Mia might have lost her entire family but with the exception of her father, she knew they had loved her. There was no imagining the birth of an evil son or grandson. Hades had even been denied a loving family all the way to his own brothers. Perhaps being a deity was a worse fate than being human. At least she would eventually move on. It was in that moment her world came crashing down on her and she gasped, unable to believe it had not occurred to her earlier.
“My mother?”
“Is comfortable.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t ask sooner. Can I see her?”
“Your mother is no longer in this realm. She has been moved.”
“You did that. For me?”
“Yes.”
She studied him. This man continued to surprise her as well as warm her heart. If he said her mother was safe, then she believed him. Mia brought her hand to his cheek, unable to comprehend he was the ruler of darkness when all she saw was a man who was lonely just like her.
“I cannot thank you enough.” Before she realized what was happening, he leaned in and kissed her. Not a hungry one like he had done before, but soft and gentle before he pulled back.
“I am sorry. I vowed I wouldn’t kiss you again, but your mouth was tempting me.” He quickly grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. Leading her closer to the water, she suddenly found a glass floor under their feet and it continued to appear in front of them as they walked farther out. Hades released her, and they were standing over the water, soft music filling the air.
“What’s going on?”
Hades bent at the waist and bowed low. “May I have this dance, my lady?” He straightened and held his hand out. Bumps rose over her skin as she slipped her hand into his and he pulled her closer. Resting her free hand on his chest, they began to glide across the floor.
“Is there nothing you can’t do?” She laughed. The evening was turning into the most magical night of her life.
“Nothing. Is there anything else you might desire?”
Mia grew heady from the floral fragrance filling the air as it mingled with Hades and his sinful scent. She felt almost drunk and was now bold enough to put her plan for the night into place. “Yes. There is.”
“Name it. It shall be yours.”
She pulled in a calming breath and let the words tumble from her tongue. “I want to spend the night with you.”
He stopped suddenly, causing her to stumble into him. “Mia. I never thought to hear those words from you. Are you certain?”
“Positive.”
“I want to ask why you changed your mind but don’t want to question my good fortune.”
She laughed. “I’ll tell you anyway. I decided why not give in to the desire I feel? Now that my time here is almost near an end, I want you even more. I have grown fond of you, Hades.”
“And I you.” This time his kiss left gentle behind and was filled with desperation, passion, and fire. Every cell in her body tingled with pent-up desire.
His tongue stroked hers and sent an inferno roaring to life at her sex. She pressed into him, desperate to feel his naked body against hers but their clothes were in the way.
She swore under her breath.
Hades broke free, his own breathing as labored as hers. “Mia. You test my resolve to its limits.”
“I don’t mean to. Maybe we should forget dinner and move on to other things?” Lord knew her hunger wasn’t for food. She wanted his hands all over her.
“That is the best idea I have heard all evening. We can always come back later. Or perhaps we can stay in my suite and dine.”
“I love that idea.” There was no going back now, nor did she want to. Once she had made up her mind to do something, there was no stopping her.
“Then to the palace.” This time, rather than taking her hand or offering his arm, he pulled her into an embrace and swept her away. Moments later they arrived, and Mia found herself in Hades’ room.
It was not at all what she expected. Rather than dark walls, they were pale yellow. The floors, a stark contrast to the rest of the palace and its high gloss marble, were a honey wooden plank. However, the king-size bed she spied in the other room was more in line with what she might expect the god of Hell to sleep in. Or do other activities. She experienced a rush of heat to her cheeks, followed by a tinge of jealousy when the thought of him and other women in that bed crossed her mind.
She locked it away. What Hades did was none of her business. She needed to live in the moment and enjoy it for what it was. A brief encounter with one damn sexy man.
“I find I can’t wait to peel that dress away and reveal your luscious body beneath.” Hades led her across the room and into the bedroom.
Mia could hardly wait as well. She was dying to see the man beneath the clothes. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind he was going to be spectacular. Plopping on the edge of the bed, she kicked off her heels. Relieved to be free of them. While she loved the shoes, heels were not something she was used to wearing. Rising back to her feet, she stepped into Hades and pushed her hands under his suit jacket. While he cut one fine specimen in a black suit and sapphire shirt, she wanted them gone. It also gave her an excuse to run her hands along the hard planes of his chest.
“Mia, I can scarcely believe you are here.”
Neither could she. “I’m here, Hades. As real as you are.” She slid the jacket over his shoulders and down powerful biceps until it fell to the floor. With trembling fingers, Mia worked the buttons on his shirt.
“You know I could simply use my power to remove these clothes.”
She stared up at him. “And take all the fun out of undressing you?”
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Smiling back, she continued on the buttons until the shirt was opened and fully revealed hardened muscle beneath. She pulled in a breath. Unable to believe she was finally able to lay her fingertips against his naked skin. After tracing invisible lines upward, his shirt followed the jacket. He stood before her with only his slacks which sat low on his hips. The dusting of dark hair that ran from his navel and dipped into his pants had her licking her lips. She was anxious to follow the path and see what she discovered at the other end.
“If you keep looking at me like you want to devour me, I’ll forget my manners and tear that dress from your body,” Hades growled.
Instant heat pooled at her sex and she met his fiery gaze. “When you talk to me like that…” She was unable to finish her train of thought.
He bent until his mouth touched her neck. A gentle kiss caressed her skin quickly followed by a scrape of his fangs. A sudden urge for him to sink the pearly points into her skin overwhelmed her. Everything about this man undid her.
Just as she was beginning to enjoy his mouth on her body, he stopped and took a small step back. His eyes were filled with molten desire as he grabbed the top of her dress and ripped, leaving her standing in only black lace panties.
Hades was filled with something he had never experienced in his entire existence. Raw smoldering desire for the woman standing in front of him. Sure, he had desired other females in his life. His sexual urges rivaled that of any male. Probably more so. But after centuries of the same ol’, he had grown bored. His escapades less frequent and when he did share his body, it was simply to fuck until he was spent. That was not what he wanted now. Not with Mia. She was special, and he needed to remember that. Ripping her dress was probably not a wise choice but what was done was done.
“That was so unfair. I’m not able to tear your pants.” She grinned letting him know she wasn’t upset at his little escapade. Matter of fact, her musky scent filled the air around him, indicating just how aroused she was.
Before he could respond, she had freed his belt, unzipped his pants, and had them around his ankles. She dropped to her knees and wrapped long fingers around his throbbing shaft. His breath caught then slammed hard against his chest when she flicked out her tongue and tasted the tip of his cock.
“Damn,” he moaned, lacing his fingers in her soft curls.
She sucked and pulled him into her mouth and his willpower nearly shattered. It took everything he had not to dig his nails into her scalp. Hurting her was not an option.
Ever.
Mia swirled her tongue around his head then began to move farther down his erection. She continued to work him until his knees went weak and he had to pull her away. “Mia…” He was barely able to speak. No woman had ever rattled him like this. “You need to stop before I lose total control.” He lifted her to her feet and wrapped his mouth around her nipple. She arched into him with a moan on her lips. His hunger for her grew until he thought it would consume him. Lifting his head, he scooped Mia up and gently laid her on the bed where he kissed her. Devoured her mouth with such desperation he didn’t think he would ever get enough.
The markings on his forearm tingled against his skin, indicating another soul had entered Hell. It was a stark reminder of who he was. What he was.
He was darkness. He was destruction and poison that would consume everything good. Hades was his father’s son, and with that thought, memories Hades had kept locked away for centuries came back full force. Those of a god who had become so consumed by darkness, it had destroyed the one thing his father had loved more than anything.
His wife.
Hades’ mother.
He broke free and sat up staring at Mia. She looked back at him, her lips swollen from his kiss. Desire in her stormy eyes and he knew what he had to do. There was no way he could allow this female to become sullied by his darkness.
“We can’t do this.”
Shock registered in her eyes. Quickly followed by hurt which had him removing himself from the bed. He jerked on his pants and cursed under his breath as he tried to pull the zipper over his erection.
“Did I do something wrong?” Her voice was low. Broken.
“No. You are perfect and that is why we cannot do this. I am darkness.” He snapped his fingers making clothes appear over her nakedness. A sight he hated to cover. “You do not deserve my taint. Go home, Mia. Find a man who is deserving of you and forget I exist.” On the last word, he sent her back to the mortal realm. His bed now empty and it was how it would stay. Hades would never enter this room again.