“You think because Hades kissed you that he’ll do what you want now?”
Hurt at her sarcasm, she stared at Jinx, not knowing what to say.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take my frustration out on you.” The fairy’s troubled expression soothed her hurt feelings.
As Jinx began pacing back and forth across the floor, Zerina watched her. The fairy was floating more than she walked.
“I know it’s frustrating for you not to be able to leave.”
“It’s frustrating for you, too, right?”
She lowered her lashes. “It’s not so bad,” Zerina admitted.
Jinx’s pacing grew faster. “You’re falling in love with Hades, aren’t you?”
Butterflies attacked her stomach at Jinx using ‘love’ and ‘Hades’ in the same sentence.
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I enjoy spending time with him. Since I’ve gotten to know him better—”
“You don’t know Hades at all.”
“Okay, I may not know him well, but he isn’t at all like I imagined him.”
“Hades is only showing you the parts he wants you to see,” she cautioned, stopping her pacing. “Zerina”—Jinx took her hand—“you may not consider me a friend—”
“Of course, I consider you a friend. I have come to love you as another sister since we’ve spent so much time together.”
The confession didn’t make Jinx seem any happier.
“Jinx, if there is something you want to tell me, do so.” Concern grew within her. That Jinx was hesitating to speak about what was bothering her had dread filling her.
Jinx dropped her feet back to the floor. “We don’t have time. Hades is waiting to have dinner with us. We can talk afterward.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
The women walked down to the dining room together.
Jinx was right; Hades was waiting for them, already sitting at the head of the table. Zerina sat down next to him as Jinx sat on his side across from her.
Hades watched them intently as the wraith filled their wine glasses. The soul silently moved around the room.
“Jinx is still recovering from getting her hair wet.” Zerina broke the silence, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Hades accepted her explanation as their food was served. Then Zerina teased Hades about being dunked by Jinx.
As they ate and talked, Jinx listened, but didn’t participate. When she didn’t raise her eyes to look at Hades, Zerina’s worry increased. What was the fairy hiding?
Zerina didn’t want to eat dessert. What she wanted was to go back to her room and talk to Jinx.
When they rose once they finished, Hades asked if she wanted to play a game of chess before going to bed.
“No, thank you. I thought I’d have an early night.”
Hades caught her hand before she could move away with Jinx.
“Just a quick one. I’ll take it easy on you,” he coaxed.
Torn between the desire to stay with Hades and sensing Jinx wanting her to go with her, Hades made her mind up for her, tugging her along the hallway to the game room.
“I’ll be up in a few …” Zerina wasn’t able to finish her sentence before he had shut them in the game room.
“Is there something going on between you two that I don’t know about?” she asked him suspiciously, trying to take her hand from his.
“No.” He looked startled. “Why would you think that?”
“Because Jinx is acting weird, and you couldn’t wait to get me alone.”
“Me wanting to get you alone has nothing to do with Jinx. I wanted to get you alone so I could kiss you again.”
She moved closer to him, winding her arms around his neck. “I thought you wanted to play chess.” She reached up, brushing teasing kisses along his firm jaw.
Once, she would have been too afraid of the sparks that filled her when she touched him. Now she craved that spark, becoming addicted to the power that emanated from within him. She was drawn to him like a magnet, and she no longer wanted to deny that attraction.
Rubbing her smooth cheek against his much rougher one, the charge that struck her core had her pulling away, embarrassed by her show of affection.
Hades had numerous liaisons over the centuries; he didn’t want affection from her. He wanted much more, and he didn’t try to hide the fact. It was her who was becoming too attached.
She took a seat next to the chessboard. “It’s your turn,” she told him, trying to deescalate the quivering bundle of nerves that had her wanting to beg him to make love to her.
“You know I don’t want to play … At least, not chess.”
Zerina forced her eyes to remain lowered, her fingers trembling as she made the first move.
He came up behind her, gently grabbing the nape of her neck. “I saw you when you were just a small child. Did you know that?”
Zerina eyes flew wide. “I don’t remember meeting you.”
“You wouldn’t. You didn’t see me. You were sitting in your mother’s library with your nose buried in a book that was almost as big as you. I was standing out on Fate’s balcony, waiting for her, when you found what I assumed was your favorite spot. You didn’t notice me. Plus, I looked different before Mother sent me to earth.”
“Why did you visit my mother?”
Hades started massaging her neck, making goose bumps break out on her flesh. “To tell her I was leaving and ask her to share my bed before I left.”
Zerina brought her hand to his, wanting to tear it away, but Hades just moved closer. She could feel the hard bulge of his cock between her shoulder blades as he continued stroking her neck.
“She was married to my father …”
“She was. I didn’t care that she was married. Your mother is a very beautiful woman, and I wasn’t the only god who lost his virginity thinking about Fate.”
Jealousy of her mother had her trying to jump out of her seat. However, he pushed her back down.
“Oh, you … you…”
“I gave myself many handjobs imagining myself fucking her. Fate was the original MILF.” He glided one of his hand to the front of her throat, pulling her back to him.
Zerina swallowed hard, feeling her pulse pounding under his hand.
“Of course, by the time I was old and brave enough to approach her, I was no longer a virgin. And by the time she walked out onto the balcony, I was no longer interested.”
Her jealousy vanished, her thighs squeezing together on her chair. “What changed your mind?”
“You did. Fate is a beautiful woman, but she couldn’t hold a candle to you. The sun was shining down on you, and you never moved away, even though you could have. You basked in that sunlight as you read your fairy tales.”
Hades dipped his hand into her cleavage, sliding under her gown to lift a naked breast out from its concealment. When he plucked her nipple, it tautened into a tight bud. He stood behind her, in control, while she was becoming mesmerized by the throbbing intensity in her pussy.
“I knew I would never see you again. Mother told me when she sent me away that I wouldn’t ever be able to come back. I couldn’t watch you grow up, see you become the beauty you had turned into, one that Venus or Aphrodite couldn’t overshadow. I couldn’t see which lovers you would chose, or who you had fallen in love with, ones I enviously imagined you with.”
“I’ve never had a lover.” She could hardly focus on his words. Her main focus was on not slipping from the chair and into a melted puddle.
Disoriented, she felt him lift her, and her head fell to his shoulder as he held her in his arms. When she felt the game room swirl around them, she knew Hades was transporting them.
He covered her mouth with his own before she could raise her head to see where they were. Then, when his tongue entered her mouth, she no longer cared, giving in to his skillful kiss. She stood no chance against Hades’ deliberate seduction.
The feel of a soft mattress ben
eath her, with his chest bearing down on her, surrounded her in a molten fire. She was afraid he had transported them to the fire pit instead of her bedroom.
She lifted her lashes to make sure, seeing an unfamiliar room.
“Where are we?” Stretching out under him, she tried to look around, but Hades turned her face back to his.
“My bedroom.”
She stared up at him dreamily, seeing his muscles gleam in the light from the fireplace in front of his bed. Enthralled by his masculine perfection, she couldn’t resist kissing the firm chin above her. His tortured look aroused her sultry instincts, her desire giving her the courage she would normally repress.
“I want to make love with you,” she confessed, seeing the pain-filled expression that mirrored her own need.
“I’ve wanted to fuck you since Grimm carried you into my office.”
That he used the word ‘fuck’ showed they weren’t playing the same game. Each of them had their own idea of what winning the game would result in.
She wanted Hades’ love. She wanted him to feel breathless anticipation while meeting her needs, not only physically but mentally. As they made love, she wanted him to open his heart to her. The only thing Hades wanted to open was her thighs.
She told herself to leave and not look back until he was willing to offer her more. She didn’t want to risk her heart to a god who didn’t have a heart anymore.
She raised her hand to his chest.