Receiver of Many (Hades & Persephone, #1)

by Rachel Alexander

“It’s been a few days too long… So if your intention tonight was to fuck me,” he said hoarsely, “sooner would be better.”

“To think my plan was to seduce you here one day.”

“you did say the Fates had very little use for your plans.”

“I’m not sending you down there defenseless.”

“You’re distracting me,” she whispered. “What did I teach you?” he breathed back into her ear, gently nipping at her earlobe.

She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re adorable when you give me that look,” he said with a smirk.

He prayed she

would never hear a warrior boast of his courage at dawn, then plead for his life before noon.

“But your shoulders and chest, husband…” she said, stabbing at him, “…tend to distract.”

“My fierce little warrior wife,” he whispered against her lips.

“Was that how you planned to make me pay?” He laughed. “Oh, certainly not,” he said, treading closer toward her. “When I do, you’ll know.”

had ten years in the sun. You had aeons…”

First, I needed to acquaint myself with every facet of Chthonia and truly become its lord.

second, and most important, it was part of my own bargain with Demeter in order to have you as my wife.”

“innocence…” he said with another. She laughed. “That last one’s not entirely true.

“If it were up to you, my hair would always be unbound, wouldn’t it, my lord?” “My lady, if it were up to me, your hair wouldn’t be the only thing going unbound at all times.”

“Now… there’s your payment for splashing me.” “I… I’ll be sure to do so more often.”

Aidon hadn’t wanted to let her fully taste him when she’d first suggested it. He felt it would demean her, but she had insisted, voicing her desire, reminding him that he’d brought her to completion without feeling demeaned.

She moaned and swiped a finger over its warm path, drawing his essence back to her mouth.

“Lord Hades, if you forgive my saying so, the entire cosmos knows you’re married.” “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Demeter freezes and starves the mortals, and they build her a temple. I make sure the dead don’t return to haunt the living, and they fear to speak my name.”

“Are you ashamed of what we enjoy together?”

Aidon grew quiet and cast his eyes to the floor. “Are you ashamed of me?” “No! No, absolutely not!

“And in the meantime, more will die.” “Everything dies, Persephone.

More so, I can feel you, my love, he thought.

“It would be hard to kiss you wearing that.”

As his arms wrapped around her waist, he silently wondered what in the name of the Fates he’d ever done to deserve her.