Page 47 of Brutal Mercy

Oh my. His sexy forearms make me squirm. Hades exudes a magnetic sex appeal. And while he fucked my brains out a few hours ago, I can’t help that seeing those muscles makes me hungry for him.

“What’s this?” I ask, ignoring the lust humming through me. He lays the items on top of the vanity.

“We’re having dinner together in the room, and I thought you might like to dress for our first date.”

“But we’re married.” He wants to have a real date?

“And we skipped the dating portion of our relationship.”

I flip the drain lever. As the water level recedes, I say, “I don’t understand you.”

He grabs a fluffy ivory towel and approaches the tub. “What don’t you understand?”

“First, you rescue me. But then you demand I marry you. And then, you don’t try to have sex with me until I’m practically begging you.”

“You were begging me if I recall.” The corners of his lips curl up. And there’s humor in his eyes, along with a startling amount of heat.

“Okay, so it took me begging for you to sleep with me.” Our first time together will live in my memory for the rest of my life. I’m sure no woman has ever had their first time happen in such a memorable way.

“We did more than sleep.”

I wave my hand. “Semantics. But then you tell me you’re a bad man. Just who the hell are you, Hades?”

“I’m your husband.” He lifts me out of the tub wrapped in the towel. “And I see the questions in your eyes. We’ll talk over dinner. I’ll tell you as much as I can for your safety.”

He lowers me onto the vanity and helps me with the dress. There’s no bra or panties, but the dress is made to go without a bra and cups my boobs like it was made for them. The no panties thing, well, I really don’t want to wear someone else’s underwear. Besides, no panties gives him easy access. He rewraps my ankle in a fresh bandage. And then he helps me onto the stool.

“There’s makeup and hair styling tools in those drawers.” He holds up a hand when I’m about to protest.

“Those I had my sister pick up yesterday. They’re not inherited. Finish getting ready. And by the time you’re ready, dinner will be here.”

It takes me a hot minute to dry my hair and style it. I go with a simple high ponytail because I don’t know how long I have. But I heat up the curling iron and add a few loose curls, then apply makeup. This is all high-end stuff too, that glides on like silk and looks amazing once it’s on.

When he returns, he’s changed into black slacks and a royal blue dress shirt with a black silk tie.

Jesus, he’s a handsome beast. And he’s mine.

He stops, and his hot gaze roves over me. “You look fucking gorgeous, wife.”

“So do you.” And I mean it. This man of mine stands a cut above the rest. He makes me feel things I never thought I would feel.

He picks me up, and I smell his cologne, a deep amber and opium. My fingers toy with the end of his hair. “I could get used to being carried around this way. Better be careful, or I’m going to expect it even after my ankle is healed.”

“Then it’s fortunate I enjoy having you in my arms.” He glances at me with an expression I don’t understand because it’s one I’ve never witnessed before. And it’s gone before I can delve deeper.

We enter the darkened bedroom, and I gasp, absorbing the scene before me.

The lights are off. But that doesn’t matter. Because ivory candlesticks are glowing from silver holders on every surface. A fire crackles in the fireplace, the orange flames dancing, casting the room in a golden glow.

“Hades,” I sigh. My heart trembles and cracks open. I’ve been closed off since my parents died. It’s a survival deal. I’ve had so much on my plate losing them and then having an avalanche of responsibilities shoved onto me that I haven’t made space in my life for frivolous.

And what he did here is frivolous and romantic.

“Do you like it?”

“Like it?” I glance away from the candles up at his face. In the candlelight, the harsh blades of his cheekbones sharpen, making him seem almost otherworldly. “I love it.”

The rakish smile he bestows upon me makes my toes curl. I’m in danger of losing my heart to this man.

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