Chapter 4 begins with Persephone's dream, a duplicate of Hades's dream at the start of Chapter 3. Enjoy!
* * * * * * * *
"Mmmm, I love dianthus! I have never seen any blossom so beautiful," Persephone murmured to herself. Delicate petals only a few shades darker than her lips beckoned her to caress their velvety contours.
As she was supposed to attend a banquet at her aunt Hera's manse that evening, she took care not to allow dirt to smudge her ivory gown. Stray curls escaped her pinned up hair and waved in the slight breeze.
She had wandered farther out than she ever had; Persephone had never been to this place of peace and perfection before. While she knew her mother would be looking for her shortly, Persephone could not tear herself away from the pastoral beauty surrounding her.
It was only after she raised a bloom to her nose and inhaled the fragrance from the blossom that she realized that she was no longer alone. A glance up revealed a man she had never before seen. He was not a mortal surely; Persephone was still in the realm of the gods.
Robes of blackest night cloaked him in gloom so at odds with the lovely, sunny field where Persephone luxuriated in the feel of the sun warming her skin mixed with the softness of the fragrant soil beneath her. Who was he?
Whoever he was, he approached, striding forward as if this place of beauty and light were his domain. Her heart trip-hammered; her breath caught in her throat. Persephone found she could no longer focus on the bucolic natural beauty, her senses were honed only to him.
His deep voice rumbled from his lips, smooth yet commanding. "I am Hades," he pronounced, and Persephone shivered, comprehending at last her mistake.
Worried he would become offended by her staring, she lowered her gaze and swallowed. Hard. "I am Persephone, Lord Hades, daughter of Demeter." The mention of her mother had her glancing around, worried that her mother even now may be searching for her.
She glanced up again; she could not help it. Everything about his appearance and voice intrigued her. Hair, dark with tight waves, clung to his skull and disappeared into the inky blackness of his robes. Lips that were at turns stern and dismissive, yet with a curve that made parts of her moisten at the thought of that flesh pressed against her lips, curled up at the corners.
"May I offer you some assistance, Persephone? What brings you to the Elysian Fields, my dear?" His tone was like the finest nectar on her tongue.
For several moments, she did not register his words. "I'm sorry, Lord Hades. I did not realize that I had trespassed upon your property. But the flora is so lovely here," she whispered, her fingers reaching for--and caressing--a quivering dianthus petal.
Her apologetic blue eyes met his crimson gaze. "No apologies necessary, dear one. Might I offer you a brief repast?"
"That would be lovely," she murmured, perceiving her famished state. As he stared at her, she grew uneasy. She, a maiden goddess, was alone with Hades, a god well over twice her age and far more experienced than he. Not only that, she was also alone with him, the king of the Underworld, on his own property, where his word was law.
Dark shadows scurried about to bring an ugly ruddy orb to Hades as well as the requisite nectar and ambrosia. To appear refined and delicate, Persephone nibbled and sipped at the offered victuals until her curiosity got the better of her. "What is that?" she pondered aloud, lying back on the soft grass and blooms.
Lazily, she watched as he expertly slit open the lumpy, unsightly sphere, twisting it open to show her the ruby seeds within. "This, my dear, is a special fruit found only here in the Underworld. A pomegranate. Ugly on the outside, this fruit contains these plump seeds that burst with luscious juice when you eat them. Here, have a taste."
Her gaze was transfixed by his nimble yet strong fingers retrieving twelve of those juicy ruby-hued seeds. How would his fingers feel on her skin? Teasingly, he waved his hand before her face, and her eyes followed the small pile of juicy scarlet seeds cupped in his palm.
Persephone licked her suddenly dry lips and struggled to speak, to refuse. "I - I - I really am nearly full from the nectar and ambrosia, Lord Hades," she started to explain.
The god of the Underworld lightly pinched one seed and brought it to his lips. Persephone wondered how those fingers would feel pinching her now-taut nipples. "Mmmmmmmmmm," she heard Hades moan and shivered. "My favorite. Are you sure that you are too full to - taste?" He lightly pinched another seed and offered it to her, his finger brushing her lips as her mouth opened to receive the treat.
Whether her moan was from the stroke of his finger on her lips or the heady, nearly erotic taste of the pomegranate, she was not sure.
Moaning softly, she opened her eyes to see him gazing down at her. "Thank you, Lord Hades, but I really must be going now."
Hades's lips twisted in a parody of a grin. "Are you sure, my dear? You may taste a few more, if you like."
His recommendation, his presence, the electricity flowing between the two of them, crackling, almost visible, reduced her half-hearted protestations to naught.
Practical, level-headed Persephone, so at odds with the whimsical fancies of her mother, gave in to her desires.
"That would be lovely," she concurred, cursing the breathlessness of her voice.
With each turgid, juicy seed that he teased past her lips, Persephone's moans became more aroused.
As she bit into the fifth one, juice spurted over her lips, and her tongue greedily sought the drops that escaped. Her eyes flared open upon hearing Hades's growl.
Half of a breath later, Hades pulled her into his embrace, the first such embrace she had ever experienced. His lips danced over hers, soft nibbling kisses that melded with his growls, making her melt into him.
Overwhelmed, she gave in to his seduction. The awakening arousal she had felt for the last several minutes lit a flame within him, and she met the growing carnality of his kiss with her own sincere passion. His hands traveled over her waist, her ass, and finally to her breasts that traced, first reverently, and then groped, inflaming her further.
The ripping of her dress from neck to hem barely registered, and she arched her back so that he could possess her naked flesh with those strong fingers.
Persephone felt the warm grass and flowers again at her back as she gazed mutely up at him. Her lips parted to accept another taste of pomegranate, but they closed around one of his fingers and suckled softly, her tongue flicking and tasting the slight saltiness of his flesh. A turgid heaviness pressed against her thigh, and Persephone parted her legs slightly, opening to him.
Hades's lips meandered to her breast, then to her nipple, wringing harsh cries from her lips. Impatient fingers tore at his robes, revealing his rampantly erect cock.
Her fingers greedy, Persephone reached to curl her palm around his cock. She let out a soft growl of protest as he pulled both wrists above her head and admonished her, his breath warm on her breast, "No. You will have your turn later. After. Now, pet. Now is time for something else entirely."
The hot blunt head of his cock teased her leaking slit. Persephone inwardly rejoiced, secure in the knowledge that she would finally understand what desire was.
But then...Hades sat back and covered her with the mangled crumpled silk of her chiton.
"Persephone!" Her mother. And she was furious. The young goddess clasped the ruined dress to her form, embarrassed because her mother found her in such a state.
When Persephone failed to respond, silently willing her mother to just go away, Demeter continued, "Come along, Persephone. It is time to return home."
Really, that was too much. Yes, she was Demeter's daughter, but she was no longer a child. Her eight-hundredth birthday had passed several years ago. Still, as Hades made no move to continue their...proceedings, maybe it was best to return home with her mother.
Wobbly legged, she stood up and away from Hades.
When he spoke, it was not directed at Persephone but at Demeter. "Demeter!"
Clutching Persephone, Demeter turned to glare at the god of the Underworld. "Hades. Persephone and I are going home. I won't discuss this with Zeus. It will do no good; he has done far worse than you have here today with my daughter and will continue to do so."
Persephone was positive that Hades would interfere with their leaving no further. When he didn't speak in response, Penelope was even more sure of it.
Instead, he opened his hand to reveal that only six pomegranate seeds remained. "Your daughter ate six of these. As a result, she will stay here, as my wife, for six months of the year. You know there is no other recourse. I could be cruel. I could claim her as my wife forever. But I'm not - unreasonable. She may divide her time between here and with you."
The audacity of the god! Because of some arbitrary eating of the pomegranate, she was to be his wife, his prisoner, for half of the year? Her earlier passion cooled to ice.
Yet, when he crooked his finger at her, why did Penelope just mutely follow, her chiton in tatters around her, her heavy pendulous breasts bouncing with each measured step toward her fate?
* * * * * * * *
Hades knew she dreamed; he had watched her for these ten hours and had watched the dream progress in varying stages. The end of the dream troubled her; her plush welcoming lips had tightened to a discomfited frown.
With a tenderness completely at odds with the punishment and the passion he had meted out earlier, he swept back the curls that teased her cheeks. Her eyes closed in half-slumber, she whispered "Hades."
His heart warmed far more than it should have. She was not his; she would never be his permanently. For these brief hours, however, he would revel in his temporary possession of her.
"Wake up, pet. Wake up, slave," he muttered against her ear, nibbling the soft flesh of her lobe.
