Persephone turned, her wide green eyes meeting his in the dark. Even in this light, he could see her cheeks were flushed. Her hair fell in disarray around her face, and her nipples strained against her nightshirt.
“Well?” he prompted.
“Yes,” she breathed. “I was thinking about you.”
He growled low in his throat. “Don’t stop on my account.”
She rose onto her knees and pulled her shirt over her head. His eyes roved her beautiful body, full breasts and dark nipples. A small waist he wanted to hold as she rode him to release, and wide hips that would cling to him as he drove into her.
The goddess began again, parting her flesh to pleasure herself. For a while, they maintained eye contact, and as she moved up and down, Hades stroked himself, increasing in urgency the more he witnessed her passion, head rolling back, breasts bouncing, teeth biting down on her bottom lip. Soon his hips moved, thrusting into his hand.
“Come for me,” he commanded. “Come, my darling.”
Her cries gave way to his own as his body jerked, hand filling with hot release. He collapsed against the table, breathing hard. Despite his need to catch his breath, he laughed.
He laughed because he had just had one of the hottest sexual encounters of his long life. Because his goddess—his future wife—had pleasured herself—and she had thought of him.
***
“Tell me why you are taking Minthe to the Olympian Gala tonight and not Persephone?”
The question came from Hecate, who stood behind Hades as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. The Goddess of Witchcraft did not look pleased, looming in her purple robes, arms crossed over her chest.
The Olympian Gala occurred every year and was hosted at the Museum of Ancient Arts. It was an extravagant affair and an excuse for the gods to flaunt their wealth. The only reason Hades went was because the event doubled as a fundraiser. This year, the gala was themed after the Underworld, which meant that Hades and his foundation had a hand in choosing the charity.
“I am not taking Minthe,” Hades said. “She is my assistant.”
And he had not asked Persephone because she was going as an assignment for work, and taking Lexa.
“You do realize the only thing Persephone will see is you arriving at the gala with Minthe?”
Hades thought about the other night in the baths, when Minthe had interrupted them. Persephone had looked pointedly at his groin, his cock and balls heavy. He heard her words in his head. Then Minthe can assist you with your need.
Hades ground his teeth and turned to the goddess.
“I do not intend to arrive with her on my arm,” Hades said. “She is there to introduce the Halcyon Project.”
It was something his staff has been working on at The Cypress Foundation—a non-profit that would provide rehabilitation care to mortals for free. It was inspired by Persephone, whose words he could still hear clear as day. If you are going to request a bargain, challenge them to go to rehab if they’re an addict, and do one better, pay for it.
He had not been doing enough. If his true goal was to ensure that life in the Underworld was a better existence for souls, they had to have hope while alive. In the last few weeks, Hades had come to know more and more about hope than he ever imagined.
Hecate was staring, brow raised. “Does Minthe know that?”
“I have given her no reason to think otherwise,” Hades said.
The goddess shook her head. “You do not understand women,” Hecate said. “Unless you have made it explicitly clear, meaning unless you have said the words, Minthe, you are not my date, she will think exactly that.”
“And what makes you an expert suddenly?”
“I may not be interested in relationships, Hades, but I have lived longer than you and have seen these emotions destroy humanity. Besides,” she lifted her chin, “I overheard Minthe telling her minions she had a date with you this evening.”
“Her minions?” he asked.
“She has a group of nymphs she complains to about everything. You should hear the way she talks about Persephone.”
Hades’ eyes narrowed, and suddenly, he was full of curiosity.
“How does she talk about Persephone?”
Hecate’s eyes glittered menacingly as she described in detail the horrible things Minthe had said about the Goddess of Spring, including calling her a favor fuck—a derogatory term mortals used when describing someone who sleeps with a god in exchange for their favor. When Hecate was finished speaking, Hades only had one question.
“Why am I just now hearing about this?”