“The game?” she asked as Hades reached for the cards.
“Poker,” he replied, opening the box and shuffling the cards.
She took a breath. “The stakes?”
At her question, the air thickened, and Hades offered a smile. “My favorite part. Tell me what you want.”
“If I win, you answer my questions.”
He knew it was the bet she would make.
“Deal,” he said as he finished shuffling the cards. “If I win, I want your clothes.”
If she was shocked, she did not show it. “You want to undress me?”
“Darling, that’s only the start of what I want to do to you.”
Had he imagined the quirk of her lips? “Is one win equal to a piece of clothing?”
“Yes,” he said, eyeing her dress—that glorious piece of satin fabric. He hoped it was the only thing she wore. Then her hand drew his attention, brushing the chain of her necklace where it dipped between her breasts.
“And…what about jewelry? Do you consider that undressing?”
He sipped his drink. “That depends.”
“On?”
“I might decide I want to fuck you with that crown on.”
There was no guessing at her smirk now; it curved across her beautiful face, full of mischief. “No one said anything about fucking, Lord Hades.”
“No? Pity.”
She leaned over the table, offering him a full view of her breasts. He groaned inwardly. “I’ll accept your bargain.”
His brows rose. “Confident in your ability to win?”
“I’m not afraid of you, Hades.”
Never, he thought. He would never want her to fear him, even in his darkest moments. The problem was, she had never seen him that way—angry and aggressive and violent. The truth of that statement remained to be seen.
Persephone shivered.
“Cold?” he asked, dealing the first hand.
“Hot,” she rasped and smiled, eyes full of passion.
Hades laid his cards down—a pair of kings.
It was the set of her lips that told him she had lost, and he had confirmation when she laid her cards down. He smiled, and lust ran through his veins, straight to his cock. He assessed her, taking his time scanning her body, deciding what he would take.
“I suppose I will have the necklace.”
When she reached to unfasten it, he stopped her. “No, let me.”
She dropped her hands into her lap as Hades approached. His fingers tingled as he gathered her thick hair in his hands, sweeping it over her shoulder. He unclasped the chain, letting the metal fall between her breasts, liking the way she inhaled as he kissed along her collarbone.
“Still hot?” he asked against her skin.
“An inferno.”
He could practically smell her sex.
“I could free you from this hell.” His lips trailed up the column of her neck.
“We’re just getting started,” she whispered.
His disappointment was heavy, and yet not as burdensome as the pressure building in his cock. He managed a laugh and pulled away, ready for another hand, already thinking of what he would request next.
Except that Persephone won.
She smirked as she placed the cards on the table.
Hades was not pleased, more impatient than anything. He wanted her naked, spread before him. He wanted to be balls-deep inside her. “Ask your question, goddess. I am eager to play another hand.”
He knew what she would say, and he wanted to get it out of the way.
“Have you slept with her?”
He hated this question because it reminded him of a different version of himself. One that felt hopeless and dispassionate. One that sought to rekindle any sense of belonging and need, and he had turned to Minthe. He was not proud, but he knew she would be willing.
It was a decision he regretted, not only because of his insincerity but because he had been unfair to her. He had given her hope when he had no intention of establishing a relationship with her, and that was exactly what she had expected and in the aftermath of their coupling, then he had told her she would never sit beside him as queen.
So he answered the question, a bitter taste on his tongue.
“Once.”
She paled visibly and Hades suddenly understood the emotion Persephone had invested in this question. It meant something to her that he had been with this woman, but would it mean she would deny him?
“How long ago?”
“A very long time ago, Persephone.”
He could not ask her to wait another round for the answer. It did not seem fair when it was so important to her.