Page 41 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 21

Jillian

Hades had work to do in his large office. I didn't get a great look the last time I was in there because of my nerves. Now that the truth has come out about him being the actual Hades and the weird statues, paintings, and a mansion that had no other homes for miles gave me a little room to breathe.

I knew something was different about this place; I just couldn't put my finger on it.

The walls were lined with an enormous number of books. On one section, there was nothing, but scrolls piled on top of each other in neat piles. The papers looked old and could have been original copies of some famous texts. As I trailed my finger deeper down the bookshelves, I caught a glimpse of books varying in sizes about different animals and species. Most of them were animals I had never heard of: Silent Tarsiers, Abyssinian-Bat, Zorse-Ram, Wilk Markhor, and Snow Faerie Fox. I was about to learn more about the Faerie Fox when my eye caught another book,Werewolves.

That name piqued my interest more, so I grabbed it and limped over to the couch. Hades was nose deep in an e-mail, wearing some reading glasses absorbing the light from the screen. How could anyone be so scared of him? He doesn't scare me at all, and to think I was, in the beginning, was stupid. Of course, at the time, he was kind of grouchy and angry all the time.

Hades didn't shave this morning; he had dark stubble that he continually scratched while reading. On occasion, he would write a few notes on paper and move his mouth to the side while he thought. He was devilishly handsome, even if he wouldn't switch back to his proper form often.

Everyone showed me what they looked like last night, yet he didn't offer to show his. I barely got a glimpse of him when he saved me from the incubus house. Does he not like his own form? My continuous stare alerted Hades as he looked up through his glasses. He gave me a toothy grin while I blushed down to my neck.

"What do you have there? Something to read?" His voice was amused as I flipped through the pages.

"Yeah, I saw this book on Werewolves. I guess I didn't realize that since you are real, all these other species were real too, so I wanted to look." My eyes glanced back at Hades; he was staring at me intently. The thought ran through my mind again of the steamy kiss we shared a few days ago in that very chair. I longed to do it again. Was it because of that bond we have for each other?

I felt my heart flip as he stood up and walked to the couch next to me and sat down. "Werewolves are mighty creatures. I've worked with them several times. They aren't as strong as gods, but they are certainly resourceful and can put up quite a fight. I feel they are stronger than Vampires and Witches, to be honest." Hades flipped the page open, showing a female and the different stages of their transformation.

"When do you have to interact with Werewolves? I thought you stay down here mostly." Hades let out a large sigh and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. His head laid back on the couch as he closed the book.

"There will be a time I need to explain some mistakes that I have made. I just fear you won’t want to be with me once I told you." My heart pained to see him have this internal battle with himself; he's kept it locked up for so long.

Hades has rescued me twice in my life; if there was one thing he did wrong that he regrets, then I think I owe him that much. Besides, it was before me anyway; he's lived for so long he would have to have a ton of mistakes.

"You can tell me. I won't leave you," I whispered as I ran my fingers through his hair. "Everyone makes mistakes; it is just best we learn from them, right?" He let out a little scoff as he pulled his head back from the couch.

"I'll tell you, but let's take a field trip first. I know you are dying to get outside." I felt my face light up as I stood up to walk out the door. He caught my hand and pulled me to his lap.

"I can walk more now," I protested, but he put his finger to my lips.

"I know, but where we are going, you can't walk there. Now, wrap your arms around my neck." Obeying reluctantly, I did what I was told, feeling the sparks travel up my arms as they rubbed his neck. Our faces were close, nose to nose. His s’mores and campfire smell filled me as his lips brushed mine.

Closing our eyes, our lips met, and immediately sparks flew. I felt tremendous air rush around us as his arms encased my body in his. My hair whipped around us as it danced with the wind. My one hand slid down from around his neck and touched his cheek. I wanted to feel as much surface area I could; the pure pleasure at my fingertips had me going insane.

The kiss had become heated as Hades' hand trailed down to my rear, gently cupping and squeezing. A small whimper left my lips as I fisted his shirt. Groans left his throat as he sucked my bottom lip. Pulling back, still feeling his hot lips on mine, I took a breath.

"Wow, I don't think I will get used to that," I breathed, looking into his eyes.

"It gets better, trust me." He smirked as he pulled away. My face was going to be a permanent shade of red.

Crickets singing caught my attention as I looked at our surroundings. We were in the middle of a forest, sitting on a large blanket with a lantern in the middle. A small basket of food sat beside us. The god is going to make me fat. I just stinkin' ate.

He's super sweet, though, my big evil devil.

"This place… it's beautiful." Hades held on to me as I looked at our surroundings. We were on top of a mountain right at the cliff. Large trees were behind us and a bright open sky in front. The stars twinkled in the sky as I smelled the fresh air. It felt clean, full of pine. A smell that reminded me of the man in my dream. Could it be real? If I am Ember in real life, then he would be my father.

"Everything all right? I thought I lost you there." Hades pet my cheeks as I cuddled closer. The air was fantastic as the wind gently blew by.

"I'm just speechless; it's so beautiful. This isn't the Underworld anymore, is it?"

"It's not, but I could create something like this for you. I'll create anything you wish." His words fell out of his mouth like a velvet ribbon, entrapping me with his soft words. Hades lifted my hand from my lap and brushed his lips across my knuckles. "Anything at all."

"As long as you are there, that is all I need." I smiled back at him. Forgetting the whole field trip, I shuffled myself more comfortably in his arms as we began to kiss again until he held his head back to shake.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly. Hades put a hand up to his temple with his eyes closed. Growling, he let out a frustrated sigh.

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