Page 34 of Flowers Near Me
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
NO ROOM FOR REGRET
HADES
T he Fates were smiling upon Hades. Sephy sat astride his lap, returning the kiss with equal fervor. Too scared to breathe or break the contact, he pressed his fingers deeper into her hips, willing the moment to never end. Want turned to need, coiled and wound so tight, he thought he might burst.
Sephy smelled like flowers and sugared treats and tasted better than anything he’d ever eaten. Days and nights of imagining this exact scenario paled compared to the heat of her center pressed on his lap. Tension radiated low in his stomach. Every point of pressure from her sent frissons of pleasure through him.
Without warning, Hades stood, holding Sephy against him with one arm and cradling the back of her head with the other. He turned them both and slowly laid her back down on the couch. Covering her body with his, he watched her half-lidded eyes staring at his mouth and settled himself on top of her. He leaned over her, pressing a kiss to her neck and savoring the light scratch of her nails on his back.
He parted her lips with his tongue and rocked his length against her. Reaching under the hem of her shirt, he pushed the fabric up and traced the curved line of her waist. Her smooth skin under the pad of his thumb ignited need deep in his gut.
His hand roamed higher until it met the satin fabric around her chest. Fingertips traced the skin under the band. In response, Sephy arched her back and pulled his head deeper into the kiss and his body closer with her leg. Dragging his finger back and forth under her bra, he moved higher to meet the soft underside of her breast.
A purr-like moan stirred from his chest as his palm cupped her breast and his thumb brushed her nipple. The faint whimpers from her spurred him on to keep a gentle rhythm as he ground his hips on her center.
“You’re perfect, Sephy,” he whispered in her ear. She shuddered as he licked up her throat, then lightly dragged her earlobe between his teeth.
She grabbed his sides and tugged him towards her, almost causing him to press his full weight on her. “Careful, little goddess, or I’m going to crush you.”
Persephone gave a breathy laugh and said, “Good,” as she yanked him to her again with more force.
He lowered himself, pressing fully onto her with one arm wrapped behind her head, tangled in her hair, and the other circling her breast. The press of their bodies, the way their lips fit, felt right to Hades. He’d been chasing this high and now that he’d caught it, he wouldn’t let it go.
Persephone’s hands slid under his sweater, roving over his back. When she ran her nails over his skin, a sigh of pleasure escaped his lips. The waves of release stirred, so he slowed the stroke of his hips and pulled away. He’d pined for this and the build-up created a wildness within him that needed to be tamed.
Opening her eyes and placing her hands on his chest, still under his shirt, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“If I keep going, I won’t stop,” he breathed out.
“Then don’t stop.” She twisted the hem of his shirt in her hands to yank him towards her, but he held himself still.
“Little goddess. I’m not taking you like this until I can have all of you and we’re not ready for that.”
Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Are you worried I’ll get pregnant? Because Hecate already gave me a preventative elixir.”
Of course Hecate had. What a meddlesome goddess.
“No, it’s not only that. If we continue, I’m afraid you’ll always wonder if being with me was your choice. Don’t give regret an opportunity.” His body roiled against him, screaming, Take what’s being offered.
“Would you regret it if we continued?” The question cut more than expected.
“I’ll give you anything, but I’m not taking something this significant in a moment of passion.” He sat up and pulled her with him to set her on his lap.
“Why is it problem? We’re both willing.” The pleading in her eyes almost had him relenting.
He shook his head. “When we do this, I need it to be after we’ve committed ourselves to one another.”
Her face pinched in confusion. “It can only happen after we’re married?”
He nodded. “I’m not taking something from you until you’ve decided I’m right for you.”
She trailed her fingers along the waist of his pants and tension built in his groin. Frustration wound itself in his chest as he sat back, but the thought of their first time happening like a tryst on the couch made his insides burn with acid. Sephy deserved to be properly bedded like a goddess and this wasn’t it. But the hope of it coming sooner than expected stirred his desire.
“I understand,” she finally said, “but if you turn me down again, I will take it personally.” Persephone stood up, putting much needed space between the two of them. Had she pressed him to continue what they’d started, he wasn’t sure he’d have had the resolve to stop. “Alright, mister. Let’s eat these pastries then.” She reached for a croissant, but the chill of the air left in her wake did little to temper his craving for her.