“Have you ever kissed a woman?” Hades asked. “Intimately?”

It took Persephone a moment to understand. She shook her head.

“Then let me explain.” Hades raised her tunic, exposing the curve of her mons. It was hidden by a frosting of tight curls, as black as the hair on her crown.

With a hand on the back of Persephone’s head, Hades guided her forward. She smelled of musk and oiled leather, salt and freshly tilled soil. Hesitantly, Persephone pressed a kiss upon Hades’ sex and was rewarded with a shudder.

Hades told her what she wanted. Persephone listened in silence, then angled her head, using her tongue to part Hades’ labia. Within her folds was a valley of wetness; Persephone obediently lapped it up, then almost jumped when Hades’ fist tightened in her hair.

“Keep going.”

She quickly learned how to move her tongue in a way that made Hades moan. She glanced up, seeing Hades’ eyes half-lidded, her breathing uneven.

Hades continued to direct her in clipped, one-word statements: slower, faster, harder. She obeyed as best as she could, wincing as Hades pulled at her hair, pressing her face forward so much it was hard to breathe. She clung to Hades’ thighs to keep her balance, feeling their rigid muscles beneath her fingertips.

She didn’t know how long she stayed on her knees, toes grown numb and tongue aching, before Hades froze up for a moment, her fist dragging so tightly on Persephone’s hair that tears leaked from her eyes. Hades trembled against her mouth as she licked the last few spent shudders out of her.

It was a blessed relief when Hades let go of her hair. Hades leaned back against the wall, breathing hard, her eyes closed. Her tunic dropped down, covering her once more. Perhaps it was Persephone’s imagination, but there seemed to be a slight tremor in Hades’ hands.

It was oddly gratifying to know that, unschooled though she was, she could have this effect upon the Lady of the Damned. Persephone wanted to tell herself that she had done as she was told, nothing more, but then why did she feel conflicted about seeing Hades so vulnerable?

“Come here,” Hades said.

Persephone stood, and Hades kissed her, long and deep and hard.

After that, they tumbled back into bed, like before. Hades wrapped her arms around her waist, holding her tight, and Persephone tried to ignore the ache between her legs that begged to be soothed by another’s touch.

She didn’t want this. She couldn’t want this.

She pressed her knees together and tried to sleep.

11

TARTARUS

Persephone woke to find the room bathed in gray morning light. Hades was already awake, donning the last pieces of her jewelry as she stood before a plate of polished bronze.