Chapter 14

14

Persephone rested on the heavy cushion, leaning against her husband’s leg. Above her head, on the desk, the keyboard crackled as Hades typed.

This wasn’t what she thought her honeymoon would be.

Walking around naked, posing for her husband, letting him lead her with a collar and chain like a pet? Curling up on a cushion at his feet and dozing the day away. At night she slept with a chain leashing her to the bed. She didn’t dare complain in case he decided to tie her up completely again.

She didn’t even know what day it was. Maybe five days since the wedding? Six?

Several times a day, sometimes after a meal, sometimes out of the blue, he’d press her to the floor or lift her onto his office or dining room table or the floor. And then he’d toy with her and lick her and tease and torture her…all the way until she was riiiiiiiiiiiiight on the edge of coming.

And then he’d stop and go back to whatever he’d been doing as if nothing at all was the matter. Always with the threat of tying her to the bed again if she dared touch herself to finish off what he’d started.

She was so damn stir-crazy and horny and on edge, sometimes she wondered if it might be worth it. Just once. Gods, if only she could come just once.

She didn’t know how he’d done it. Sex wasn’t anything that had even been on her radar until Hades.

But ever since she’d felt his hands on her body and experienced the kind of pleasure he could wring out of her…it was like those drugs they said you only had to try once or twice to become addicted.

Well, she felt addicted to sex now…and she was still a virgin! Gods, what would it be like if they finally…?

She swallowed and glanced up at Hades. Even worse, she had a horrible suspicion that her addiction was Hades-specific.

Above her head his fingers flew on the keyboard. He wanted her next to him, kneeling on the cushion while he worked. Curled up at his feet like she really was a pet.

The second day he chained her to his desk, she got vocal. “How long are you going to keep this up for? You can’t just chain me like a dog wherever you go. I’m a person, godsdamn you.”

No response.

“Hey, I’m talking to you.” She’d shoved his legs underneath the table.

He responded then, all right. He gagged her and cuffed her hands behind her back and that was how she spent all of day two until bedtime. Other than the three times he’d driven her to the brink of orgasm and pulled back at the last possible second, leaving her so wanting she was glad for the gag because in that moment she would have begged and pleaded and promised him anything if only he’d please, please finish what he’d started.

Thankfully, she’d gotten herself under control by the time he released the gag before bed, and all she wanted to do was scream in his face. Scream and kick and punch and scream some more. But she bit her damn lip because after a day going out of her mind with boredom and the devastating bouts of pleasure stopped just short of orgasm, she was beginning to get the picture.

This was about power.

And him letting her know that she didn’t have any.

Day three was little better. She spoke up a few times. “Can I at least have a book to read? Paper to draw on?” She wasn’t an artist by any means but even doodling would feel like extreme intellectual stimulation at this point.

She’d already examined every inch of his penthouse office by this point, counted every one of the 113 books on his bookshelf—most of them dry looking business and accounting books with a small section of Stephen King novels—and spent hours looking for faces and shapes in the artfully spackled drywall.

Unsurprisingly, there had been, shocker, no response.

The daytime chain he allowed her was slightly longer than the nighttime one. She could sit up at his feet while he worked at his desk. Another thing she was grateful for and furious at her own gratitude.

One thing was clear, Hades Ubeli was a master manipulator. He had been from the beginning.

Today she sat at his feet, her mind stewing.

She was angry, bored, frustrated, and so, so horny.

She sighed and ducked her head, examining the fraying edges of her manicure. She thought she was so fancy, going to the spa, getting ready for her wedding. If she could send herself a note, she would’ve told herself to ditch everything and run.

Not that the old Persephone would believe her. She’d believed in fairy tales, in a handsome businessman meeting a beautiful, young woman and falling in love. Sweeping the girl off her feet. A wedding of her dreams and life of wedded bliss.

She should write the authors of those fairy tales and tell them they were full of shit.

She wiggled to get into a different folded position. Her legs kept falling asleep. Hades didn’t speak, but rested a hand on her collar in silent warning to be still.

“This sucks,” she blurted.

The keyboard went silent. Oops. Hades was scarier when he was still, a shark sensing blood in the water. She’d poked the bear. Oh well, too late now.

“I’m bored.”

“You expect to be entertained?” Grown men would go mad with fear if Hades spoke to them like that. She stared at the carpet and said nothing. Because he’d spoken to her. Finally, after days of silence, he’d finally spoken again. She thought she’d exaggerated the low sinful timbre of his voice in her head, but gods, no, every syllable was a rasp that went straight to her sex.

A click and Hades pushed the closed laptop away. Then she was up, tugged and lifted onto the desk, facing those scary grey eyes. Hades ran his hands over her arms, studying her bare breasts.

He didn’t look angry or annoyed. More, thoughtful. He stroked her hair back from the collar, sifting a corn silk lock between his fingers. Heat bloomed in her, rising to her cheeks, making her dizzy. A few simple touches and her body primed itself for him.

From the smirk etched around his mouth, Hades knew it.

“Time for your punishment,” he told her, and pushed her legs apart.

“Hades—”

He propped a finger at her lips. “Quiet, angel.”

Her eyes widened. He hadn’t called her angel in a while. Well, he hadn’t called her anything considering he hadn’t been speaking to her, but angel hit her in her solar plexus. Which was so, so, stupid.

But then he was touching her and the world went hazy. He took his time, palming her knee and positioning her thighs wider, treating them to tiny strokes that seared her core. He inspected her often like this, and she submitted. She was always wet, and when he stopped, she always undeniably wanted more.

She shook her head, unable to reconcile the ugliness of her situation with the beautiful things he made her feel.

“Poor neglected pussy,” he mocked, swiping his thumb over her folds gently. She objected to the tone, but didn’t want him to stop. Maybe, since he was talking to her again, it meant he’d finally stop torturing her. But she didn’t dare ask out loud. No, her begging was all silent.

Don’t stop. Keep touching. Right there?—

“Close?” His long eyelashes flicked up to her face. Her hips danced and his left hand steadied her. He leaned in, pinning her left leg under his elbow as he bent his head close—so close— He was— Oh gods?—

His tongue swirled over her slick skin, finding the needy points, soothing them, increasing the ache. Her hips bucked and he chuckled, hot breath puffing over her sensitive flesh.

“Hades,” she wanted to grab his silky hair and tug him close but didn’t dare. “Please?—”

A few more licks and she was so close. So close?—

Hades scooted back in his chair.

No!

And lifted her back to the cushion at his feet.

NO!

He meant to leave her unsatisfied again.

She glared at his shiny black shoes underneath the desk. Her jaw locked. He pulled the laptop to the middle of the desk and started typing again, like nothing at all had just happened.

Persephone’s fists clenched. He could toss her away so easily. He made her mad with want but he was Mr. Unaffected.

Hades saw her family as strong. These uncles Persephone had never known about.

But Hades saw her as weak, merely a pawn to play against them.

It didn’t matter that she didn’t even know her uncles. Or her father. Her father who had killed an innocent girl.

That was the blood running through her veins. A murderous father and mother so overprotective, it bordered on abusive.

Persephone scoffed. Who was she kidding? It had gone over the border on more than one occasion. All the time, in fact. She hadn’t even known how abnormal it was until she got out into the world and learned how other people lived.

And now here Persephone was, falling back into her same old patterns. Head down, yes ma’am, yes ma’am, whatever you say, Mom. Except replacing her mother with Hades. Better to follow the rules than endure the punishment.

Persephone shook her head and looked down at herself.

The chains might be new but the slavery wasn’t.

She thought she could change. She’d sworn she was changing. Had changed.

But here she was again with her head bowed down, waiting for someone else to decide her fate.

And then she got a crazy idea.

An absolutely fucking absurd idea.

She looked toward Hades’s legs underneath the tall desk and felt like giggling hysterically. Well, he certainly wouldn’t be able to ignore her existence if she…

Images flashed in her head of Hades walking around the bedroom each night after he’d showered. He liked putting his body on display for her. She thought back to the past few days and the hungry way he’d lapped at her sex. He hadn’t been indifferent then. It wasn’t just to ‘punish’ her. Even now, she could see his cock straining against his dress pants.

Persephone’s insides tingled thinking about it all.

Thinking, that was the problem. Or rather, overthinking.

So she decided to stop. Thinking. Overthinking. All of it.

It was time to take action.

She crawled underneath the table.

Between Hades’s legs.

She’d been married for over a week and hadn’t even gotten to touch him. To touch it. So she reached for his belt buckle.

He jolted in his chair when she made contact and began to undo the buckle. But that was all. He didn’t say a word or move to stop her.

Was this a game of chicken? Who would flinch first?

It wouldn’t be her. Not because she had nothing to lose. She had plenty to lose still. She wouldn’t flinch, though, because she was actually curious to see this through.

Curious and afraid, but that was nothing new.

So when she finished with the belt, she quickly moved to unbutton and unzip his pants.

The audible hiss he expelled above her? Now that was gratifying.

Here was power. Was it a fucked up way of getting some back? No doubt. Wasn’t stopping her.

She reached into his pants and slid her hand between the slit in his boxers.

In a sudden motion, his strong hand came down and clenched around her wrist.

She took a page from his book and ignored him, saying not one word.

He was thick and round and firm in her grasp. Soft over steel. It was dim underneath the desk but she could still make out the basic shape of him.

And her eyes went wide.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen it. But seeing and touching were two different things. And the way it hardened and grew in her grasp?—

Her gasp escaped before she could muffle it.

As quickly as his hand had taken hold of her wrist, he released her. Interesting. He was going to allow her to continue her explorations.

Was it because he was male and it was true what they said, that no man would turn down sex? But he’d had her at his mercy for a while now and other than that first night, she hadn’t even seen him take himself in hand.

Because sex was about power to him. Did he still think he had the power in the situation just because she was the one on her knees?

Even the thought infuriated her.

She would show him. She was not a pawn in somebody else’s game. She was a motherfucking player.

So, pushing all other thoughts out of her mind, she went up on her knees and took the bulbous tip of his sex into her mouth.

“Gods,” he choked.

Persephone smiled and licked all around the tip. It was curiously salty and a little bit bitter. She grasped the bottom of his shaft with both her hands—he was large enough it took both—and took more of him into her mouth.

He leaned back in his chair and widened his legs further. She saw his stomach flatten and heave as she started to work him, in and out, in and out, just the head.

She’d never done it before, but she’d read. She’d read a lot. First in her romance books and then, as her wedding day neared, everything else she could get her hands on, well, apart from the Internet which still scared her. But plenty of women’s magazines had lengthy articles on the art of giving your man the perfect BJ and Persephone employed every tactic she’d ever read about.

Spelling out the alphabet on the very tip of his…his cock, right where she felt the tiniest slit. Bobbing up and down with her lips over her teeth, making sure to pay special attention to the ridge of his crown while still rolling the flesh of his shaft up and down. And every so often, taking him deep, as deep as she could manage without choking.

When she decided to employ yet another tip, reaching down and tugging on his balls, he shoved his chair back and pulled himself out of her mouth.

Persephone fell forward onto her hands, looking up for the first time into his face since she’d begun. She wasn’t sure what she expected to find there but it was better than she could’ve hoped for.

He did not look cold. He did not look distant.

There were two spots of color high up on his cheekbones, accentuating the sharp cut of them even more. His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared with every heaved breath. His heavy cock jutted out from the front of his unzipped pants and Persephone couldn’t help but stare. She’d just had that in her mouth?

Dear gods, what the hell had she been thinking?

She swiped at her mouth with her forearm and above her, Hades let out a low growl like an animal might.

Definitely not disinterested. Or indifferent.

Oh shit.

Hades reached for her and she scrambled back but he shoved the table out of the way. Shoved. The. Table.

The next thing she knew, he was bent over and unlocking the chain attached to her collar. He gathered her up in his arms and he was carrying her.

Okaaaaaaaay, so this was unexpected.

“Hades,” she whispered.

He didn’t respond. What he did do was carry her to his bedroom.

He laid her out in the center of his bed and he followed after.

For the first time in days, he looked her in the eyes. It was stupid, but her breath caught. His gorgeous, intense, demanding eyes. He still didn’t say anything, but he held her gaze as he slid his hand down her stomach.

He caught her chin and her eyes searched his. She had no idea what he was thinking. What was he thinking?

“Undress me,” he hissed.

She swallowed and nodded. Her fingers found the buttons of his expensive Italian shirt. Steady, steady. Just breathe. Ignore the solid plane of his chest. Ignore the tiny jolts of electricity zapping her every time her knuckles brushed him. Ignore the stutter in his indrawn breath, the demanding length poking her bare thigh, promising pleasure and pain when the time came to tear her open.

This was it. She knew it was. There was no more waiting, no more teasing, no more half measures.

The white shirt fell away, revealing strong forearms. He helped her peel off his undershirt and then?—

Dear gods above. Faced with a wall of smooth, firm muscle, olive skin dusted with a little dark hair, she swayed on her knees. She knew Hades was strong, but hadn’t contemplated the acres of muscle under his tailored suits. Now, half naked before her, he was just so…big. His head towered over hers. Her hands couldn’t fit around his upper arm.

He caught her wrists, drawing her close. His head ducked, his lips caught hers for a hard, claiming kiss. His erection dug into her thigh until she swiveled her hips, pushing her throbbing parts into the satisfying length of him. She was a virgin, never had anything inside her, but she wanted it. Oh gods, she wanted it…

When Hades broke the kiss, her lips were throbbing, swollen.

“This,” his big hand slid over her bottom and squeezed, “is mine.”

She nodded frantically, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. She wanted him to take, to own her. She needed it.

Hades let out a groan that told her he was as undone as she felt.

“No one but me, Persephone. No one touches you but me.”

He laid her down, hands catching her hips. “Spread for me, baby.”

She propped her legs apart. He dove between them, dark head working.

No. Her head flew back. No, no, no.

The gleam in his eyes did it. YES. She flew apart. Finally, after so many days of teasing. But gods, it wasn’t enough, there and then gone too soon. She needed more. She needed so much more.

And there he was, still watching her, so focused, so single-minded. Her hands lifted to his shoulders as he moved over her body. She couldn’t look away as she felt him reach down and position himself.

He was preparing to enter her.

To enter her, enter her.

She swallowed and unwittingly, her fingertips dug into his shoulders.

But he paused, his voice strained and gravelly. “You say no right now and I stop.”

His eyes searched hers back and forth.

Say something. Tell him no. Hell fucking no. What was she even doing?

Earlier… Sucking his… That was about taking her power back. But this? Letting him… Who had the power now?

But the look on his face, gods damn him, she was right back where she’d been the moment she was walking down the aisle toward the man she loved with all her heart. His features were gentled and there was something raw in his usually hardened face.

Another manipulation.

But damn it to hell, instead of saying no, she nodded her head yes.

And he was there, pressing in at her most intimate place. Fear struck. She remembered how huge he was. He’d split her in two.

But he shook his head ever so slightly like he could sense her fear. And while he didn’t stop, no, she could see he wouldn’t, couldn’t stop now that he had begun, he pushed forward slowly, carefully.

Persephone felt it the moment he came up against her barrier and so did he. Persephone could see it in his eyes. He didn’t stop, though, and she didn’t want him to. She nodded again and he pushed forward. Her hip twitched and there was a sharp pinch before her flesh gave way. He sank deeper. She closed her eyes and clutched his shoulders.

“Look at me,” he demanded.

Why? Why? He knew what she was giving. She’d been a fool to think she could ever wrest any power away from this man. He was an unstoppable force and to him she was nothing but a wildflower, here today and paved over tomorrow.

“Persephone, give me your eyes.”

Her throat stung as she opened her eyes. She felt the tears as they rolled down her temples and into her hair.

Hades’s sharp eyebrows were drawn together, his huge body looming over her small one, as he worked himself inside her, inch by inch.

Her breath caught as he probed the tight fist of her inner muscles. “Easy. Open...open for me.”

Her hands clawed his back, caught his strong shoulders, and hung on.

“That’s it,” his breath tickled her ear. “Hold tight to me.”

The pressure grew. She gritted her teeth, ducking her head to hide in the curve of Hades’s throat. He was a rock, immovable. She was the ocean, ebbing, moving around him.

Slowly her body opened, her legs softening even as the pain swam through her.

“Yes. Yes, that’s it, beautiful. Give yourself to me.”

“Hades,” she rasped. Tremors ran through her head to toe. His hips melded with hers as he invaded her. When he stopped, fully rooted, thrills ran down her sides. Her chest rose and fell, nipples hardened to diamond points.

Hades held himself over her, his arms taut by her face. His head was bowed, dark lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. His lips moved slightly.

If she didn’t know different, she’d guess he was praying. She felt like praying too. They were fully merged, his body towering over hers, protecting and claiming her.

This was what heaven felt like.

She’d never felt more connected to another human being.

The pain ebbed and he began to move. Slow rocks at first, nudging further into her inner sanctum, trespassing boldly. The strong ridge of his manhood rubbed a delicious part of her and Persephone raised her hips, seeking more.

“Persephone,” he rasped, and there was a world of possibility in her name. Her fingers passed over his face as if she were blind and wanted to memorize the cut of his features. In this room, this dark womb, she would forget all the hurt he’d done her.

“Hades,” she turned her face up to his. He dragged his lips over her mouth, her cheek, the corner of her eye, giving her silent, bruising promises as his body reaped pleasure from hers. He made a prolonged, male sound, pushing deeper. His eyes were closed, his face intent as if he’d found something important, something beautiful he’d longed for, but never hoped to experience.

Yes, she prayed. Hades, come back to me. He groaned again, the muscles in his back turning to steel under her stroking hands.

She felt it. For the first time, she understood how the entire act worked in harmony, every part of his body so perfectly made to bring pleasure to every part of hers.

He was made for her.

“Oh gods,” she cried out. “Oh…oh…oh! Hades!”

Her chest thrust up and out and she clung to him, her fingers in his hair as the climax hit, bright and beautiful, and so, so right. Yes, yes. This. Him.

A thrust, two, three, and he rooted himself deep and stayed there. She held on and hoped she read the signs right.

After an eternity, he pulled out. She hissed, her insides protesting.

“You all right?” he searched her face.

“I’m good.” Her legs were noodles, her muscles overstretched. She’d be sore tomorrow.

“That was...thank you.” She shouldn’t thank her captor. But this was Hades. He’d come back to her for a moment and for a moment, it was beautiful.

“Yes. You did well.” He parted her legs and studied the stains on the sheets. Watery blossoms, evidence of her virginity. She covered her cheeks. She shouldn’t be embarrassed, but it seemed more intimate. She’d bled for him. Her blood mingled with his seed.

But then something seemed to come over his face and he turned away from her. Long seconds ticked by. Finally, his back stiffened and then he looked over his shoulder.

“Not bad, for a virgin.” She flinched and met his mercurial stare, horror rising in her as he said, “I know I’ll watch the recording of this many times. And I think your uncles will really appreciate Part II of the wedding video, especially when you screamed my name and came all over my cock.”

With a dark smirk, he nodded toward the corner camera.

The blood left her face. No. Not after all this. They couldn’t be back to where they’d started. She’d seen the way he’d looked at her when he was deep inside her. She’d seen it in his eyes…hadn’t she?

The pain twisting her guts felt like that first night all over again when he’d first betrayed her.

But she didn’t say a word or speak up for herself as, without another word, he left the room.