“This,” he said, pointing to her. “The clothes, Apollo, the drinking?”

She frowned and looked down at her dress.

“You don’t like my clothes?”

He glared at her, and for some reason that made her angry. She pushed off the counter and shimmied the dress up over her hips.

“What are you doing?” Hades asked. His eyes glinted, but she couldn’t tell if he was amused or aroused.

“Taking off the dress.”

“I can see that. Why?”

“Because you don’t like it.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” he replied.

Still, he didn’t stop her.

The dress was off. She stood naked in front of him.

Hades eyes raked her frame.

Gods.

Her whole body tingled, like her skin was a collection of exposed nerves. Her fingers itched to touch, to pleasure—either herself or him, she really didn’t care.

“Why weren’t you wearing anything under that dress?”

“I couldn’t,” she said. “Didn’t you see it?”

Hades jaw ticked.

“I’m going to murder Apollo,” he said, mostly under his breath.

“Why?”

“For fun.” His voice was gruff, and Persephone giggled.

“You're jealous.”

“Don’t push me, Persephone.”

“It wasn’t like Apollo knew,” she said, watching Hades drink straight from a whiskey bottle he’d retrieved from the wall. “Hermes was the one who suggested it.”

The bottle shattered. One moment, it was whole in Hades’ hands and the next moment, glass and alcohol covered the floor at Hades’ feet.

“Motherfucker.”

Persephone wasn’t sure if the curse was from what she’d said about Hermes or the whiskey he’d just wasted.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.

“Forgive me if I am a little on edge. I have been forced into celibacy.”

Persephone rolled her eyes. “No one ever said you couldn’t fuck me.”

“Careful, Goddess,” his voice rumbled, deep and terrifying. It was the voice he used when he punished. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I think I know what I’m asking for, Hades. It’s not like we’ve never had sex.”

He didn’t move, but he tilted his head a little, and her body tightened, knowing whatever he was about to ask would make her body quiver.

“Are you wet for me?”

She was, he knew it and his restraint was pissing her off. She tilted her head and challenged, “Why don’t you come and find out?”

She waited, and Hades’ chest rose and fell quickly, his knuckles turned white as he grasped the counter behind him. When he didn’t move, she decided she’d just bring up Apollo—it was what he deserved.

“Why didn’t you let Apollo see Hyacinth after his death?”

“You really know how to kill a boner, darling, I’ll give you that.”