Neon Gods (Dark Olympus 1)

Power is as much about perception as it is about the resources one has at their disposal.

“I don’t know how you pick sexual partners, but I don’t usually bargain for the privilege.” His hand twitches at his side. “Sit your ass down before you bleed all over my carpet.”

“First hardwood floors, now carpet. Hades, you are positively rabid for your floors.” After a quick internal debate, I perch on the edge of the mattress. He won’t be able to focus on a single thing I’m saying if I remain standing. I fold my hands primly on my lap. “Better?”

Hades has the same look on his face that my mother gets before she starts threatening to throw people out windows. I don’t think she’s ever actually thrown anything in a fit of anger, but the threat was good when we were children. He shakes his head slowly. “Hardly. You’re still here.”

“Ouch.” I hold his gaze. “I still don’t understand the problem. Last night you were all throat-grabbing and snarling Mine, and today you’re acting like you can’t wait to kick me to the curb. Am I just not your type?” It’s possible, though it seems a strange thing to trip him up if he really wants vengeance. I have access to a mirror. I know what I look like. Traditional beauty and all that, and that was before my mother insisted we sink a truly absurd amount of money into hair and skin care and wardrobe, though I drew the line at a nose job.

“Unless you’re more into the helpless damsel in distress? I suppose I could play the role for you if that’ll get the job done.” I look up at Hades, and I don’t bother to paint my expression with any artifice or seduction. It won’t work on him, I’m sure of it. Instead I give him a mocking smile, the tiniest bit of edge to my normally sunny self. “Do you want me, Hades? Even a little bit?”

“No.”

I blink. Maybe I imagined the heat in his gaze? If that’s the case, I’ve just been an unbelievable asshole. “Well then. I suppose this plan won’t work after all. Apologies.” I wrap up my disappointment in a small box and shove it deep.

It was a good plan, and I’m self-aware enough to know that I would very much like to have a fling with this broody, handsome man in addition to accomplishing my other goals. Oh well. There’s another path forward. I just need to figure out the steps to get there. As much as I don’t want to involve my sisters further, between the four of us, we should be able to figure out how to hide me for the next few months.

I push to my feet, mind already a thousand miles away. I might have to take a loan from Callisto, but I’ll be sure to pay her back with interest. I don’t know if the passage I’ve been promised will be available early, but I suppose if I throw enough money at the problem, I can find a way. I’ll just have to make sure I don’t think too hard about how much of my trust fund I’ll be eating up in the process once I repay Callisto.

“Persephone.”

I stop short before I run into Hades’s chest and look up at him. He isn’t a particularly large man, but he feels bigger up close, like his shadow looms larger than the man himself. We’re close enough that a careless move would press my chest to his. It’s a terrible idea. He just told me he doesn’t want me, and I may be stubborn to a fault, but I know how to accept a rejection.

I start to take a step back, but he catches my elbows, holding me in place. Holding me almost close enough to be an embrace. His dark eyes give me absolutely nothing, which shouldn’t be thrilling. It truly shouldn’t. Watching this man’s control crack in real time is a desire I can’t afford to have.

That doesn’t stop me from taking a particularly deep inhale, and it certainly doesn’t quell the surge of victory when his attention drops to the way my breasts press against the thin fabric of my dress. His jaw flexes beneath his perfectly groomed beard. “I’m not in the habit of bargaining for sex.”

“Yes, you said that.” My voice is too breathy to pass as unaffected, but I can’t help it. He’s so overwhelming, the kind of presence an unwary partner could get lost in. They might not even mind it. But I am not unwary. I know exactly what I’m getting myself into. I hope.

“I suppose there’s a first time for everything,” he murmurs. Convincing himself or convincing me? I could tell him the latter is completely unnecessary, but I keep my mouth shut. Hades finally focuses on me. “If I agree to this, you’re mine for the next three months.”