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He pulled away when her hands tried to gain access to him, but their bodies were pressed so close, she could not manage it.

“I promised to make you come and get you to Sybil’s on time. If you touch me, I will break that promise.”

His words bordered on a threat. He knew what he was capable of at this moment. He also knew he could barely think. One touch from her would seal the fucking deal.

She looked very much like she regretted coaxing that agreement from his lips. She started to open her mouth, but whatever words were poised to come out never left because he kissed her again, his hands framing her head. When he pulled away, he let his forehead rest against hers.

“Go make the fucking cupcakes, Persephone.”

He released her and stepped back. She seemed a little dazed, which was far better than how he felt. He could hardly contain himself as she slipped into a new dress. At the door, she turned to look at him.

“Are you…going to join me in the kitchen?”

“In a moment,” he said.

She nodded, her eyes darting to his dick, which strained hard against his trousers. It was obvious what he intended to do, and the door barely clicked closed before he had unbuttoned his pants, taken his cock out, and began to jerk himself off.

“Fuck me,”he thought as he pumped into his palm, which was nothing at all like Persephone’s wet and writhing body, but he was out of options.

He came quickly, messily, but the release was nothing compared to what he actually needed, and as he washed away the evidence of his actions, he wondered if he could make it through this night without fucking her in Sybil’s new home.

CHAPTER VII

HADES

Hades let Persephone lead, using her magic to teleport to Sybil’s new home since she had been there before. They appeared in front of a green apartment door, in an alcove beneath a set of cement and metal stairs. Hades manifested with just enough room that his head brushed one of the steps overhead.

He shifted forward a little to give himself space, his hands settling on Persephone’s waist as he did. She shivered, but it had nothing to do with his touch. It was fucking frigid.

He had not been outside since last night when he’d left the Underworld for La Rose, and while it had been cold, it was evident the temperature had dropped.

He should have waited to jerk off. This cold would have killed his boner faster.

Fucking Demeter. It was as he feared. The weather was getting worse.

Hades felt a surge of power against his palms. It waswarm and came from Persephone. He held her tighter, his head lowering so that his lips were near her ear.

“Are you well?”

When she didn’t respond, he frowned, straightening.

“Persephone?”

She seemed to realize he was speaking and looked up at him, the back of her head resting against his chest. She looked adorable and felt so small in his grasp. These were his favorite moments, the ones that felt quiet and intimate, and he craved them more and more.

“I am well,” she said, but something moved behind her eyes—a darkness he recognized in his own. “I am,” she attempted to assure him. “I was just thinking about my mother.”

“Do not ruin your evening thinking of her, my darling,” he said.

She did not need to know that he had been thinking of her too.

“It is a little hard to ignore her given the weather, Hades.”

He reluctantly turned his head toward the sky, dense with cloud cover. He hated that Demeter was on her mind. He knew it was likely because she’d read all the reports in the media about the winter storm being a form of divine punishment, and she likely felt responsible.

Despite knowing very few things about her daughter, Demeter was aware that the way to get to Persephone was through her heart.

She would ensure this storm was devastating to the people of New Greece, and when that happened, would Persephone regret agreeing to marry him?