Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
He scrutinized my outfit as he sat at the head of the table.
“Let me guess —” he drawled.
His gaze went back to my toes, which were painted pink. It was the nail polish my mother always kept on her vanity—one of her items I’d taken with me before leaving home.
“—that color is called Princess.”
I didn’t react, just kept watching him. I knew he was the type of man who pushed people’s buttons. He enjoyed getting under their skin, liked finding their weakness so he could use it to his advantage.
I could read that from him as easily as I knew he was an arrogant asshole.
Hades smiled.
I smirked right back. “I mean, if you like it so much, I can let you borrow it.”
His smile vanished, and he narrowed his eyes before he murmured, “You’re a mouthy little thing.” He let that hang between us, the words heavy and suffocating. “In this house, we dress respectfully when asked to share a meal together.” He brought his square-cut glass to his mouth and took a pull from the dark-colored liquid.
“My clothes are fine,” I said in the tightest voice I could muster. I was about to take a seat at the opposite end of the table when he made a deep sound, stopping me.
“You’ll sit beside me when we eat dinner.”
The last thing I wanted to do was sit next to him. But I said nothing and took my place at the spot beside him. I could see his smug expression behind his glass as he took a sip, his gaze locked on me.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to speak because a flurry of staff came in and started placing dishes in front of us.
A platter with a silver dome was placed in front of me, the servant pulling off the lid and standing to the side as if he waited for something.
I looked between him and the dish, then at him again before raising an eyebrow. “Thank you?”
Although my parents had the money, we didn’t have a waitstaff serving us hand and foot. In fact, to be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable with this show. I wasn’t anyone special to have this kind of attention thrown my way.
“Gerard is waiting for your approval of the meal.” Hades’ voice might’ve sounded amused if a man like him could find humor.
I looked back down at the platter and focused on the perfectly formed mound of garlicky mashed potatoes, green beans that seemed to be stacked in a lattice design, and herb-crusted chicken breast that smelled delicious, and then there was a small, porcelain plate that held a buttered roll. Gerard set a glass of iced water on my other side before taking a step back.
“It looks wonderful. Thank you.” Gerard nodded once and took the dome lid with him before leaving.
“Gerard,” Hades called out, and the servant stopped.
I could see the way his pulse throbbed at the side of his neck. “You and the others can leave for the evening.”
Gerard inclined his head before leaving Hades and me alone in the dining room.
When Hades started eating, that was when I did as well, focusing on anywhere that wasn’t in his direction. Although I could feel his gaze on me.
I hoped ignoring him made him feel as uncomfortable as I did, but I doubted it. He was like a slab of cold, hard granite.
The only sounds that filled the room were of the fire crackling and of our utensils gently clanking on the plates.
I glanced at him as he watched me and popped pomegranate seeds into his mouth. Hades pushed the small crystal bowl toward me, and I shook my head.
“You ever have these?”
I shook my head again.
“Try them, sweetheart.”
I didn’t know why I did what he said, but I took one seed and slipped it in my mouth, letting the juice burst across my tongue. His smile appeared satisfied, and it annoyed me.
I realized I’d eaten six by the time Hades reached out and slid the bowl back toward him.
“Eat.”
Once we finished dinner, I glanced at him and saw he was still watching me. “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious. May I be excused?” I hated being polite to him. He rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn’t understand why, didn’t understand why he had stirred such a reaction in me.
I also hated that I found him so attractive.
I’d been doing a well enough job keeping my emotions in check after my mother and father passed away. Because if I allowed myself to break down and let it all wash through me, I didn’t know how long it would be before I could pull myself back together.
But being in Hades’ presence felt like he was pouring gasoline onto this burning fire inside of me.
He didn’t respond for a moment, just picked up his glass and brought it to his mouth. Hades watched me over the rim, and I told myself not to react.