“Does this mean we’re done?” someone called out from the audience. “Please?”
Hades snorted. “Stay put. I’ll get a sub in here.” He glanced at his watch. “You only have twenty days and three hours left of listening to atrocious porn, and then you can go back to being the perverts you are.” He waved, and they groaned. “See ya.”
“That was kind of cruel,” Cat said as they headed toward the portal that would take them to the house.
“But funny.” He threw his arm around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “So? What’s up? Are you breaking me out of prison for something good?”
“Yup.” They entered the portal, but instead of passing her hand over the symbol that would take them to his place, she took them to Azagoth’s realm. As they stepped out into the receiving room off the kitchen, she explained. “We’re having a picnic.”
He scowled. “Here?”
“Hardly.” Taking his hand, she led him through the mansion and outside to the portal that could whisk them to the human realm. Azagoth had released his restrictions on Hades’s travel, but so far, Hades hadn’t taken advantage of his newfound freedom. It was past time he did.
He kept silent until they arrived at a sunlit meadow surrounded by mountains and looking out over a vast, azure lake. A bald eagle cast a shadow on the water as it flew overhead in search of a meal, and somewhere in the forest, a coyote yipped.
“Crater Lake.” He inhaled the fragrant air, a bouquet of pine and summer wildflowers. “It looks just like the picture.”
She’d done a lot of scouting to find the exact location where the photo had been taken, and Reaver had escorted her to keep her out of danger. Heck, Reaver had even arranged for her parents to meet her here a couple of days ago. They’d been sorry for the way they’d treated her, although her father had still been a little cool. But then, he’d always been a bit stuffy.
They’d been horrified by the thought of their daughter hooking up with the Jailor of Souls, had tried to make her reconsider going back to Heaven, and when she refused, they’d promised an open line of communication. Even her brothers and sisters had agreed to contact her. It was far more than she ever would have hoped for.
“Come on.” Squeezing Hades’s hand, she led him to the bottle of wine and basket of fried chicken, potato salad, and fruit she’d laid out on a red and white checkered blanket. Thanks to Reaver and a little invisibility spell, animals had left everything alone.
Hades sank down on the blanket, extending one leg and propping up the other to rest one arm casually across his knee. He looked absolutely edible like that, more at ease than she’d ever seen him.
“I’ve never been on a picnic before,” he said as he peeked into the basket.
“I know. You told me once.” Kneeling next to him, she poured two glasses of red wine and handed one to him. “My coworkers and I used to do it all the time in Heaven. Everything is so beautiful that it makes you want to be out in nature, enjoying every minute of it.”
His gaze dropped, and even his blue hair managed to look sad. “Do you miss it?” he asked quietly, as if worried about her answer. “You gave up so much to be with me.”
“No,” she said fiercely, reaching over to tip his chin up so she could look him directly in the eyes. “I would have given up far more if I’d gone.”
“I love you, Cat,” he whispered. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I hope you know that I’d do it all over again to be with you. Thousands of years of loneliness was worth every second you’ve been in my life.”
Something caught in her chest. Tears stung her eyes. That was the first time he’d told her he loved her.
“I love you, too,” she rasped. “I can’t believe I ever thought that Sheoul-gra couldn’t be my home. You were right. Home is where the people who want you are.”
“Mmm.” He looked at her from over the rim of his glass, his gaze heating, focusing. Holding her in place.
Very slowly, he set down the glass and shifted so he was on his hands and knees, prowling toward her like a tiger with prey in its sights. Excitement shot through her. Electric, shivery excitement.
“Do you want me?” He pushed her backward, lowering his body over hers.
“Yes,” she hissed as he scraped his fangs over her jugular. “Oh, yes.”
One hand slid beneath her skirt and found her wet and ready. “Then take me home.”
With so much love she thought she might burst, she very happily welcomed him home.
<<<<>>>>
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