Hades (Contemporary Mythos Book 1)

“How many more times are you going to look for him?” Sara asked, fishing for her straw with her mouth.

My eyes fixed on her after peering over my shoulder for the twentieth time since we’d sat down at the swim-up bar. “What are you talking about?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve barely said a word and keep looking around. Is he supposed to meet you here or something?”

Her gaze moved over my shoulder, fingertips tracing over the dip between her breasts.

Behind me, Hades took labored steps into the pool, clad in a pair of black boardshorts. I kept my fist under my chin to keep my jaw from dropping. He winced when the water hit his stomach, making his muscles clench. In turn, it caused something of my own to clench. It wasn’t an exaggeration of how close he resembled a Greek statue, right down to the individually carved abdominal muscles. I’d already seen him shirtless, but somehow, he managed to look even sexier today. He waded over to our stools; his hands balled into fists beneath the water.

“Well, hello again, Hades.” Sara took the opportunity to scan him.

He nodded. “Sara.”

I gripped my stool to keep from falling off it.

“Darlin’,” he said to me, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Hi,” I squeaked.

He put his hands on each side of the bar top, caging me in. “Did I ever tell you how much I hate the water?”

“Yes.” I gulped.

“And yet you’ve managed to coax me into it for the second time since we’ve met.”

I chewed on my lip, and my gaze dropped to his chest. “A sick, sick ploy to continuously get your shirt off.”

“How naughty.” His lips brushed my ear, and he whispered, “Careful. I may need to punish you in Tartarus.”

Goosebumps littered my skin, and I tried not to squeak again.

“Umm, should I leave you two alone?” Sara asked.

He stepped back, and I quickly stuck my tongue out at Sara.

Hades leaned on the bar beside me and jutted his chin at the bartender. “Whiskey. Neat.”

“Well, look who decided to join the crowd,” Rupert said.

“Oh, boy,” Sara mumbled, pulling on the brim of her floppy hat.

Hades cocked an eyebrow. “Something I should know?”

“Rupert’s been a bit of a pill lately. He insists on drinking like a fish and doesn’t like it when Michelle tells him he shouldn’t,” I whispered.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Rupert over the rim of his glass.

“I thought they were going to bloody well carve your name into that stool at the other bar,” Rupert said to Hades, chuckling.

Michelle batted his shoulder. “Be nice.”

“Well, I’m surprised they haven’t etched your name into every bottle across the resort,” Hades retorted, casually sipping his drink.

Rupert slipped his sunglasses onto his head with a glare. “What did you just say?”

Michelle grabbed Rupert’s shoulder. “He’s just a bit antsy about the dance contest is all.” She patted him.

“Oh? Did you two enter?” I asked, scooting back on my stool. I would’ve fallen off if it weren’t for Hades’ hand pressing against my lower back, steadying me.

“We did! It’s a shame it’s for Valentine’s Day, being couples only and all. You love that movie, don’t you?” Michelle asked.

Hades’ arm slipped around my waist, his hand resting on the top of my thigh. If I’d been capable of melting into a puddle, I might have. “She is here with someone as luck would have it. Just established last night. Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

I leaned into him and awkwardly patted his very bare shoulder. “That’s right!”

Sara gave me a look over the top of her sunglasses. I wanted to kick her in the shin.

“How bloody convenient,” Rupert muttered, leaning on the bar near Hades.

I forced a laugh and tugged on Hades’ arm. “Can I talk to you for a second?

Once we were out of earshot from everyone else, I swatted his arm. “What are you doing?”

He eyed me sidelong. “What do you mean?”

“You just told everyone we’re together.”

He squinted. “How else would we enter the contest?”

“I figured they just meant two people.”

“For Valentine’s Day? A holiday that’s known across the globe for its romanticism?” He raised a brow.

He had me there.

“Would you be more comfortable entering the contest with someone else?” He asked.

No, I really wouldn’t. I wanted it to be him more than anything.

I shook my head.

“Good.” He took my hand and led me back to the bar, slipping his arm around my waist. Hades cocked his head to the side until Rupert looked at him. Neither man said a word, but Rupert’s eyes widened, and his bottom lip quivered.

“You’re looking a little pale there, Rupe,” Hades said, still staring him down.

I lifted my sunglasses. Rupert was more than pale. Talk about downright terrified.

Rupert reached behind him for Michelle, grasping at nothing but air the first several tries before latching onto her arm. “Let’s uh—let’s go to the other side of the bar, eh?”

“What? Why?” She asked as he pulled her away.

I narrowed my eyes at Hades. “What did you do to him?”

He finished his drink. “Nothing he didn’t deserve.”

“Hades…”

He planted a quick kiss at the corner of my brow and moved to the open space of the pool. “You ready to try this lift?”

It happened so quickly, so naturally, I was at a loss for words. I traced my finger over the spot he kissed, staring down at my legs.

“Hey, space cadet. Hades is calling for you,” Sara said, nudging me with her elbow.

I tossed her a glare and hopped off my stool. She forced her grin so wide it made her look like a crazed clown. Hades stood in the middle of the pool, his arms stiff at his sides.

“You should probably make this look somewhat difficult for yourself,” I said.

His brow furrowed. “By doing what?”

“I don’t know. Drop me a few times?”

“You want me to drop you? On purpose?”

“Yeah. It’s a pool. That’s why the creators used a lake in the movie. So no one would get hurt.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, slicking it back with water. “Whatever you say, darlin’. Am I just liftin’ ya over my head and holding you there?”

“Right. You haven’t seen the movie. Yes. Lift me over your head by my hips. That’s it.”

“I can handle that.”

My heart raced with excitement as I moved to stand in front of him. “Ready?”

He lifted his hands out of the water, making come hither gestures. I took a step forward. He used both hands, gripped my hips, and hoisted me up over his head. I sported my best superman pose, ready to balance, and he let go. I belly-flopped into the water with a loud clap. The gasps and laughter from people sitting at the bar were so audible I could hear them underwater. Mortified couldn’t begin to describe it.

I sputtered water and parted my wet hair away from my face. “Why did you do that?”

“You told me to drop you.” His eyes shifted.

“Yes. Yes, I did. But that doesn’t mean to simply…let go.” I flicked my wrist, spraying water.

“So, you want me to drop you, but not by letting go of you?” One of his eyes squinted.

“No! Well, yes—in a manner of speaking?”

He continued to one eye squint.

“You know what? Forget it. Just lift me.”

He didn’t give me time to prepare myself. His hands gripped my hips, and he lifted me over his head. His arms weren’t even shaking. I was so giddy, I forgot to strike the pose, but didn’t care. He let go, while simultaneously turning my body. I fell into his arms and let out the girliest squeal. Biting my lip, I draped an arm around the back of his neck.

“Was that about right?” He asked, tantalizing me with his gaze.

I nodded.

He let go of my legs, and I quieted a whimper, already missing the feeling of being cradled in his arms for the second time. Michelle abandoned Rupert on the other side of the bar. She stared at Hades, biting the plastic straw in her drink. Rupert hid as far away as possible.

“Tell me, Hades, what do you do for work?” Michelle asked, turning her body to face him.

He leaned on the bar. “Odds and ends. I work from home now, but before that, I was mostly the carrier and divider of souls.”

I laughed uncontrollably, stepping between him and Michelle. “He’s a—funeral director. So, in a way, he assists in carrying their uh—souls to the afterlife.”

Hades smirked at me.

“Interesting. How does someone direct funerals remotely?” Sara cocked an eyebrow.

Amidst the lying, I’d forgotten Hades’ lie from yesterday.

“Uhhh—well,” I started while twirling my hair.

“The bodies aren’t part of my jurisdiction. For the final…arrangements is where I come in,” Hades said with the coolness of a cucumber. “But recently, I’ve had more of a hand with the bodies themselves due to a coworker up and…quitting.”

Sara narrowed her eyes with a smirk.

Guy walked up in the middle of the enthralling conversation. “Did I hear you’re a funeral director? Must be a pretty grim job, eh?” He asked, claiming a stool.

“Grim doesn’t begin to scratch the surface,” Hades responded.

Sara narrowed her eyes. “You failed to mention the funeral director part yesterday. Must get pretty lonely. Hanging out with dead bodies all day who don’t uphold their side of the conversation?”

“If anything, it’s usually begging and pleading, so I tune them out,” Hades said, sipping from his glass.

Everyone froze.

I forced another bout of nervous chuckles. “He’s kidding. This guy is a regular jokester, aren’t you Had?”

His eyes gleamed. “I’m a comedian.”

“Well, you two have something in common, Sara. Only you see fresh dead bodies.” When everyone remained frozen on their stools, I quickly followed up with, “She’s a detective.”

Guy grinned. “You are? You haven’t said anything. That’s pretty cool.”

Sara’s lips pursed together. I could feel her glare, even though her sunglasses masked it. Michelle scooted closer to Hades.

“I have to admit I’ve never seen a funeral director who looks,” she paused, motioning with her hand over his physique. “Like you.”

What was with her sudden fascination with him?

“Oh? What should I look like?” He asked, leaning on the bar with one elbow. He reached his other arm out and guided me to his hip.

Michelle laughed, draping a hand over her mouth. “The polar opposite, I suppose.”

“Shelly, let’s get some bloody food. I’m starving,” Rupert said from afar. He didn’t look in Hades’ direction, beckoning Michelle with an outstretched hand.

She sighed and slid off her stool. “Until next time.” She flashed a smile at Hades.

A strange pit formed in my stomach. “Would you mind toning down the aura?”

He moved his hand to my hip, curling one finger over it at a time. “Not the way it works, sweetheart. Is it makin’ you jealous?”

A little? “No. Also, you can’t—” I lowered my voice. “You can’t tell people you divide souls for a living.”

He released his grip and pressed his back against the bar. “Whatever happened to my candidness being exhilarating?”

“Are you screwing with me?”

“Yes.” He stared down at me, the dimple in his cheek deepening. “I haven’t had this much fun in—ever.”

I gave a lopsided grin and folded my arms. “If you’ve never seen Dirty Dancing, how did you know the corner quote?”

“Swayze mentioned it.”

He’s must’ve said “lazy.” Most certainly, he didn’t say, Swayze. “Did you say, Swayze?”

His eyes shifted. “Yeah. Patrick Swayze.”

“I know—” I grabbed his arm. “I know who Patrick Swayze is, but how is that possible considering he’s d—” How I’d forgotten who I was talking to was a mystery, but the idea of him chatting it up with Swayze in the Underworld chilled me to the bone.

“Dead? Yes. We briefly talked when I escorted him to the Fields.”

I gripped his shoulders, shaking him. “How can you talk about this so nonchalantly?”

“Stephanie, I talk to thousands of people every day. He was just another kind soul.”

My eyes blinked so rapidly it blurred my vision. “Well, tell me everything. You can’t tell a girl you spoke with Patrick Swayze and not elaborate.”

“Hey, you two are being incredibly anti-social,” Sara said, pulling on my arm.

I ground my teeth together. If she only knew she interrupted the story of a lifetime.

He dropped his lips to my ear. “I’ll relay the entire conversation to you later. In private.”

The word “private” made my stomach tighten. I rolled my shoulders and turned my attention on Guy. “Is Keith still sick?”

“He said he’d come down if he could manage to stand up without feeling like hurling,” he said, chuckling. “Poor bastard.”

“Speak of the devil,” Sara said.

Keith entered the pool, with skin a full shade lighter than when I’d last seen him. He gave us an awkward wave. “Hey. Surprised to see me alive?”

“Yes,” Hades clipped.

I tossed him a glare.

Keith squinted at Hades. “What the hell are you doing in the pool? Shouldn’t you be crying into your whiskey glass or something?”

“I decided the view in here is decidedly much better.” Hades looked at me, and my cheeks flushed.

Keith looked between us. “Seems I missed a lot.”

“Good to see you out and about, man,” Guy said, patting his back.

“Do you want water or something?” Sara asked.

“Are you kidding? Now more than ever, I need a damn beer,” Keith said with a snicker.

“He’s back!” Guy threw his fists in the air.

Hades glared off in the distance. I followed his gaze, seeing an older man sitting at a table, staring back at him.

“Do you know that guy?” I asked.

Hades didn’t budge. If anything, his eyes narrowed more. “No.”

“Then why are you looking at him like that?”

The older man stood from the table and, like a zombie, walked to the pool’s edge. Without hesitation, he hopped in, fully clothed. He didn’t blink, and his arms stayed stiff at his sides. I’d seen some bizarre things in my time, but this took the cake.

“Can you tell me what it’s like?” The man asked Hades.

Hades’ face softened, and he canted his head to the side. “The greenest grass you’ve ever seen. Never a cloud in the sky. Any food your heart desires.”

What the hell?

The man smiled. A tear streaked down his face. “Will I see Louise again?”

Hades gave a single nod. “Yes.”

The man broke into a sob, patting Hades’ hand.

“Don’t be afraid, Markos. You’re a good man who’s lived a good life. You deserve to live your eternal life in happiness,” Hades said.

He continued to sob as he nodded at Hades.

He turned away and walked back the way he came, but this time he didn’t look so much like a zombie.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

Hades rubbed a hand over his chin. “He’s dying.”

“Dying?”

The man hoisted himself from the pool.

“How can you tell?”

Hades arched a brow.

“Right. I keep forgetting.”

He scratched his beard. “I’ve never been approached by them on the surface.”

“Them?”

“Those close to death. It’s not my job to send them to the Underworld.”

“Then whose is it?”

The corners of his jaw tightened. “Thanatos.”