The Passion of Hades - Eliza Raine Page 0,54

the curve of the skulls, the patterns of the vines... Maybe I could see that same spark of creativity that went into my garden designs here.

'This should help,' said Hades, and I dragged my eyes from the chair and took the goblet he was holding out to me. It smelled like hot chocolate but it was golden in color. I raised my eyebrows at him.

'What is it?'

'Ambrosia.'

'Hecate said humans couldn't drink this,' I said, peering at the thick liquid.

'I think you've just demonstrated that you have enough power to handle it,' he said gently. 'But go easy.'

I took a slow sip. It tasted like the richest, most luxurious hot chocolate ever. Almost like melted chocolate, rather than that shitty powder stuff.

'Oh my gods, it's gorgeous.'

'Not as gorgeous as you,' he muttered, and dropped down in front of me again. 'When you use your power like that... You look divine. It's all I can do not to tear your clothes off.'

His voice had become low and husky, and the warm drink was working its way through my chest now, my fatigue vanishing in its wake.

'Well, they are pretty messed up. And wet,' I said.

'I had noticed,' he whispered, and with a little pop, the damp fabric sticking to my skin was gone. I let out a tiny squeak as I looked down at myself. The silk pajamas. 'Maybe we could pick up where we left off?'

Desire danced in his eyes as he asked the question, and my body responded to him instantly. I took another slow sip of the ambrosia, warmth and energy spreading through me. I didn't know if it was the drink or the thought of Hades naked, but something was definitely revitalizing me. Tingles of excitement were rippling through me and I had a skipping feeling in my chest as Hades stood up. I stared at the beautiful god before me. He really was perfection.

I leaned forward to put the goblet on the ground, and as I straightened, I took the hem of my camisole on my fingertips.

His lips parted and his eyes darkened as he towered over me.

'You first,' I said.

His shirt was gone in an instant. It was as though he had been carved from marble, every curve and bulge of his chest screaming strength and power. My eyes were level with the waist of his low jeans, and the V of his abs dipping into the denim caused a surge of heat in my core, my muscles clenching. I reached out instinctively, desperate to touch his solid stomach, but he was just out of my reach. A tiny gold vine slid from my palm, curling towards him. I looked up into his face, unsure. He nodded.

The little vine touched his glowing skin, and merged with it, a shining gold tattoo sprawling up his ribs and across his chest.

Fierce desire exploded inside me, and before I knew what was happening I was standing, and he was lifting me and his mouth found mine. I buried my hands in his hair, with nothing in my head at all besides being as close to him as was physically possible as I wrapped my legs around him. His tongue flicked against mine and a pulse so fierce it almost hurt pounded between my legs.

'You are stunning, my Queen,' he murmured against my skin as his lips moved down my jaw. His words should have embarrassed me, but his voice was so loaded with passion, his intent and sincerity so clear, that my core clenched tighter.

'Your Queen?' I breathed.

'My Queen,' he repeated.

'I seem to remember you saying something about worshiping me.'

'I also said something about you screaming my name when I touch you, and watching you come over and over,' he said, moving so that I could see his darkening eyes. 'What I didn't tell you, is that I'm going to make you feel so incredible you won't remember your own name. I'm going to make you feel things you didn't even know were possible to feel. I'm going to bring you to the edge of ecstasy as many times as it takes for you to beg me to let you fall. And I'm going to fall with you.' A small noise I didn't think I'd ever made before escaped my lips.

He dropped to his knees, setting me down on the chair again, and began to kiss my neck, moving down slowly. Heat rolled from him, and every time his lips touched my skin electricity fired through my body. As