Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Hades cuts off my dress as the doctor peppers me with questions that I try to answer as honestly as possible. Once I’m naked, he does a quick examination and stands back. “Broken ribs, most likely, but I’d need an X-ray to be sure. They aren’t hampering her ability to breathe, and she hasn’t started coughing up blood or any of that nonsense, so I doubt it’s serious. Miscellaneous cuts and bruises that need to be cleaned, but nothing deep enough for stitches.” He crosses his arms over his chest and glares down at me. “You’ll live.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Six weeks of no hard activities.” He turns that glare on Hades and Hercules. “No wild sex. No swinging crops and the like. Nothing that puts stress on those ribs. If the pain gets worse or you start having trouble breathing, call me immediately.”
“I will.”
“Then I’m going back to bed. You two.” He points at my men. “Clean her up. I’m sure you have bandages around here. Rinse the wounds first to make sure there’s no glass remaining. That’s it. Keep things PG.”
Hades levels a severe look at him. “Thank you for your help, Doctor. Please leave.”
“Good night.” Dr. Miranda turns and strides to the elevator, and then he’s gone.
I let out a dry laugh. “I always liked him.”
“It’s the only reason I put up with his attitude.” Hades moves to stand in front of me. “Come on, love. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
It feels surreal to step into the shower with him and have him wash me. We’ve done this before. Hell, we did this earlier today. It feels different now. He sits me down on the tile bench and carefully cleans my legs, probing gently for glass.
Hades has never touched me like I’m breakable before. I don’t think I like it, but I’m too tired and too breakable to complain. When we turn the water off, Hercules is waiting with the bandages. Hades combs my hair while Hercules patches me up. As I suspected, most of the cuts are small enough that they don’t need much. There are two slightly larger ones on my arm, and he carefully bandages them.
“I love you,” I blurt out. “Both of you. So fucking much. It scares the shit out of me.”
Hercules flicks his gaze to my face, more serious than I’ve ever seen him. “You both know I’m head over heels for you two. I have been since that first night.” He glances at Hades. “So, no shit, I love you.”
I find myself holding my breath and relax as Hades strokes my drying hair. “You know I love you, Megaera. I may not say it often enough, but I have ever since you walked through my doors, full of fury and a determination to save someone who didn’t deserve it.” He leans over until I can see his face. “I haven’t taken care of you the way you deserve, and I’m sorry for that.” He glances at Hercules. “And you. You were never part of my long-term plan, and yet here we are.” He hesitates. “I don’t give my love easily, little Hercules. You’ve slipped in when I wasn’t paying attention.” He gives a slow smile that makes my stomach flip over despite how exhausted I am. “Now you’re mine forever.”
“I’d like to propose a new bargain.” He squeezes my hand. “The three of us—for good. Three lifetime bargains in one.”
Hades goes still. “Three.”
“Yes. Not just a bargain with you; a bargain with one another.” Hercules smiles and it’s so sweet, it washes over me like golden sunlight. “The three of us on equal ground, such as it is.”
I find myself holding my breath. Hades doesn’t make us wait long. “A bargain it is, then. A mutual claiming.”
“Sounds kinky,” I murmur.
He chuckles. “When you’re healed, it will be. Until then, we seal it with a kiss.” He brushes his lips softly against mine, and then repeats the move with Hercules. Hercules presses a quick kiss to my lips and stands.
My heart is so fucking full, I can barely stand it. “I think this is the best bargain I’ve ever made.”
“The feeling is entirely mutual.” Hades lifts me into his arms. “Come on, love. Let’s get you in bed.”
It’s not as graceful as we’ve been in the past. The pain meds haven’t quite kicked in yet, and I’m moving like a person three times my age. They bracket me in, warming me, comforting me with their bodies better than they ever could with their words. Surrounded by the two men I love, the two men who love me, something inside me relaxes, and despite my pain, I draw my first full breath in what feels like years.
This is right. This is exactly where we’re meant to be.
This is fucking perfect.