Page 104 of Queen of the Underworld

And she already did.

A cry flew from her lips as release hit her, so loud she felt sure the entire compound would hear her.

Hades’s gaze grew darker still as he watched her climaxing, as her body milked his fingers and she struggled to catch her breath. That look in his eyes told her everything he was feeling. He liked to watch her breaking apart because of him.

She wanted to watch him break apart because of her.

Before she knew what was happening, dark vines had burst from between the flagstones of the stable and had twined around Hades’s wrists and pulled him down onto his back. He growled and wrestled with the vines, anger flashing across his face as he fought to get free.

Persephone raked her gaze over him, heart racing and heat blooming as an idea formed, igniting a need she couldn’t deny. One that would have made her blush once, but now only made her burn. She sauntered towards him, gathering her courage with each step.

Hades snarled, baring his fangs as his shadows attacked the vines and more sprouted to bind his wrists and keep him pinned.

“Release me,” he barked.

“No.” Persephone shook her head, unwilling to let him go.

He had no reason to fear her vines, not like she could see he did as his eyes flashed onyx and his struggles increased, a desperate look crossing his face. She hadn’t bound him so she could run away as he feared. She had done it so she could get a taste of what it was like to be in control for once.

He flashed fangs again as his shadows grew more restless and he wrestled against her vines, his gaze darting between his wrists and his legs. Darkness invaded his irises, together with fear and mounting panic that had her stopping dead.

Persephone shook her head and reached a hand out to him, aching to soothe his fears.

“Hades,” she murmured, her tone soft and calm.

His gaze darted to her.

And he stilled.

Persephone slowly lifted her skirts and stepped over him, so her feet were on either side of his calves. His gaze tracked her as she eased to her knees, moving to sit astride his legs, that fear that had coloured them beginning to turn to interest. That interest grew as she leaned over him and framed his face with her palms, keeping her gaze on his, hoping he could see in it that she wasn’t intending to harm him, and she believed he wouldn’t harm her.

She lowered her head and brushed her lips across his, keeping the kiss soft and teasing, and light. His struggles slowed, his body going lax beneath her as he craned his neck towards her.

Eager for more.

Persephone gave it to him, savouring the kiss and the feel of him beneath her almost as much as she savoured the flare of heat and the flicker of azure blue in his eyes when she drew back.

She ran a look over him, trying to decide where to start now that he was at her mercy.

“Release me,” he murmured, no longer sounding so commanding, or as if he really wanted her to do it.

She shook her head and settled for starting with his legs. She skimmed her hands over his leather-clad thighs and up to his hips, and Hades gave up fighting as she narrowed the gap between them so they came to rest on the outline of his erection. He rolled his hips instead, pain flashing across his face as he tipped his head back into the flagstones and rubbed against her palm. He wanted her.

Persephone moved her hands away.

Hades growled, an admonishing one that demanded she touch him again.

She refused to do as he wanted, something that put a wicked glint in his eyes that told her he wasn’t angry that she wasn’t obeying him—he was thrilled by it. He liked being at her mercy. She stroked her hands over his thighs, feeling his tensed, honed muscles beneath her palms, and then back up to his hips. She leaned over him, brushing her hands under his loose black linen shirt, following the intriguing ridge of muscle that arched over his hips. She ventured forwards, her hands gliding higher, pushing his shirt up to reveal his stomach and navel, and the trail of dark hair that led her gaze back down to his crotch.

This time, she couldn’t resist unlacing him, the need to see him in all his glory too powerful to deny. He fought the vines as she slowly teased at the lacing over his groin, his torso flexing and attempting to distract her from her task. When he managed to wriggle one vine loose, she chastised him with a glare and tightened it again, and pleasure rippled through her. She had never thought to use her powers for something so naughty, and he only had himself to blame for his current predicament. Using his shadows to restrain her had made her think of using her powers to do the same to him.

And here they were.

She finished unlacing his trousers and bit her lip as she parted them to reveal him. His hard length sprang free and he stilled again, his breaths ceasing as he stared down his body to her. Waiting to see what she would do.

Persephone clung to her courage and stroked her fingertips up his shaft, and jumped when it kicked, jerking towards her. Curious. She stroked it again, and again it moved, so this time she palmed it and curled her fingers around it. She eased her hand down, exposing the head, and stroked her thumb over it.

“Persephone,” Hades gritted with a pained look on his face.

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