Chapter one
"No… gimme five more minutes." Hades murmured into the sleeve of his suit jacket.
He felt a tugging on his pant leg, and was unceremoniously pulled out of his slumber. He wasn't in his bed, being awoken by a curvy pink goddess bringing him breakfast.
He shook his head.
No. He was- "Oww!" Hung over. In his office. A fury of white fluff that was Cordon Bleu nipped at his ankles and whined impatiently.
His drool had soaked through his jacket sleeve and the crisp button up he wore underneath.
Gross.
He peeled himself off the dark fabric. Sighing and still groggy, he got to his feet.
He followed the prancing pup out of the office and down the hall. The normally eerie silence of the mansion after dark was broken by the distant whines and yips of the rest of his dogs. Was there someone here?
He heard a soft knock on the door as his feet touched the final step of the stairs.
He had no idea who it could be. Hecate and his brothers usually just let themselves in. His stomach dropped at the thought of his ex girlfriend, Minthe. She didn't have a key anymore, did she?
"Yea. Yea, I'm coming. Move back Fudge or you'll get a face full of door."
He opened the door and his stomach shot back up and into his throat. Persephone stood there, looking harassed and in full bloom. Her hair was long, trailing out behind her and down the walkway. Her pink hue contrasted so beautifully with the dark aesthetic of the underworld. It was always a little bit of a shock to his system when he saw her in his realm.
Nothing that beautiful should exist down here.
"Kore! Come in! Are you okay?"
She ducked in under his arm, and was immediately swarmed by the pack. Cerberus barreled his way to the front lines, jumping and licking her cheeks affectionately.
It wasn't until she came into the lit entryway that he saw her face was stained with tears.
He felt a low rumble in his chest and bit it back with a thought. 'I will disembowel whoever it is that has made you cry.'
He motioned to cup her face and wipe away her tears but she shook her head lightly and pushed past him, into the kitchen.
"This'll warm you up." He set a steaming cup of lemongrass tea in front of her, beside his debatably too full glass of scotch.
Persephone grinned up at him, and reached past her tea for the alcohol he had poured for himself.
"Oh, you want the hard stuff?" He chuckled and rose to pour himself a new drink.
"Want to talk about what happened or do you just need somewhere safe?"
His eyes widened as Persephone set down the now empty glass, and reached for the one in his hand.
Hades pulled the glass just out of her reach. "Tsk Tsk Little one. Use your words."
Her face was already flushed from the drink. Olympus alcohol was much stronger than anything they had in the Mortal Realm.
"I want to… just not right now. Can I- just…" She trailed off and took her seat, reaching for the tea with a sulk.
"Stay as long as you need. We can talk when you are ready. Finish your tea first and then we can talk about you having another glass of this." He motioned with the glass before bringing it to his lips.
The best way to cure a hangover is to keep drinking, right? He saw his brother Zeus nod his approval in the back of his mind.
They coexisted in companionable silence. Hades mentally cursed himself for not having any food in the house. He had been buried in paperwork, and without anyone to cook for other than himself he scarcely saw the point.
If she was going to be staying here maybe he'd have an excuse to cook again. He prided himself in his skills, though Minthe had refused to touch anything he had prepared. He felt a pang in his gut at the thought of her.
"Kore, are you hungry?"
She looked back at him, her round eyes still brimming with tears. She wiped them away with the back of her sleeve and was about to shake her head when a grumble sounded from her belly.
"Yes…"
"I don't have much in the way of food, but check these out and let me know what sounds good." He tossed a couple menus on the table and turned away from her, draining the rest of his drink.
Hades pulled his jacket off and draped it over the back of one of the chairs at the dining table. He rolled his sleeves up and set to work on the dishes.
Persephone bit her lip absentmindedly. She found herself studying the strong muscles of his forearms. The cords flexed with every pass he made with the sponge.
She had had a second glass of scotch and was reaching for the bottle at the edge of the counter when Hades chuckled and said without having to turn around, "That wouldn't be wise, Little Goddess."
"Yes Sir." Persephone grumbled and motioned back to her seat. She saw Hades body stiffen, and she felt panic jolt through her chest.
Was he annoyed with her being here? Of course he was!
'You should just go to bed you stupid village gir-'
Hades let out a deep, primal groan. His hands clenching the edge of the sink.
Persephone felt an unexplainable swell between her thighs.
"C-Can I use your shower?"
"Of course!"
It was like someone had flipped a switch on the tension. Hades turned around and Persephone giggled. The entire front of his button up was soaked and sudsy. She could see a hint of his azure skin as the fabric stuck to his abdomen.
He pretended not to notice the deep magenta flush creeping up her neck and across her chest. Had she noticed the tightness of his trousers?
"Do you remember where the guest bedroom is? The bathroom is the next door, on the right. There should be everything you need in there. Do… you have clothes?"
She shook her head, worrying the swell of her lower lip between her teeth.
"I can lend you some of mine, if you don't mind sharing." His wolfish grin sent a surge up her spine and she turned to sprint up the stairs.
He turned back to the sink, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
Hades padded past the bathroom door in his bare feet, hearing the downpour from the shower. His room was further down the hall, on the opposing side. His thoughts edged off to steamy silhouettes pressed against the chilled glass of the shower walls.
A dim light flickered on as he entered his bedroom, and he made a b-line for his closet. He stared blankly inside and turned to his dresser.
He had nothing. Nothing that she wouldn't be absolutely drowning in.
He pulled open the sleek black drawer containing socks and undergarments. He caught a glimpse of something black with lace poking out from behind the folded garments.
He pulled it out and his heart skipped a beat.
It was a silky slip that glowed in the low light. Minthe must have left this behind.
He would never give her something that belonged to the nymph, but that didn't stop his mind from conjuring up the image of her voluptuous curves hugged by silk. Her full breasts stretching the lace dangerously.
-DEEP BREATH-
Hades tossed the slip into the wastebasket behind the bedside table and pulled open the next drawer. Cotton t-shirts and running shorts. Perfect.
He pulled out a simple white shirt and black shorts. Hopefully the little goddess wouldn't be swimming in these.
His mind drifted back to indulgence as he pondered what type of things she usually wore to bed. He felt the ichor in his veins surge at the thought of sheer nightgowns and white lingerie.
Or the absence of.
"You're a creep, Old man." He whispered to his reflection, passing the mirror on his way out of the room.
Persephone stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in one of the plush black towels stocked in the bathroom. Her voice lilted to a soft hum as she turned the corner into the room she was staying in. Her gut had unclenched the moment Hades opened the door. Everything seemed to melt away.
Her Mother was far away.
University.
TGOEM.
Apollo.
Everything.
She was untouchable.
The room was mostly bare save for the occasional piece of sleek black furniture. The bed was lavish. Wrapped in black silk sheets, and tucked under a lush blanket of oxford blue.
It was Steril.
Cold.
Dark.
Safe.
It felt like home.
She fanned her fingers across the thick downy of the comforter, until she came to the pile of clothes Hades had left her.
The goddess of spring dropped her towel and pulled the shirt over her head. It hit at midthigh, a snug fit around her hips. Persephone spun on her heel, and left in search of the man who so graciously welcomed her into his home.
The Reluctant King sat on the end of the couch, under a pile of dogs. Mushroom and Big John were curled at his feet. Russell and Fudge were tucked in against his hip, Cordon Bleu behind his head on the back of the couch, while JP and Ceberus were on the opposite end. In his lap was Pomelia.
His headache was nearly gone with the buzz he had going. He knew he needed to cut back, but the tightrope of tension he felt around the goddess upstairs was too much for him to handle on his own. He needed something to calm his nerves, and maybe a little liquid courage.
He took a deep breath and knocked back the rest of the amber liquid.
"Aidoneus…"
Every time she called him by that name he felt a pleasant pressure drum behind his sternum. She cleared her throat and took a seat opposite the King and his hounds. Cerberus whined and nudged her thigh with a wet nose.
"Kore." Hades felt himself choke on her name as he took her in.
Her hair was still long, and only a few (he assumed new) blossoms remained. It was twisted up in a wet and messy bun. Thick strands framed her face and cascaded down her back. Even though the shirt clung to her damp body, it was still baggy enough to leave his imagination raging.
She seemed to forgo the shorts.
"H-ho- Uh. How are you feeling?" His voice tumbled out from an unexpectedly dry throat. His words an octave or two higher than normal.
He saw her shrug out a silent giggle. "Better. Thank you." She reached over and placed her hand over his. A heat erupted through his fingers and up his arm, pulsing across his chest. He pulled his hand back abruptly, and dragged his fingers through his already mused hair.
He felt his heart crumble at the disappointment and rejection that flashed over her cerise eyes.
"Oh- Sorry." She stared down at her lap in embarrassment.
"No-no. Kore. I- You uh… made my hand tingle." He laughed sheepishly, absently petting the back of his hand.
"Oh?"
Was it the drink? She felt a powerful jolt of courage and confidence envelop her. She rose to her feet and took a step towards him. Her finger tips fluttered across his knees.
He gulped as her fingers walked their way up his thighs with a feather light touch. His breath hitched in his throat. Was he breathing? Did it matter?
"Pomelia!" She snatched the tiny puppy up from the center of his lap and hugged the ball of fluff tight to her chest.
Hades felt himself emit a high pitched whine he hoped not even the dogs could hear. Persephone spun around, rocking back and forth on each leg- lulling the newest puppy back to sleep. With her back to him, he seized the opportunity to adjust his slacks.
He clenched his fist in tempo with her sways, resisting the urge to grab the little pink goddess and pull her down onto him. Just as he was musing over these thoughts he felt a pressure over his lap. It was as if she read his mind.
He felt the heat from her bare legs through the not-thin-enough fabric that separated them. She wiggled, and shifted until she was comfortable, legs crossed, and facing him. Pomelia was curled up and dozing as if she hadn't been disturbed at all.
"So… Your legs tingling yet?" She looked up from the puppy, her eyes glistening with mirth. Her shirt was pulled down over her backside, pooling down between her legs where Pomelia lay.
Hades cleared his throat with a nod. The chuckle died on his tongue.
With a grin and a theatrical yawn, she settled in against his chest, the puppy still cupped in her lap.
Hades looked up at the ceiling wondering who he had to thank for this. Obviously he had died and gone to Elysium.
Gingerly, he wrapped his arms around her, tracing small circles on her low back.
Her lips were pressed against the collar of his shirt, the slow even breath soon confirmed that she had drifted off to sleep.
"Let's get you to bed." He whispered more to himself than to the slumbering girl in his arms. She was light, and cradled perfectly against his chest. Pomelia sensed his movement and hopped off their laps and curled up atop Ceberues' snoring head.
The bulge in his slacks made his ascent up the stairs more difficult than he had anticipated. With every step the friction against his straining member made his insides scream in protest.
These automatic lights were coming in handy. He made a mental note to thank Hecate when he saw her next.
He held her steady with one arm and pulled the heavy blanket back with the other. The shorts fell to the floor, next to the discarded towel.
He laid her out carefully. Her hair tumbled out of it's hold and spilled out across the sheets. As her chest rose and fell with every breath, little blossoms bloomed around her head like a flower crown. 'What kind of dreams cause this?'
As he went to pull the covers up her shapely legs he noticed the shirt had risen on one side to expose the curve of her hip.
"Fuck."
She didn't just forgo the shorts. She wasn't wearing anything under the top. He felt his cock pulse threateningly against his zipper.
Without allowing himself a moment to hesitate he leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to the unclothed hollow of her hip. The Goddess murmured happily with a wiggle, the shirt shimmying back down to her mid thigh. Joined immediately by the blanket.
"Oh fuck." The stone walls of the shower were cold against his flushed forehead.
Frigid water beat down against his back, doing nothing to ease his throbbing erection.
Tentatively he wrapped his fingers around the thick base of his cock. He squeezed and let out a low hissing groan.
It felt wrong to do this now.
She was down the hall, fast asleep. Innocent and dreaming.
His dreams had been plagued by the swell of her curves, and the sweet tune of her laughter. He tried not to let his thoughts get too out of hand but when she had called him Sir...
He bit back another groan and gave his cock a firmer squeeze.
On those rare occasions that he allowed his thoughts to stray so far from decency, she was always on her knees. Her full lips ready and waiting.
Sometimes it was soft and tender.
She peppered his abdomen with kisses, taking extra time to focus on the ridges of scar that wrapped around his torso.
Affectionate strokes and nips to his base. Everything was very slow and passionate. He kissed her forehead before straightening up and pushing his cock past her swollen lips.
Other times it was rough and unforgiving. Fists full of magenta hair as his cock slammed against the back of her throat. Drooling. Gagging, Choking. Wide ruby eyes staring up at him, unblinking, and brimming with need.
The exhibitionist in him left the bedroom and the adjoined bathroom doors open.
Maybe he wanted her to hear him.
Maybe he wanted her to dream of his lips ghosting the shell of her ear, moaning her name in short clipped gasps.
"Kore…" If she ever confronted him he would most certainly deny it.
His groans were stifled by the fist between his teeth. He pumped his length in a fluid rhythm. With each twist, his thumb circled the head- smearing the beads of precum threatening to fall.
He ignored the ice raining against his back as he quickened his pace. A spark was already splitting his body in two. His pace became frenzied. Almost desperate.
Out of the corner of his eye he witnessed the azure of his skin darkening to a midnight hue the closer he got to his climax.
He thrust into his fist harshly, crying out as a wave of white hot pleasure cascaded over him. His release splashed across the obsidian stone. The volcanic glass was already coated in a shimmering layer of diamond dust.
It had been a long while since that had happened. After a few thousand years he finally maintained relatively good control over his power. Something about her made him feel like he had a current of electricity constantly vibrating just beneath his skin, like a live wire.
She was here. With him.
It was endless and incredible, the effect she had on him.
The King of the Underworld, still riding the high, swept the glittering release down towards the drain and turned to reach for a towel.
He felt his ichor run cold.
Lust lidded amaranth eyes locked with the round pupil blown cerise gaze of Persephone.
"Kore!"
Magenta tresses whipped around the edge of the doorway, and she was gone.