by Carly Spade
“Do I need a reason to dote on beauty?” He grinned.
I held back an eye roll.
Guy snapped his fingers. “Oh, Steph, do I remember hearing you like Dirty Dancing?”
“The movie, yes. Why?”
“They put up a flyer in the lobby. Looks like some contest or something.”
I stood straighter. “What? Really?”
His brow rose over the top of his sunglasses. “Pretty sure I read it right, but you should go check it out.”
Water splashed as I clamored out of the pool, slipping on the stairs. I made a beeline for the lobby, not willing to stop for anything or anyone. The hanging pen on the bulletin board couldn’t get in my hand fast enough, and I dragged my finger across the typed-out details.
“Special Valentine’s Day Event: Dirty Dancing contest for the dance. You know the one. First prize: VIP access to a special event. Note: For couples only (it is Valentine’s Day after all),” I read aloud, my excitement deflating with the last part.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Hades said from behind me.
I turned around, re-positioning the pen in my hand like a knife, trying to hold it above my head, but the string halted my effort. “Do not appear out of thin air like that!”
“Actually, I walked around the corner. You were too preoccupied with readin’ out loud.” His eyes dropped to my bikini-clad form before dragging their way back to my face.
My cheeks warmed.
“By the way, sweetheart, when you want to spy on someone, it’s usually best to be further away. That’s the idea behind binoculars.”
My face fell, arms dropping back to my sides. “You knew I was there?”
“The entire time. I have to say I was impressed you didn’t pass out again.” He brushed past me, eyeing the flyer.
I couldn’t form words. He was Hades. Hades.
He flicked a finger at the paper. “Are you entering this?”
I took a step away from him, worried he’d randomly light something on fire again. “Thinking about it.”
“I’ll enter with you.”
I laughed. “You?”
“Why not?” He narrowed his eyes.
“You’re—” I referenced him from head to toe. “You.”
“Who else would you enter with? Keith?” The corners of his jaw popped.
Did I sense jealousy in his tone? “Hades, did you…have anything to do with Keith’s food poisoning?”
“Did he die from it?”
I shifted my eyes. “No.”
“Then I’d say no. Look—”
He’d say no?
He stepped forward, and I grabbed the dangling pen again. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You’d be giving me another opportunity to be human.”
“No. Absolutely not. I can’t enter a contest with the—” I looked around for anyone else within earshot. “—god of the Underworld,” I whispered.
He leaned in. “Why not?”
“Because you’re the god of the Underworld!” I clapped my hands over my mouth.
“You’ve already danced with me once. How is this any different?”
“It just is.”
He glared. “You think I can’t handle filthy dancing?”
“It’s dirty dancing,” I mumbled, undoing my braid, and re-doing it. “Fine.”
On the inside, I was jumping up and down like a twelve-year-old me at a Backstreet Boys concert. I’ve wanted to try the dance since I was a little girl. Especially the lift.
He cupped a hand over his ear. “What was that?”
“I said fine. I’ll enter with you.”
He picked up the pen and scrolled our names with the flourish of ancient calligraphy. “I’ll make sure we win.”
“Wait—what do you mean? You don’t plan on setting people on fire or trapping them in Tartarus if we’re losing or something, are you?”
He cocked one eyebrow. “No. I was going to suggest we practice.” His arms bulged as he folded them over his chest, glowering down at me. “Seriously, what kind of person do you think I am?”
Did I risk the possibility of spontaneously combusting by telling him the truth? “I don’t know. I always pictured Hades to be like the one in the Hercules cartoon. Ruthless. Erratic.” And therefore, this guy couldn’t have been him.
He stared at me. “The Disney cartoon?”
“Yes.”
He dragged his hands through his hair. “I can assure you my true form doesn’t have flamin’ blue hair.”
A true form. Now all I could do was think about what that might look like. Horns? Pointy teeth?
I undid my braid and did it over again. “You never said anything about not being ruthless.”
His gaze dropped to the floor, narrowing. “Because I am when I need to be. I don’t take pleasure in punishing people, but those who deserve it…I don’t go lightly.” He lifted his eyes, locking with mine.
I gulped. “I thought I knew you, but now feel like I don’t know you at all.”
“I’m willing to tell ya anything you wish to know.”
I lifted my chin. “I went somewhere with you yesterday. Tomorrow, will you go somewhere with me? And Sara?”
He squinted. “Sure. But where are we goin’?”
“You’ll see.” I raised to the balls of my feet and flopped back onto my heels. “I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Stephanie,” he beckoned. “I noticed the flyer said couples only.”
I cocked an eyebrow.
He nodded once. “How…interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?”
“They take Valentine’s Day pretty seriously around here.”
I’m sorry, what?
Before I had a chance to voice the thought out loud, he vanished.
“Did you tell Hades what time to meet us out here?” Sara asked, glancing at the clock hanging in the lobby.
“Did we decide on an actual time? I told him to meet us in the lobby in the morning.”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, great. Considering his love of all things dark, he’s probably a night owl and won’t show up until eleven.”
“Who won’t show up until eleven?” Hades asked after rounding the corner.
He had his same black ensemble on with the tank top and a flowy, undone button-up short-sleeved shirt. The sight of him made my heart race.
“There you are. That’s what you’re wearing? You might regret that choice. Let me get them to hail us a taxi,” Sara said, trotting over to the attendant desk.
I started to follow her, but Hades caught me by the crook of my elbow. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It might be…” I bit my lip. “Too many clothes for where we’re going?”
He cocked an eyebrow before narrowing his eyes. “And you call me cryptic.”
“Come on, you two. Taxi’s here. Steph, you’re in the middle,” Sara beckoned.
Hades held his hand out for me to walk in front of him.
“Why do I always get the middle?” I grumbled.
Sara and Hades stood beside each other.
She motioned between the two of them. “You see how tall we both are, right?”
“Good point,” I responded, blowing out a breath.
We all slid into the back seat. I pressed my knees together and kept my elbows at my sides.
“You can lean on me, ya know? I promise I won’t break,” Hades whispered.
No. But I might. Something told me Sara wouldn’t appreciate us making out in the seat right next to her.
“Sidari Beach, please,” Sara told the driver.
Hades’ eyes narrowed. “Interesting beach choice, Sara. Any particular reason?” He leaned past me to look at her.
“The Canal d’amour, of course,” she responded with a grin.
Hades smirked. “I had a feelin’. You know those legends are a bunch of hogwash, right?”
“Wouldn’t be so sure about that,” our driver piped in,
smiling at us in the rearview mirror.
“What’s the legend?” I asked, trying to ignore the feel of Hades’ leg brushing against mine.
“When a couple swims the canal they’re destined an eternity together,” the driver said, raising his eyebrows.
“And for singles, if you hop in when the canal is in the shade, you’ll always be lucky in love,” Sara added with a grin.
Hades rolled his eyes. “Like I said, hogwash.”
“Bit of a pessimist, are you?” The driver asked.
“I’m just someone who knows.”
I eyed Hades sidelong.
“Have an in with Aphrodite? If so, please give her my number,” the driver said, bursting into a fit of husky laughter.
My body tensed. Hades nudged the side of my thigh with his knuckle. I looked over at him, and he winked.
It didn’t take long to arrive at the beach, and the driver dropped us off near the canal entrance. He told us it was a decent walk to reach it, but worth it. We made our way over a bridge leading to a dusty road framed with foliage. The sun beamed down on us, the blue of the sky matching the Ionian Sea water, not a cloud to be seen.
“You have to be sweltering in all that black. How do you do it?” Sara asked as we made our way down the path.
“I’m hot-natured. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Hades replied, staying near me while Sara led the pack.
It was so strange hearing his answers now and knowing there were subtle truths to it all.
“Hades and I are entering that dance contest,” I blurted.
“Really?” She whipped around to face us, walking backward. “You can dance like that, Hades?”
He shrugged. “Admittedly, I’ve never seen the movie, but I reckon I can pick it up pretty easily. I wanted Stephanie to have the chance to do it.”
“Huh. That’s pretty nice of you,” she said with a smile before turning back around.
At the end of the path, the famous canal came into view. A rock formation withered away by erosion and time, a slit down the center creating the canal itself. There were several tourists scattered across the rocks. Some were at the very top, others climbed down and sat on the rocks. It was a quaint, quiet cove with gentle lapping waves at the opening.
“Legend or not. This is gorgeous,” I said, staring at one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces.
“Yes, it is,” Hades said, his gaze piercing the side of my face.
I looked at him and gulped.
Sara stepped up to us, grabbing each of our hands. “Come on, that water is calling my name.”
“I certainly don’t hear the same callin’,” Hades said, allowing Sara to lead him to the edge of the rocks.
Sara wasted no time, whipping off her shirt and shorts, down to her bikini. “You can either jump off from here.” She leaned over the edge, staring down at the water. “Or there’s a rope over there. Pretty sure you know what I’m doing.” She gave a wicked grin, ran forward, and leaped off the rock.
I gasped, running to the edge just in time to see her splash into the water. “She’s fearless. I’ll give her that.”
“I take it you’d rather use the rope?” Hades asked.
“You’re coming with me, right?”
Hades leaned over the edge, sneering at the water. “Would you…like me to?”
“I certainly don’t want to climb down there by myself.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling.
He cleared his throat and dragged a hand over his beard. “Alright.”
Was it wrong I felt some kind of deep-rooted satisfaction in watching the god of the Underworld squirm?
“I’m getting pretty lonely down here,” Sara shouted.
We made our way to the rope. I paused with my thumbs in the tops of my shorts, feeling Hades’ presence behind me. Taking a deep breath, I whisked the shorts and shirt off before I could talk myself out of it. I turned to face him in my bikini. As his eyes roamed my body, he gave a subtle lick of his lip. I didn’t feel compelled to cross my arms over my chest. It was…liberating.
“So, are you going to hop in there fully clothed?”
“Well, since someone didn’t tell me I’d need swim attire, guess I’m improvisin’.” He slipped off the short-sleeved shirt, and my heart thudded.
He squinted, watching me watching him as he slid his hands under his tank top and pulled it over his head. I sucked my bottom lip and let it snap back out. Hades, shirtless, standing on a rock in the middle of Greece. And he most certainly had the ‘V.’ Muscular, tanned, and carved like a fleshy marble sculpture.
He didn’t take his eyes off me as he slid down his pants, standing now in only a pair of black silk boxers. As he walked past me, he held his hand up, and a quick surge of smoke wafted through my hair, tossing it over my shoulder.
I gasped. “Did you do that?”
“You tell me.” His eyes brightened before he swung his leg over the edge. “I’ll go first.”
I waited until he was at the bottom before starting my descent. My coordination wasn’t the best and trying to find rocks to rest my feet on was more difficult than I’d imagined.
“How much further do I have?” I asked.
“You’re almost there. Put your right foot directly beneath ya, darlin’.”
I moved my right foot but to the right and down instead of directly below as instructed. My foot slipped, and I let go in a bout of panic. Hades caught me, and I lay draped in his arms.
“Have I told you before you’re clumsy?” He arched a brow.
I nodded, not saying a word, and ignoring the goosebumps sprouting all over my skin from his touch.
“The water feels amazing,” Sara said, beckoning us with her hands.
Hades set me down, and I smoothed out a skirt I wasn’t wearing.
Once in the water, I let out a contented sigh. “It’s the perfect temperature.”
“Little cold for my taste,” Hades said, grimacing as he moved into the water inch by inch.
Sara looked between us with a warm smile before focusing on Hades, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me since we were at the top of the rock.
“You two should take a little dip through the canal. I’ve already done it,” Sara said, swirling her arms through the water.
“A dip together? What about the legend?” I laughed nervously.
Hades chuckled. “Darlin’ I promise you won’t want to inexplicably marry me after some stupid swim in ‘magical’ water.”
“I don’t know…”
He moved further into the water, wincing when it touched his chest. “I’ll prove it to you. Come on. Swim with me.”
Sara swam backward, canting her head back and forth as she continued to watch Hades. I knew exactly what she was doing, profiling him. When she told me she wanted another chance to talk to him, I knew what she really meant.
“Fine. But if you get all lovey-dovey on me after this, I’ll have to get a restraining order.” I grinned.
“Not even Aphrodite herself could force this black heart into love. It’s gotta get there all on its own.”
My throat constricted at his words, and I sidled up beside him as we began our swim.
“So, does Poseidon lurk in the water here?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “He hasn’t been in Greece for some time. I have no idea where he is now. I’ve been otherwise occupied, remember?”
“Right.” I snickered. “I keep forgetting, sorry. Though I’m not sure how I could forget, given what I’ve seen.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s a whole new world for you.”
And there were undoubtedly a hundred thousand things to see.
We reached the end of the canal, where the rocks narrowed into a gap not big enough to squeeze through.
“There. We swam the canal together. Should I propose now?” He smirked, gazing at me through the wet strands of his hair.
I laughed. “Alright. Alright. So, it’s just a legend. Gotta admit it’s a pretty romantic one though. And in a
setting like this?”
We stared at each other for a beat, swishing our arms through the clear blue water. Sara swam over and bobbed beside us.
“So, did you set the date?” She asked.
I widened my eyes and splashed her. She shrieked, paddling away with one hand while covering her head with the other.
We spent the rest of the day swimming through the canal, letting ourselves dry off on the rocks and diving back in when we got too hot. Several times, Hades remained on the rocks, just watching us. He wasn’t kidding when he said he despised the water, but boy did the water not despise him. It left little to the imagination, clinging the boxers to his legs. And they could write poems on the way it made his abdominal muscles sparkle.
The sun started to set, and Hades insisted we stay for dessert. We found a small café, and Hades ordered something called Sykomaïtha.
“You’ll both love it. It’s a fig-based cake. Corfu staple,” Hades said.
I sat next to him with Sara across from us. She had one elbow propped up and her chin resting in her hand.
“Are you Greek by descent?” Sara asked Hades.
“Yes.”
“How’d you end up with a southern accent?”
Hades leaned back and rested one arm on the back of his chair. He pursed his lips, making the dimple in his cheek more prominent. “Greek descent, American born. Georgia, to be exact.”
“Uh, huh. And what is it you do in Georgia?”
I dropped my face in my hands. She was interrogating him. It was more terrifying than watching her interview charged murderers.
“I don’t live in Georgia anymore. I mostly work from home.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Doing?”
“Odds and ends. I take the jobs as they come. Sometimes with either of my brothers.”
“Two brothers? Where do you fall in the order?”
“Oldest.”
She shifted in her seat. “And your middle brother’s name?”
“We call him Simon.” He narrowed his eyes.
It was like watching a tennis match.
“Dogs or cats?”
“Dogs. Definitely dogs.”
She grinned from ear-to-ear. “Okay, I like him, Steph.”
“Oh, come on, Sammy isn’t that bad,” I quipped.
Hades cocked an eyebrow.
“Her pet cat,” Sara said. “And you’re right, as far as cats go, he isn’t that bad, but give me a day of playing fetch and excited jumping when I come home any day of the week.”
