Page 34 of The Prince of Hidden Shadows
Nah, it can’t be. I don’t believe in that crap.
My wayward emotions get the better of me, and I don’t inquire further.
The initial inappropriate thoughts in my mind are replaced with longing when he utters his next words. “I can’t allow you to continue down this path to Tartarus.”
“Tartarus?” Caught in a lustful haze, my thoughts scatter, and I can’t fully recall what I know of the Underworld and its realms. Who cares? His velvety voice drags me into another reality, where nothing exists but us. I let him explain.
“Yeah, I’ve heard people call it Hell or Purgatory in modern belief. My visits there are rare, same goes for my father. You see, it’s a place of punishment, not business. So, I’m offering you the cleanest way out on a silver platter.” His serious declaration means everything, and his sweet gestures show how much he cares. As much as I do.
Before I can process a word, he pounces. Knees pin mine, my pillow toppling silently to the floor. My skin ignites. My musclestense. My breath catches. Pleasure surges through my limbs, and I melt beneath him, craving his closeness as he straddles me.
His lips attack my collarbone, peppering it with open-mouth kisses. My jawline is next, and I’m loving every second of it. My skin is ablaze at how convincing he can be. Ignoring how his hard length presses against the inside of my left thigh, I let the whirlwind of sensations take over me; I’m a puddle of goo under his TLC.
At once, he halts, and his hot breath tickles my flushed cheek as our erections finally grind together. “Take it, Théo.” Then, his mouth covers mine.
I moan.
Chapter Fourteen
STARS WILL ALIGN
Théo
Aloud, insistent knock at the door shatters the spell.
Seriously?
Zagreus frowns at first. Then his face lights up—delayed, as if the interruption had to elbow through the hazy lust clouding his brain.
“That’ll be him.” In a flash, he straightens up on the bed, gapes at me, and bolts to open the door, yanking a shirt from the closet as he goes.
Seriously?
This time, I’m the one mourning the loss of his body heat. “Who the fuck ishim?” I spit between clenched teeth, hurrying to face the stranger who ruined my rekindling with my prince. “Fuck him,” I hiss, strolling towards the whispering voices, brushing my lips where Zagreus put his before exiting the bedroom.
A tall man with jet-black hair, the palest skin, and a well-defined mouth steps inside. Wearing black from head to toe, he’s drop-dead gorgeous. Though he’s much less rugged than Zagreus, his perfect features carry the weight of a curse. A large drawing tube and a backpack hang from one shoulder. His presence fills the room.
“Théodore, this is my friend, Nathan Price.” Zagreus claps the guy on the shoulder. “Nathan’s a gifted calligrapher and a talented painter.”
So, that’s what tonight’s about? I’m so fucking stupid!
We shake hands, and that’s when I notice his odd eye color. Golden in the center, surrounded by a dark halo. Weird…
“Am I interrupting?” Is he perceptive, or are we that disheveled?
The instant I grunt “Yes,” Zagreus replies “No.”
Seriously?
“Riiight…” Nathan huffs. He surveys us, a wry smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, then shrugs and addresses Zagreus. “Sorry for the shitty timing. I caught an earlier flight, then discussed the fallout of the… Provincetown incident with Hecate. I’m glad she could interfere and put an end to this.” He casts me a quick once-over and clears his throat. “It took some doing, but I’ve got it! The damned book that kicked off this whole mess—” He halts. It hits him he’s said too much in front of a perfect stranger, no matter how close he thinks I am to Zagreus. Hard to tell if Nathan Price’s been filled in on my little visit to the Underworld? Who cares? “What I meant was, Hecate will hand it over to you, so everything’s under control now. I owe you.”
“Nah! Your presence here means we’re even.”
Whatever…My irritation surges. With a vengeance. Too bad Zagreus’s guest zooms in on me. “You’re the thief turned baker?” he questions, his expression sharp and assessing.
How does he know so much about me when I’ve got nothing on him?
I growl a wordless reply, crossing my arms over my chest again. Zagreus’s words ricochet inside my mind.Redemption. Soulmate. Tartarus… I need more answers than that, and soon.
