Neon Gods (Dark Olympus 1)

I don’t hesitate. He’s not going to leave me hanging tonight. Despite what he seems to think, I am capable of obedience when properly motivated. The look he gives me says he’s noted how quickly I stop arguing now that I’m getting what I want. He shifts forward to press my body hard against the mattress, his solid weight pinning me in place. And then he shifts his hips and the whole length of his cock is suddenly rubbing against my clit with each slow thrust.

So careful. He’s so fucking careful with me, even now. Holding me down but ensuring his weight doesn’t drive the breath from my lungs. I could have told him it’s a lost cause—pleasure has already accomplished that. I’m gasping out each exhale, fighting to hold still, to obey, to not do anything that might cause him to stop.

His slow movements have his clothing sliding against my bare skin. In this moment, I’d give my right lung to have him as naked as I am.

I expect him to kiss me, but he kisses along my jaw to nip my earlobe. “See how good it feels to obey, little Persephone?” Another long drag of his length against my clit. “Do as I ask tomorrow, and I’ll let you have my cock.”

My thoughts scatter, shooting in a thousand different directions. “Promise?”

“I promise.” He picks up his pace the tiniest bit. My toes curl, and I can’t help arching into him. Hades hooks one arm under my thigh and spreads me up and further out. The smallest shift and he’ll be inside me. I want it so desperately, I’m in danger of begging.

My body doesn’t give me a chance to. I orgasm hard, every muscle clenching and my toes curling. Hades keeps moving, drawing it out, and then he jerks back and comes across my stomach. I stare dazedly down at the liquid marking my skin and have the absurd desire to run my fingers through it.

While I’m still recovering, Hades fixes his clothing and sits back on his heels. The way he watches me… We haven’t even had sex yet, and this man looks at me like he wants to keep me. It should be enough to send me running, but I can’t quite work up the energy to be concerned. We have our deal. I don’t know why I’m so sure, but I know Hades won’t break his word. At the end of this, he’ll ensure I get out of Olympus unscathed.

“Don’t move.” He climbs off the bed and walks to the bathroom. A few seconds later, he returns with a damp cloth. I reach to take it, but he shakes his head. “Hold still.”

I watch him clean me up. This should bother me…shouldn’t it? I’m not sure, not when I’m still riding high from my orgasm. Hades sets the cloth aside and arranges himself against my headboard. “Come here.”

Again, part of me protests that I should dig in my heels, but I’m already moving to him and allowing him to arrange me on his lap. Still, I can’t quite keep silent. “I’m not a big cuddler.”

“This isn’t about cuddling.” He smooths a hand down my back and guides my head to his shoulder.

I wait, but he doesn’t seem overly motivated to keep talking. A little laugh escapes. “By all means, don’t feel like you have to elaborate. I’ll just sit here in pleasant confusion for the duration.”

“For someone with your reputation, you’ve got quite the mouth on you.” He doesn’t sound annoyed by this fact. No, if I don’t miss my guess, he’s positively amused.

I sigh and relax against him. He’s obviously not going to let me go until he’s finished with whatever this not-cuddling thing is, and holding myself tense through the whole thing is too exhausting. Plus…it’s kind of nice to lie like this. Just for a little while. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised. You’ve already admitted you use your reputation as a weapon. Is it so strange to think I might do the same?”

“Why did you land on sunshine? None of your other sisters made the same choice.”

At that, I lean back a little so I can raise my brows at him. “Hades…you seem to know a lot about us. You must follow the gossip sites.”

He doesn’t look remotely sorry. “You’d be surprised at the information someone can glean from them if they read between the lines and have a little insider perspective.”

I can’t argue that. I feel the same way. With a small laugh, I relax against him again. “Eurydice isn’t playing a part, not entirely. She really is the innocent dreamer, which is how she ended up with that asshole of a boyfriend.”

Hades’s chuckle rumbles through his chest. “You don’t approve of Orpheus.”

“Would you if he were in a relationship with someone you care about? He embraces the starving artist trope to an absurd degree, especially considering he’s a trust-fund baby like the rest of us. He might think Eurydice is his muse right now, but what happens when he gets bored with her and starts looking outside their relationship for inspiration?” I know exactly what will happen. Eurydice will be crushed. It might actually break her. We’ve kept our youngest sister as sheltered as a person can be when they’re one spot removed from the Thirteen. The thought of Eurydice losing her innocence… It hurts. I don’t want that for her.