Descent into Desire (6 page)

* * * *

Thanatos walked around the tree he’d been hiding behind once they were both gone. “No, brother, we aren’t that close anymore. And we’re nothing alike.”

He knew what his twin had done, daring to kiss Hades’ bride. Persephone would’ve gotten much more than a kiss if he’d been in his brother’s place. Hypnos had already warned her, gently, to avoid him. He resented that, but he felt no shame in admitting he would be painfully tempted to take her sweet maidenhead. He thought of how tight the little virgin would be, how she would gasp as he penetrated and pushed deep inside her. Whether she blossomed into a passionate temptress or screamed and struggled against him, he knew taking her would bring him great pleasure.

He’d been keeping his distance since her arrival. Hades probably suspected nothing. Thanatos had no trouble getting as much sex as he wanted. Mortal girls and the many nymphs of Olympus who sought out the “wicked” god of death were always very willing. Some of them ran away afterwards, frightened at having learned just how wicked he could be, while others came back begging to be used and abused by him. He’d need one of them soon, his cock responding to his lascivious thoughts of Persephone. They slaked his lust, but they meant nothing. They were nothing.

Persephone was a prize, a woman worthy of devotion and capable of keeping a man satisfied once she was trained properly. She was beautiful and powerful. Now free of her mother, she had the chance to come into that power. She was worthy of being the queen of the Underworld, if the right man were to become its king.

Chapter Four

“Are you serious?” Hades asked.

Hypnos blinked. “I would joke about this?”

Hades shook his head. “No, of course not. I just didn’t expect this.”

“It’s a good thing. She seems to have sorted through her feelings. Listen to her and see what happens. She didn’t tell me anything specific, but she wants to talk.”

Hades looked out the window. He’d been doing that a lot since Persephone’s arrival. “I’m sure you’re right, and thanks for the advice, but I need to be alone right now. When do I meet her?”

“In the dining room after dark. She’s making dinner.”

He couldn’t hide his surprise. “She’s making dinner?”

“Yes. She and her brother love to cook, so she’s very good at it apparently.”

“Oh.” That had to be good. She didn’t want to simply have a chat. She wanted to go on a date, and she was going to cook for him. Hypnos had said she wasn’t angry anymore. He almost smiled. No matter what he’d done, if the Fates had a plan, it would be achieved in the end. He knew that was true more so than any other god could. It didn’t calm his nerves though.

* * * *

Alala didn’t usually sneak up on people, but she didn’t want Apollo to disappear. Since her talk with Aphrodite, she’d been wanting to talk to Apollo. They hadn’t spoken alone in ages, and the last time they had talked Ares had been accusing him of raping her. It hadn’t been a comfortable environment for soul baring.

She touched his shoulder, using powers she hadn’t used in over a hundred years. He would be unable to move until she released him. “Apollo?”

His body tensed, and he turned his head to look at her. “Where’s Ares?”

“Somewhere else.”

“Then perhaps we shouldn’t be alone. I don’t feel like being accused of anything else right now.”

Apollo was the only man, besides Ares, she had ever been with. She’d loved Ares as long as she could remember, and Apollo had used that to seduce her, appearing to her as Ares. “I felt you weren’t Ares after we touched, but you looked like him so I gave in. If I couldn’t really have him, then why not enjoy a fantasy? I knew you weren’t Ares before you took my virginity, and I still made love with you a second time that night.”

“Made love? We fucked.”

She smiled, easily tolerating his bad temper as she used to. “I got love from you. I felt loved those years we were together. Maybe I won’t tell Ares that in so many words, but it’s true. I’ve explained to everyone, and they understand. Ares resents you because you got to have me first, but he doesn’t think of you that way anymore. Even though he went through with challenging you, he knows I was with you by choice.”

“You don’t have to make me feel better. Why are you here?”

Alala looked out into the field and scanned the trees. “Which one is she?”

Apollo tried to stand up, but she wouldn’t let him. She sat beside him.

“Which one?”

“Can’t you tell? The one in the middle with the purple flowers.”

Alala nodded. It looked like a laurel tree, but it was covered in star-shaped purple flowers and the leaves were more ornate. She’d never seen another tree like it in her world or the mortal one.

“It hurt me you never told me about her.”

He stared at her. “So it wasn’t enough you knew I had a completely perverted thing for Aphrodite? You wanted to hear about my heartache too?”

Alala sighed. She could tell their conversation was going to take a while. “You were never together. You felt the pain despite never having enjoyed the love thanks to those magic arrows. That seems to have been the problem. I think it’s also why you wanted Aphrodite so much. Did you two ever have sex after the night I caught you?”

He shook his head.

“You wanted to subdue her. You wanted to fuck her and be the one to leave. Any man with a cock wants her, but not all give in to her. You were angry with her for hundreds of years.”

“Why bring this up? Why do this to me, Alala?”

“Meet with Zeus and Hera. Beg them to give you and Daphne another chance. Or go to Peneus. Ask him to plead with her.”

“She’s been in this state for too long, Alala. Don’t you understand that? She doesn’t even talk anymore. She hums. She hasn’t spoken in a very long time. She wants nothing to do with any of us.”

“If she doesn’t speak, how do you know?”

“When I go near her, the humming stops. If I touch her, her petals start to fall. Her leaves wither. She hates me!”

She cringed at the pain and self-loathing in his voice. She remembered it all too well. “That’s the spell. Can’t we try?”

“We? Why do you want to help me?”

“Because I care for you and you’re in pain. Persephone is older than me, and she said when she was young you used to come and try to amuse her with tricks and jokes. She said you were sweet and funny until your brief feud with Aphrodite.”

“My brief feud? She made the only girl I ever loved hate me!”

“You only loved her because of the spell attached to Eros’ arrow. Aphrodite was petty and cruel, but she would have lifted it if Daphne hadn’t refused.”

He started to say something then paused. “How is Persephone?”

She regretted giving him a chance to change the subject, but she let him do it anyway. “I have no idea. We haven’t spoken. I’m leaving her alone. Do you know what Hades has done?”

“He’s trapped her. Yeah, I heard. Maybe he’ll be the jerk of the month for a while.”

She chose her words carefully. “I don’t like what he did, but if you had Daphne, would you let her go? Would you let her out of your sight?”

“If she didn’t want to be with me, yes,” he said softly.

She hesitated, wanting to object. There had been nights he’d hated himself so much he’d clung to her all night, becoming forceful and even pleading at times if she wanted to go home. She remembered frenzied couplings when he’d been so frustrated he couldn’t lose himself in her body fast enough. She also recalled nights he’d punished himself, making her come over and over again, sending her into so much ecstasy but then refusing himself release. He’d revealed so much of himself in the way he’d touched her, and now it all made sense to her. Instead of bringing that up, she lifted her hand from his shoulder. “Do you think you would still love her if you were free of the spell of the arrow?”

He looked into her eyes. “I believe I would.”

“I want you to try. I don’t know who can help, but please try. Let me help you.”

He seemed amazed. After a moment, he reached for her hand. “You’ve shown me so much kindness with so little reason.” He leaned forward to whisper. “You’ve seen the real me and you haven’t abandoned me. I love you for that, as much as I can.” He kissed her cheek, but then he flew backwards across the grass.

Alala saw Ares standing over him. She groaned. “Ares, will you please listen to me?”

“Not until I’ve beaten him to a bloody pulp!”

She jerked Ares by the arm and pulled his face close to hers. He tried to pull away and she jerked him back again and slapped him. He was so stunned he didn’t move when she put their foreheads together. She showed him, in a few seconds, her whole conversation with Apollo. Maybe she was giving away too many of Apollo’s secrets in doing that, showing him too many of the intimate moments she’d shared with Apollo, but she wanted Ares to regret his rash action. After she released him, she glared at him furiously.

After a moment, he looked down at Apollo, then back at her. “Shit,” he mumbled.

Apollo stood up slowly. “I asked her to leave. No one can help me. There’s no point anyway.”

Ares looked at Alala. “He’s right. If he wants to do anything, only he can do it.”

She crossed her arms and turned away from him.

“You know,” Ares said, “this wouldn’t have happened if you’d told me you wanted to talk to him. I come to find you like this, and I jumped to the conclusion he sought you out. Know why? We trust each other and tell each other everything. I would have let you talk to him, Alala.”

She turned back to him, still angry at his violent reaction but knowing he was telling the truth. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know you’re sensitive about him though. You were testy when I mentioned him the other night.”

Ares smiled wickedly. “I wanted to have sex, and his name was the first thing I heard from you. Bit of a turn off.”

“Okay, fine. Again, I’m sorry.”

Apollo stepped forward. “You two sort this out. I came here to be alone, now I’m going elsewhere to be alone. All right?”

Alala looked at Ares.

He took the hint quickly. “Yeah. Fine. Uh, sorry I did all that. I have no problem in admitting I’m still sensitive about you.”

Apollo nodded. “I understand. Your lady is very special.” He disappeared before they could say anything else.

Alala sighed.

“Are you okay?”

She smiled as he moved closer to her and put his arms around her. “I ought to make you fuck me right now to make up for that. I made him feel better, at least for a moment.”

He laughed and kissed her neck. “I’m not sure Daphne wants to see us rutting like a couple of animals.”

Her smile faded, and she turned her head to look into his eyes. “It makes me so sad. I always felt his suffering, but never pried. I didn’t feel I had the right. Now that I understand, everything he ever did makes sense. Even in sex he was conflicted and confused, wanting to open up but afraid to fully do so. I see pain in the actions I once found merely confusing or odd.”

“I know, baby.” He pulled her away from the trees. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” she asked as he led her toward the river.

“A special place.”

She followed him down through the field to a waterfall and soon saw there was a cave behind it. A rainbow shimmered near the bottom.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I planned to bring you here tonight. That’s why seeing him made me so jealous.”

She ran her hands over his chest then moved one down to his hard cock. “You know you should never be jealous of any man.”

“Prove it, my love.”

She took his hand as they went behind the waterfall. “I certainly will.” She pulled him to her for a long kiss. “I need you to make me stop worrying.”

His free hand slid under her skirt and his fingers toyed with her panties, sliding in under them. “I think I can do that.”

She sighed as they kissed again. She’d needed him for days, but she’d been avoiding him because of her visit to Aphrodite and her plans to see Apollo. She wanted to keep Aphrodite’s secret, and despite what he’d said, she knew he wouldn’t have liked her seeing Apollo. She didn’t like him being jealous, but something about it turned her on a little. She giggled as he ripped her panties off.

“You like that?” he asked as he nibbled on her neck.

“I like you.” She opened her legs to give him better access.

He toyed with her clit, making her squirm at the pleasure. He groaned deep in his throat as they kissed again, and then he pulled her closer to the waterfall, laying her down on the cold stone. The stone immediately warmed and softened. She ran her hands over it and felt lush grass.

She raised her eyebrows.

“I want you to be comfortable. I’m not letting you up for a long time.” He lowered himself over her and pulled her top up to kiss her breasts. His tongue and teeth teased her right nipple and sent pleasure all through her body. She held his head there as his hand roamed up and down her body. He almost touched her pussy, and then moved away. He fingered her clit for a moment, and then his hand strayed down her leg.

She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his face up to hers. “You’re teasing me.”

“You love it,” he whispered heatedly as he slid two fingers into her pussy.

She gasped. “I do.” She moved against him. His fingers slid deeper into her wetness. “You know I do.”

His thumb pressed her clit gently as he looked into her eyes. “Tell me you love me.”

She stroked his face. “I love you. You know I love you.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ve never been
in
love with any man but you.”

He slid his fingers out and positioned himself between her legs. His cock nudged at her entrance, and she pushed forward to welcome him.

“I was a fool for so long. You were by my side the whole time, waiting to make me this happy.” He slid part of the way into her.

She gasped as he entered her. She wanted, needed all of him. Her heart raced as he stroked her face. “We’re together now,” she said as she turned her head to kiss his hand. “It’s all that matters.”

He kissed her as he slid all the way in. She gasped again as he filled her. His cock was the perfect fit. It was thick enough to stimulate her in all the right places, and long enough to hit the spot that made her explode and scream his name. Apollo had been a skilled lover, but she and Ares had been made to give each other pleasure.

“I know.” He thrust into her slowly, smiling at her reaction. “You think it’s silly, but it drove me wild when I saw him that close to you. I’m a possessive brute, I know, but you’ll have to forgive me.”

She moaned as he pushed deeper. His cock rubbed a very sensitive spot, and she held to him as her orgasm built. “I’ll forgive you for anything if you keep doing this.” She sighed when he thrust harder. “Look at me.”

He braced his arms on each side of her head and looked into her eyes. He slowed his pace, but continued to move his cock in and out of her.

“I didn’t expect you to change, and I don’t want you to.” She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer, pushing his cock as deep as it would go. He groaned as she bit his neck gently, and then looked into his eyes again. “I fell in love with the man you are. I love your passion, even when it might be a bit brutish or possessive. I’m here to give you balance, remember? I was made to complete you.”

He became perfectly still above her. “I love you. So much.”

She smiled and brought his lips to hers. “Show me.”

He pumped into her, pushing her into the grass. She tightened her pussy around his cock the way he loved, wanting all of him. He growled deep in his throat, making her giggle as he thrust harder.

“Come for me,” he whispered. “Come, my love.”