Chapter 48

48

Hours later, Persephone awoke with the sounds of gunshots ringing in her ears. She sat up in bed, gripping the empty sheets beside her until her dream—of bullets crashing into the restaurant—faded away.

Persephone looked around, confused for a second not to be in her bed at the penthouse. But then the rest of it came crashing in.

I love you.

Three little words with the power to break her. Or remake her. She pulled the silk sheet up to her chest and crossed her arms over her knees.

He loved her. He loved her back.

She smiled silly and looked around, but Hades wasn’t anywhere in the large master suite and she didn’t hear him in the ensuite bathroom either. And then her chest tightened with fear. Would he take it back? What if it was just another cruel game to him?

All of a sudden, she could barely breathe. She threw the sheet back and jumped to her feet, grabbing a robe and all but running out of the room. She had to find him. She had to know if it was real or not.

She’d just pulled open the bedroom door when she heard angry voices coming from somewhere in the house.

Frowning, she followed the sounds down the hall. She and Hades always stayed in the master suite on the second floor. Most of the house had been closed up for over a decade, the furniture under blankets like ghosts from another time.

The voice was coming from somewhere near the front door. She paused at the landing above the stairwell, pulling her robe more tightly around her and listening hard.

“We had a deal.” The words echoed around the foyer’s cathedral ceiling and came right to her ears. It was a man and she’d swear she recognized the voice from somewhere. “I’ve done my part. Given you land rights, re-zoned the docks. Turned a blind eye to the scum building up on every corner in the Styx.”

Holding her breath, Persephone crept around the corner. Hades’s dark head came into view. He stood with Charon at his back, facing two other men who’d come with the noisy guest, a handsome blond man who looked familiar. Persephone couldn’t put her finger on where she’d seen him before. He was shorter than Hades, but he stood in the center of the foyer with a posture that said he was used to dominating conversations.

“I kept you clean,” the blond said. “You’ve stayed in power. But everything you’ve built on is mine. I laid the foundation. I control it. I can take it away.”

Who dared talk to Hades this way?

Beside Hades, Charon shifted slowly. Persephone’s breath caught. Charon was large enough to take all three of them down. And here, on twenty acres of private land, who would ever find out what happened? Was she actually afraid for the blond man and his two bodyguards? She couldn’t tell. So much had happened today, she could barely sort through one thing before another was being thrown her way.

“I understand your concern.” Hades’s voice came low and level. “At the same time, I can’t help but be offended by what you imply.”

“I’m not implying,” the blond man said, taking a step forward and getting right in Hades’s face. Gods, did the man have a death wish? “I’m telling you. I’ve done my part. I expect you to deliver. I don’t expect a restaurant to be shot up the very night I’m pointing out my strong stance on crime.”

Persephone’s eyes flew open and her hand shot to her mouth to cover her gasp. It was the mayor. Storm or Strum or something. No, Sturm. Zeus Sturm, she remembered now. She’d seen him talk at the charity dinner. He and Hades worked together? The golden boy mayor and the city’s biggest crime lord?

“It’s being handled,” Charon rumbled.

“My ex-wife’s hairdresser could handle this better,” Zeus snapped right back. “We’re looking at war. Now? On the eve of the election?”

Persephone backed further into the shadows, wanting to know more about how he was connected to Hades.

“What I want to know is if you’ll make good on the promises you’ve made over the years.” The mayor jabbed a finger towards Hades. Persephone sucked in a breath. She’d never seen anyone talk to Hades like that.

“The reporter vultures are circling. They’ll say I look soft on crime. The vote is in less than a week. You move on your enemies now, this whole election goes down in a hail of gunfire. You say you control the streets? Then control them.”

“Mr. Sturm, you’re upset. You’re not seeing the big picture.” Persephone recognized that voice. The quieter and more still Hades became, the more dangerous and calculating he was.

“Big picture, my ass. Here’s the big picture: Tuesday, I lose, and the Titan brothers are back in town with the circus. Then we can stand around and talk about the picture, because we’ll both be out of it.”

Hades paused before answering, using silence to his effect. It worked. By the time he spoke, Zeus looked a little less sure of himself. “Because of your status, and our partnership, I am going to overlook your disrespect. But I will tell you. This is the last time you come to my house and make demands of me.”

“Believe me, Ubeli, I don’t intend to be seen with you ever again,” Zeus returned. “Our partnership works because you run your thing and I run mine. But I’m a man who does what it takes to prove to people I intend to return on their investment. And to do that, I need votes.”

“You’ll have them. Tuesday,” Hades said in the deep, final tones of an executioner. “Charon will see you out.”

Zeus opened his mouth, but seemed to have run out of words. Instead he glared up at Hades.

“We’ll be in touch,” Hades said, and his voice held a note of finality.

Charon moved forward then, herding the three towards the door.

Before Persephone could move back towards the bedroom, her husband turned his head and pinned her with his eyes.

Persephone saw many things in that gaze.

A very dangerous man.

A predator.

Her husband who loved her.

It had been real. She could see it even now in his eyes, though the meeting with Zeus had obviously angered him.

He looked at her like he wanted to eat her up but also like…like he loved her.

Her breath caught. And maybe her heart skipped a beat or two as he started up the stairs towards her.

All she knew was that if he loved her, if he really loved her, then she would give him the world. She would be his world.

And she would start by soothing the beast. She smiled saucily down at him and let her robe hang open.

He growled in reaction and started taking the stairs two at a time. “I won’t take it easy on you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Who says I want you to?”

But as he closed the distance between them, she retreated up the steps.

“You should run,” he warned and she whirled, her robe flying behind her. She made it down the hall and almost to the bedroom before he slammed into her, his weight carrying her forward to trap her between him and the door. She struggled and he caught her arms behind her, pushing her against the unyielding wood.

“Got you,” he growled in her ear. “You didn’t run fast enough.”

Her heart pounded against the door. “I wanted you to catch me.”

He turned her roughly. She looked straight in his eyes, full of feral possession, and she smiled.

“Oh, goddess. You were made for me.” His mouth slammed onto hers, lips hard enough to bruise.

She pushed up to her tiptoes and hooked an arm behind his head, meeting his kiss. His hand found the doorknob. They stumbled together into the bedroom, Hades recovering first. His hand clamped on the back of her neck, marching her to the bed.

“You’ve been a naughty girl.” He shoved her down, face first and held her there, cheek to coverlet.

“Yes,” she breathed as he shucked off her robe. “Punish me?”

“Oh, I will.” He slapped her ass hard enough to shock the breath from her. “Floating through the house wearing almost nothing, flaunting that body just out of reach…”

“Do you think your guest saw?”

“You better hope he didn’t. Not him, not the Shades. No one gets to see this but me.” His fingers swept over her pussy and she quivered, yelping when he followed the gentle touch with a sharp smack.

“Not even Charon?”

Hades growled. “You have a thing for Charon?”

“No...he’s just so...big.” She bit her lip at her brazenness. Her nipples pressed into the bed.

“I’ll show you big.” Twining his hand in her hair, Hades wrenched her up and forced her to her knees. His cock bobbed in her face. “Suck.”

She reached for him and he grabbed her hands, shackling them with his. “Just your mouth. You know better than that.”

“I’m naughty,” she whispered, eyelashes fluttering. “Remember?”

“I’ll teach you to be good.”

“Teach me, Daddy,” she mouthed over his head, and his eyes turned black.

Gripping her hair, he slid into her mouth. He thrust his hips, each time pushing a little deeper. His cock bumped the entrance to her throat and she coughed, eyes watering. He eased out only a moment before doing it again. He choked her on his cock over and over but the hand on her head turned gentle.

“That’s it, good girl. There’s a good girl.” He no longer held back her hands. When she cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples between a thumb and forefinger, he murmured his approval. “Touch yourself. Show Daddy what you like.”

She shivered, rivulets of pleasure running through her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as he invaded her mouth, but she loved every second. The taste and the smell of him. His wiry hair scratching her face as he made her throat him. Her pussy throbbed like a second heart.

She gasped when he pulled her off and tugged her to her feet. “Up. Onto the bed.”

She scurried to her hands and knees with her ass upturned, just the way he liked. Since their first night together, he’d trained her and now she didn’t dare disobey. Especially since she didn’t want to.

“So precious.” His fingers penetrated her, teasing her slippery folds, finding the mind-melting spots inside her pussy that made her weak. He pressed between her shoulder blades and she folded, head down, ass up, back bent to offer her glistening center. If she was lucky, he’d only tease her a moment before he made her cum…

A gust of air told her he’d walked away. Noooooo. But she knew better than to move. She didn’t ease the strain of her back, or slip a hand between her thighs. He’d punish her for sure and she might never earn her release.

“Good girl.” Hades was back, palming her ass, squeezing the cheeks, holding her open. She held still, knowing better than to squirm underneath his gaze. She didn’t protest as he parted her most secret places and examined her. She hoped he liked what he saw…

A condescending smack on the side of her thigh, a small chuckle. “You’re so ready for me. Needy. Does my pretty pussy miss me?”

“Always,” she whispered against the coverlet.

“Does it want me to touch it, make it feel good?”

“Yes...please... Hades, I need…”

Another smack. “I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about your pussy.”

Persephone clenched her teeth, holding back a whimper. He knew just what to say to humiliate her, to make her burn…

“What about the other parts of you, hmm? Do they feel neglected?”

What was he talking about? His finger left a wet trail up between her ass cheeks and she knew.

“No,” she moaned, catching herself too late.

“Yes,” Hades said, pressing a firm finger to her clenching asshole. “It’s time.” He stroked her bottom a moment. “You belong to me. All of you. It’s time I claim this.”

“Will it hurt?”

“It might. I’ll go slowly but it will be uncomfortable. At first. But you want this, right?” His voice deepened, as hypnotic as his slow stroking touch over her backside. “You want to please me? Make me feel good?”

“Yes,” she admitted. His thumb came to her asshole and her cheeks tightened.

“No,” Hades turned stern. “Don’t tense up. Open for me.”

She forced herself to relax. Hades’s thumb pressed rough circles over her sensitive rosebud.

“Good girl.” His stubbled cheek rubbed over her ass. She stilled as his tongue swept between her cheeks, probing her virgin hole, tickling the crease. His free hand cupped her pussy, keeping her from wriggling and escaping his insistent tongue.

Persephone didn’t want to like it. But she did. Gods, she did. Tingles spread over her back and a shot of hot, slick serum leaked from her pussy onto Hades’s hand.

He bit her ass lightly before straightening.

“You...you licked me.”

“And you got wet.” He sounded so smug. “I think you want this more than you’re letting on.”

“I want you.”

“You’ll take me. All of me.” Something cool and slippery slopped over her asshole. Lubricant of some kind? Then he probed one finger deep, pushing past the tight ring of muscle.

She gasped. It felt intense. His free hand stroked her pussy and the sensation flipped. It felt good and so fucking dirty.

“Fuck.” The swear word slipped out before she could muffle it. She pressed her face into the bed.

“Naughty wife. Shall I spank you? Punish you so the first time I claim your ass it’s bright red and sore?”

“Oh gods.” Now he was probing her with two fingers. Her tiny asshole was going to be so stretched by the end of the night.

The fingers of his left hand still circled her clit. To her dismay the pleasure rose hotter and higher because of the intrusion in her ass.

“No.” She wiggled, trying to escape and earning that spanking he’d mentioned. A few sharp slaps on her rear and she quieted. The subtle sting from his hard hand helped her accept the fingers in her ass.

Hades got up to three before he stopped and focused on making her cum. Her climax built in every corner of her body, spurred by the light strokes of his thumb around her clit.

When he added a finger in her pussy, her brain shot sparks. Her pussy clenched, begging for more stimulation while her ass did the same, protesting the stretch of three hard fingers.

Persephone put her head down and let the climax roll up her spine. Her legs shook, out of her control. Her body was no longer her own.

It belonged to Hades.

His dick probed the back of her thigh as he pulled his fingers out of her ass. She relaxed even though she knew what was coming. He kept his finger in her pussy as he added more lube to her crease.

A wet squelching sound told her he was lubing his cock as well. Her breath quickened and she rocked forward a little, resisting the urge to scramble away. It wouldn’t work. Hades would catch her and make her pay.

So she waited on all fours for him to claim her ass?—

“You ready?”

She almost snorted. Did it matter? “Yes.”

She was done waiting. A small part of her was curious how it would feel. An even smaller, secret part of her wanted it… “Do it.”

A slap to her thigh. “I give the orders around here.”

He did and she loved it. But the wait was killing her, so she put her head down and pushed her ass up, presenting the target as best she could.

His half growl told her that was a good choice.

“I’m going to fuck this ass,” he told her. “You’re going to make me feel good.”

Her pussy juiced in response. Something hard probed her asshole. She spread her knees wider. But Hades wasn’t done.

“Beg me for it. Beg me to fuck your ass. To let you make me feel good.”

Shit. She couldn’t do that.

“I’m waiting, Persephone.”

“Please…”

“Please, what?”

“Please put your cock in my ass. I’ll be good for you. I’ll make you feel so good.”

“Fuck.” The desperation in his voice made the humiliation worth it. Persephone smiled to herself...until he started to push his very big thing into her very small hole.

“Fuck.” He backed up, added more lube. This time when he pressed, his cock head stretched her. She squeezed but he didn’t back out. He pushed forward, millimeter by aching millimeter.

“It’s too big.”

“Relax, sweetheart.” He pulled out. More lube. He swirled the head of his cock around her back hole, stimulating the thin skin. “Breathe, Persephone. Remember to breathe.”

Right. Her lungs filled on his order. Relief rolled through her and relaxed her enough to let him pop inside. He slid the rest of the way easily.

She waited for him to stop before gasping for air.

“You doin’ okay?”

She tossed her head, a half shake, half nod.

“You’re doing so good.” His free hand stroked her back. She opened to him further and he gave a shallow thrust.

“Oh gods.” He was splitting her open.

“Be good and take it.” Fuck if the order didn’t make her hotter. His actions belied his words, though; he stroked her back with a gentle hand. His cock moved in tiny increments back and forth, letting her adjust. The discomfort eased, and when he reached down to play with her clit, a flush of pleasure spread over her.

“Ohhh,” she moaned into the bed. Her limbs went liquid. Golden honey simmered in her veins.

He started rocking, slow at first, increasing in force as he penetrated her bowels. Her cunt tightened, welcoming the intrusion. She felt full, stimulated and satisfied. “Oh yeah, baby. You’re going to cum with me deep in your ass.”

“No,” she squeaked as her thighs began to shake. She couldn’t come with him balls deep inside her ass. It was too embarrassing.

“Yes, you are. I can feel it. Fuck, you’re so tight, I can feel you milking me…”

Biting off a string of curses, Hades braced her hips and sawed in and out of her faster. A few passes later, his dick tripped some switch deep inside her.

Pleasure bloomed, warm and golden, delicious sensations spreading through her limbs. Her body juddered under Hades’s. Her throaty cries filled the room, mingled with her husband’s cussing.

“You like that? You love taking me in your ass?”

“Yes,” she moaned. Her cheeks burned. Another climax built in her, low and deep, forbidden pleasure rising from secret, shameful parts. Only Hades could take her to the brink like this. He gripped her throat and held her over the abyss. She might fight him but in the end, she surrendered and embraced the fall?—

“My turn, baby.” She thought he’d fucked her hard before but no. Now he gripped her sides and rode her, using her body for his pleasure. Climax after climax bubbled through her. She didn’t know where one ended and the other began.

Finally, after forever, Hades seized her tight enough to bruise and brought it home. Hot cum filled her. When he pulled out, it slid out of her, running down her leg, staining the bed. She covered her face as he held her bottom open and inspected her. She knew he loved the sight of her marked with his seed. He was such an animal. She was lucky he didn’t pee on her.

When she gave an embarrassed groan, Hades chuckled and tugged her up. She gave token resistance, more embarrassed than unwilling to have him hold her. Gods, she was a mess. Sweaty, sticky, dripping with cum, face slick from when he fucked her mouth, her makeup smeared?—

“You’re so beautiful.” Hades looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. He kissed her forehead and tucked her into his chest, holding her tight. Gods, yes, she loved this, it was all she’d ever wanted…

They lay together in the dark and quiet bedroom. Persephone forgot her mussy hair and the cum leaking out of her. Hades nuzzled her face, brushing his lips over her forehead, cheeks and chin, even eyebrows, before finding her lips. He drew back and breathed her in. Against her leg, his dick stirred.

“Fuck. I can’t get enough,” he muttered. “I could take you every other minute and it wouldn’t be enough.”

A smile curved deep inside her. “I know how you feel,” she told him softly.

“Do you, baby?” He tucked her close again, draping his heavy thigh over her legs to draw her as near as humanly possible.

“I do.” She sighed and lay her head on his chest, ear over his heart. His heartbeat matched hers. “I know how you feel...because I feel the same way.”

“Almost missed this,” he whispered, almost too soft for her to hear.

She raised her head. “What?”

His thumb traced her cheek. “This. Love. Us.”

Oh. Her heart squeezed. She couldn’t take it. “Hades, I’ve always loved you.”

“I know. You give and give, and I only take.” She shook her head but he stilled her with his thumb at her lips. “It’s true. But that’s gonna end. Now you take as much as you give. And I give as much as I take.”

“It’s not a competition. You’ve had a hard life, I understand if?—”

“Not an option, Persephone. You take what I give you.” His gaze heated as she ran her tongue over his thumb. “I’ve been looking for this all my life, not even knowing what I was looking for. Dropped right into my lap. Beauty, innocent. Pure. You’re every good deed I’ve never done. Every pure thought I never had.”

“Hades, I?—”

But he shushed her. “You’re the balance, Persephone. I’m darkness, but you’re light. You fill the room with your presence, and the shadows disappear. Understand?”

She understood. In his own way, Hades was telling her she had as much power as he did. More. Because didn’t darkness always leave before the light?

“I’m here for you, Hades.” Her heart swelled with everything she’d felt for him but never been able to express. “I will always be your light.”