Chapter 34

34

“Hades, I—” Persephone started.

“Not another word.” His broad shoulders blocked the light. The shadows loomed around him and became part of him, flooding over her and casting her into darkness.

“But I?—”

Hades stalked across the space between them in two strides and then his hand was on her jaw. “Open.”

Eyes captured by the dark intensity of his gaze, she obeyed and dropped her mouth open.

He pulled something out of his pocket and then popped two cool little metallic balls with a small thread tying them together into her mouth. Each ball was about an inch in circumference.

“Now suck,” he growled darkly into her ear. Obediently she ran her tongue around the gum-ball like metal pieces. Her eyes asked questions but she was too well-trained.

“If memory serves me correctly, I believe I told you that you could not come to this party tonight.”

Persephone tried to reply in her defense but her response was garbled because of the balls.

“Hush.” Hades lifted a finger to her lips. “Not a single word.” And then he held out his hand in front of her mouth.

She let the balls fall onto his palm.

“Hades, what?—”

“I said not a word,” he chastised, and by the dark look in his eye, she could tell he meant it. “Turn around. Pull up your dress and lean forward. That’s it. Tug your panties down and put your hands on the wall.”

As gracefully as she could, she got into position. This is how it always went. He commanded, she obeyed.

The picture of the happy couple burned against her breast as she waited with her bare ass sticking out. She and Hades played some kinky games, for sure, but never in a strange house with a party raging a floor below. Was he going to fuck her? Here?

“So pretty and obedient.” Hades cupped her right ass cheek, fondling it and giving it a light slap. He did the same with the left, landing a slightly harder spank. “At least when I’m here with my hands on you. But you’ve been a naughty girl, haven’t you?”

“I don’t look kindly when you put what is mine in danger.” His voice dropped lower. Persephone shivered, but not in fear. “Spread your legs, angel. I’m going to remind this pussy who it belongs to.”

Persephone rocked her legs apart. Oh gods oh gods, he was going to?—

A long finger slid into her slick pussy, slowly probing. She arched her back, already desperate for him. So much for fighting for her independence.

“So wet, baby. Is this for me?” His voice went dark as night. “Or someone else?”

“You,” she moaned, pressing her forehead into the wall. “Only you.”

His finger continued dipping in and out of her. “Is that so? What were you doing up here all alone, then?”

Persephone closed her eyes. Alone. He hadn’t seen Orpheus. He didn’t think she was sneaking away for a private assignation.

“I wanted to see Hermes’s place. I needed a second alone. The party, all the people, it was just...” Hades added a finger and her voice caught. “A-a lot.”

“My sweet, sheltered innocent. My man called me to tell me you ran off. I told him my loving wife wouldn’t make so much trouble on purpose. Or put herself so foolishly at risk.”

“Please don’t punish him. It wasn’t his fault.”

“I’ll punish whomever I wish. And right now...that’s you.” A gust of air blew against her bare haunches. Persephone looked back to see what he was doing but with a stern shake of his head, Hades ordered her to face front. She didn’t have to wait long.

With strong fingers, Hades pushed the metallic balls up inside her. Persephone went to her toes with an indrawn breath. Her pussy clenched automatically, and a ripple went through her as the balls’ weight pressed on delicious points inside her.

“There,” Hades said. “These are called Ben Wa balls. You’ll keep them in.” He pulled her panties up, her dress down, and he smacked her bottom again. Persephone cried out as the balls rocked inside her.

“Careful,” Hades warned with what sounded like dark amusement. “You don’t want them to fall out.”

Slowly, Persephone straightened. Her legs tightened, wanting to press together. The balls moved in her wet channel, sending taut waves of pleasure through her. Turning around took an eternity.

With a wicked smirk, Hades stretched out his hand. “Shall we?” His murmur was all innocence.

“Hades,” she whimpered, grabbing his hand as her knees threatened to give out. “You’re not going to make me walk like this... I can’t…”

He drew her close, his large body looming over her. His face turned gentle. “It’s okay, goddess. I’ll be with you every step of the way. You want to please me, don’t you?”

Her insides turned liquid, golden honey simmering in her veins. She couldn’t resist him like this, the kind and loving husband she wanted. “Yes.” Her voice wobbled like her legs.

“Then walk and show me you’re learning your lesson,” his smile turned cruel along the edges, even as the next moment he added gently, “I got you.”

Gripping his hand in both of hers, Persephone made her way down the stairs. The balls clanked inside her, but she grew used to their weight. Her panties were soaked.

At the foot of the stairs, a phalanx of bodyguards waited. None of the faces were familiar. Persephone raised her chin and ignored them, hoping they wouldn’t think too much of her mincing steps and the blush staining her cheeks.

“Easy now,” Hades murmured, wrapping an arm around her as if she was unsteady because she was drunk. He led her through the rooms, slightly emptier of bodies than before. From the sounds of things, the party had moved to the back of the house. Models and servers scattered, quieting and hugging the walls when the Shades entered.

“Mr. Ubeli.” Hermes pushed through a knot of people by the door, Athena at his side. Persephone made herself smile, praying her body would behave.

“Excellent party,” Hades said to Hermes. “Excuse us, we can’t stay. My wife isn’t feeling well.”

Athena’s eyes widened. Hermes nodded knowingly. To reassure them, Persephone gave a little wave. “Later,” she mouthed to Athena as Hades steered her towards the door.

Her husband was a perfect gentleman, helping her down the steps and guiding her to the waiting car. As soon as they grew close, however, he pushed her forward and the motion made the balls rock inside her.

“Oh,” she gasped.

“Easy. We’re almost to the car.”

She scrambled into the backseat and collapsed, panting. If the balls moved any more inside her, she’d come close to orgasm.

Hades followed, sitting across from her. He rapped the closed divider to signal to the driver, and leaned back as if to take in a show.

“Sit,” he demanded. “Legs apart. Pull up your dress.”

Biting back a needy noise, she bared her legs to the thigh.

“Panties off.”

“Hades, I don’t think?—”

“Do it.”

She stripped off the sodden scrap of white lace and spread her knees. Hades took her in, gaze hooded. He looked at her like a piece of art, an object he owned.

“Rock back and forth on the seat.”

She did, and oh— oh! The balls rolled inside her. Millimeters that felt like miles. The weight of the balls pressed on all the right spots.

“Hades, please,” she panted. “I’m going to?—”

“Stop,” he snapped. “You don’t cum without permission.”

“Do I have permission?”

“No. You deliberately ditched your bodyguard and snuck away into a crowded house full of strangers doing all manner of stupid things. I could kill Hermes for inviting Orpheus.” He shook his head, his glare dark. “What if there was another riot? What if someone grabbed you?”

“Don’t blame Hermes.”

Hades leveled his stormy gaze, pinning her to the seat. “I will keep you safe, Persephone, even if I have to chain you to my side.”

And here it was. He protected her, but he didn’t love her. He wanted her, yes, but only as an object he could control.

“Chaining me to you won’t keep me safe,” she blurted. “Remember last time? She put her hand over her stomach, right over the place where she took a bullet. “By your side is a dangerous place to be.” She said it under her breath but he heard.

His jaw clenched. The heat of his anger rolled over her, blowing up like a bomb in the car. She could barely breathe.

And then, just like that it disappeared, stuffed away into the fearsome man before her.

“For that outburst,” he said in measured tones, his jaw tight, “you won’t be cumming for a long time.”

He made her rock on the seat and stop whenever she got close. By the end she was gripping the seat edge and keening. Her and her stupid big mouth. Why had she said anything? It wasn’t like it changed things. Except now she could cry from being so close to satisfaction but being denied from paradise over and over and over again.

Her head hung down and she panted as the car rolled to a stop.

“We’re here.”

Here was another high-rise, with a fancy facade and a red carpet lined with camera toting paparazzi. Wait, what?

“Where are we?”

“Donation dinner. I’m introducing the headline speaker.”

“What?” Her mouth dropped open. He couldn’t be serious. She was a breathless mess and he expected her to face a red carpet?

“Last minute decision. The mayor requested my presence. Of course, I need you by my side.”

She gaped at him.

“Dress down,” he ordered, sounding almost bored. “Cover yourself.”

She reached for her panties but he beat her to them. “I’ll keep these.” He brought them to his face to sniff before stuffing them in his pocket.

Now there was nothing between her pussy and the air. No safety net if the balls fell out.

“Hades!”

“You can do it,” he said in that gentle, encouraging tone. As if he were a doting husband and not her torturer. “If you’re good, I’ll let you climax later.”

He was serious. “But,” she gasped, hand going to her hair. “Hades, I’m all…” She was a sweaty wreck, that’s what she was.

Large, gentle hands pulled her worried ones away. Hades knelt before her, stroking back the flyaways.

“You look beautiful,” he told her firmly. He ran a finger along the edge of her dress and her nipples rose in response. “Perfetto. Remember, you are mine.” And with a kiss that seared her lips, he tugged her out of the car.

In the blinding flashes of the camera, Hades posed with his arm around her shoulders. He kept holding her as he guided her up the red carpet, playing the doting husband.

Okay, okay, she could do this. Keep it together. Don’t let the vultures see anything is amiss. And really, it wasn’t like anything was. Her husband was screwing with her mind and body, just like always.

Except, oh yeah, if these damn balls fell out on the red carpet, she was pretty sure she’d die from mortification. Clench. She squeezed her inner walls even tighter and held her thighs together, all the while trying to put on a natural-looking smile for the cameras.

She leaned into Hades, keeping her stroll smooth and controlled. If she looked stiffer and more flushed than usual, she could blame her awkwardness on the overwhelming paparazzi.

Thankfully, she and Hades were a few minutes late so the dinner had already begun. Other than a few nods to people he knew, Hades didn’t leave her or let her go until they found their table. He pulled out her chair and she sank down gratefully. Thank the Fates, the damn balls had stayed in. Hades patted her shoulder and headed to the front.

Watching him walk away, Persephone felt a pang of desire in spite of herself as her husband ascended the stage. If only he weren’t so handsome, his presence so commanding, then maybe she’d have half a chance of withstanding his charms. His dark head bent for a moment to speak to the much shorter man who announced him.

But as it was, when he straightened and surveyed the crowd with a casual authority, he took her breath away. He really was beyond gorgeous, damn him.

“Good evening,” his deep voice rolled over the crowd. A few ladies sat up straighter, faces brightening under their thick makeup. Persephone felt an undeniable stab of jealousy. Hands off, he’s mine. She should want him to move on from her, from their marriage bed, but the thought broke her. As much as she loved to hate him, if Hades left her for another woman… Nausea struck even at the thought.

Hades’s gaze swept the crowd and settled on her. She went still. “I prepared a long and glorious speech to introduce the next speaker, but my wife asked me to keep it short. And I live to keep her happy.”

He smiled at her, dimple appearing, and her insides went molten. A blush burned through her cheeks as light laughter swept the room and people turned to look at her. She kept her eyes on Hades. Like if she just looked long enough, she could figure out why, why, he had the effect he did on her. Gods, what would it take to rid him from her heart? Because as much as games like tonight might get her off, what was it worth if at the end of the day he still didn’t love her—and never would?

“Without further ado, it’s my great honor to introduce the man of the hour. Our illustrious mayor, ready for a new term: Zeus Sturm!”

Persephone craned her neck to see the familiar blond head as the mayor incumbent ascended the stage. The man was as handsome as his picture, with a boyish grin that endeared him to everyone so well. He waved to all the cheering people. In the hubbub, Hades slipped from the stage without shaking the mayor’s hand.

Zeus Sturm approached the podium like he owned it. Persephone tried to distract herself from her maudlin thoughts by focusing on him, intentionally not watching Hades as he walked back to the table.

“Friends, welcome, welcome!” He grinned his handsome smile and told a warm-up joke that immediately had the crowd roaring. Over the course of his speech, the winsome politician continued making them laugh, until they all were eating out of his hand. Even Persephone cracked a reluctant smile.

Zeus covered education, economics, and at one point, crime.

“When I took office, this city was in the grip of the crime families. With the support of the commissioner and our boys in blue, we’ve made our streets safe.”

“Miss me?” Hades murmured as he took his seat next to Persephone. A few people close to their table spared a second to study the two of them. Time to play the part. It was familiar and far easier than dealing with her real emotions. She fixed her face in an adoring expression and fluttered her eyelashes at her husband.

But then, when attention was off them, she hissed, “You didn’t have to mention me in front of everyone.”

Hades took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Persephone could almost hear the older women in the audience sighing over his chivalry. Still pressing her hand to his mouth, he gave her a wicked smile. “I almost said you preferred Zeus over me, but I figured that was too close to the truth.”

Persephone pulled her hand back and faced the stage. “I don’t even know the mayor. The only reason I’d prefer him is because he doesn’t torture me like you do.”

She quivered as Hades tucked her into his side. His fingers ran up and down her arm, stroking lightly, so lightly. She felt the touch right in her ever-tightening core.

“But you love it, don’t you? All this torture…you enjoy it.”

“I enjoy when it’s over,” she snapped.

“So will I.” The smug promise made her womb convulse. “Now be a good girl and pay attention. The mayor is telling the city how much safer and prosperous it is under his rule. Lies, of course. The only reason New Olympus is still standing and not a smoking hole of ruin is because of my rule.”

“You should’ve put that in your speech.”

“Next time I will. I’ll have you introduce me.”

“I’ll tell everyone the truth.”

“What truth? That I dote on my wife. And give her everything?”

“No.” Persephone smiled sweetly at nothing, suppressing a shiver as Hades traced the curve of her ear. “That you’re the devil.” She almost cringed as she said it. Why was she goading him? Sometimes he liked her to stand up to him, a kitten scratching him with ineffectual claws.

Apparently, tonight was one of those times. He chuckled and stopped his slow, tormenting touch. She was both relieved and disappointed. “I am a devil. I’m not the only one in this city.” He nodded to a passing pair of men. “But I am the most powerful. Everyone wants to deal with me. Just like the devil, they come to bargain with me, and leave with everything they desire.”

“Except their soul.”

“Except that.” He smirked.

The mayor finished and Hades made a show of standing and applauding, slow golf claps that echoed above the rest. The night would continue with entertainment and gentle calls for donations.

Hades put his hand on Persephone’s shoulder. “What about you, Persephone? Do I own your soul?”

“No,” she denied vehemently, praying it wasn’t a lie. “Just every other part of me. As you well know.”

She waited as Hades spoke to a few people, mostly men who greeted him loudly and then leaned in to conduct their business in lower tones. Hades stood beside her chair as he spoke to them. He kept his hand on the back of her neck.

Persephone sipped her wine, resting, grateful for the reprieve. Grateful, and anxious. Hades had only begun and she had a feeling tonight would test her limits. He wouldn’t be satisfied until he proved his total domination over her body and senses. Maybe even her soul, like he’d just talked about. He’d leave her with nothing.

And yet…there was a big part of her that couldn’t wait to get home. As much as she craved his love, she’d take his dominance. What did that make her?

Leaning forward as if to fix her shoe, she let her hair fall over her breast and slipped the picture Orpheus had given her out of her bra and into her clutch. She didn’t need to glance at it again; she had it memorized.

Eurydice had the love Persephone wished for, but Persephone had Hades. Arrogant, powerful, frustrating and sexy Hades. Her husband. She wouldn’t trade him for anything, even the remains of her heart. Her dignity. Her soul. He was the devil, indeed.

As if sensing her thoughts on him, Hades glanced down with a lazy smile. His thumb brushed her cheek. “A few more minutes, Angel.”

The people he was talking to spared her a smile. How lucky, the women were thinking. What a doting husband.

Persephone reached up and captured Hades’s rough hand. He squeezed hers and didn’t let go. She studied the dark hair dusting his olive skin.

Hades didn’t feel love for her, only obsession, but if she couldn’t have one, she’d take the other. Maybe it could be enough to sustain her?

Her breath quickened when Hades made his goodbyes and helped her out of her chair. He offered his arm with a sardonic arch of his brow. “Tired?”

“Not really.” It would be just like him to take her home and put her to bed without relieving the desire he’d stoked. If he did that, she’d scream. Not that she wouldn’t scream if he fucked her. She always lost control when he claimed her. And after the night of tumultuous thinking, she wanted that most of all. She wanted the bliss of being lost in him. For time and space to disappear in only the way that he could provide.

“Good,” he purred in her ear. “Because the night isn’t over yet.” His hand covered hers where it rested on his strong forearm.

“Excuse us,” he announced to the cluster of businessmen he’d been speaking to. “I promised my wife a tour of the art gallery.”

“I hear it’s stunning,” a man with silver hair said. “Closed this time of night, though.”

“I arranged a late-night viewing. We prefer...privacy.”

The men laughed at that, and Hades led Persephone to an elevator. A Shade stepped out of the shadows to hand him something. Hades muttered something that sounded like, “keep the area secure” before inserting a keycard into a slot above the elevator buttons.

“Where is the art gallery?” Persephone asked, her voice calm even as her heart fluttered.

“Upstairs.” Her husband straightened, his wide shoulders filling the space. It wasn’t just his height and powerful body, but his very presence that dominated the vicinity.“It’s a new installation, part of the remodel.”

“Let me guess, your businesses had something to do with it.”

“Art is a good investment,” he said.

“And it’s beautiful.”

“That too.” He turned to her and took her in fully. She pretended to ignore him, facing front, but her body hummed, knowing he was inspecting her as if she was a Degas “little dancer” painting he wanted to purchase.

He hit the emergency button. The elevator stopped with an angry buzz.

And so it begins.

“Hades,” she said breathlessly. His hand came to her neck, thumb stroking a sensitive point. “How’s your pussy?” he asked and she closed her eyes. “That bad? Or that good?”

Her pulse pounded under his palm.

“Poor wife. What can I do to make you feel better? Hmmm?” He leaned closer. “Are you wet for me? Let me check.”

He sank to his knees, pulling up her dress. Persephone gave in and leaned against the elevator wall. She reached for him.

“Hands behind your back,” he ordered sharply and leaned forward after she obeyed. Her fingers scrabbled desperately against the metal railing behind her.

“Poor, sweet neglected pussy. I’m here,” he crooned, his lips brushing her labia. Persephone nearly came then and there. Her head swam as she began to float, her body becoming alight with sensation.

“Hades...please…”

“You have permission. In fact, I expect you to come. Multiple times. If you don’t, I will be very displeased.” He punctuated this with a kiss to her sopping slit.

Persephone’s hands scrabbled on the rail, dying to grab his shoulders and hang on. But no, he’d said to keep her hands behind her back. Obedience equaled pleasure. It was all so simple when they were together like this.

Hades lifted her right leg and propped it over his shoulder.

“Feel free to scream,” he remarked, before diving in. He feasted on her with gusto, nibbling on her lower lips and probing them apart with his tongue.

Her body convulsed and she fought to stay standing on her left leg. Hades fit his shoulder under her right as he settled himself in and laved up and down her seam.

“Oh— Oh— Hades!” she couldn’t help crying out.

Her propped leg opened her further to him, and he used his fingers to part and probe her sex as his tongue fluttered next to her clit.

That was— It was so incredible, she couldn’t even?—

With a growl, he sank his fingers deep, rubbing her inner wall. Persephone went up on tiptoe. Oh. The balls inside her pushed further up her channel. Their weight combined with his crooked fingers send shockwaves reverberating through her.

“Cum for me,” he commanded, and she did, her legs collapsing as she melted down the wall. Only Hades’s hand on her hip and his shoulder steadied her and kept her upright.

“My wife.” He moved up and kissed her. She tasted salt, she tasted herself, and underneath was Hades. Always Hades, dominating her lips and mouth while her body pulsed with aftershocks.

His thumb caressed the edge of her jaw and their gazes locked. It was moments like these, when her body and heart were wide open, that she wondered if she’d fallen into a dream. That sweet peace. Like Orpheus and Eurydice had, the kind of forever love that inspired his haunting songs.

Then Hades shoved his fingers into her mouth.

“I knew when I saw you that you were submissive. You just needed a firm hand.”

He pulled his fingers out and wiped them on her dress. The casual degradation made her cheeks burn. So much for sweetness.

“You did well. You’ve pleased me.”

She gritted her teeth.

“What do you say?”

“Thank you.”

“Good girl.”

Good girl. He was always saying that. Good girl, good girl, good girl. So fucking patronizing. It wasn’t something you said to an equal.

But then she wasn’t an equal, was she? Not to him. She was a good lay. Of course he’d never love her. How could he love his ‘good girl’, his sex object that got him off when she wasn’t being paraded around as his trophy wife.

Earlier tonight she told herself this was enough. That she could be satisfied as long as she had this.

But dammit, didn’t she deserve more? Didn’t she deserve to be loved? Truly loved? Why was she putting up with these half-measures? Did she really think so little of herself?

She ducked her head away from Hades. “I...need a moment.”

He backed away and hit the elevator button. The smooth ascent began, but Persephone’s heart remained a few stories down, with the mirage of the caring man her husband could be.

“You all right?” he asked, casually. Not as if he cared. So much wealth and privilege and he couldn’t afford to care.

When she remained silent, he called her name. “Persephone, answer me.”

He wanted her to speak? She’d give him words. “You know, I could’ve loved you.”

He didn’t react. His face showed no sign that she’d fired the first shot. “You don’t love me?”

“As if I could, after what you’ve done to me.”

“Is that a no?” A hint of a smirk before his expression smoothed. He was calm as a lawyer questioning a witness.

Fucking arrogant man. “No, Hades, I don’t love you. Not anymore. Not like before.”

She remembered everything, how much hope she had right up until the wedding night. How he’d held all her happiness in the palm of his hand. How he’d let it fall and then shatter.

“You could’ve married me, given me the honeymoon of my dreams. You could have told me about your sister. I would’ve grieved with you. If you had told me the truth and opened up to me, we could’ve…” Her voice choked off with all the could-have-beens.

Hades still watched her with no expression.

“But you chose to punish me.” Her voice cracked and she fought for control. “To break me.”

He reached for her and she wrenched herself away. She wouldn’t let tears fall. She wouldn’t. “You can have love or you can have revenge. We both know what you chose.”

Hades looked down at his bride, quivering with the force of her anger and pain.

Blue eyes, the color of a summer sky. Hair a dark blonde, like wheat fields. Her complexion was pure, peaches and cream, her scent fresh as the country air.

He’d never seen anything like her, not in his city. She stepped off the bus into his world, and he’d known if he didn’t take her, claim her for his own, the city would eat her alive.

All that innocence ready to be sullied. He saved her from a long hard fall. He saved her.

She should be grateful.

But instead she glared at him, her expression as close to hate as he’d ever seen it.

He loomed over her. “This isn’t story time. I’m not a handsome prince. Fairy tales aren’t real.”

She raised her chin. That vibrant inner strength, the core he couldn’t touch. Couldn’t break.

“Love is.”

“If you believe that you’re not truly broken.”

She started to shake her head and he grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him. “I will risk everything, even your hate, to keep you safe. To let you live in a world where you believe love is real.”

Her expression softened. See, she couldn’t hate him. She was too full of goodness. The light in her saved him from the darkness, even when he deserved her hate and earned her loathing, over and over.

“Oh Hades,” she whispered. “What have you become?”

For a moment he wavered. He would tell her he didn’t want revenge. That having her was enough, if she would just give herself fully to him?—

But no. That was too close to groveling. And he didn’t grovel. The facts didn’t change whether his face was in her pussy or she was on her knees with his cock down her throat. He owned her.

Body, mind, soul. Heart. End of story.

They were almost to the top floor, but not quite. Good enough. He needed to teach his bride, his wife, a lesson.

He stabbed a button. “On second thought, I think we’ll take the stairs.”

The doors opened and he swept a hand out. “After you.”

She took a few trembling steps into the darkness. He’d left the balls inside her. She’d have to tighten her muscles and accept another round of growing arousal. The motion sensor lights blinked on. A museum of white walls and shining wood floors stretched before them, full of statues.

“Run,” he ordered her coldly. He could all but hear her heart stutter to a stop.

“Wh-what?”

“Run,” Hades repeated, shrugging out of his jacket. He hung it on a nearby statue and started rolling up his sleeves. “I’m going to chase you. If you reach the other side without dropping the balls...” He arched an eyebrow. “…you get a reward.” Then he dropped his voice. “But if you let them fall?—”

Her eyelashes fluttered, her breath coming faster. “What if you catch me?”

“If I catch you, I get the reward.”

“What’s the reward?”

He stared intently into her eyes, which were flitting this way and that before finally settling and focusing on his. “Anything I want.”

She gulped.

He’d lied earlier. Some parts of fairy tales were real. Like the big bad wolf hunting down an innocent girl. He was the hunter. She was his prey.

And now she would understand that she would never, ever escape him.

She kicked off her shoes and then took off up the stairs. He leaned on the rail, watching her go. She couldn’t quite run. Her ass wiggled back and forth in her attempt to keep her thighs together so the heavy balls would stay inside her. Hades pulled her panties out from his coat pocket and took a long inhale before finally starting up the stairs himself.

She hazarded a glance over her shoulder and let out a small yip when she saw he was following and how quickly and easily he was gaining on her.

Oh he liked this game very much.

She scurried ahead, darting around installations and statue laden pedestals. He paced behind her, a hunter who knew his prey. She left the scent of arousal in her wake.

She reached the end of the room and slipped through the door. He was gaining on her even with his steady, even tread. His legs were longer and she had to take small, mincing steps or risk punishment for losing the balls.

Either that, or she wanted him to catch her. He grinned at the thought. For all her protests, her body recognized its master.

He paused just outside the door, staying in the shadows as he peeked inside. The second room held only a giant staircase, spiraling up several stories to the sky.

A massive chandelier blazed above with each of its crystals twisting slowly so shining patterns danced on the white-gold marble.

There she was, starting up the staircase. She was going slower, gliding from step to step, her face turned to the light. The brilliant waterfall turned her hair into a glowing halo. Bright and fiercely perfect.

A fist clenched Hades’s heart until he gritted his teeth against the pain. She was so fucking beautiful it hurt.

She is mine, and mine alone. Possessing her completely was the only thing that eased the ache.

He finally came into the room and followed her up the stairs, taking them leisurely two at a time, not rushing but not waiting either.

When he’d closed the distance to less than twenty steps, Persephone glanced back and gasped. Her legs slammed together and she grabbed the railing, pausing to regain her control a second before she fled again. Hades’s chuckle echoed around them.

Head bowed, she scurried higher, her steps jerky and panicked. Her fear was so delicious. Especially because he saw her arousal glistening on the pristine stairs.

Near the top floor, he closed the distance to ten steps. In her rush, she must have forgotten to mind the balls. They fell, bouncing and spinning with wet drops flying.

They both froze to listen to them clatter over the white-gold marble, down one step and then another and another, echoing like tinny music around the large chamber. When the noise stopped, Hades met his wife’s wide blue eyes and smiled.

She turned and raced up the final steps, but too late. Hades sprang and tackled her, his weight driving her to her hands and knees, even as his arm caught her middle and broke her fall.

He eased her down the last inch. Her hands slapped the marble and he tossed up her dress, ripping it in his haste.

He was the victor and he wouldn’t waste time in devouring his prize. Her legs parted automatically and he thrust three fingers into her wet center, hooking to find her G spot.

“Scream for me,” he ordered and she did, her torso writhing and cunt milking his fingers. “Again.” His fingers probed, finishing what the balls started. She was wet, so wet. If he hadn’t rolled up his cuffs they’d be soaked.

When she’d convulsed with a second climax, he pushed on her back with his free hand, so her body bowed and her ass propped up right where he wanted it. He knelt a step behind her as she half lay on the landing, legs spread and hindquarters bare, ripe and ready for him.

He almost broke his pants zipper getting it open. His cock throbbed, pointing straight towards the wet heat waiting for it.

The cry she made when he slid into her almost set him off. His balls were tight and ready with a massive amount of cum. He gritted his teeth and took a moment to smooth his hands down her shuddering back.

Then he drove into her, sending her body rocking forward with each thrust. She sobbed and begged for more, her back arched so her ass ground into him. He wound a hand in her hair and made her bow backwards even further. He rode her that way for a while before hooking a hard arm under her helpless body and drawing her up against him, so he could growl in her ear,

“Enough. Enough of fighting me. You’ll do what I say because I keep you safe. You’ll do what I say because it is what I say. You stay pure. Untouched except by me.”

His hips slammed into her so hard her body jerked, to make the point. “You are mine and no others. Not even your own.”

He wound one of his arms around her until his fingers were at her throat. He squeezed only hard enough that she felt him there. “Your life is in my hands and I have sworn to protect you. And you will fucking let me. Do you understand?”

When she didn’t say anything except for her moans of pleasure, he shook her again. “Do you understand?”

“Yes!” she cried. “Yes, oh, Hades.”

Then she came apart in his arms again, softly keening.

Gods, he needed this woman. His arms clamped around her, holding her tight as if he could merge them into one. When his climax came, it blinded him.

He let them both sink to the floor, one arm around her middle and the other propping them up slightly. Persephone lay safe in his arms, her hair spilled over the gleaming stone. They were both bathed in softly spinning light.

He wanted to lie here forever. The fields of paradise couldn’t be better than this. Persephone’s warmth soaked into him, warming him down to his bones. For one long, perfect moment, he closed his eyes and let himself bask in her sunlight.

…

…

…

But…no. He couldn’t. His place was in the darkness. In the cold. In shadow.

So he gathered himself, drew down her dress, and used a ripped piece to sop up the dripping mess between her legs. He had to help her down the first few steps, until she regained her equilibrium. Halfway down he stopped and pointed to the abandoned Ben Wa balls.

His body still buzzing, he wanted to whisper a sonnet to her.

Instead, he made his voice icy. “Clean up your arousal.”

He handed her a handkerchief. Cheeks an adorable shade of pink, Persephone wiped the steps and collected the balls as he towered over her. When he held out his hand for the bundle, she didn’t look at him but bit her lip. The sight sent another shot of arousal stabbing through him.

With a hand on her back, he escorted her to the elevator, steadying her when she wobbled. Her dress was torn in the back, the straps slipping down her shoulders, but she was too dazed to notice. She couldn’t do anything but lean on him.

If he could keep her in this state, freshly fucked with his cum spilling out of her puffy pussy, gaze hazy and cheeks tinged pleasure-pink, he would. He’d be tempted to sell his businesses, buy the whole Crown Hotel, and take her in a different room night after night after night.

Catching her in his arms, he gave her a kiss.

“Angel,” he murmured and she melted into him.

Fuck it. Hades gave into what he ached to do all night.

He wrapped her in his jacket and carried her the rest of the way, down the elevator, through the building empty of all but his Shades, and out to the car where he held her all the way home.