Page 19 of On a Pale Horse
“I trust you to keep it, but I want to make sure you have no chance to minimize this promise once we return.” He held out his hand. “I, Hades, Lord of the Dead, seal this compact with the Horseman of Death.”
She smiled, maybe he was ready for this after all. Giving up control of anything wasn’t something she took lightly, but for him, with him, it might be worth it. And most importantly, it would ensure they only did what he felt comfortable with.
She shook his hand even though it produced a long, deep wave of overwhelming need. Touching him always did. And right now, with him so very naked and beautiful in front of her, her control was hard won. “We have an agreement,” she gritted out.
A spark passed between them and she almost drew him into her arms and pressed her lips against his. If she didn’t have a friend relying on her right now, she would have. Instead, she let the moment pass and pulled her hand from his. “Finish getting dressed. I don’t want you to decimate Egypt with that ass.”
He snorted. “Fine, I’ll get ready only because I am very much looking forward to my reward.”
Cloris wondered how imaginative he could get with her body for him to command. The Club, The Underworld, had been his idea and plan. Cloris joined him in the execution because they liked the same things. Now that she thought about it, she really didn’t know how kinky he could get. While she’d bounced around the world screwing with whoever struck her fancy, she’d never seen him with someone else. Had he been waiting for her this entire time? The idea ignited and appalled her at once.
She watched him dress quickly and lace up a pair of black boots similar to her own. His t-shirt was gray, and he wore a pair of dark denim jeans that hugged him in places so well it should be outlawed. He looked really good in his customary dress pants, but that ass cupped tight in jeans sent electrical current across her. By human standards he’d be considered short for a male, but no one would call him that while they stood toe to toe with him, faced with his aura and the power behind it.
He cleared his throat. “Cloris. Earth to Cloris, are you ready?”
She snapped herself to him, standing a few feet in front of her. “What?”
He laughed. “Where did you go?”
Her face heated, she ducked away so he wouldn’t see the incriminating blush now washing into her ears. Down to business. “We have to go to Karnack, but I know someone who can help us. He lives in Egypt and might be persuaded to get us where we might find the Temple of Maat.”
“If you’re talking about Buck, then I’m familiar with his work.”
She stopped dead from exiting the bedroom to find Charon walking down the hall.
“Where are you going?” She called after him.
“Helping Baldir with something,” he called down the hall as he turned a corner.
She turned back to face Hades, her mind still considering what the heck Baldir wanted with Charon. “Did you just call him Buck?”
He shrugged. “We’ve been colleagues of a sort, you could say.”
She didn’t have a response to that. Anyone who called Mr. Almawt, Buck, clearly knew way more than she did about him. “I swear I learn something new about you every day.”
He smiled, one of those adorable sexy, “I know I’m damn cute,” smiles. “Isn’t that the point of a relationship? Keeping the mystery alive.”
“Hmm… Maybe not when it comes to a college professor who is an older deity than even you.”
He moved behind her and dragged her back against him. “Do you fear for my safety? Have I told you lately how hot I find it when you try to protect me from some unknown threat?”
She shoved him back. “Be quiet. I know you think I coddle you. I need to get Charon.”
“I spoke to him earlier. He said call if we need him.”
She cast one more look around their bedroom. They spent a lot of time in there, laying in bed, talking, laughing. She wondered, not for the first time in the last couple of months if she would see it again.
Hades took her hand in his. “I’ll take us this time.”
She nodded. Maybe it was time to give up some of her hard forged control. “Please. Do you know where...”
She couldn’t finish before they were outside Doctor Almawt’s office. The heat difference between New York and Cairo was the next thing to wash over her, coating her skin in a sheen of sweat in mere minutes.
Hades stepped up and knocked on the heavy wooden door. Students skittered through the hallway clutching books, Cloris watched them all carefully, ready for any sort of attack, but none came.
The door behind her opened, and she spun to face a man she’d only met a handful of times in her exceedingly long life. Where Hades drew you in, this man repelled you. Anyone in their right mind would look at him and turn the other way to put as much distance between you and him as possible. Then he opened his mouth, and from that moment it would be impossible to walk away.
“Cloris, Hades, I can’t say I’m surprised to see you.”
