Chapter Six

“The master is waiting.” Persephone let her hair down and walks inside the bathroom.

“How many flowers did you get in my hair?” Hades complains as he plucks at them one by one floating in water.

“Here, let me.” She replays slipping inside the warm liquid. Hades lowers himself so she can reach the top of his head, half of his face inside the water.

She clears his waves from the rest of the flowers and carefully caresses them before telling him she is done.

“This time I didn’t have to beg you.”

“I owed you this time.” She explains as she pours oil on her ends massaging it.

Hades slides the bottle away from her fingers and starts to cuddle her head with his long fingers.

“So… Now that you owe me,” He mocks her and she doesn’t replay.” What can I ask you to do?”

“Anything worth a life.” He likes that she has an answer for everything he says.

“Can I also do things, without asking?” he queries as his tips fall on her robe, gently stripping it off her back. He tugs her hair on one side and slowly leans in to kiss her neck.

“Can I bride your hair?” she changes the subject turning to face him. Her flushed skin makes it hard for him to resist. He sets her on the border of the pool and puts himself in front of her. His vigorous palms placed on each of her thighs.

“Suit yourself.” She senses him completely melt under her touch. She unravels her fingers through his raven hair as she begins to wave his long mane in a tight braid.

“Oh Persephone.” He exhales once she finishes and places a tiny kiss on her left knee before dragging her back in with him.

“Done?” he taunts her and she smiles.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He is so handsome tonight, with his hair fixed and his shiny eyes pointed into hers, that she swears her heart skips some beats.

His nose softly numb into hers whilst, a little peck placed on her mouth. Just one, to leave her hanging, craving for him.

Not that he knows she is slowly starting to be win over by his gracious ways.

“I don’t ever want to see you cry.” He complains and presses his finger to hush her. “It hurts me. I won’t allow my heart to be broken this easily by a little petulant and irreverent human.” She nods not in the mood to contradict him.

“I although wish you’ll feel about me the same way you feel for strangers.”

Persephone does not answer instead she wraps her arms around his neck hesitantly and rest her head on his chest right under his chin.

“Caress my hair, will you?” she scolds him; her voice is sleepy and tender but he comply as if Zeus himself ordered him. She falls asleep in his arms, so harmless and every other resistance Hades has, goes to hell with him.

He takes her to his room and gently lays her on bed. He stays inside the chair next to her and guards her sleep, not waiting for her to be awaken by any nightmare.

He’ll give her anything she asks, even the Olympus if she only dared to. He would not care about the consequences. Yet he is thankful for her selfless heart. It will help them live happily, hidden from every one of his siblings. All they do is fight and seek for revenge. He, on the other hand, longed for a queen who was kind and would stick to his side for all eternity. He wondered if she could be it and find the answer on her hand: it is slowly moving on the bed sheets looking for something. He lets a finger slip under it and she suddenly squeezed it.

Her hand stops wondering and his soul does too. After all, his heart is sleeping right next to him safe and sound.