Page 33 of Flowers Near Me

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

WHEN PASSION GROWS

PERSEPHONE

S everal days later, headaches turned into migraines and dizziness into unexpected falls. Meanwhile, Hades continued on with the press tour, leaving the apartment empty most days, except for Cerberus and Charon. She felt sorry for him. His face twisted in worry each time he said goodbye before leaving. She reassured him that she’d be fine, but the pallor of his skin betrayed his distress. It was clear he cared about her, and she was finding it easier to trust him and his intentions with her.

The mornings were the worst, with joints screaming from disuse and a head sloshing with a congestion that wouldn’t clear. Simple remedies like rest and water failed to bring relief. It was as if her body raged war against her, and she was not the victor.

After a shower, Persephone trudged to the kitchen and found a note from Hades along with a warm cup of tea, honey, and lemon slices.

My love, Sephy,

Sorry I had to run out again this morning. I’ll be back with a basket of pastries and egg sandwich before you finish your tea. Can’t wait to spend the rest of the day with you.

Your future husband and favorite fellow god,

Hades

Her cheeks heated, and a smile broke out on her face as she folded the note and stashed it in her pocket. She’d add it to the collection of messages he’d penned while she’d lived there. It’d be an adjustment when she’d go back to her mom’s estate where there was no handsome god to leave her love letters or run his fingers through her hair.

Somehow, he’d become a staple in her life, accompanying her when she worked out, procuring food at any hour of the day or night—regardless of how busy he was. She hadn’t cooked anything herself beyond the loukoumades Laura and she had made a week ago. Even before then, the most she did in the kitchen was make coffee or tea.

She took the tray her cup and tea accompaniments sat on and placed it on a low coffee table next to the strange looking reading cushion Hades had bought after the night she’d passed out.

You need to rest, even during the day, so why not take up reading? He’d suggested when he showed her the new low, ergonomic chair in the living room. It was an unusual piece of furniture with thousands of reviews claiming it helped keep the reader’s posture intact during hours of reading.

Sadly, the chair had gotten a lot of use that past week. Simple tasks caused migraines or triggered uncontrolled muscle cramps. Laura’s dad, Dr. Asclepius, ruled out natural health issues and Hecate couldn’t discern problems with her magic. Charon pushed several events out in hopes of Persephone recovering soon. But Persephone had grown so frustrated with her inability to fulfill her work obligations, that she was ready to have Hades hold her body upright at events even if she collapsed.

The pleasant scent of cedar filled the room as Hades appeared in the kitchen holding a brown cardboard box big enough to fit a sleeping Cerberus. It was a relief to have Hades’ help even if she hated feeling helpless. She trusted him to care for her and felt bad she’d thought that maybe he’d poisoned her at the influencer event. But she remembered what it was like growing up with her mom. Gods could be fickle and use you as a means to an end. It seemed like the only end that Hades truly cared about was one spent with her.

“Little goddess, I hope you’re hungry because the chef said they taste best when they’re fresh.” He set the box on the counter, threw her a wink over his shoulder, then started pulling out pastries.

Mug in hand, Persephone watched him plate the goodies on a tray.

“It looks like you bought a bakery.” Overloaded with buttery pastries and glazed masterpieces, the box was stuffed, each treat more enticing than the next.

Hades wiped crumbs from his hands, then leaned down to squeeze her to his side and plant a quick kiss on her cheek. A soothing warmth flooded her from the touch and the faint headache she’d woken up with dissolved. “I didn’t buy the bakery. I opened it a long time ago. Eat what you can. I think you’re not eating enough and that’s why you’re losing energy so quickly.”

Missing meals wasn’t the problem. For the past few months, Hades brought a revolving buffet of every variety of food a goddess could hope for.

“I think I’ve been eating just fine. This is way too much food. Can we give some away?”

Hades grabbed two plates and motioned his head towards the sitting area. “Whatever we don’t eat, I’ll send to the developer’s break room. How are you feeling?” He set down the plates, and they sat at arm’s length from each other on the couch. Persephone’s knee touched his hip and from the point of contact, another cozy rush of energy thrummed in her veins.

“I’m okay, I think. I still feel weak, but that’s got to be from my body’s lack of use.”

“Do you feel like you could take a walk or do yoga?” he asked before biting into a croissant. Crumbs fell towards his lap but disappeared into thin air. Persephone made a mental note for him to show her how to do that when she was feeling well again.

“Maybe? It’s worth a try. I wouldn’t mind some work. Answering emails, phone interviews, things like that.” If she could ease back into things, she’d be more prepared when the live events resumed.

“I have something I could use your clever mind for. Not Flowers Near Me related, but a new acquisition I want to explore.” Hades set his croissant down and picked up a cup of coffee she hadn’t seen him bring over.

Persephone perked up. “How can I help?” She hadn’t stretched her strategic business muscle in too long.

“With the app launching soon, it got me thinking about community gardens. Underworld Unlimited’s buildings could house micro gardens and rent plots to schools and individuals.”

Possibilities raced faster than Zeus’ chariot in Persephone’s mind. Underworld Unlimited owned tons of real estate throughout Olympus. “Do you own the rooftop of all of your buildings?”

He shot her a curious look. “Yes. Is that not how it works when you own a building?”

Persephone shook her head. “There are companies that buy rooftop space so they can sell them to telecommunications groups that build cell towers. The intermediary company facilitates the rental agreement and even gives a cut to the building owners.”

Tapping one finger to his mouth, Hades nodded along. “Use our rooftops.”

“Any outdoor space, really. I follow a few gardeners who try to bring homesteading practices into the city. They’d be good consultants for choosing the locations and then spreading the word.”

Persephone pulled out her phone and brought up an account she’d been looking at the day before. “He’s set up container gardens with plastic bins from the trash. He grows enough produce that he doesn’t need a weekly grocery trip.” She swiped to another account and held up the photo. “Here they’ve grown trailing nasturtium. They sell the flowers to a local restaurant and the vines hide the HVAC equipment.”

“May I?” Hades gestured at her phone.

“Please.” She handed it to him, then scooted closer to watch her screen over his shoulder. His piney scent smelled so inviting that she ran her fingers over his dark gray cashmere sweater. The touch was a subtle invitation for more, yet still on her terms. He couldn’t reach her easily and his hands stayed on her phone, but his slight lean into her body made it clear he liked the contact.

Hades thumbed through the accounts, taking screenshots which he forwarded to his phone. “This is an entire world I knew nothing about.”

“You were thinking about it, though. Community gardens are great for people who don’t have a yard.” A nagging, sinking feeling tugged at her chest. For all of her life, she’d lived on her mom’s estate and never once thought about bringing the vibrancy and energizing force of nature into the city. A few months into owning a flower app, and Hades had the idea all on his own. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

Hades handed her phone back and smirked as he motioned for her to sit on his lap. “Tell me more of your ideas.” He laid one arm across the back of the couch.

She sat across his lap with her lower back against the couch’s armrest. Hades pulled her tight to his chest for a short hug, then kept his arm around her waist. A tinge of her poppy magic prickled under her skin and she imagined the sensation flooding back to her heart. Confident she had subdued the threatening burst of flowers, she smiled back at Hades and leaned into him.

“When she was a high school student, Laura worked for a food bank that partnered with a community garden. They donated fresh produce twice a week and the food bank agreed to send volunteers to tend the garden. For those who rented plots, they got a discount if they contributed.”

Hades’ fingers trailed up and down the side of her leg. “Do you remember which food bank it was?”

“Laura lived with her father in the city at the time and said she could bike there. Northern Olympus Food Bank, or something like that.”

“Interesting. I assumed she’d volunteer at one of your mom’s food banks.”

Persephone shook her head. A follower, Laura was not. Her sister had never wanted to pursue her mom’s interests and went to great lengths to find a place to volunteer at where Demeter had no influence. “Laura was looking for more independence from Mom. But I have no clue who owns it.”

The smirk on Hades’ face said everything.

“It’s yours,” she said in realization.

Persephone’s heart swelled at the revelation. Hades, the formidable god with a reputation for ruthlessness, secretly supported a local food bank.

“Tell me more,” he urged, his hands growing bolder as they caressed her legs.

She laid out her vision: community partnerships, incentives for businesses, the potential to transform Olympus with greenery. His gaze never left hers, his interest genuine and intense.

“I’ll assemble a team,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “We’ll make this happen.”

Pride surged through her, but so did desire. His touch, growing more confident, sent heat pooling in her core. Hades’ hands slid up her back, and he nuzzled the side of her neck, making her shiver.

“Sounds good to me.” She smiled back, fixing her eyes on him.

No dizzying nausea or limp extremities. It was the closest to full health she’d felt since the fainting episode.

Hades’ shoulders filled his sweater the way a lion filled its velvet skin. The cashmere screamed to be touched. And his smokey white hair accentuated the olive tones of his face. If he kissed her now, she wouldn’t stop him.

The knowledge there were no meetings, events, or responsibilities on the calendar that day, made this moment even more thrilling. Hades hugged her by the waist and ran his nose up the side of her neck. Her arms wrapped around the tops of his shoulders. He pulled back just enough for them to be face to face.

“I hope you choose to stay with me, Sephy.” Hades closed his eyes and kissed her. Full lips with gentle pressure. Returning the kiss, her lips parted and tugged his lower one between them. Florals and pines mixed in the air with heady abandon. She grazed his scalp with her nails, putting weeks’ worth of yearning into the slow drag. Their lips fit together as if made for each other. Perfect.

With her legs now on either side of his hips, chest to chest, the evidence of his desire pressed in into her. His grip kept her planted on his lap, allowing mere centimeters of desperate movement. When softer touches of her kiss turned needy, a gravely moan sounded in Hades’ throat. That noise spurred her hands to stroke the shell of his ears and trail a path towards his strong shoulders.

Like a warm statue. She recalled the first touch of her fingers on his sides in the hibachi restaurant where they’d shared their first kiss. She ran her fingers over the length of his torso as he continued kissing her. Time stood still to unlock a new heaven.

The rock of her hips sparked a building release. Chasing the mounting pleasure, she leaned further into the kiss as his grip pushed her deeper into his lap.