CHAPTER 99: SOFT KISSES

Special Thanks To Jennifer_Goliah For The Gift

He didn’t understand the strange pull in his chest, the quiet, aching throb beneath his ribs that refused to ease. His eyes stayed on her far longer than they should have, locked in a silent war between longing and restraint. Finally, Hades blinked, tearing his gaze away and severing the invisible thread that bound him to her sleeping form.

He inhaled slowly, grounding himself.

With careful motions, he changed into more comfortable clothing, his mind still haunted by the vision of her lying in his bed. The thought of slipping under the covers beside her—of feeling her warmth mere inches away—tempted him more than he was willing to admit. But he dismissed it with a shake of his head.

Sleeping next to her would be agony. And he didn’t have the strength for that tonight.

Instead, he made his way to the cushioned couch, a furniture that had never been meant to hold a body as tall as his. He lay down awkwardly, limbs crammed, one arm folded beneath his head and the other resting over his stomach. The crackle of the fire across the room cast shadows on the ceiling, flickering with each pop of embers. Hades watched the dance of light for a long time before finally, sleep pulled him under.

~~~

A soft yawn escaped her lips as Lilith’s eyes fluttered open, adjusting slowly to her surroundings. For a moment, she simply lay there, the warmth of the blankets cocooning her.

Then her brows furrowed.

The sky outside the parted curtains was still cloaked in darkness. Confused, she turned her gaze to the clock across the room—it read 9:00 a.m.

She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Pulling the blankets aside, she let her feet touch the floor, stretching as she stood. The room was quiet, save for the fire’s gentle hiss and pop. Curious, she walked to the window and tugged the curtains aside fully. When she opened the glass, a sharp gust of icy wind swept in, biting at her skin and forcing her to shut it again quickly.

Outside, thick clouds hung low in the sky. Snow blanketed the grounds like a heavy shroud—far thicker than the day before. This, she realized, must be the period Viktor had told her about.

Shivering slightly, Lilith rubbed her arms for warmth and turned to head back to bed—only to freeze when her eyes landed on the couch.

There, stretched awkwardly and far too large for the small seat, was Hades. His legs hung off the edge, one arm resting over his chest. His face was partially hidden beneath the tousled strands of his dark hair, his expression was calm.

Lilith blinked, heart squeezing in her chest. Why hadn’t he taken the bed? She had made space for him.

Slowly, almost cautiously, she moved toward him. Guilt pinched at her. She reached out, gently touching his arm to wake him.

The moment her fingers brushed his skin, his eyes snapped open.

In a flash, she was no longer standing.

She was pressed flush against the length of his body, her chest rising and falling rapidly with each panicked breath. One of her hands rested on his chest, while the other was trapped in his grasp—his fingers firm around her wrist. Her body trembled against his, the silk of her nightdress the only barrier between her and the heat of his touch.

His hand was on her lower back, large and warm, holding her there.

Lilith’s eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat. Her heart thundered violently in her chest, her cheeks a furious red.

Hades stared down at her, his eyes dark, half-lidded with sleep and something else.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice rough and husky from sleep, laced with something deeper.

Lilith blinked rapidly, words scattering in her mind like startled birds.

"I... Oh gods. I’m sorry," she managed, voice breathless. "I didn’t mean to—"

She tried to lift herself off him, but his grip on her wrist tightened slightly. And then, he pulled her back down.

"What did I tell you about touching me while I’m asleep, huh, darling?" he asked, his tone more amused than irritated.

"I... I..." Lilith swallowed hard, flustered. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I was only concerned—you looked uncomfortable on the couch. I thought you might want to rest properly... on the bed."

Her breath caught when his eyes trailed from her lips, down the line of her neck, and back to her face. The heat of his gaze sent her heart into a frenzy.

"Well, you’re right about one thing," Hades murmured with a low chuckle. "The couch was fucking uncomfortable. I can hardly feel my neck."

The vibration of his laughter against her body made a shiver ripple down her spine.

"I’m sorry about that," she said softly. "You can take the bed for a few more hours... if you’d like."

She tried to keep her tone calm, ignoring how acutely aware she was of the way his body felt beneath hers—firm, warm, and far too enticing.

"You’re right," he said simply, releasing her wrist.

Lilith quickly stood and stepped away, smoothing down her nightdress as she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ears. "I’ll fix the bed for you."

She turned to the bed and busied herself adjusting the sheets and fluffing the pillows. It was easier to focus on the small, menial task than on the pounding of her heart.

Once satisfied, she turned back toward the couch to call him—but nearly jumped when she found him standing behind her, far closer than expected.

"Gods," she whispered, blinking up at him. She hadn’t even heard him move.

Now she noticed he was wearing a robe—untied—and the sight of his bare chest was impossible to ignore. Her eyes, traitorous, followed the defined line of his torso, all the way to the V-shaped dip just above his waist.

"You’re enjoying the view, darling?" he teased, a slow smirk curving his lips.

Lilith snapped her gaze away, cheeks burning. "I—I thought I saw an insect on your robe," she lied poorly.

He chuckled, clearly not buying it.

Then, without warning, he stepped forward, slipped an arm around her waist, and pulled her onto the bed with him.

"Your Highness!" she gasped as they landed on the mattress. "What are you doing?"

"Going back to sleep," he replied matter-of-factly, one brow arched. "I thought it was obvious."

"I don’t want to sleep. I just woke up," she protested, heart thudding wildly.

"You can always go back to sleep," he said, his voice soft, as he adjusted his position and gently pulled her closer, his arm resting around her waist.

Lilith sighed and lay back stiffly, avoiding his gaze, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She could feel the heat of his body beside her, his fingers brushing lightly through strands of her hair, sending a strange comfort through her.

"You’re not even trying to sleep," she whispered after a moment.

"Don’t rush me," he murmured, his tone playful. "i am taking my glorious time."

His hand found hers beneath the blanket, fingers intertwining before he slowly brought her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss to each of her fingers, lingering at her palm, then turned her hand and brushed his lips across the back of it.

Lilith felt her breath hitch at the intimacy of the action.

Lilith felt a swarm of butterflies stir in her stomach at his touch. Slowly, she turned her head to look at him, and her body responded instantly to the weight of his gaze—the intensity, the restrained emotion hidden in his eyes.

His eyes dropped to her lips, and she watched the subtle movement of his throat as he swallowed. His hand brushed over hers, then rose to gently trace her cheek before slipping into her hair, his fingers curling around the strands. He lifted himself slightly, leaning in.

Lilith closed her eyes, bracing herself for the warmth of his lips on hers—but instead, they met her jaw. She opened her eyes to find him pressing soft, lingering kisses there, his eyes closed.

Then, his grip in her hair tightened just enough to tilt her head, exposing her neck. His mouth traveled lower, trailing a line of fire along her skin until he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Lilith’s breath hitched. Her chest rose and fell more quickly, lips parted as all thoughts faded—leaving only the feel of his mouth, the heat of his body, and the burning ache in her veins.

A gasp slipped from her lips when his tongue traced a path across her skin, followed by the sharp nip of his teeth. Her hands clutched at his shoulders instinctively, one sliding into his hair to keep him close as a mix of pain and pleasure coursed through her.

His other hand slid to her thigh, fingers moving in slow, deliberate caresses. He kneaded the soft flesh with a tenderness that contrasted the fire of his mouth. As he sucked on the spot he’d bitten, a moan escaped Lilith—soft and breathy, but potent enough to send a shiver through him.

The sound ignited something primal in Hades. His grip on her thigh tightened, desire surging through his veins.

His lips drifted lower, brushing over her shoulder blade, and for a dangerous second he hovered there. Gods, he was tempted to taste more of her, to claim the curve of her breast and everything that followed. But he couldn’t, he would lose his mind and throw it all out the window.

He lifted his head and looked at her. Her eyes were half-lidded with need, her lips parted, her skin flushed, she was just as lost as he was.

"We should sleep," he said hoarsely, though his voice lacked conviction. Every part of him screamed against the words. Sleep was the last thing he wanted. He wanted her—desperately, wildly. He wanted her writhing beneath him, screaming his name until she lost her voice and marking his skin with her nails until all reason left them both.

Lilith swallowed, chest still heaving. She gave a small nod, then turned her head and closed her eyes, willing her breath to steady, her body to calm.

After a long while, her breathing slowed—gentle and even. Sleep had finally claimed her.

But Hades lay awake, eyes locked on the ceiling, his thoughts a tangled mess with a throbbing cock that was going to explode soon if he didn’t do something about it.

He let out a long, controlled breath.

Fuck.