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“Will people have to be in costumes?”
“Yes.”
Eloise’s face lit up. “Elaborate ones?”
“No one will be let in without one.”
Eloise grinned widely. “And will you have jugglers and jesters?”
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, and decorations around the hell?” She was getting more excited by the moment.
“Everywhere.” He waved his hand. “I shall hire the most prominent decorator in the country. The wine will flow, the music will roar, and the celebration will last for three nights, at the very least.”
Eloise’s vibrant smile dimmed, and she lowered her eyes. “I wish I could be there.”
Hades tipped her face up with his knuckles. “You can be,” he said, his voice low. “You just have to want it.”
Eloise didn’t answer. She watched his face as if trying to memorize every line. Then she slowly stood on her tiptoes and placed a warm kiss on his lips. He put his hands on her waist and was about to pull her closer when she drew away.
Eloise shook her head and slowly disengaged his hands from her body.
“It’s my turn to touch you now,” she whispered. “Please?”
Hades looked away, unable to meet her gaze. The truth was, he craved her touch, her hands on him. But he was afraid the sensation would bring the memories back again, the revulsion. He swallowed and nodded, nonetheless.
If he couldn’t trust her, then how could she trust him?
And he needed her to trust him. There was no other way she would consider staying otherwise. So he spread his arms by his sides and gave a sharp nod.
Eloise slowly, carefully put her palms on his abdomen. He could feel her touch burning him through the layers of his waistcoat and shirtsleeves. He lowered his eyes and watched as she progressed up his body. She reached his chest and spread her fingers, making his skin tingle. His breathing started getting labored. Was it from excitement or anxiety?
As her hands slid inside his coat, she carefully made her way up and started slipping the coat off his shoulders. Hades swallowed the arousal and apprehension warring inside of him. She took off his coat and carefully laid it on the floor.
Her hands moved to his waistcoat, and she raised her eyes to his before she started undoing his buttons. Hades’ chest rose and fell with the force of his breaths. As if sensing his anxiety, Eloise paused. She rose on her tiptoes and gifted him another kiss. Hades’ eyes closed.
Her soft lips, her wonderful scent, had a calming effect on him. He opened his eyes when she paused.
“May I?” she asked, her hands hovering a few inches away from his shoulders.
Hades nodded and the next moment his waistcoat was off, joining the pile on the floor.
She quickly discarded his cravat and started working on the buttons of his shirt. “When I saw you for the first time,” she said softly. “I thought you were as cold as a block of ice.”
Hades puffed a breath.
“I did,” she continued with a smile. “Your eyes had the power to freeze the room. They still do.”
“Do they?”
Eloise ducked her head to reach the lower buttons. She then looked at him and reached inside his shirt, her fingers making contact with his skin.
The touch was incredibly light, only tickling him slightly. His muscles jumped in reaction. To his surprise, the feeling wasn’t unpleasant at all. She looked at him questioningly, and he nodded, giving her permission to explore.
She softly touched her hands against his chest then, spreading her fingers, pressing her palms into his flesh. She caught her breath at the contact, and Hades’ eyes closed again. His hands reached up out of their own volition and covered hers.
“Imagine my surprise,” she said, breathless. “When I found out you are just as hot-blooded as the rest of us. Perhaps more so.”
