Descent into Desire Read Free Page B

true. They all think I’m a silly little girl.”
    “You’re a beautiful woman, Persephone.”
    “You think I am beautiful?”
    He nodded. “Very beautiful.”
    “Kiss me.”
    He laughed. “You would not like that.”
    “Why not?” she asked, annoyed by his laughter.
    “You would be unconscious for a long time. Kissing is one thing I cannot do.”
    “But you can…”
    “Yes, I can have sex, but there’s an intimacy about kissing I’ve always longed to experience.”
    She felt her skin warm as she imagined what kissing him might be like if it were safe to do so. “Oh.” Damn it, I can’t get anything right down here! “But if you could, you would like to kiss me?”
    He stopped when they reached a large black door. “I would love to give you my kiss and live forever in a dream with you, but you are not meant for me.”
    “Hades could kiss me.” She looked up into his eyes. “But he hasn’t.”
    Hypnos leaned closer, putting his arms around her waist. He brought his lips to her ear. “Perhaps he is afraid of you.”
    She felt her heart pounding as Hypnos leaned close to her. His lips touched her ear, and she sighed. He groaned deep in his throat and kissed her neck. Electricity shot through her. His touch was amazing. His lips and tongue found spots she’d never known were so sensitive. She felt the ache between her thighs again. Hypnos’ lips felt amazing.
    Cerberus growled at Hypnos.
    The spell was broken, and she pulled away from him, incredibly embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
    Hypnos gazed into her eyes. “Not as sorry as I am.”
    Sorry they had touched? Or sorry they had stopped? She couldn’t tell. “I didn’t plan that. You’re handsome and you said I was beautiful, but that’s a feeble excuse for almost cheating on Hades.” She sighed. “If I’m even in a position to do such a thing.”
    He stroked her cheek. “I know you are innocent. In every way. I will carry the memory of touching you in my heart forever. But may I ask you something?”
    “Yes.”
    “Was that brief pleasure worth the guilt you feel now?”
    She shook her head. “No. That was my first kiss, and I used someone to get it.”
    He smiled. “Don’t feel that way. I don’t. What else did you learn?”
    She looked down at Cerberus, who seemed equally anxious for her answer. “I didn’t come here just to find a lover. I came here to meet the man I’ve been sending messages to every night.”
    He nodded. “Good. Perhaps that’s why I could not resist you. You needed to see what you wanted more clearly. We’ll leave the tour until later, shall we?”
    “Yes.” She blushed. “You’re very kind. You could have gotten angry, or gone to tell Hades.”
    “Or ravished you.”
    Her eyes widened. “But you wouldn’t have done that.”
    He started to say something, but then he stopped. After a moment, he said, “Take Cerberus with you. Hades left him here to protect you. He did just that, waking you from my spell before you were the one to ask me for something you didn’t truly want.”
    She touched Cerberus’ back, and he looked up at her loyally. “He did. I’m glad for both of us he did. I won’t tell Hades. It wasn’t your fault.”
    “But he will know. He knows everything in this realm.”
    Persephone froze. “What?” she managed to say.
    “He knows I touched you. As frustrated as you are, he can’t blame you for letting me. He also knows you pulled away. He knows what you said. Don’t be afraid.”
    “He won’t punish you?”
    “His anger will be tempered because of what this incident made you realize.”
    In a whisper, she asked, “How can he love me? I can’t even talk to a man without making ten mistakes.”
    “Perhaps he wants to be the one to teach you…everything.”
    Her mind filled with images of Hades, the sound of his voice, his scent. “I hope I’m worthy.”
    He bowed. “You are. Go find him now. He is here, waiting.”
    “Where is he?” she called as he walked