THE IVORY MOONLIGHT CAST HIS FACE INTO GLORIOUS SHADOWS AS HIS IMMORTAL LIPS TOOK MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

I could not feel the sand beneath my feet. I could not feel the silken grains slip through my fingers. I could not even feel the cold, singing breeze, the flying embers of Lethe's dying fire - the only thing I could feel, could know, could touch - was him.

He was everywhere.

Everywhere.

Our eyes met in a silent moment of understanding. And if I had ever any doubt before - it ceased to exist. And I knew. I knew.

"All of me is yours," I murmured. "I am yours, Hades. I want to be with you. Take me. Claim me. And make me yours in every way possible."

I seized him in an urgent kiss, even as Hades gasped in surprise, our lips sealed into something stronger than I had ever thought was possible. I needed him. I needed this. Like a wildfire blazing down a forest, searching, searching, searching for oxygen to consume.

"Tonight," he promised, a silver grin playing on his delicious lips. "Tonight, I make all your dreams come true."

"Dreams? Or fantasies?" I whispered, toes wet from the peaceful river lapping at our heels. He chuckled, catching his breath in a husky rasp, a finger twirling about a strand of my hair.

"Both. Does it matter, my Queen?" he grinned, a breathtaking smile breaking over his face. "Oh, Perse. The things I am going to do to you."

The sheer intensity of his smile knocked the breath out of my lungs, leaving me reeling in wonder. So beautiful. He was so beautiful. How could a thing of such beauty, such perfection even dare exist in this cruel world?

"So many things."

"You better get to work, my King. Unless you're all about empty promises?" I teased, trailing a finger down the outline of his jaw, marveling at just how the moonlight in the water reflected in the depths of those deep grey eyes - and the fact that he was mine. He was all mine.

"Now you've made it a challenge," he bent to touch his nose to mine, gently bumping it in a lover's nudge. "And I take challenges very... very... seriously."

I let out a delighted shriek as his strong hands wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground bridal style. A delighted laugh broke from my throat as he carried me off the beach, purpose clear in his eye.

"Backing down so soon?"

"You wish," he smirked at me. "Unless you'd like to give Hypnos and his family a show on the beach."

I playfully flicked at his nose.

"You want the entire show for yourself, don't you... Hades?"

A predatory smile played about on his lips as he leaned closer to me, his words raw with uncontrolled need.

"You're mine. And I don't like to share."

Desire pooled low in my belly, leaving me hungrier than ever. My head was reeling in circles, imagining all the things he would - he could - do to me. All the things he promised to do to me. My body could not contain the excitement enough at all the dark, dark imaginings - the spinning, mad desire to have my way with him.

We were back at the Gate soon enough as he carried me still, grinning like a madman. I felt so secure - so sure in his arms. They were where I belonged. Not in a carefully tended orchard, not in the gilded courts, but his wicked, sinful arms. That was where I belonged.

Hades pushed open the doors to our chambers with his elbow, the hinges popping open with a gentle creak in the dead silence of the midnight. Somewhere down the corridor, Cerberus began to bark - low growls ripping one after the other, even as I called out in the darkness, my voice ringing off the walls.

"Forgive me, my love. You'll just have to wait this one out!"

A chuckle broke from my husband's lips as I jumped from his arms with ease, clicking the door shut. I flung him against the wall as he groaned, his hands slipping everywhere on my body.

"Enough teasing, Hades."

The helpless, heavy groan from his lips set me ablaze, feeling the King of the Underworld melt in the palm of my hand as I pulled him to me by the collar, attacking his lips with a relentless ferocity. Teeth nipping on his lower lip, I pinned him in place - his rock solid body warm, rubbing on every inch of my skin.

"Really? And here I was just getting started." Hades' eyes glinted with unsurpassed delight as I took and took and took, but the kiss could never quench the undying thirst rising in my core.

A gasp shuddered from my aching, hungry chest as my fingers tugged at him, urging him even closer than was physically impossible. Hades was my blood, my oxygen, my soul - ravishing every inch of my being, his silky hands and velvet promises beckoning me closer and closer to the precipice.

More. I needed more.

Hands busy in my hair and at my back, he pulled out a pin here, tugging open a string there - a low groan ripping from him now and then as I popped open multiple buttons. His heavy velvet cloak was on the floor as I got to work on his shirt.

Deftly, he flipped me over with careless ease as I felt the wall at my back.

"You drive me mad," he sang in my ear, voice impossibly soft. "You drive me mad, Persephone. You drive me fucking mad."

He gently laced his fingers in mine as he pinned me to the wall, eyes dark with barely restrained need. Every inch of me pressed against every inch of him as I wrapped myself around him, feeling that hardness warm against the strip of skin now exposed on my thighs, a delicious little piece of flesh that rubbed against him - setting my blood racing.

"All I want," his voice was hoarser than stone, rough with need, "all I want right now... fuck, Perse - I need you-"

Just the mere whispers of his words along the warmth of my silver skin was enough to set my blood alight once again, blazing hotter, hotter, hotter.

"Hades..." I groaned. "Hades."

"Every inch of you," he growled, words dulcet. "I need to kiss every goddamn inch of you. I am going to ravish you, Persephone."

Gods, I needed him right now. I needed him now.

Hades dropped to his knees.

"Starting here," he whispered. The sight of him kneeling - to me - made desire pool low in my belly, a hungry aching that was nearly insatiable. Death knelt to no one. No man, mortal or god. No one except his queen.

Without taking his eyes off me, he slowly trailed a careful finger up my thigh... ever so slowly dragging his palm up the silk covering my flesh. A precious sliver of skin rode up my leg as I groaned.

His touch was lethal. His touch was fire.

Look at me, his eyes seemed to sing. Look at yourself, Persephone. How you enjoy this.

Hades carefully pressed his lips to the delicate skin of my inner thigh, grinning even as he did so.

"Ah!"

Everywhere his lips touched seemed to leave burning imprints of hot, heavy desire - driving me dizzy with the sheer intensity of how such a simple action could send me into such a frenzy. My reaction left him watching me with an amused smile on his lips as his fingers skimmed across my thigh - a musician playing his fiddle skillfully.

The fire between my thighs blazed fierce, growing into something that threatened to consume me alive. I rocked my hip, trapped between the wall and his unforgiving, hungry touches - his mouth placing feather soft kisses over my exposed skin, softer than sin.

"Perse," his voice was hoarse, his hands firmly planted on my hips. Oh god, so good. That felt so good. "Perse," Hades repeated. Look into my eyes, his gaze urged me. "Tell me," he whispered. "Tell me what I shall find under these scraps of lace."

"Just... do... please," my voice came in gasps, shaking and shuddering. "Please..."

Hungrily, his hands tugged the dress off me, throwing it onto the floor with careless abandon. It left me exposed in nothing but wisps of embroidered filigree, gooseflesh breaking out over my skin. His eyes drank me in hungrily, watching my body like an art display, his gaze reverant.

Gaze upon me. Gaze upon this piece of art, Polydegmon.

Eyes wide as plates, Hades reached out to trail a finger up the smooth strip of skin at my hip, before stopping to press a light kiss on the side of my belly. I shuddered in exquisite delight as the faint stubble of his cheek scraped against my skin -

"Do you bloom for me, my rose? Does nectar drip down your thighs for me?"

My back rocked off the wall as his lips met the juncture of my thighs - my core pulsing and throbbing with need even under the flimsy lace protecting the last scraps of my modesty. Wetness rubbed between my legs, warm and wanting and wanton.

"Hades... please!"

Gods, this need. This need was driving me mad with hunger.

I buried my fingers in the curls of his hair, urging him closer - closer, closer, closer.

"Giving up so soon?" he looked up to chuckle at me. I whined in frustration, rocking my hips closer to him. Yet, the King of the Underworld had other plans. Deftly, he picked me up and unceremoniously plopped me onto the bed, the silken sheets soft and cool to the touch.

Kicking off his boots, he clambered in after me, unable to control his smile as I curled a finger, beckoning him closer.

Closer. Come closer now, wicked thing.

"Not fair," I whined as he picked me up, settling me into his lap, his shirt half open.

"To be honest, with the way you were shaking: the wall really couldn't take more of that."

I smacked his cheek lightly, climbing on top of him. He was a fortress to be scaled - and getting to the top was the only way to victory. Bodies pressed together, I wrapped my legs around his waist, backing him against the headboard of the bed.

Another groan slipped from me as he deliberately shifted, our thighs rubbing - even the slightest friction filling my body with fervent, urgent need - need pooling hot and heavy in my core.

His hands were around my neck, softly trailing kisses down the column of my throat. The very thrill of it sent adrenaline racing into my blood. A moan shuddered from me as he pressed lightly against the artery pulsing by my collarbone, the blood in it throbbing like drums. His eyes roamed over my pulsing, hungry body - the curve of my collarbone, the dip between my breasts, the remnants of my undergarments - or whatever was left of them.

Eyes locked with mine, Hades slowly pulled down a strap of lace down my shoulder.

His gaze gleamed like night.

"You perfect woman."

A hand cupped my breast as I gasped at the sensation. My hips rocked off his lap as he shot me a delicious, delicious smirk - before lowering his head - sucking gently.

"Hades!"

Oh god - that hurt - but felt so, so good.

I groaned, breathless, my words drawing out longer, barely catching breath as that hungry, aching longing in me stretched its arms, waiting to be satisfied, hungry and craving temptation like forbidden fruit.

"So many obstacles," he murmured into my neck as I caved into his chest. Another tug as he lowered another strap - then a careless tear as he tossed the delicate underthing onto the floor.

"Hades...."

"You fit my hand so well," he purred, his fingers stroking and caressing the tip, kissing it with such gentleness that it hurt. Gods, more. More and more and more. With exquisite skill, he rolled the peak of my nipple between his fingers, grinning like the devil as my back arched, pushing me closer into his palm. It felt good - it felt so good. The tip was harder than a diamond as he gently scraped against it with his teeth.

"Oh - oh!"

"My dear Persephone," he sang, as every moan from my lips made his smile grow wider and wider. "I could listen to these sounds you make forever."

Panting, I tried to catch my breath. Oxygen filled my lungs, burning, burning, burning - until I was sore with need, desperate with longing. I put my finger under his chin, tilting his face up to look at me, exuberant delight written all over it. I shot him a wild grin as he pressed me tighter against him - only to realise that the evidence of my arousal was evident. I could feel the wetness between my thighs, even with the visible hardness pressing against it, more urgent than ever.

I raised an eyebrow at him, amused. Hades returned it with a silver chuckle. His eyes were darker than ever, the grey replaced in a sea of stormy midnight. He groaned as I pressed tightly against him, pinning him down.

Cupping his jaw, I slowly nipped at his lower lip. "My turn, Polydegmon." It was harshly unfair to find him mostly clothed while I sat in his lap clad in nothing but those silk panties. "Stop squirming."

"As my Queen commands," Hades tossed back his head, a gracious laugh on his lips. I shot him a glare before pulling open his shirt at last - buttons plopping onto the floor in a series of tinkles.

His chest was like marble.

He grinned, muscles rippling under his skin with every movement as I stared at him in awe, jaw dropping. Gently sealing my lips with another kiss, he leaned in whisper against my cheek.

"I can think of so many creative things to do with your open mouth, Persephone."

I hissed, nipping at the bottom of his lip with ferocity even as amusement sparkled in the mirrors of his eyes.

"You're mine."

"I'm yours," he whispered.

"Pants off. Now."

He obliged at once, letting me work the straps of his belt before tossing it off. Finally, I got them off him, tossing them off the bed. With him finally laid bare to me - my jaw dropped open again, marveling in amazement.

Perfect. He was perfect.

Eyes wide, I reached out to feel him - feel that hungry, hungry desire of him in the palm of my hand.

"Perse!" Hades gasped as I wrapped my hand around his length - still speechless over how perfect he was. Even in my palm I could feel his veins throbbing. The feeling was exquisite... the way even the slightest of my touches had him let out a low growl, his words rough and heavy with longing.

Ever so slowly, I stroked a finger down his length as the sturdy bed shook under us. I laughed as Hades threw back his head and uncontrolled need lined every beautiful sound leaving his throat.

"Perse..." he groaned. "Please."

"Do you like this, my King?" I whispered, moving closer, legs closed around him once again. "You enjoy this, Polydegmon?" I sang, shifting ever so slowly. I sucked in my breath at delicious friction between our bodies. Adrenaline thrummed low in my belly like a restless beast, prowling to be let out.

"Persephone," he growled, words dripping with frustration. "Have some mercy on a poor man."

"You are neither poor nor an ordinary man, my Lord," I tinkled, grabbing hold of his face, his lips slightly swollen . Hades moaned as I climbed higher on his lap, tugging at his breathtaking curls. Fingers buried in his hair, I kissed him on the corner of his mouth.

Mischievous stars swam in his inky eyes as I cupped my face like a priceless possession, our tongues melded in sweet symphony. My blood was singing, burning, my mouth full of the taste of him - of the night, of stars, of twinkling cemeteries in the darkness and delicious wickedness.

When I finally paused, I had him desperate with need, begging for release. He looked so beautiful like this. So beautiful. His words were ragged, gasps coming in short, broken breaths as I stopped.

"You are... wicked," he groaned. "Such a wicked creature."

"I learnt from the best."

Hades smirked, a conspiratorial look on his face.

"Take off my panties."

He shot me a delighted smile as I sat up on my knees. As he reached out for me. I raised my hips off the bed to let him pull off the tiny piece of fabric. A mistake - I realised - before Hades flipped me onto my back. I squealed as he pinned me down with a single arm, a predatory grin dancing along the corners of his mouth.

"You did say I was wicked."

I groaned as his hands stroked the smoothness of my hip, lingering there like a forgotten lover's kiss, before those slim fingers hooked themselves along the edge of the band.

"In a perfect world," he smirked, "I would have made you beg for release-"

He tugged it lower, grinning at me from between my trembling legs.

"But I cannot wait," his whispered against the skin of my inner thigh, raising it above to peel my panties off.

My entire body was shuddering with need - arousal racing up and down my veins like a crazed pendulum. Finally laid before him - bare, exposed, vulnerable - I had never been more excited yet terrified at the same time. I needed this so bad - I would die of hunger if I couldn't have him. And yet, there was no turning back. Not after this.

A deep moan slipped from me as he pulled me apart, opening me wide.

The gaze in his eyes was reverant. Worshipping. As if he had found his religion at last.

My back arched off the mattress as he blew lightly along my skin. I clenched my fists, and oh god - there was such an abundance of sensation inside my body. I needed him to take me - there was no way I could exist with that kind of painful longing lingering in my blood. It would burn me alive.

Hades lifted my legs, flinging them over his shoulders. His hand skimmed over my skin, even as a shadow passed over his face.

"Perse," he murmured against my cheek. "Tell me to stop."

"No..." I groaned, feeling arousal pool between my thighs. My nerves were ablaze like a volcano about to erupt.

"Say the word," he said softly. "Say the word. I will stop."

For the life of me, I could not figure why he needed my consent. Not when I was so clearly his - his forever. He had me right where he wanted me. It was not like I was going to go anywhere. I just needed this like oxygen. Even more than oxygen.

"Please..." I whispered. "Hades."

Gently, gently, ever so gently - his kissed me once again.

"Will... will it hurt?"

I was trembling so hard, I could not stop shaking. My body would explode if I could not let this fire out.

He wanted to lie. I saw it in his face.