Her Forever

Gwen’s POV

Hades had work to do in his large office. I didn’t get a great look the last time I was in there because of my nerves. Now that the truth has come out about him being the actual Hades and the weird statues, paintings, and a mansion that had no other homes for miles gave me a little room to breathe.

I knew something different about this place; I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

The walls were lined with an enormous amount of books. On one section, there was nothing but scrolls piled on top of each other in neat piles. The papers looked old and could have been original copies of some famous texts. As I trailed my finger deeper down the bookshelves, I caught a glimpse of books varying in sizes about different animals and species. Most of them were animals I had never heard of, Silent Tarsiers, Abysinian-Bat, Zorse-Ram, Wilk Markhor, and Snow Faerie Fox. I was about to learn more about the Faerie fox when my eye caught another book, werewolves.

That name piqued my interest more, so I grabbed it and limped over to the couch. Hades was nose deep in an e-mail, wearing some reading glasses absorbing the light from the screen. How could anyone be so scared of him? He doesn’t scare me at all, and to think I was, in the beginning, was stupid. Of course, at the time, he was kind of grouchy and angry all the time.

Hades didn’t shave this morning; he had a bit of dark stubble that he continually scratched while reading. On occasion, he would write a few notes on paper and move his mouth to the side while he thought. He was devilishly handsome, even if he wouldn’t switch back to his proper form often.

Everyone showed me what they looked like last night, yet he didn’t offer to show his. I barely got a glimpse of him when he saved me from the incubus house. Does he not like his own form? My continuous stare alerted Hades as he looked up through his glasses. He gave me a toothy grin while I blushed down to my neck.

“What do you have there? Something to read?” His voice was amused as I flipped through the pages.

“Yeah, I saw this book on werewolves. I guess I didn’t realize that since you are real, all these other species were real too, so I wanted to look.” My eyes glanced back at Hades; he was staring at me intently. The thought ran through my mind again of the steamy k**s we shared a few days ago in that very chair. I longed to do it again. Was it because of that bond we have for each other?

I felt my heart flip as he stood up and walked to the couch next to me, and sat down. “Werewolves are mighty creatures. I’ve worked with them several times. They aren’t as strong as gods, but they are certainly resourceful and can put up with quite a fight. I feel they are stronger than vampires and witches, to be honest.” Hades flipped the page open, showing a female and the different stages of their transformation.

“When do you have to interact with werewolves? I thought you stay down here mostly?” Hades let out a large sigh and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger. His head laid back on the couch as he closed the book.

“There will be a time I need to explain some mistakes that I have made. I just fear you wouldn’t want to be with me once I told you.” My heart pained to see him have this internal battle with himself; he’s kept it locked up for so long.

Hades has rescued me twice in my life; if there was one thing he did wrong that he regrets, then I think I owe him that much. Besides, it was before me anyway; he’s lived for so long he would have to have a ton of mistakes.

“You can tell me. I won’t leave you,” I whispered as I ran my fingers through his hair. “Everyone makes mistakes; it is just best we learn from them, right?” He let out a little scoff as he pulled his head back from the couch.

“I’ll tell you, but let’s take a field trip first. I know you are dying to get outside.” I felt my face light up as I stood up to walk out the door. He caught my hand pulled me to his lap.

“I can walk a bit more now,” I protested, but he put his finger to my lips.

“I know, but where we are going, you can’t walk there. Now, wrap your arms around my neck.” Obeying reluctantly, I did what I was told, feeling the sparks travel up my arms as they rubbed his neck. Our faces were close, nose to nose. His smores’ and campfire smell filled me as his lips brushed mine.

Closing our eyes, our lips met, and immediately sparks flew. I felt tremendous air rush around us as his arms encased my body in his. My hair whipped around us as it danced with the wind. My one hand slid down from around his neck and touched his cheek. I wanted to feel as much surface area I could; the pure pleasure at my fingertips had me going insane.

The k**s had become heated as Hades’ hand trailed down to my rear, gently cupping and squeezing. A small whimper left my lips as I fisted his shirt. G****s left his throat as he sucked my bottom l*p. Pulling back, still feeling his hot lips on mine, I took a breath.

“Wow, I don’t think I will get used to that,” I breathed, looking into his eyes.

“It gets better, trust me,” he smirked as he pulled away. My face was going to be a permanent shade of red.

Crickets singing caught my attention as I looked at our surroundings. We were in the middle of a forest, sitting on a large blanket with a lantern in the middle. A small basket of food sat beside us. The god is going to make me fat, I just stinkin’ ate.

He’s super sweet, though, my big evil devil.

“This place,… it’s beautiful.” Hades held on to me as I looked at our surroundings. We were on top of a mountain right at the cliff. Large trees were behind us and a bright open sky in front. The stars twinkled in the sky as I smelled the fresh air. It felt clean, full of pine. A smell that reminded me of the man in my dream. Could it be real? If I am Parisa in real life, then he would be my father?

“Everything alright? I thought I lost you there,” Hades pet my cheeks as I cuddled closer. The air was fantastic as the wind gently blew by.

“I’m just speechless; it’s so beautiful. This isn’t the underworld anymore, is it?”

“It’s not, but I could create something like this for you. I’ll create anything you wish.” His words fell out of his mouth like a velvet ribbon, entrapping me with his soft words. Hades lifted my hand from my lap and brushed his lips across my knuckles. “Anything at all.”

“As long as you are there, that is all I need,” I smiled back at him. Forgetting the whole field trip, I shuffled myself more comfortably in his arms as we began to k**s again until he held his head back to shake.

“What’s wrong?” I asked worriedly. Hades put a hand up to his temple with his eyes closed. Growling, he let out a frustrated sigh.

“A powerful coven is trying to contact me. They will keep pestering me until I answer.”

“Well, go answer them. Don’t be rude!” I chided as I let him sit away from me. Hades set me down on the blanket, covering me with another as he scooted the basket over for me to eat.

“Stay out of view; I don’t want them to see you,” I nodded my head, half paying attention as I looked for any chocolate at the bottom of the basket.

“Hades we call upon you-,” a bright orb shown in front of Hades that had a picture of a woman on the front. She looked worried as she and several other women around her were chanting.

“What is it?” Hades snapped as he continued to rub his temples. The woman stared at him, almost shocked that it worked.

“My Lord, thank you for answering us; it has been many years-“

“Yes, Bodhi, I know. Now get on with it.” Hades waved his hand, but I put mine on his knee and gave him a calming look. He has got to get his anger under control around other people. His eyes softened, and he even gave a smile to me.

“The Lord is smiling,” a witch spoke to Bohdi’s left. Hades’ smile faded, and the scornful one returned.

“What is it you called me for?”

“My Lord, the ward you have placed on the Night Crawler Pack, has been weakened for many years. This is the first time we’ve been able to reach you.” Hades’ eyes rose in question. “We tried contacting you for some ten or so years ago but not once you answered.”

“I’ve never received a summons from you in all this time. This is the first. Are you sure you practiced the spell correctly?”

“Yes, My Lord. We have done it every year around this time for your help.” Hades rubbed his stubble on his chin.

“Something is amiss,” he stated. “I will talk to Hestia and come by the Night Crawler pack in one week. Is Storm still the Alpha?” Bohdi nodded as she began to look around the orb.

“What is it?” Hades snapped again, more harshly. His eyes glowed, and his fist tightened.

“Hades,” I cooed at him. I put my hand to his cheek as he forgot about Bohdi staring at him from the orb. I made sure to keep my face away as he held he had to keep my own next to him.

“Goddess, he found his mate,” Bohdi whispered as the witches all talked excitedly. Hades glared at the orb.

“One week, Bodhi. Let them know,” and Hades waved his hand as the orb vanished.

I had more questions after his talk with this sorceress named Bohdi and about the werewolf group, but I knew not to ask with the mood he was in. Hades had been really working hard all day today on something. The few pieces of information I could hear him talking to Niko about were about someone named Selene, missing and Hermes having trouble coming back.

Knowing that Hermes is a messenger god, he must have a busy job running around gathering information. I hope he comes back soon. I was really enjoying having all the men in my life; they made it fun and exciting. The male servants not so much; they dared not to look at me, let alone breathe or talk. It was tough to ask for things when all they did was nod and shake their head.

“Hades? Why don’t the servants talk to me? Why aren’t there any women either?” Hades stiffened as he took a sip of his wine. Cleaning his throat, he put down the glass as we witnessed a shooting star overhead.

“I kicked out all of the female servants and maids after that incident the first day you were here,” he said, pulling his collar.

Ohhhhhhhh snap. That was the day the woman was basically taking off her clothes in front of him. Gah, that w***e. I squinted my eyes and folded my arms. I had forgotten that little detail.

“Good choice; they seemed slutty.” Hades gave a glorious laugh. “I mean, her boobs were practically falling out of her top, to begin with. You didn’t sleep with her, did you?” Hades’ face became stern.

“I don’t fraternize with the help, angel. I won’t lie, I did have an uh, harem, so to speak.” I gasped and slapped his shoulder.

“And you knew you were going to have a mate?” My voice flew a few octaves higher. “How dare you!” I stood up to look over the cliff. “I know I wasn’t around, and you may have relationships, but basically, having a bunch of concubines at your disposal is rather terrible!”

“Angel,” he pleaded, trying to wrap his arms around me.

“You better get checked for diseases; I’ve seen things; I know what kind of yucky stuff you can get,” I waved my finger in his face. “I never thought I would get so mad at you!”

Hades’ face grew miserable. I swore I saw his eyes water, but I held firm. He went down to his knees and wrapped his arms around me, his head in my stomach as I let out a little grunt from the pressure.

“My angel, I am so sorry. I am full of mistakes.” I could barely hear his voice as he spoke into my torso. The vibrations made me want to giggle, but I held back. I was flippin’ angry!

“They meant nothing to me, as terrible as it sounds. They didn’t. They were gifts from other gods and supernaturals, and I didn’t even touch hardly any of them. I swear this to you, Angel.” His grip grew tighter, and my resolve grew weaker.

“The last time I even touched a woman was 3000 years ago, right before I met Persephone, and even then, she wouldn’t let me touch her.”

“Smart woman,” I spat. “But thanks for being honest. I guess I can’t fault you if it has been so long. Maybe all those diseases washed out of your system by now,” I half-joked. “Maybe that’s why you have been crabby for so long because you haven’t gotten laid,” I snickered.

Hades whipped his head up to look up at me, arms still wrapped around my torso. “You have been talking to Ares too much.”

“What about the male servants? Why won’t they talk to me?” I raised a brow.

“Because no one talks or touches what is mine.”