Page 58 of Hell On Earth
“He’s sad without me and will miss my mouth.”
“Oh boy,” Megan said under her breath. “Hey, any chance you know where daddy-dearest is? We got permission from the Council to take you shopping in New York. We didn’t say anything about Hades. Just that you and Eliana wanted to do some sexy clothes shopping. Nicolette went the mile and said she wanted Fenris to come along too so they can practice public feedings. That means a full outing.”
“Uh, I think Hades probably—”
He appeared just behind Megan.
I looked up at him and felt my face flush.
Megan noticed the shift in my attention and glanced over her shoulder. When she saw who was there, she quickly stood and backed up a step.
“Father.”
“Megan,” he said, nodding to acknowledge her but not looking away from me.
“We’ll leave you two alone for a minute,” she said.
“No.” I caught her arm. “If we’re going to go, we should go.”
I looked at Hades. “Megan and Eliana have already made the arrangements.”
“I know,” he said, holding his hand out to me.
The slide of my fingers against his felt indecent when I accepted his help to stand. Probably due to the heat in his eyes and the memory of his mouth on me.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
The flush staining my cheeks deepened, and he gave me a slow, knowing smile that curled my toes.
“You tempt me to forget, Ashlyn,” he murmured as he reeled me into his arms. “My view of worldly matters narrows until there is only you when you look at me so.”
“Maybe you should get rid of the spank-me-daddy look you’re giving him, Ashlyn,” Megan said.
Hades’ eyes flashed red as he whipped his head toward Megan.
“You will speak to her with deference.”
Megan’s head bowed, but the way it shook told me it wasn’t her doing.
“Stop,” I said, pushing at him.
The tension between the two immediately broke. Her head lifted as his soft brown gaze shifted to me.
“Megan’s my friend, not my subject or my daughter. As a friend who has spoken up for me and saved my butt countless times, she’s earned the right to remind me of my responsibilities in her own way. And as the man who has mistaken me for his ex countless times, it’s you who should tread carefully in how you treat the people I care about.”
His expression was concerningly devoid of emotion as he studied me in silence.
“No one likes being controlled or manipulated, Hades,” I said gently. “You know that better than most, don’t you?”
He exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. I darted in and kissed his jaw.
“Please don’t be angry.”
“Angry?” he asked with a self-deprecating laugh. “How can I be angry? You correct the mistakes I make with stern words followed by compassion and a kiss. You fuel the fire that Megan’s suggestion started.”
“Suggestion?” I asked.
“And, Zotera and I are going to go wait by the front door,” Megan said, leaving in a burst of flames.
