes as his skin started to change right back.
I grinned, already looking forward to our future together. It likely wouldn’t be easy, but I knew we’d figure it out this time around. We had plenty of history to teach us the right way to do things without hurting one another.
EPILOGUE
Hades kissedmy neck as he held me caged in his arms, facing the mirror.
“This is way too fancy to wear to a brownie’s birthday party,” I said, watching Hades’ reflection.
In the years since I’d returned to Hell with him, our love for one another had only grown deeper. He still craved every morsel of my affection, and I craved his constant attention. Which made it hard to say no to the beautiful dress he’d created for me.
“I disagree,” he said, trailing a finger over my bare shoulder. I shivered and tried to ignore the yearning he was creating.
“Hades,” I said, trying to keep a reasonable tone, “If the neckline of this dress dipped any lower, you’d see my pubic hair.”
I felt an immediate tingle in the aforementioned area.
“Problem solved,” he said. “I do like it when you insist on going bare.”
“That wasn’t a request for grooming. It was a request for common sense. We’re going to be with my friends. Half of them are male.”
