Page 35 of Hades

He’s already hard for me, and my fingers barely encompass his girth. He lets out a moan as I stroke him.

“You’re insatiable,” he groans as he leans his head back and lets me take charge. Leaning forward, I kiss along his shoulder and up his neck. His hands wrap around me and squeeze my hips so tightly, I’ll likely see his fingerprints on me for days.

He pulls me forward until I feel his hard length slide between my legs and rub against my clit. The sensation sends shivers along my body as I rock my hips against him. With each undulation, I can feel his thick ridges tease every sensitive nerve ending.

“You’re not in charge, little girl,” Hades growls into my ear as he clasps my hands behind my back, his large hand gripping my wrists quickly. In one smooth move, he rocks his hips upward, and his cock slides deep inside me.

The memory is crystal clear. I know that it’s not a made-up fantasy, the details are too fine. I can almost feel his body enter mine as I stand here mesmerized. From the first moment I met Hades, I knew we had some connection, but I never imagined it would be this.

“Miss Aradia.” The woman’s voice pulls me from my memory… no, not the woman, Clara. Her name is Clara.

“Sorry, Clara,” I whisper, not sure Clara is her name. But when she smiles and holds her hand over her heart, I know it must be correct.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she chokes, her voice cracking with emotion. “I knew your memories would start coming back.”

Giving her a nod, I turn my attention back to the tub. “Do you know what happened?” I ask, although I’m afraid of the answer she’ll give.

“Of course,” she assures me by gently touching my arm. “But you’re safe now.”

“From Hades?” I question without taking my eyes off the tub, the memory of him and me together in it still ablaze in my mind.

“Yes, dear, from him.”

Clearly, Hades is the Voldemort of the Heavens… he that shall not be named. Nothing odd about that. I let out a little laugh at my internal pun.

Turning back to Clara, I change my tune a bit since no one seems keen on giving me any information. “Will you tell me what happened to help me remember?” I add, not wanting her to run back to Themis and tell her I was asking about Hades.

“It really isn’t my place,” she states, and for a moment, I feel defeated until she continues, “but, he came and took you one night. Brought you to the human realm and hid you from your family. Your poor mother was beside herself for weeks, searching for you. She had every spare Arc looking for you.”

“Arc?” I question because I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Clara gives me a pity-filled smile. “Archangels, dear,” she says as she opens the door to the shower. “Now get in and clean up before your mother comes up here, and we’re both in trouble.”

I’ve never been shy about my body, but when Clara makes no effort to move, I realize she intends on staying. I quickly remove my cut-off shorts and tank top and toss them to the floor before sliding under warm water. With one deep breath out, the lavender-scented water washes away the stress of the past day.

The shower is stocked with lotions and bottles of unknown origin. But when I find one I think is shampoo or body wash, I lather up. I let my mind wander back to Hades. Images of us in that massive tub are still front and forward, and I wonder if that is what his body looks like naked, or if my subconscious just filled in the blanks. I don’t believe he did anything these women have told me. But how would it be possible to get everyone to corroborate on Themis’ story?

A voice in my head tells me the answer: she’s a god and can do what she wants.

Isn’t Hades also a god?

Can’t he also do as he pleases?

I’m lost in thought, again, when Clara knocks on the shower glass. “Just about ready, dear?” she yells, startling me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah, just a sec,” I say as I finish rinsing off.

The moment I step out of the warmth of the shower, another memory hits me. This time, I can’t control the pain that comes with it. Gripping the sides of my head, I can barely remain standing, the pain is so excruciating.

“Hades!” I cry out just before everything goes black.

HADES

Before I head backto The Inferno, I need to find Acheron, the Alpha of the Timber Cove wolves. There’s been chatter about a demon uprising in Northern California and talk of targeting local packs.

When I successfully get Aradia back, I’ll need safe places to hide her. I’m not sure that Themis knows she split humanity into two realities when she fixed Gabriel’s near genocide. I’m betting she doesn’t, which will help us. She also can’t venture too far into the Underworld. But I don’t know if Aradia is ready for that, or how it will affect her.

I’ve never been to this part of California. It’s been centuries since I’ve spent time in this world. Usually, I wouldn’t give a shit what happened to it, but since I am about to declare war on the Heavens, it may be in my best interest to keep it safe.

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