“Is this—should I—”

“Yes,” Hades said and shifted, grinding against Persephone’s hand.

Persephone pressed two fingers inside of Hades, surprised by how it felt. She was so warm and tight and yet so open for her. When she moved her fingers, rubbing her thumb over Hades’ clit, she heard the hitch in Hades’ breath, felt her muscles squeezing. She wanted to see her face. What did she look like when Persephone was inside her?

Hades kissed her neck and moved her thigh, one hand pulling on Persephone’s hip to guide her movement. “Don’t stop.” She grabbed Persephone’s free hand, entangling it with her own, and kissed her on the mouth. She tasted of grapes from Thera. The room smelled of sex. Hades no longer had to encourage Persephone to ride her; Persephone’s body had settled into its own rhythm, without her being quite conscious of it happening.

“This is—” Persephone gasped. “I—”

“Don’t you dare stop.”

She wasn’t sure who came first in the end. Hades bore down on Persephone’s fingers, her thighs crushing Persephone’s hand in place. Hades kissed her, again and again, as Persephone rode out the last dregs of her climax.

The silence afterward seemed deafening. Persephone’s heart fluttered in her chest, and she was breathing hard, a bead of sweat rolling down her spine. By Artemis, she needed this thing out of her. She climbed off of Hades, rolling to the other side of the bed in a daze.

She felt Hades stand up and heard the sound of running water. Hades returned with a damp washcloth. She wiped Persephone’s hand and then between her legs.

“I can do that myself,” Persephone said.

“Really? You seem exanimate right now.”

She supposed it was true. All the fight had left her, at least for the moment.

Hades climbed into bed and kissed the back of her neck. Her arms encircled Persephone’s waist, pulling her close.

“I wish you wouldn’t hold me so tightly.”

“Is that so?” Hades didn’t loosen her grip. Her fingers traced circles on Persephone’s skin.

“Hades?”

“Yes?”

“You didn’t do anything to Xenia, did you? She counseled me not to go, but I ignored her.”

Hades’ hand stilled. “Do you care for her?”

Was that a note of jealousy? “I’ve only just met her. But she has been kind to me.”

“As you say; I have no quarrel with her.”

Persephone closed her eyes in relief. Her limbs felt heavy, but her head felt effervescent, her thoughts impossible to hold. Was this what marriage meant? She had been wed for just two nights, but already she felt like she was becoming someone else when Hades was around her.

“Good night, my lady wife,” Hades said.

“Good night, m—Hades.”

She heard Hades’ breathing deepen and slow. She lay awake for some time, her thoughts churning in endless circles.

13

LESSONS