In my book, that still went to the mermaids in Lake Uttira.
Pressing my cheek to his chest, I listened to his heart race under my ear as his arms slowly encircled me.
“What do you think?” I asked. “Are hugs the worst?”
“No.”
“Would you like me to give you more of them?”
He groaned and dipped his head to brush his lips against my hair.
“Yes.”
The tortured word made me want to hug him tighter. I didn’t, though. With Hades, giving too much was always a risk.
“Okay. Then I will…if you promise to try to see me as who I am. Ashlyn, the human.”
He shuddered in my arms.
“So be it,” he said, sounding defeated.
He didn’t believe me now, but I didn’t expect him to. It would take time for him to see I was a totally different person who happened to look like his dead goddess-wife.
He reluctantly released me when I withdrew, and I caught his hand to lead him to the table. His thumb stroked over mine, and he waited until I was seated before taking the other stool. The honey cakes appeared on my plate for me, but his plate was empty.
“Did you sleep at all last night?” I asked before taking my first bite. The cake and honey were so good, and I couldn’t help licking my sticky fingers.
It took a second to realize he was staring instead of answering. I paused and lifted a brow.
“No, I did not sleep. I savored every moment of your willing touch.”
“You mentioned something about ambrosia and that I wouldn’t be so tired if I ate it. If that’s why you don’t need sleep, why aren’t you eating more this morning?”
Surprise flickered in his gaze.
“You wish for me to eat more ambrosia?”
“I mean, only if you want to.”
He continued to give me an odd look even as a square of ambrosia appeared on his plate.
“I feel like I’m missing something here. Can you explain?” I asked, holding true to the bargain we’d made.
Words flared to existence on his chest, and he ran his hand over them.
“We have an agreement.”
I leaned forward to read the contract. It seemed that Persephone had negotiated Hades’ near starvation in exchange for his right to be the only one to provide food for her. There were a whole bunch of rules, but they all just clarified that he ate when Persephone wanted him to eat.
“That’s got to go,” I said.
“No. I refuse to terminate this agreement. Eat. Lick your fingers again.”
I rolled my eyes but took another bite under his watchful gaze. The man was full of distrust. He hadn’t been lying that it would take a lot to convince him that I wasn’t Persephone.
“Let’s renegotiate then. Keep the parts about providing for Persephone. Just remove the parts about when you get to eat. You should be able to eat when you want.”
“And what do you want in return for that concession?”
