Hades kissed a line from her elbow to her neck. “How could I sleep when my bride has need of me?” She took the washcloth from Persephone’s nerveless fingers and began to trace over each line of her body, from her wrists to her neck, across her back, then turning Persephone to face her so that she could wash her torso, kissing each nipple as she bathed her breasts.

Persephone grabbed the washcloth from her and tossed it aside. “Thank you. I have already washed,” she said, willing her voice not to tremble.

“Really? I think you may have missed a spot,” Hades said, reaching between Persephone’s legs.

She slapped at Hades’ wrist, pressing her thighs together, her face flushed with heat.

Hades laughed and brought her fingers to her lips. Her eyes glittered with delight as she licked Persephone’s arousal from her hand.

Could there be anything more humiliating? Persephone longed to disappear into the earth, to scour the events of this night from her memory. “Let me go,” she said, flinching as Hades leaned against her, one hand placed on the small of Persephone’s back, holding her as she kissed the pulse point in her neck.

“Never,” Hades whispered.

Persephone placed both palms on Hades’ chest and pushed as hard as she could manage. She had wielded scythes and cut grain with those hands, shoveled earth and built levees. She had always thought of them as strong, hard-working hands.

But Hades only laughed, immovable, plucking them from her chest and kissing each palm in turn.

Persephone tore one hand free and grabbed the pitcher of water, swinging at Hades’ head. Hades ducked, and the pitcher went sailing, landing somewhere in the room with a crash.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” Hades asked.

“You’re disgusting.”

Hades kicked Persephone’s knees apart, then her fingers were inside her, sliding in without any resistance. “You might say so, but your body tells me otherwise.”

“Don’t. Don’t! I’m still sore,” Persephone said, shuddering when Hades flicked her thumb across her clit.

“Are you sure?” Hades asked, a third finger joining the first two already inside.

“Yes. Yes!” Persephone whimpered, tears stinging her eyes. “I’ll do anything else.”

“Anything,” Hades echoed, going still. Her pupils were enormous in the low light. “That is no way to make a bargain.”

Persephone almost cried with relief when Hades withdrew, leaving her aching but strangely empty.

“On your knees,” Hades said, gently pushing down on her shoulders.

Persephone obeyed, welcoming the chill of the floor over the heat of Hades’ touch. She pressed her knees together, lip curling in revulsion at the dampness between her thighs.

Hades touched her hair. “Persephone. Look at me.”

Persephone raised her eyes. Hades’ tunic barely covered what it needed to cover. Her face beyond that was a bit of a blur in the darkness, aside from the way the light caught her eyes.