“Let’s start with the inside,” he said, and their mouths collided, his tongue twined with hers. He tasted like smoke and ice. His hands moved down her back and over her bottom, and he drew her to him so that she was cradled between his legs as he leaned against the table. Each flick of his tongue hypnotized her. The hard press of his erection against her stomach made her dizzy with lust. She held onto him, fingers digging into his tight muscles. She would be lying if she said she didn’t need this. Not only had he left her aching and empty nights ago, but the stress of work was putting her on edge. She needed release, but she also needed Hades to understand, so she pressed her hands against his chest and pulled away.

“Hades, I am serious. I want to know your greatest weakness, your deepest fear, your most treasured possession.”

His expression grew serious then, and he stared at her with an intensity that made her insides shudder.

“You,” he answered, the pad of his thumb passed over her kiss-swollen lips.

“Me?” For a moment she was confused, and then she realized what he was saying. “I cannot be all of those things.”

“You are my weakness, losing you is my greatest fear, your love is my most treasured possession.”

“Hades,” she said gently. “I am a second in your vast life. How can I be all of those things?”

“You doubt me?”

She pressed her palm to his cheek. “No, but I believe you have other weaknesses, fears, and treasures. Your people, for one. Your realm for another.”

“See,” he said very quietly. “You know me already—inside and out.”

His response made her sad because she knew it wasn’t true.

I don’t know you at all.

He went in for another kiss, but she stopped him.

“I just have one more question,” she said. “When you left Sunday night, where did you go?”

“Persephone—”

She took a step away. She knew. He didn’t even need to answer.

“That’s when she returned, wasn’t it?”

Her anger was once again renewed. He had wound her so tight she hadn’t been able to breathe and instead of releasing the tension he’d building inside her, he’d chosen to leave—to help a former lover.

“You chose her over me.”

“It isn’t like that at all, Persephone—” he reached for her.

“Don’t touch me!” Persephone stepped away, lifting her hands. Hades jaw tightened, but he didn’t approach. “You had your chance. You fucked it up.”

His reasons for keeping Leuce a secret didn’t matter right now. The fact was, he hadn’t told her. He’d done the opposite of what he’d asked of her—communicate—so the words she used against him next seemed more than fitting.

“Actions speak louder than words, Hades.”

She vanished from the lounge.

CHAPTER VII - TRUCE