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“My queen,” he said and took a step toward her.

“Halt!”

He had not expected her command, so he obeyed despite the way it bristled through him. He watched her, breathing hard, frustrated beyond all reason. He wanted to defy her so badly, but he also wanted to see what she was capable of.

“Undress.”

His gaze was steady. “For someone who doesn’t like titles, you sure are commanding.”

She lifted a brow. “Must I repeat myself?”

He smirked, but as he began to call on his magic, she stopped him.

“Not with magic. The mortal way. Slowly.”

He swallowed hard and licked his lips. “As you wish.”

He rarely did this, but with the way Persephone was looking at him, he thought he might need to do it more often. Her gaze was unwavering as he shed his clothes, slowly exposing himself to her burning gaze.

“And your hair. Take it down.”

He watched her shudder as he shook out his unbound hair. He thought he was finished, but she gave one more order.

“Drop your glamour.”

“I will if you will,” he challenged.

She hesitated, though he wasn’t sure why. Perhaps she just had not expected him to bargain. Then she released her magic, and he could not quite describe the awe of watching her transform. He felt like he rarely saw her like this, and though he loved her in any form, there was something about seeing her as she was made that left him reeling.

He took his time appreciating her, his eyes roaming her body—from her horns to her bare feet. He would never tire of looking at her.

When he met her gaze again, her eyes were dark and hooded. He dropped his glamour, his magic peeling away from his body like shadows only to disappear into the darkness.

She rose, and each step toward him only wound him tighter.

“Don’t move,” she said, her voice hushed.

He took in a low and harsh breath as she placed her hand on his chest and explored him until her hand wrapped around his cock. He thought he might explode then, just from the sheer anticipation of her touch. Shestroked him until come beaded at his head and then gathered it on the tip of her finger, only to lick it away as she looked up at him.

He ground his teeth.

He wanted to kiss her and taste himself on her tongue.

Then she took a step back and returned to his throne, reclining before she spoke. “Come.”

Fucking finally.

He smirked. “Only for you.”

He was on her in an instant, his hands tangled in what remained of her dress, and when she was completely naked, he picked her up. She needed no coaxing, her legs instantly winding around his waist, and he guided his cock inside her.

They groaned together, mouths open and touching.

“I was beginning to think all you wanted to do was stare,” he said, breathless as he ground against her.

“I wanted you,” she breathed. “I wanted to fuck the moment we were alone.”

“And instead of fucking, you asked for a game. Why?”