Page 13 of Hades

Simon grimaced.

“Shit. I didn’t mean—it’s not a lie, mi amor. It’s…a fib.”

I fixed him with a withering stare.

“Same difference. You’re supposed to be keeping the kids healthy, Simon. Your club already loads them up with enough sugar to feed a small army. I’m trusting you to ensure they eat some vegetables once in a while.”

“French fries are vegetables,” he countered. “They’re made from potatoes.”

“Doesn’t count,” I said flatly.

“Says the woman making a giant wedding cake,” Simon replied. “I’m pretty sure there are no vegetables in all that chocolate.”

I poked him in the chest.

“Don’t do that. Don’t rile me up on purpose.”

The corner of Simon’s lips twitched with a wry grin and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

“But you’re so fucking hot when you’re angry, mi amor.”

I swatted him with my apron.

“Stop that.”

Simon rumbled a laugh and slid an arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

“We talked about this, remember? When you call me asshole—”

Now it was my turn to cover Simon’s mouth with my hand. I felt him smile against my palm with a teasing little bite.

“Mia, Casey, get ready to go,” I said. “Find your shoes, brush your teeth.”

They scampered off, jostling each other as they raced upstairs to their rooms. After Simon and I were alone, I removed my hand.

“I know what you’re doing,” I said.

Simon hummed.

“And that would be…?”

I planted my hand against his chest and pushed him back until he was forced to retreat two steps.

“You always act like this when you’re trying to get under my skirts.”

He shrugged.

“It can’t hurt to test the waters every now and then, just to see if my charms still work their magic. You used to love it when I bent you over the counter.”

My cheeks warmed at the memory. An ache of need throbbed between my thighs. I turned my back on him, busying myself with the cake batter again.

“Well, take your charms somewhere else.”

Simon came to stand next to me, leaning back against the counter while I scraped cake batter into a baking pan.

“So, are you bringing a date to this wedding?”

“I invited Greyson, if that’s what you’re wondering,” I replied. “He’s working overtime though, so he can’t make it.”