Seeds: Volume Two (13 page)

     “You do know how to make a girl feel good,” she shot back with a pleased tone. She had learned in her time with him that when he complimented her, it was never flattery. His tone was full of warmth and love, and she found herself with a strange sensation of melting deep within. It was hard to not feel comfortable here. The sky was gold and radiant, the plants lush, the air was warm, the water soothing and refreshing. She heard the dull roar of the water, welcoming the background noise. Hades' touch thrilled and comforted her, and his strong, smooth voice had an almost soporific effect on her.

     What was the point of pushing his hands away? She was now aware of the pleasures that one could share with a loved one without having actual intercourse, and while she enjoyed his touches, she was afraid to admit that she wouldn't mind being deflowered by him. What better candidate than a man who had already proven himself to care for her on top of being a skilled lover? Her womanhood tingled warmly at the recollection of these memories with him.

     “I would be worried if I did not,” he responded with a soft chuckle before she felt his hot breath on her breast. She sighed out his name as he wrapped his lips around the soft pink nipple. Her body squirmed against his, and he relished the feel of her warm skin.

     “Yes,” she hissed softly as he started to suck, rubbing his tongue against the tip of her nipple. He knew from previous explorations that her breasts were one of her most sensitive zones, especially after her body had finally become free of the restriction Demeter had placed upon it. As he lavished his attention upon her breast, he slid his hand along her stomach, pausing only a moment when he came to the edge of the triangle of dark curls that sat above her womanhood. Oh my, he thought with a small smile as he stroked that soft thatch as he would a kitten. The sound she made was not much different from the little mew that a kitten would make as she arched under his touch.

     “You are wet,” Hades observed as his fingers slid further south, feeling the slickness that seeped from her most intimate area. He glanced down for a moment, seeing her inner lips part as he slid a finger inside.

     “So I am.” Persephone smiled faintly. When he wiggled his finger, she squirmed around. She was so beautiful, he mused. Even more so than Aphrodite. And oh how badly he wanted her! It was almost a miracle that her virginity was still intact. He knew that any other god would not have let such a thing go unremedied for too long.

     There was a blush on her cheeks which made her appear rather maidenly, and he smiled at that. It added a nice touch to the subtle glow she already radiated.

     On the surface, he had spent enough time watching her play and frolic, whether alone, under the watchful eye of her mother, or with the nymphs. She had been a beautiful girl, but stifled by her mother. And now, having been finally able to grow into the woman she was had given a subtle new dimension to her Gift. Her glow wasn't obvious – her skin didn't radiate light like Apollo's own often did – but it was something Hades could not ignore. Her radiance shone from deep within, refreshing and soothing. Demeter's Gift had a similar dimension, but her daughter's own glow was unique in a way that the Lord of the Dead was unable to define. At least, not yet. But one thing was clear – that soft radiance comforted him because she glowed whenever she was happy or content, like right now.

     When he nudged her knees apart further, she offered no resistance, spreading herself open. His manhood throbbed afresh at the sight of Persephone lying there invitingly, one arm behind her head

     “And what are you going to do?” she asked as she felt his other hand stroke her inner thigh.

     “I have not decided yet,” Hades replied, lowering his head as he spoke so she could feel his warm breath on her womanhood.

     “Do not take too long.” she responded impatiently, wiggling around as she felt his hot breath. So that's where he was! She could envision him positioned between her legs, just as he had done several times before. She squinted, hoping to see some sort of outline or hint of his body, but he truly was invisible. Not even the slightest glimmer or distortion of the air betrayed his appearance, though the feel of his hands were clear enough evidence of his proximity.

     “I shall not.”

     “Good.” She heard his soft chuckle before he slid in another finger. Even now, after what they had shared, she still found herself surprised at times at the pleasure she felt, or that intimate pleasure existed outside of intercourse. Before she had been carried off by this handsome, dark – and at the moment, unseen – god, she would have never imagined that a man wiggling his fingers into her would excite her so much.

     “Hades...” She arched as he pressed his thumb against the hood that concealed her aching bud from his view. He continued his ministrations, coaxing her clit from its hiding place and leaning his head down to flick his tongue over it. Persephone hissed softly in shocked delight, digging her fingers into the sand. He was so gifted with his mouth and tongue... such pleasure promised her even more for when she gave herself to him. What would it be like to be
filled
by him? To have him take her into his arms and make her
his?
Such a thought was thrilling and terrifying.

     Her imaginings of future pleasure was interrupted by the ones found in the present as she felt him lap more enthusiastically at her sensitive bud, sending white-hot frissons of joy through her body.

     As he proceeded with his tongue and fingers, her breathing became more erratic as she tried to not buckle around so much. Hades glanced up, seeing the flush of ecstasy on her cheeks. Her left hand rose into the air before it reached forward, finally finding the top of his head after several exploratory grasps in the air. He smiled to himself and continued uninterrupted, savoring the taste of her inner flesh.

     Persephone groaned softly as Hades increased her pace, gasping and crying out encouragingly. It felt almost as of her loins were on fire, sending warm tendrils of heated sensation through her body. She threw her head back, issuing a gasp as she felt Hades push her over the edge, surging into the abyss of orgasmic bliss.

     She lay there, trembling slightly as Hades lapped up the reward of her ecstasy. He continued to lick and finger her at a steady, gentle rhythm, sending shivers of post-orgasmic tremors through her flesh.

     “Aidon,” she sighed, stroking his head, feeling his thick, long hair under her palm.

     “Seph...” he replied almost unconsciously as he nuzzled her inner thigh. Persephone's head lolled back as he drew his fingers out of her and she considered what he had just called her. It was a nice shortened name. Aidoneus and Persephone. Aidon and Seph. That thought suffused her with such a warm glow of satisfaction.

     She felt his head lift under her hand as he sat up, grasping her wrist and kissing the back of her hand. It remained aloft in the air as several more kisses were placed upon it before he lowered it to her stomach.

     “Now that you have had your fun, will you let me see you?” she asked.

     “Why? You are having fun with this.”

     “Maybe.” She grinned. It had been interesting to reach for him, trying to identify what she was touching or find the correct area of his body. She reached out again and his hand threaded her fingers before she felt him change position, lifting her leg and shifting so that he now sat next to her. He lowered her leg and she felt hands grasp her sides, pulling her up into his lap. She had but to lift her hand and there his chest was, his heartbeat under her hand. Reaching up, she felt his shoulder and a thick lock of his hair. Further up her fingers explored, tracing along the circle of his beard and detecting a faint smile on his curving lips. His arms held her in a comforting embrace, and her hand traveled back down. Her fingers slid down the smooth muscles of his chest, noting the faint but defined ridge of his abs. She grazed over his treasure trail before grasping him around the base of his manhood, feeling its hard thickness.

     The Goddess gave it a gentle but purposeful squeeze before her hand slid up the shaft, feeling his embrace tighten slightly. Again, she thought of coupling with him. Even though he had just pleasured her, her womanhood ached afresh. If she could just lower herself onto him and fulfill her innermost fantasy...

    
Not yet
. She was having a good time, but now wasn't the time for that. As much as she wanted to...

     “I... I want you and I should not. You are so wonderful.” Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “I enjoy being with you and being here in Dis... This is such an incredible place. I will never be the same person again.”

     “Oh, but you are. You are the woman I fell in love with. You have just learned a lot of new things and had wondrous experiences and given the chance to become the Goddess you are. I know you enjoy it here, and I am glad you do,” he said as he stroked her cheek.

     “When you... were tasting me, I thought of what it would be like if... we had intercourse. It excites me, but it also scares me.”

     “There is no reason to be afraid. You should know better.” He placed a light kiss on her brow, his tone without the slightest note of reproach, yet she could not help but feel just a bit guilty and annoyed, much in the same way she felt when he offered her food. She looked away, still blushing.

     “Everything I offer to you wholeheartedly. You are Queen of my kingdom and my heart.” His embrace tightened, drawing her against his chest.

     “I know that, Aidon... You know that I still wish to return to the surface world... but I would be happy to come back here so long as you are my host. Truly, I would be happy to be your guest.” She looked up at him hopefully.

     “I will not be a mere host,” Hades replied, his voice calm and stern. “I will not have you as my guest, but my bride and lover. I do not take half-measures.”

     Persephone lowered her head, her thick hair obscuring much of her face from his view. Why did it matter to him that she eat the food or not? He knew she enjoyed his company, and she was honestly willing to come back here and be with him. Couldn't he make that compromise, if he cared for her so much? It was reasonable after the fact that she had been kidnapped!

     “I will not force you into intimacy or to eat my food, but there is no reason you should be afraid. Come now, love. Let us set aside this discussion for later, since we were having such a pleasant time.”

     She was tempted to argue the matter further, but why mar such an enjoyable occasion? What was it Cyane had said? Sometimes if a woman appeared to be especially cooperative, she could charm a man into giving her what she wanted. Hekate had hinted at a similar thing in her bid to try to help the younger Goddess in an attempt to circumvent Hades' order.

     So Persephone relented, nodding slowly. If it took a little more time, so be it.

     “There's a good love.” Despite his words, his tone wasn't patronizing. She heard an edge of relief, and she couldn't help but feel gratified at that fact.

     His hand slid down to cover hers, stroking it. His lips pressed against her forehead before he whispered her name, thrusting his hips upward, reminding her of just what they had been doing before their momentary interlude. Her hand slid downward, gently cupping his sac, feeling no small thrill of satisfaction as she felt its warm, comfortable weight in her hand. She was familiar enough to be able to navigate comfortably around his unseen body, and his small sounds of pleasure told her just how comfortably familiar with him she had become. As she stroked and massaged him, his hands roved along her body in a lazy manner as he held her close.

     When his lips closed on hers, she forgot their argument and let herself become lost in Hades' desire and affection for her.

Chapter XXVII

o0o

     For once in his life, Hermes was unsure of where he might continue his search, since there had been no hints or even the slightest sign or premonition that might aid his quest. There had been absolutely no clues on Kora's whereabouts, and the nymphs had been no more helpful to him than they had been for Demeter. Kora had been there one day, gone the next. He had been searching for over a week now ever since Zeus bade him to aid Demeter in the search of her missing child.

     Hermes was a mischievous and energetic individual, but he was not a cruel or malicious person. Had he known that Ares would attempt to rape Kora, there would have been a better chance of him keeping his mouth shut about the discovery of the daughter of the Harvest Goddess. It wouldn't be the first time that Ares had been a brute, but the God of War certainly hadn't counted on his attempted conquest's mother to be a powerful Goddess. And now, to see that Kora was gone!

     Ares had been the first suspect to Hermes – and the most obvious. But after going to his brother and asking subtle questions – not to mention some snooping around – he had to conclude that his brutish brother had nothing to do with Kora's disappearance. Ares simply did not have the intelligence to keep Kora concealed from her mother's magic. That aside, the God of War was a terrible liar.

     Hermes had gone to several other gods and in his own way – eavesdropping, investigating, or engaging his interrogates with well-placed questions – divulged the fact that none of them had anything to do with Kora's disappearance. Now the quick-footed god had eliminated all of the most obvious suspects from his list. He was determined to do his best and if he wasn't able to bring her back, at least he would know where she was. He did feel somewhat guilty for her disappearance; she was a sweet girl who hadn't deserved to be attacked by Ares or kidnapped by... whoever.

     He had to admit, he was glad to have been given a mystery to solve, having been bored for a while now. He certainly liked cracking them open like nuts to discover whatever secrets might lay within, and knew that he wasn't the only one anxious to find out Kora's whereabouts. Whenever he came to Demeter with his reports he always felt guilty when he saw the pain and anguish on her face.

o0o

     The Lord of the Dead glided through Zeus' mansion, a dark presence casting his shadow among the treasures of the elegant domicile.

     “Welcome, welcome!” Zeus greeted him from the divan he was reclining on, gesturing to another one for his elder brother. On the table was set a small feast, but Hades disregarded the meal and the proffered seat. He knew why Zeus wanted to see him, so he would waste no time. Better to be in the Underworld with his love than up here with his brother!

     The Lord of the Underworld cut a majestic figure, wrapped in a black cloak that billowed around him and added dimension to his form. A thin golden crown set with onyx graced his head, and his brooch and wristbands were no less elegant. The King of the Skies hated to admit it, but he had always been impressed – and sometimes even a bit fearful – of Hades. The raven-haired god remained on his feet, staring at Zeus coolly.

     “When I received your summons, I knew what it was for, so I am not going to waste my time with pleasantries.” He sounded impatient, and Zeus could not help but wonder what he was so eager to get back to. The company of Kora, perhaps?

     “I did not know that mind-reading was a Gift,” Zeus replied dryly, but instantly regretted it as he saw Hades scowl. Sometimes the Dark God had absolutely no sense of humor!
Sometimes? Make it more like always
, the pale-haired god noted to himself. Sometimes he could not help but wonder if Hades did indeed have such a Gift. No god in existence had such a Gift, but Zeus wasn't the first to remark on such a possibility, nor would he be the last. The power that would come with such a Gift... he could only imagine the disaster that would happen if Aphrodite was able to read the minds of all her lovers – or her detractors, for that matter – or Hermes, since he was already nosy and mischievous enough as it was! Or a number of other Gods. It was better that
that
kind of Gift did not exist.

     “I assure you, your daughter is safe,” Hades finally replied after several moments of uncomfortable silence – the Dark One seemed to enjoy these – as he glanced at his brother evenly.

     “Very well then,” Zeus swallowed. That Kora was safe, he trusted his brother for that. “But is she happy?”

     “Funny you ask that when you did not even think to grant her the courtesy of notifying her of her betrothal.”

     Zeus stared for several moments as his brother smirked at him coldly.

     “I would think that my guarantee of her safety and well-being would satisfy you. Do you think I would go back on my word? Are you so mistrusting of your own brother?”

     Again, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Inwardly, Hades relished his brother's discomfort. Was Persephone happy? She had made no demands to leave the Underworld for a while, and he hadn't put food before her in the same span of time. This unspoken truce suited them both extremely well.

     Bit by bit she was exploring the Underworld and learning about her new domain. Soon enough, she would be ready to sit beside him as his Queen. His craftsmen had already created a splendid throne for her. Zeus' question was simple enough, but there was no pleasure in responding with a mere 'Yes'.

     “You live in a realm that is far different than the other gods. I have seen that place.”

     “Quite a few times,” Hades shot back. With all the children Zeus had – and that was just counting the divine offspring – that was a good number of trips to the Fates, to ensure that the vicious cycle that his grandfather and father had been trapped in would not ensnare him as well. But Zeus kept his trips as short as possible, so he knew nothing of the fun locations of the Underworld, of course.

     “It is a place that even the gods fear., and for good reason. Kora's just a... little girl!”

    
Little girl, you say?
Hades sneered inwardly. The image of a fully-grown and curvaceous Persephone, her cheeks rosy from the pleasure he gave her was still enticingly fresh in his mind. Already he missed the feel of her body snuggled up against his. What would Zeus and Demeter say if they could see their daughter right now, clad in rich velvet and silks and adorned in jewels, though the finest of fabrics and the rarest of gems paled before her beauty?

     “You do not give your daughter enough credit,” the Lord of the Dead replied, waving his arm in a dismissive gesture. “But then, have you ever really known her? As it is, I am a far better judge of what she needs.”

     “Can you not answer my question without going off on a different tangent?”

     “No.”
Because it amuses me
, Hades thought dryly. He had told Persephone that Zeus was not without his faults, and that was the truth. Of his faults, there were
plenty
to be had. Zeus might rule Olympus with a firm hand and do his best to arbitrate the various conflicts within his family, but Hades had no respect whatsoever for his brother on a personal level.

     The Lord of the Dead was a reserved man, but he wasn't above sending a barb someone's way or teasing them if he felt it was warranted.

     “Is she happy?” Zeus asked, trying to not sound too insistent. Demeter was going to find out eventually, and her anger might be mollified if she knew that her daughter was at least safe and happy.

     “You should have thought about that before.” Hades felt smug as he saw Zeus' face redden almost imperceptibly. Being the King of the Gods, Zeus was most certainly not tolerant of having his authority questioned, or his questions evaded.

     “You're the one who kidnapped her!” Zeus replied quickly, all too eager to shift blame.

     “And how many women have you carried off? How many lives were changed forever – and not always for the better – because of you?”

     Damn. I walked right into that.
The King of the Gods glanced off for a moment, as if he suddenly found the mural behind Hades immensely fascinating. As the patriarch of the clan, he was responsible for making wise decisions. Usually he did a good job, but the same couldn't be said about his personal life. How did Hades know so much? When his older brother had asked for Kora, Zeus had been too surprised at the request to ask the Dark God just how the hell he knew about the Goddess of Spring's paternity.

     As Hades stood there, he studied the plethora of emotions he saw in his sibling's eyes. He was no mind-reader, but he had learned to read the subtle nuances of people's facial expressions and posture. He knew Zeus was uncomfortable.
Good.

     “What of Demeter?” Hades asked. He could hardly blame his sister for wanting to keep her daughter protected. Of course, Persephone was safe right where she was, but he knew that the Harvest Goddess would not see it that way.

     “She came to me a while ago.”

     “And I suppose you turned on your usual charm,” Hades replied snidely.

     “I put Hermes in her service.”

     “Hmm.” Not a bad decision. It would provide a distraction, at least for a while.

     “How long should this go on?” Zeus asked with a soft sigh. His brother shrugged.

     “Not indefinitely, of course, that would be just wrong. But if Ares hadn't...”

     “I know.” The King of the Gods shook his head with disappointment. Even now, he still felt deeply ashamed of what Ares had attempted to do. The God of War had been taught a very difficult lesson, and still had to endure it. Normally, Zeus would vehemently disagree with tampering with a man's virility – he shuddered at the thought of not being able to enjoy something that he had taken for granted since puberty.

     His son was the most brutish god he had ever encountered. If anything, Ares was more like his grandsire than his own father, though conquest of Olympus was not on the God of War's mind. Ares enjoyed fighting too much, and would never be able to sit through long meetings, make regular rounds among the family, or act as a peaceful – though sometimes firmness was called for – arbitrator. Patience wasn't the only thing Ares lacked – intelligence had never been his strong suit. Since childhood, he expressed a marked dislike for intellectual pursuits and listening to issues being discussed, and loathed debates.

     Hades gave a brief nod. Zeus had tried his best to rein in his son's violent behavior, and usually succeeded.
Usually
being the key word here. He knew that his brother was genuinely embarrassed and angry over what Ares had done. So there was nothing more to be said about that particular subject.

     But there was still Demeter to consider. He could throw Zeus in the line of fire by saying that the King of the Gods was the one who had granted Persephone's hand in marriage, and let his brother take the brunt of their sister's wrath. But Zeus would just turn around and say that Hades had been the one responsible for the actual kidnapping.

     “Perhaps, if you were to go to her and say that you... found or even
rescued
Kora and that she is safe in your custody...” the younger god suggested.

    
Hades looked at his brother thoughtfully.
Yes. Not a bad idea
. Demeter would be so relieved to know that her daughter was safe. But the Goddess would inevitably demand her daughter back. And Hades could only imagine how smothering she might be then. He loved his sister, but he loved Persephone more.

     There was no easy solution to this dilemma. Hades shook his head slowly in thought.

     “That is a fine suggestion. Nonetheless, she will want her daughter back,” he replied. Zeus shrugged helplessly.

     “I was trying to help,” Zeus replied petulantly. The other god had to bite back a smirk.

     “I know,” Hades replied in an amicable tone. “That actually is not a bad idea, but I need to think on this some more. Our sister is a force to be reckoned with, and I will not give up my bride.”

     “I did not think you would.”

     This time, Hades let a smirk grow on his face. “Good.”

     “So... what does Kora think of you?” Zeus asked in a tentative tone.

     “You care what she thinks of me? Why not ask her yourself?”

     “Bring her up here for a meeting, then.”

     “No.” He narrowed his eyes. She hadn't yet eaten his food. She wanted something, well,
he
wanted something, too.

     “Is there a problem?”

     “It is none of your concern.”

     “Yet you do not wish for her to come up here.”

     “I have my reasons.”

     “What reasons might these be?” Why wouldn't Hades want Kora to come up here? Was he hiding something? Had Zeus' concerns for his daughter proved to be well-founded?

     Hades did not miss the suspicion in his brother's eyes, and decided to address the issue directly.

     “I promised you before that she would be safe and cared for. And she is. I will say one thing – Demeter and Iasion raised her well. She is a delightful companion who finds peace in the Underworld. I have made the correct decision regarding my Queen. But it is not time for her to go to the surface world.”