4. Wish Come True
What was he doing? He'd carted her down to the underworld for sex, to get her out of his mind. But there they were, lying in his bed, and napping—napping! She'd just seemed so cute and flustered. He just hadn't been able to push her further. He'd laughed and held her, and then he'd caught her yawning, pushed her into his bed, curled up around her, and let her sleep.
What the hell was he doing?
Hades sighed, leaning forward and inhaling deeply. Her scent calmed him, soothed him so effortlessly. She smelled of the earth, rich with the gentle fragrance of flowers. Her skin was soft, softer than he'd imagined, and he trailed his hand up and down, up and down her arm. Eventually, he stopped, taking her hand into his just to hold it. Her hand was smaller than his, he realized, her fingers more slight and slender. He pressed his lips to her hair, lingering as he realized it smelled of olives.
It was when he caught himself in another smile that he stopped. Okay, that was enough. He was literally melting around her, and that wasn't what he'd meant to do at all. He'd thought that, if he'd brought her down into the Underworld with him and spent some time with her, he'd grow bored and regain the ability to think clearly. If anything, he was in even deeper than he had been before. Hell, he was spooned up behind her, fingers linked, his lips pressed gently to her hair, and he was happy with it.
But isn't this what you wanted? A traitorous voice in his head whispered.
Denial rose in his throat even as desire pooled in his stomach. Yes, this was what he wanted. Or at least, this was something that could turn into what he wanted. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, Hades forced himself to relax, a task that was far too easy with her in his arms, and closed his eyes. No matter what he thought, nothing could have kept him from snuggling against her again and taking her scent deep into his body, memorizing it before he fell asleep.
He was holding her hand. He thought she was asleep, but how did he expect her to do more than close her eyes? He was so close she couldn't even begin to relax enough to actually sleep. Yes, her breathing was even, but they'd been lying down a long time.
For the longest time he'd simply just laid still behind her, but just as she'd thought he'd fallen asleep behind her his hand had stroked up her arm, then down, then up again, and down. She wasn't sure what it was about that gesture that made her want to shiver, but somehow she'd kept herself under control. She didn't want him to know she was awake, because she was sure that if she woke he would stop.
When she thought he could wreak no more havoc upon her poor mind, he'd dipped his head forward and, after a moment, he'd pressed his lips to her hair. It made her want him to trail kisses over her neck again, to touch her softly, to whisper teasingly in her ear…
A while later, his breathing evened out completely and she was sure he was asleep. Carefully, she lifted their linked hands from her side and brought it down to tuck against her chest. Gently, she brushed a kiss over their hands. It was the first time she ever kissed him, but he would never remember it. She was a coward, but it felt like such a milestone for her. She'd just kissed a man. She wished she could be as bold as him, wished she could kiss his neck, his throat, his ear, his cheek… But what would it be like to kiss his lips? The women on Olympus always seemed happy when their lovers kissed them. Oh, but Hades wasn't her lover.
But did he want to be?
Persephone sighed, releasing his hand so she could turn around in his arms. She pressed a kiss to the hollow of his neck, her eyes closing. The gesture was easier on her the second time. He smelled so nice. "What do you want from me?" She whispered, pressing another kiss to his jaw right where it met his neck.
"Persephone…"
She froze, worried she'd be caught with her lips against his throat, but a moment later she realized that he was still asleep. He was dreaming about her.
Her!
Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, and she wondered how he could not hear the thunderous throbbing and wake. What was he dreaming of? She stroked his cheek, eyes falling to his lips. What would it be like? Her head was spinning. Her mind was overflowing with so many questions. The things he did to her, and he wasn't even trying—Hell, he was asleep! It wasn't right that he should have so much power over her.
He made a soft, murmuring sound as he cuddled her closer to his chest. She tensed automatically, but after a moment, she found herself relaxing against him, snuggling a little closer herself. Curiosity fluttered at the back of her mind. What would it be like to wake up to him? His arms wrapped around her, his lips pressed to the top of her head, his scent filling her mind… She'd like that. She'd really like that, she decided.
"Goodnight, Hades." She murmured, the slightest of smiles coloring her expression, pressing one last kiss to his collarbone before, finally, she relaxed in his arms completely. There were so many questions running through her mind, but there was only one way to find her answers.
He woke with a wonderful weight against his chest. Somehow during their nap, he'd ended up on his back, and her head was on his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open as he realized that he wasn't the only one who was awake. Her lips were trailing up his neck, ending just below his ear. There was a moment's hesitation, but then her tongue slid around his ear.
"You're awake." She whispered, nibbling gently at his ear. His eyes closed again as she cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb over his lips. She kissed his cheek, her eyes concentrated on his skin. "Hades."
It was then that he realized her hand was shaking ever so slightly, and that her breathing hitched just before she kissed him, and her pulse was fluttering wildly in her throat. She was nervous, but she was trying, repeating exactly what he'd done to her.
"What do I do now?" She asked, kissing his cheek. "You stopped. Right here."
"No, you stopped me." He amended, regretting his words instantly as her hand on his shoulder tensed, fisting in his robe. A small frown on his lips, Hades sat up. "I didn't mean it that way, I just… You've never done this before, have you?" He asked, trying his best to sound gentle. Damn it, he'd known she was a virgin, but to think a woman like her had never even been kissed before.
Persephone sat up too, beside him this time with her hands in her lap. "Never." She whispered, glancing over at him through the corner of her eye. "I know how things happen in theory, and I've…" Her voice fell to something even quieter, and even he had to strain in order to make out her words. "I tried by myself once. Mother always pushed the men away and I thought I would be a maiden all my life, so I wanted to know… but it wasn't as great as people make it out to be." She shook her head, her cheeks pink. "But I was thinking that maybe… you could teach me?"
He closed his eyes. She had no idea how the image of her reaching down between her own legs would haunt him for the rest of eternity. He tipped his head back against the wall behind his bed, tilting so he could see her. She was looking at him now, flushed, but in spite of her embarrassment she stared him down.
She was using him, he realized, or at least, she intended to. She was asking him to be her older, more experienced lover, wasn't she? Well, except without the love part, because what she was asking for was just sex (which probably included an additional lesson on foreplay, too). Her mother wasn't there to tell her no or chase him away. This was perhaps her only opportunity to ever experience the pleasure of another's touch. Her proposition was something he could work with, something he could handle. Hell, it was what he wanted. He'd brought her down for sex, and now she was offering herself. When they were done, she would leave and go back to mommy Demeter and Olympus, and he could go back to his job. Perfect. Damn it, it was perfect.
So why did his chest tighten in rejection?
"Teach me, Hades. I'm not a little girl anymore. Don't you start too, don't start treating me like a child." She swallowed, her hesitance evaporating. "I'm a woman grown, and you're the only one who seems to see that. I know what I want, so teach me."
As he reached over, drawing her into his lap, he cupped her cheek. At least she thought of him as special, and that seemed to mean a great deal to her. There was no one else who treated her the way he did, apparently. That must have meant that there was no one else who saw her in the same light. She wasn't just a beautiful maiden, she wasn't just Demeter's daughter; she was a bold young woman with a mind of her own, with spunk, and charm, and the softest touch he'd ever known.
"Pay attention." He murmured before finally, ignoring the ache in his chest, he lowered his lips to hers.
Author's Note:
Sorry, this one is really short but it does get the point across, right? Hades has finally cracked. Thank you again to those of you writing your reviews and giving me feedback, and thank you to all those who've been reading. The continued support really helps keep me focused. I'll get the next chapter up soon.
xxDusty
