Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I don’t even know what that would look like. It feels like the River Styx separating the upper city and the lower city has been a fact of life since the beginning of time. It’s ingrained right into the DNA of Olympus. Except... A lot of things have changed that I thought would be impossible.
Maybe this can, too.
“So we rebuild together?”
He shrugs, the move a study of nonchalance even though it’s clearly a lie. “I’m thinking about it.”
Despite everything, I grin. “You’ve already decided. You knew what you’d do even before you took that meeting. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Hades makes a face. “You see right through me.”
“I hate to tell you this, husband...” I lean in. “Everyone who knows you sees right through the cold, ‘I am the Darkness’ act. It’s not fooling anyone.”
“At least give me my illusions.”
Maybe someday my husband will finally acknowledge the fact that he is almost universally beloved by those who know him, but today’s in that day. I know better than to push them on this. Instead, I change the subject.” Would you like to help me decorate tomorrow? “
His slow smile is reward enough. It lights up his face causing his eyes to crinkle at the edges.” It will take US in an hour to decide that I’m underfoot and command me away. “
For all his jokes they are exactly that — jokes. We’re so busy these days, that I relish any time spent with him. If you help me decorate it will mean that he’s not surprised with a transformation when you get home, but that’s not a bad thing. Maybe this can be the first of the new tile holiday traditions that we built together. “You don’t have to work? “
“I can make time. “
My heart feels so full, its warmth spreads through me in a shot of pure joy. “I would like that very much.”
I’ve gotten used to waking up most mornings without Hades still in bed with me. He tries very hard to ensure that we have time together on the weekends for the lazy mornings I cherish so much, but the world is not always cooperate. Especially these days.
As such, my day is instantly a thousand times better when I open my eyes to realize he’s lying next to me and tracing abstract patterns on my belly. He looks more relaxed in the morning light, the stress constantly a written across his expression nowhere in evidence. He smiles when he realizes I’m awake. “Morning. I have wondered if you’d sleep the day away.”
I glance over to the nightstand to find that it’s already nine. “Hades! You could’ve woken me.”
“You needed the sleep. You haven’t been getting enough of it lately.” He cups my face and presses a light kiss to my lips. “We’ll get everything done we need to today.”
He’s right. I haven’t been sleeping much at all lately. I know that won’t change after the babies are born, but I look forward to no longer being a constant bundle of aches and pains. My body hardly feels like my own these days. I don’t regret the choice we made it to keep the pregnancy. That doesn’t change the fact that has complicated things in a number of ways.
“Well, there’s no reason to waste any more time.”
“Persephone. “
I freeze in the midst of trying to rock my way out of the bed. I know that tone. It’s his Dom tone. I thought onto my back and give him my best innocent look. “Yes, Sir?”
“I’m right here. There’s absolutely no reason for you to struggle when you should be asking for help.”
I know he’s right, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am hardily tired of asking for help. Some things never change. I could take his correction gracefully, but things are so much more fun when I don’t. I let a little brattiness slip into my tone. “Why ask for help when I can do it myself?”
“Persephone.”
I ignore him and go back to rolling myself out of bed. I stumble a little getting to my feet but catch myself on the edge of the bed easily. “See. No help needed.”
I turn for the bathroom and silently count as I move away from him. At three, his voice stops me in my tracks. “Where do you think you’re going, a little siren?”
“The shower. Obviously.” I bite my bottom lip, wondering if I shouldn’t have pulled this today of all days. We’ve been so damn serious lately; maybe we both need a little relief.
I hear him climb out of bed behind me and I have to fight down a shiver of anticipation. Now we’re getting somewhere. Hades doesn’t touch me. He simply moves around to stand before me, blocking my way to the bathroom. His expression has fallen into the familiar cold lines that a promise is a very, very good time.