Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
That is what I would like to improve upon. I am confident in my powers in all the realms, but there is always more to know. There is always something to understand in a deeper way.
Now that I have time to understand and not fear losing my magic, I’m determined to learn it all. To study with Hecate on our long journeys.
That seems to be a duty of a queen—a deep understanding of her realm, and the souls within, and the magic everywhere. Hades shifts next to me, letting out a breath.
This past hour has been peaceful and quiet, but we are both ignoring the fact of today.
“My love,” he says and wraps his hand around my arm, running it slowly up and down. It is not a desperate touch. It is a comfortable one, as if we still have many moon cycles together.
I turn my head toward him. “Yes?”
“It is time for you to leave me soon.”
He reaches over and rests his fingers underneath my chin, turning me a little farther so he can kiss me. It is as electrifying as it was the first time, burning just as bright. It thrills me. There is a sense of danger in it, though he is not dangerous to me. Perhaps I am only sensing the greatness of our powers together. We could be dangerous, but we are not.
That strength could come out in the bed. In our passion. Warmth pools between my legs. I squeeze my thighs together and deepen the kiss, opening my mouth so he can explore me.
I come up for breath after a while, my heart racing from the kiss. My book remains open in my lap. I move to close it, but then…
“Not yet,” I decide. “It can be a longer winter this year.”
He smirks at me, his eyes darkening, more of the firelight reflected there. “I so enjoy the longer winters.”
Hades takes the book from my hands and sets it aside, then scoops me up in his arms and carries me across the room to our bed. I put my arms around his neck and pull him close to kiss the corner of his mouth.
When we reach the bed, he stops at the side to kiss me again before he lowers me down. The bed is soft underneath me. It calls to me, the way the Underworld calls to me when I am away. I do not want to let go of Hades, so I don’t, and it is some time before he can pull away, laughing.
“It will happen,” I remind him, lest he think he can distract me enough to keep me here all through summer. “The winter will go. The spring will come again. There is no escaping it, Hades. The new season will come.”
“I know it, my queen.” He leans down and kisses me again, his hand sliding underneath my dress, ready to take it off for me. Ready to expose my skin to him so he can tease my nipples and slide his tongue over all of his favorite places. I am about to lose track of time—I know that for certain. It is impossible to keep track when my king is with me this way. “But not yet.”
* * *
The End.