She let him undress her and cradle her against him as they entered the water, but she wouldn’t look at him. He allowed the silence to go on for a while, until, she imagined, he couldn’t handle it any longer.
“You are unwell,” he said. “Did he...hurt you?”
She was quiet, and kept her eyes closed. When he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, she squeezed them tighter to keep the tears at bay.
“Tell me,” he begged. “Please.”
It was the word please that caused her to open her watery eyes.
Finally, she said, “I know about Aphrodite, Hades.” His face changed. She’d never seen him look so shocked or so stricken. “I am no more than a game to you.”
Now he looked angry. “I have never considered you a game, Persephone.”
“The contract—”
“This has nothing to do with the contract,” he all but snarled, releasing her. Persephone struggled to gain her footing in the water and shot back at him.
“This has everything to do with the contract! Gods, I was so stupid! I let myself think you were good even with the possibility of being your prisoner.”
“Prisoner? You would think yourself a prisoner here? Have I treated you so poorly?”
“A kind jailor is still a jailor,” Persephone snapped.
Hades face darkened. “If you considered me your warden, why did you fuck me?”
“It was you who foretold this,” she said, her voice shaking. “And you were right—I did enjoy it and now that it’s done, we can move on.”
“Move on?” he asked, his voice taking on a deadly edge. “Is that what you want?”
“We both know it’s for the best.”
“I’m beginning to think you don’t know anything,” he said. “I’m beginning to understand that you don’t even think for yourself.”
Those words hurt.
“How dare you—”
“How dare I what, Persephone? Call out your bullshit? You act so powerless, but you’ve never made a damn decision for yourself. Will you let your mother determine who you fuck now?”
“Shut up!”
“Tell me what you want.” He cornered her, pinning her against the edge of the pool.
She looked away, and ground her teeth so hard, her jaw hurt.
“Tell me!”
“Fuck you!” She snarled and jumped, twining her legs around his waist. She kissed him hard, their lips and teeth crashing together painfully, but neither of them stopped. Her fingers tangled into his hair, and she pulled hard, tipping his head back, kissing down his neck. They found themselves outside of the pool, on the marble walkway. Persephone pushed Hades onto his back and impaled herself on his shaft, taking him deep. The brutal movement of their bodies and breathing filled the baths. It was the most erotic thing she’d ever done. Hades moved between squeezing her breasts and gripping her thighs. Then rose into a sitting position, taking her nipples into his mouth. The sensation drew a guttural sound from Persephone’s mouth, and she squeezed Hades to her, moving harder and faster.
“Yes,” Hades said between his teeth and then commanded, “Use me. Harder. Faster.”
It was the only command she ever wanted to obey.
They came together, an
d in the aftermath, Persephone rose from Hades, grabbed her clothes, and left the baths.
Hades followed after her, naked.