Page 109 of Queen of the Underworld

By the gods, she was incredible. So brave. So strong.

She didn’t stop until she was toe to toe with him, her gentle gaze holding his and her soft voice curling around him like a warm breeze to ease the tension from his muscles and calm him.

“All will be well,” she murmured and lifted her hands, framing his face with her palms. “Come back to me, Hades.”

She was a balm to his soul, a light that illuminated the darkest reaches of his heart and slowly began to drive the shadows back as she continued to gaze up at him through soft, tender eyes.

She was a wonder that bewitched him all over again.

And then she tiptoed, slid her right hand around his nape and pulled his head down. She captured his lips, her kiss soft and accepting, stunning and humbling him. The darkness faded, but anger remained—anger that she hadn’t run as promised.

Gratitude overshadowed it, quietening it as she kissed him, her lips barely brushing his. A kiss that made him feel light inside, that cast the shadows from him and warmed him right down to his soul. Gods, he was grateful that she had stayed with him, showing him that she didn’t fear him, and proving that she wanted to help him.

The longer she kissed him, the quieter the darkness became, until he felt in control again. But it didn’t disappear entirely. It lingered, whispering temptation in his ear that had him stealing command of the kiss from Persephone. He wanted her. Needed her. Right here.

Right now.

Both the man in him and the darkness craved her, ached to bend her to his will and lay claim to her. The hunger she roused in him reached a new height as her hands came down on his chest and she pressed closer to him, rubbing her body against his.

Making him ravenous for her.

Hades twisted with her and kept kissing her as he backed her towards the base of the statue, fevered with need of her, his veins on fire with wicked heat. He groaned as he peered beyond her to the raised black stone altar strewn with offerings of fruit and wine.

He wanted to set her down on it.

Hades gripped her waist.

Turning her into the most delectable offering there ever was.

He lifted her, tearing a gasp from her.

An offering he intended to devour.

Chapter 31

Persephone gasped as Hades lifted her and the sound of metal bowls striking the stone floor of the temple to spin away from them filled the silence together with their frantic, rasping breaths. His shadows tossed several bottles on the floor, the sound of them smashing ratcheting up her desire together with the drugging scent of ambrosia. Her heart galloped as he set her down on the altar and shoved her dress up her thighs.

A moan tore from her lips as he ripped her undergarments away and fell to his knees before her. That moan became a strangled gasp of pleasure and shock as he pushed her thighs apart and delved between them, his tongue stroking the length of her from her feminine core to her aching nub.

Her head fell back as he licked and laved her, as he wrapped his lips around her bead and sucked, sending a sharp thrill bolting through her and ripping another moan from her. Her gaze grew hooded as she rested on her elbows, her mind whirling and body aflame as he waged war on it, every hard flick of his tongue over her sensitive bead more drugging than the ambrosia that laced the air.

Persephone stared up at the statue that towered over her as Hades devoured her, feeling as if she was an offering to him, one he relished as he growled and moaned. She found the strength to move her head, tipping it upright again, and groaned.

The sight of his dark head between her pale thighs was wanton. Wicked. Incredibly erotic.

Incredibly delicious.

Another moan tumbled from her as he licked her harder. It felt too good. Far better than she had ever imagined possible. She watched him as he ran his tongue up her and sucked her again, her fingers itching to burrow into his hair and hold him to her. When he lowered his head and probed her with his tongue, the tethers holding her back frayed and snapped.

Persephone thrust her fingers into his onyx hair and gripped it hard as she rocked against his tongue, the ache building inside her stealing control and demanding she satisfy it. She rolled her hips against his face, moans falling from her lips with each stroke of his tongue as he took her higher. The fiercer he devoured her, the hotter the fire in her veins burned, and the less control she had.

Hades planted his hands against her knees and pushed them apart, his gaze dark as he drew back and stared at her. Not into her eyes. Not even at her face. He gazed at her cleft, dark fascination shining in his eyes, together with a ravenous hunger that called to her.

“Hades,” she murmured, aching for him to continue, desperate to come.

“Such a pretty thing,” he husked back at her and ran a finger down her petals.

She shivered and moaned, her thighs trembling from his light touch and his wicked words.

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