Page 49 of Queen of Shadows and Roses
‘I met Styx,’ I said as he placed the shower head back onto its holder. The bubbles were just above my nipples, and as his eyes rose to mine, I realised he’d been staring at the swell of my breasts. Heat scorched my cheeks, but I wanted him to look at me that way. Then I tensed. Why did I want that? He was the freaking god of the dead.
His voice shook me from my thoughts. ‘Yes, I know. I saw her briefly when she came searching for you in a state of panic.’
‘Oh.’ I lowered my eyebrows. ‘Does she know I’m okay?’
‘Hecate will inform her.’ His eyes dropped to my breasts again, and I saw his throat bob in a deep swallow. That look sent all kinds of tingles through every nerve ending in my body. ‘You should be honoured.’ His eyes met mine again. ‘Styx is very insular. We don’t often see her.’
‘She’s an oceanid, isn’t she?’
Hades nodded in response. ‘Yes. And a goddess. She is the guardian of the river Styx. She always liked you.’ He smiled, showing a hint of fang.
‘Hmm.’ I met his gaze. ‘Was she like Hecate… My friend?’ I pondered the strange feeling of people, whom I barely knew, once being my friends—Hedone, Charon, Thanatos, and now Styx.
‘She was.’ His eyes flickered between blue and gold. ‘You had many friends here, Persephone.’ Those words brought me a sense of comfort. I had no idea why.
‘Persephone?’ Hades’ voice jolted me from my thoughts, and my head snapped to where he stood, a towel held in front of him. Garnering as much courage as I could muster, I drew in a deep breath and carefully stepped from the bathtub, my nakedness making me squirm… until I saw the hard set of his jaw, the burning desire in his eyes. He wanted me, and there was something unequivocally empowering in that. The intensity of his attention was like a physical caress. The tips of my breaststightened, and flickering heat pooled between my thighs. As his eyes whipped with golden coils of aether, his stare scorched my skin. And I liked it.
Okay, I think the fall must have damaged my brain…This is utterly the last thing I need to be feeling right now.
I wrapped the towel around myself, whispering my thanks and avoiding his eyes.
‘I shall see you back in the sitting room.’ His voice was gruff and thick. Then he turned and left me.
I nodded at his back, and as the door snicked shut, I sank to my knees, trying to control my erratic breath. After a long while, I stood, dried myself off, towel-dried my hair, and detangled it with a paddle brush. Then, I slipped on the soft robe and walked out of the bathroom.
And back into the bedroom of the god of the Underworld.
CHAPTER 18
HADES
Gods alive, I was wound tight.
I had tasted Persephone’s arousal on my tongue, like dark chocolate. My cock throbbed in unison with the beat of my heart. Her beauty still struck me hard, like lightning piercing my chest, and all rational thought became almost impossible as I stared at her.
Seeing her from behind, her rounded hips and pert butt, had almost pushed me to the brink, but when she stepped from the tub facing me…Gods.Water trailed in glistening rivulets down her full breasts, across her stomach, then down between her thighs—where she was bare, unashamed, utterly divine. I nearly lost it. That perfect pussy—unhidden, unapologetic—short-circuited my brain.
My cock strained against the seam of my jeans, pulsing with a desperation that clawed at the edges of my control. I wanted—needed—to press my mouth to every drop of water sliding over her skin.
What the fuck was this tiny female doing to me?
I was the King of the Underworld. I commanded death itself, and she had me on my knees… without even touching me.
After about fifteen minutes, and a freezing cold shower, I was calm enough to return to my chambers. I found Persephone sitting on the sofa, her damp hair cascading over one shoulder. Her eyes lifted to mine, and she gave me a small smile that tugged at the bond in my chest. I was desperate for her, desperate to fill her in every way, but I’d wait. I had no choice—not if I wanted her to willingly become my consort.
I poured two glasses of wine, handed her one, and sat in the opposite chair.I needed to keep my distance, or else I was close to removing that robe and devouring every inch of her, whether she accepted me or not.
‘Did you use compulsion on me to make me sleep when—’ She hesitated. ‘I, erm…’
‘Tried to ravish me?’ I sipped my wine and she nearly choked on hers. ‘Yes, I apologise if that upsets you, but I thought it best. I didn’t want you to regret your actions.’
She gave me a slight nod, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink colour. ‘After I saw you in the kitchen—’ She paused, averting her gaze. ‘Did you fuck Minthe?’
I jerked back, my eyes widening. ‘No. Why would you think that?’ She shrugged. The scent of burned sugar invaded my nostrils again. She was jealous… jealous of Minthe. ‘Persephone. Minthe is a trusted employee; that’s all. I promise. She works here as well as in my nightclubs. There isnothingbetween us.’
‘Okay.’ She met my gaze again, but uncertainty clouded her eyes. ‘So, what happened to me?’
‘You ended up in Tartarus, in the Empousa’s lair.’ I came straight out with it; I’ve always hated pussyfooting around.
