The God of Underworld - Chapter 212

212: Chapter 56 212: Chapter 56 The meal had long since ended, yet the chamber still glowed with the warmth of candlelight.

The divine spirits who had served food had long since left, leaving only those who played rhe soft melody of strings lingering in the background.

Aphrodite stood slowly, her gown flowing like liquid silk around her, and with an inviting smile she extended her hand toward Hades.

“The night’s still young, so stay for a bit.” she said, her voice honeyed yet soft.

“Dance with me, Hades.” Hades, still seated, looked at her hand as if it were a puzzle.

“Dance,” he repeated flatly, as though the word itself was foreign.

“Yes,” Aphrodite teased, taking a step closer, her fingers still outstretched.

“Two people, moving together with the music, enjoying each other’s closeness.

Surely even you understand that.” He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“I am not… skilled in such things.

My duties do not leave time for frivolities.” Aphrodite leaned down, close enough that her perfume, floral and intoxicating, brushed against his senses.

“Then let this be a lesson.

For now, your duty is me.

Only me.” For a long moment, he said nothing, his jaw tight, his gaze sharp.

Yet something in him softened when he saw the way she was smiling at him, not demanding, not mocking, simply waiting.

Slowly, stiffly, he placed his hand in hers and allowed her to pull him up from his chair.

She guided him to the center of the chamber, where the candlelight flickered like a constellation against the polished floor.

Placing one of his hands against her waist, she draped her own arm around his shoulder, letting her fingers trace the back of his neck.

“See?

It’s not so difficult,” she whispered, pressing closer until he could feel the warmth of her body against his.

“This is… unnecessary,” Hades muttered, his movements stiff, though his hand tightened instinctively at her waist.

“Unnecessary,” Aphrodite repeated with a playful laugh, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered.

“And yet your hand doesn’t let go.

Your body betrays your words, Hades.” His expression remained impassive, but his silence was heavy, betraying the faint storm inside him.

He looked down at her, the goddess of love herself, so close, her eyes glowing with amusement and something softer beneath it.

“I think you just want to torment me.” he said finally, his voice deep and quiet.

Aphrodite’s hand caressed his cheek, her thumb brushing the edge of his jawline.

“Not torment.

I enjoy seeing the real you, the one you try so hard to bury under cold words and endless work.” The music swelled, and she pressed closer, her lips only inches from his.

“You don’t need to speak, Hades.

Your silence says enough.

The way you hold me tighter than you realize, the way your eyes linger even when you try to look away.

That is more honest than any words you could give me.” For the first time, his breathing faltered, his composure cracked, though only slightly.

His eyes darkened, locked onto hers, as though torn between retreat and surrender.

“Truly, you are insufferable.” he murmured, his voice low, rougher than before.

“And you,” Aphrodite replied with a sly smile, tracing her finger against his chest before resting it over his heart, “are already mine.” The music carried them in slow, deliberate steps, their movements awkward only at first, but gradually smoother as his body unconsciously matched hers.

The cold king and the goddess of love swayed together, their breaths mingling, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words.

She leaned in, her lips brushing against his cheek before trailing dangerously close to his mouth.

“Tell me, Hades,” she whispered, her voice husky, “do you still think that this is unnecessary, or do you think that this is an enjoyable moment for you and me.” His hand at her waist tensed, pulling her slightly closer, though his eyes remained conflicted, shadowed with restraint.

“I… do not know, but I certainly don’t want it to end.” he admitted, the confession quiet, laying his feelings bare.

Aphrodite smiled, her lips curving into something both tender and triumphant.

“Then let’s dance for as long as you wished.” The music deepened, slower, more intimate, and Aphrodite let her body melt against his, her head resting briefly against his shoulder as if to test how far she could go.

Her fingers brushed the line of his collar, trailing up to the side of his neck where she felt the faintest tremor of tension in him.

Hades stood stiff, his hand still at her waist, but no longer as cold or formal as before.

His grip had tightened, subtle but telling, and though his face showed nothing, the weight of his silence betrayed him.

“Hehe, it seems like you are already in the mood for more.

“Aphrodite whispered, lifting her head to look into his eyes.

Her lips were so close, her breath warm against his skin.

“Don’t worry, there is more to come.

You won’t be leaving my place until tomorrow.” His gaze flickered down to her mouth, then snapped back up sharply, as though scolding himself for even daring.

“You really know how t tempt me, goddess.” His voice was steady, but lower now, edged with a restraint that sounded close to breaking.

“Of course, who do you think I am?” she teased, running her fingers through his dark hair before letting her nails lightly scrape the back of his neck, “I am the goddess of love and lust, this much is nothing to me.” For a heartbeat, the room felt unbearably heavy, the space between them almost suffocating.

The candles flickered as if stirred by the intensity in the air.

Hades’ chest rose and fell more deeply, though he tried to hide it.

His hand at her waist slid slightly, unconsciously pulling her closer until her body pressed fully against his.

“You should let me go,” he said quietly, his words harsh but the undertone betraying hesitation.

“Before this… goes too far.” Aphrodite’s lips curved into a soft, dangerous smile.

“There is no ‘too far,’ Hades.

Not for me.

Not for us.” She tilted her head, brushing her lips across his jaw, leaving a feather-light kiss that made his breath catch despite himself.

His eyes darkened, and this time he didn’t step back.

He tilted his head down, their foreheads nearly touching, his voice low and almost strained.

“If I give in… there will be no turning back.” Aphrodite cupped his face, her thumb stroking across his cheek as she stared into his eyes with unshaken certainty.

“Then don’t turn back.

I don’t want half of you, Hades.

I want all of you, the cold, the silence, the hidden fire you bury inside.

Give it to me.” And before he could protest, before he could summon that wall of indifference again, she closed the last gap and pressed her lips firmly against his.

For a moment, he froze, his instincts screaming to pull away.

But then, slowly, as though something inside him broke free, his lips moved against hers in return.

The kiss was hesitant at first, awkward, it wasn’t because of his lack of experience, but because he doesn’t know how to respond to her words, but the kiss has a raw force in it that made Aphrodite’s heart race.

Her arms tightened around his neck, and his hand finally left her waist to rest at her back, pulling her even closer as though he feared she would slip away if he didn’t.

The music faded into nothingness, and all that remained was the sound of their breaths mingling and the warmth of their bodies pressed together.

When they finally parted, Aphrodite smiled, her lips still brushing his.

“See?

You’re not as hopeless as you think.” Hades looked down at her, his face still expressionless but his eyes betraying the storm within.

“…Aphrodite,” he called softly, though this time, his voice lacked conviction.

“Yes, I’m here.” she whispered back, stealing another quick kiss before he could argue.

The kiss was deep, heavy, wet with hunger, and Aphrodite let out a soft sound against his mouth as their tongues tangled.

With a graceful flick of her fingers, the divine spirits that lingered in the hall vanished one by one, as if banished by her will.

The music ceased, the lights dimmed, and only the two of them remained in the vast chamber.

Aphrodite’s hand pressed against his chest, not to push him away, but to pause him.

She pulled back, her breath quick, lips swollen, cheeks flushed with a rare color that even the goddess of beauty herself seldom revealed.

She smiled faintly, teasing and warm all at once, then slipped her fingers into his, tugging him gently.

“Come,” she whispered, her voice soft but charged with intent.

Hades followed without resistance, his long strides carrying him beside her until they crossed the threshold of her private chamber.

The room was lit by warm golden lamps, scented with roses and sandalwood.

Drapes of silk swayed faintly as if stirred by an unseen breeze, the entire place feeling like it had been waiting just for this moment.

Before he could take in the room, she turned and kissed him again, her lips hot and eager.

He responded with more certainty than before, a hand finding her waist and pulling her against him.

Their mouths moved together, slow but intense, until she felt herself nearly melting into him.

In the next instant, Hades shifted, his hands sliding to her hips as he pressed forward, urging her back step by step until her legs brushed against the edge of her bed.

She broke the kiss only to gasp softly, eyes half-lidded as she looked up at him.

“Hades…” she murmured, her voice trembling between playfulness and genuine anticipation.

“I really…

really can’t take it anymore.” His gaze bore into hers, unwavering, though his lips were slightly parted, his breath uneven.

“Me too.

I may not know love,” he said, his tone low, quiet, almost reverent.

“But I know what I want…right now, I want you.” Her lips curved into a knowing smile.

“Then take me.” At those words, he leaned forward, capturing her mouth again, his kiss rougher, hungrier, pressing her back until she collapsed gently onto the soft sheets of her bed.

He loomed above her, shadows clinging to his tall frame, his presence overwhelming in the intimate glow of her chamber.

Aphrodite reached up, her fingers stroking along his jaw, her nails grazing his skin as she whispered, “Careful… if you go any further, you’ll never let me go.” Hades braced himself above her, one hand gripping the bed beside her, the other still at her waist.

His purple eyes searched hers, caught between restraint and desire, his voice low and strained.

“Maybe I don’t want to.” Her laugh was soft, almost breathless, her free hand tugging gently at his collar to pull him back into another kiss.