The Perfect Life - Dionysos' Challenge

9. Lessons Learned

Entering his palace was a quiet affair. Unlike Poseidon, Haides had always gone without the fanfare and pomp of announcements and music. It was neither his style, nor was appropriate for the environment. Perhaps under the sea, it was something that fit in with the brightly colored reefs and ocean creatures, but in the underworld, such displays seemed out of place.

Persephone was grateful. She found entering Poseidon's palace uncomfortable. Calling attention to oneself in such a way seemed so... unnecessary, god or not. Besides, she knew if someone needed her or wanted her attention, all he or she had to do was call her name.

Persephone

Speaking of...

His deep bass voice echoed in her mind, creating such waves of passion down through her spine to her toes. Funny even after so many millennia he could still do that. It's why, when Zeus had tricked her those times, he didn't speak. He couldn't mimic her husband's voice, and it would have broken the spell.

She smoldered slightly at those memories. Haides called to her again, soothing her anger. He could sense her anger, her memories, and wanted to shut them down before they ruined the moments he wanted with his wife. Her breath calmed, her eyes closed, and he emerged from the shadows to caress her bare arms.

Haides

He leaned down to kiss her skin, the barest of touch as his lips traveled from shoulder to shoulder. He felt her shiver and smiled, moving to the nape of her neck. He exhaled, his warm breath caressing her. Persephone leaned back against him, and he wrapped her in his arms, kissing her neck softly, repeatedly.

"Why is my queen so distraught?" he asked, continuing to pepper her neck and shoulders with feather soft kisses.

Oh, how she wished she could share her secret with him. "Rumors, my king." Her voice was breathy as she tried to rein in the feelings he was eliciting with his touch.

Haides nuzzled her neck, his hands traveling from her arms to her sides, running down the silky material of her dress to her hips. Her skin gathered under his lips as he kissed her neck again, sucking gently on her soft skin. "What rumors?"

"Haides..." she groaned quietly. If he continued, the conversation wasn't going to go anywhere. "I've missed you."

He kneaded her hips, pulling her closer to his body and inhaled her scent-a heady mix of mountain tea and thyme. To Tartarus with whatever she was talking about before, he needed his wife. He spun her around and looked down into her dark green eyes. Just like the first day he caught a glimpse of her in the flowered fields, he knew she would be the end of him with those eyes. He would tear the very earth apart for her.

He did...

He cupped her face with one hand and drew her lips to his and kissed her, gently at first. But his hunger crushed her lips beneath his and he lifted her, whisking them to their chambers where the blue fire of the underworld blazed in their hearth. That fire would be rivaled today, and he shivered with anticipation.

* * *

The hearth blazed, the blue firelight casting shadows on the walls of the ruling couple's bedchambers. The bed was in a disheveled state, with the king and queen nestled amidst the plush blankets in the center. Haides held his queen close against his chest, reveling in her exquisite beauty as she slumbered. A knock on the door brought him from his admiration and he pulled the charcoal hued blanket over his queen.

"Who is at my door?" he grumbled.

"Hypnos, my king."

Haides rolled his eyes. Of course, one of them would be at his door. He glanced down at Persephone, still deep in sleep, and would remain if Hypnos were in the room. "Very well, come in."