“Do you like it?” I asked my uncle, who was looking around.
“Nice,” he said.
“When you grow restless, we will change it,” Hades said.
“Thank you.” Uncle Trammer inclined his head at Hades and then drifted away to start looking at the things in the room.
“I did not include images of the brown house you showed me since you said it was not pleasant there.”
“It wasn’t. Thank you for thinking of that. I’m not sure what memories from that place were good.”
“There was one. Look.” He nodded toward my uncle, and I saw he was staring at a tapestry that showed me picking flowers in a field. I was wearing my one-shouldered dress, thankfully.
My eyes watered that I was Uncle Tram’s one good memory from Uttira.
“Can I come back and visit him again tomorrow?” I asked, unsure how many more opportunities I would have.
“As soon as you wake if that is your desire.” Hades held out his hand. “Where would you like to go now?”
If I were being honest with myself, I’d have loved to go to bed, but I knew it was too early for that yet.
“Do you have any suggestions?” I looked up at him, meeting his gaze.
“You bring me low with a simple glance. Your trust humbles me, and I vow to be worthy.”
I had nothing to say to that since I wasn’t entirely sure which of us I mistrusted more. Myself or him. But not looking at him hadn’t helped anything, and the last thing I wanted to do was upset him.
Taking his hand, I tried not to dwell on how much I enjoyed the simple contact while wishing for more.
The room blurred around us. I felt the heat and humidity before the big pool of water solidified. The slick tile warmed my feet as I looked around the large bathing room. Water lapped at the edge of the impressive pool, big enough to accommodate fifty people. Luckily, we were the only ones there.
Or maybe unluckily, I thought as a table with grapes and other light snacks materialized beside us.
“I’m not really up for a swim,” I said evasively.
“You have repeatedly told others to relax, enjoy themselves, and do as they please. Can you do the same? Relax. Bathe with me. Do as you please, and I will keep my vow.”
I crossed my arms and turned to glare at him.
“This isn’t a game. I don’t want you to test this to find the truth. Trust what I said or don’t. I don’t care. But I am not getting in that pool with you.”
His lips curved, and he stalked toward me as his pants completely vanished.
I took one surprised step backward and tumbled into the pool. The water hit my back like a fist, and the skirt tangled around my legs. Before I could panic, arms wrapped around me and pulled me to the surface. Gasping for air, I stared at Hades with wide eyes.
His concerned expression melted into humor until he was chuckling. His smile lit a fire in me, and I clutched his shoulders.
“That was unplanned,” he said.
“Which part? You trying to intimidate me or me falling into the pool because I was dumb enough to fall for it?”
My gaze shifted to his mouth in anticipation of his answer, and I saw the corners pull down in the most adorable frown.
“Both. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“I have everything to fear from you,” I whispered as the need to soothe away his grump teased my mind.
Giving in to the urge, I closed the distance between us. His lips were warm and firm under mine and only resisted for a heartbeat before opening to me. Our tongues touched, and fire lit my core. Need consumed me. I looped my arms around his shoulders and pressed closer, basking in the contact but desperate for more.
