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face with the strong, square jaw watched her as if she were the only thing in the entire underworld. She rather liked that intense, devouring gaze. “You have my apologies, then. I did not wish to alarm you.”
    Her chin lifted. He made her sound like a frightened child. “It is not that I did not want to be touched. But if I am to be touched, I would rather…” that it be by you . But the words died in her throat and she added hastily, “That it not be by a… stranger.”
    Those dark eyes watched her for a long moment. “Do you want me to touch you?”
    Yes, she wanted to say, but again, the words died a shy death in her throat. “I don’t know,”
    she said defensively. “You haven’t even kissed me yet. Should we not start with kissing?”
    A hint of a smile touched his grim mouth, and she saw a flash of masculine beauty in his hard, intense face. He sat back down on his throne and gestured at her. “Then come and kiss me.”
    She gave him a wary look.
    “I promise I shall not touch you. I will keep my hands here.” He placed his hands on the arms of the chair, arms that were jeweled lions, she noticed. “You are free to kiss and explore me as you like.”
    Rose considered him. On his throne he was a strong, confident god. And here she was, oily and half-dressed and all too uncertain of herself. But she remembered the sight of him looming over the bed, unable to stop stroking himself as she touched herself in wicked ways.
    And she was suddenly very curious. And aroused.
    She took a step toward him, then another. He continued to watch her with an almost taunting expression, as if questioning her bravery. Rose closed the distance between them and then stood in front of him.
    He adjusted on his throne, his knees shifting, and gave her an expectant look.
    He wanted her to sit on his lap? The thought irritated and titillated her. Why didn’t he assist her with this?
    But he wouldn’t even twitch. That was part of what made him so very safe to play with. And a wicked idea crossed Rose’s mind. She wanted to play very much indeed.
    She let go of the fabric she wore wrapped around her body. It dropped to the floor in a heap, and her naked body was bare before his eyes.
    His hands clenched on the arms of the throne, though his face remained motionless.
    Interesting. She wondered how much she could tease him, feeling the power of her sexuality and enjoying it.
    Rose slicked her hands over her breasts. “Oh dear. I’m a little oily from my massage. Are you sure you want me on you?”
    “Get over here,” he rasped, his knuckles white.
    “I’ll take that as a yes,” she murmured sweetly and stepped closer. She paused in front of him for a moment, as if waiting to see if he’d grab her. When he did not, she placed her hands on his shoulders and climbed into his lap, straddling him and brushing up against him until her breasts were pressed to his chest, her thighs wide over his. His face was inches from her own, and he smelled wonderful—like dark incense and masculine skin.
    Hades turned his face up to hers—dark, intense gaze upon her. “I can feel your heat through my robes.”
    A blush crept over her cheeks. “You asked me to come and sit on you. I sat.”
    His hips rocked and she felt the hard bulge of him press between her thighs, eliciting a gasp from her. “Make no mistake, Persephone,” he said. “I enjoy this very much. I enjoy your new boldness very, very much.”
    New boldness, hmm? Liquid heat was beginning to roll in her lower body. She felt the
    strangest urge to rub up against him, but he wouldn’t hold her close, of course. He’d promised not to touch her. “Shall I kiss you now?”
    “If you like.”
    “If I like?”
    His gaze dropped to her mouth where she’d wet her lips. “You can touch me all over,
    Persephone. Explore me.”
    Explore him? The thought was titillating. She ran a hand tentatively up and down one large arm, testing the muscles under his sleeve. His skin was hot