Page 18 of Hades

Chapter six

Jenny

I stifled a yawn, unloading a stack of leftovers on the kitchen table. Seeing Bobbie and Psycho so in love had stirred up a whirlwind of memories about my own wedding day with Simon years ago.

The way I trembled from head to toe, but he kept me steady while we said our vows.

When his hand covered mine as we cut into our wedding cake.

The comforting weight of his palm on my lower back, holding me close. As if he couldn’t believe I was his wife, and he needed to reassure himself that I was really there.

“That was a beautiful wedding,” I said with a wistful sigh.

“I knew it would bring out your hopeless romantic side,” Simon replied.

He had Mia tucked under one arm, while she leaned heavily against him, struggling to keep her eyes open. Casey was fast asleep, cradled in Simon’s other arm, with his head resting on Simon’s shoulder.

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. Navigating the divorce and its aftermath, Simon was always solid as a rock for the kids. He didn’t want them forced into a position where they had to pick sides between us.

“I’ll put Mia and Casey to bed,” he added. “Then I’ll get out of your hair.”

I said nothing, watching Simon herd our children up the stairs to their rooms. When we split up, he insisted the house belonged to me and the kids. We needed as much stability as possible, he reasoned, and he wasn’t going to push us out of our home on top of everything else.

A lump of emotion lodged in my throat. I rummaged around for a fork, digging into the leftover wedding cake. By the time Simon returned to the kitchen, he found me at the counter, trying to bury my feelings in vanilla hazelnut and icing.

“I was wondering when the waterworks would begin,” Simon said softly.

“I’m not crying,” I protested, even though my voice cracked with betrayal.

Simon came up behind me, skimming his fingertips along my bare shoulder. Goosebumps skittered down my back, and I knew I shouldn’t be letting him touch me like this. Not when my resolve around him seemed to crumble in an instant.

But I didn’t protest when he cupped my hips, pulling me back against the broad heat of his chest. I didn’t say anything when he slid his arms around my waist, pressing his face into the curve of my neck and inhaling a deep breath.

My eyes burned with tears. The wedding today did more than just resurrect memories—it reminded me how much I struggled under the weight of loneliness. Taking care of the kids, trying to rediscover myself and my own identity without Simon.

I was stuck between two worlds—divorcing my ex-husband, and seeking someone new to build another relationship with. The future was undefined, a blank slate that held no guarantees, while the past belonged to Simon and the well-worn paths of each other. I wanted a distraction from it all. I wanted the tenderness and security of companionship.

“The way Bobbie and Psycho looked at each other…” I trailed off and shook my head, swallowing hard. “We used to be in love like that.”

Simon gave a quiet hum. A beat of silence filled the air, thick with tension. He skimmed his hand down my spine, cupping my ass with a squeeze through the fabric of my dress.

I gasped, pushing back into his grip for more.

“Take me to bed,” I breathed. “Like you did on our wedding night.”

Simon kissed the back of my neck, making my eyes flutter closed at the heat of his lips and the rasp of his stubble.

“What about your boyfriend?”

“We had one date.”

“Doesn’t answer my question.”

“Greyson isn’t my boyfriend,” I replied, which was technically the truth.

“Greyson,” Simon grunted. “Fuck, I hate the way you say his name, as if you’re savoring the taste of it on your tongue like some fancy wine.”

The grit in his voice and the jealousy coloring his tone shouldn’t sound as good as it did. Simon smoothed his hands up my body, cupping my tits. I whined with need, arching into his palms for more. A torturous ache of emptiness throbbed between my thighs.