This Cruel Seduction excerpt puts the focus on Adonis and Theseus, showing a side of the new Hephaestus we haven’t seen before.

If you’re anything like me, then you’re more than ready for the new Dark Olympus book, Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert. This is the fifth book in the series, and it follows Hephaestus and Aphrodite as they navigate their new marriage. But like most couples in this series, their relationship is more than a little complicated.

If you’ve read Radiant Sin, then you know Theseus and his entourage’s arrival in Olympus has shaken things up a bit. After invoking the almost-forgotten Assassination Clause, the mysterious outsider stepped into one of the roles of the Thirteen and no one—not even Zeus—could do anything about it.

In this book, Aphrodite steps up to the plate and agrees to marry Theseus. You can read the Cruel Seduction excerpt from their wedding night in our previous article. It’s been made abundantly clear that both of these characters will do their best to make the other’s life a living hell, but I have a feeling they’ll find common ground soon enough—hence the title.

That common ground will come in the form of both Adonis and Pandora. In the first excerpt, we see Aphrodite’s gaze land on Pandora, the one person that Hephaestus seems to actually tolerate. That’s his weak point, and she’s going to exploit it.

The problem is that two can play at that game. Hephaestus draws Adonis closer, knowing that he’s Aphrodite’s ex and that she has still has a soft spot for him. But according to the Cruel Seduction excerpt below, it looks like Hephaestus is playing with fire even he can’t control.

Happy reading!

Exclusive ‘Cruel Seduction’ excerpt

There is no scenario where fucking Theseus is a good idea. I should have turned him away when my doorman called up. I certainly shouldn’t have answered the door without a shirt just to see if he’s as affected by me as I am by him.

Even then, I’d half convinced myself that it would end with a conversation…then with the kiss.

Until that look in his eyes when I wouldn’t let him hurt himself to bring me pleasure.

That shocked and almost awed expression. As if no one has ever stepped in for his benefit before. It doesn’t make sense. Surely he has people who care about him.

I can’t afford to be one of them, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to guard this soft part of him I’ve been shown unexpectedly.

Now, standing before him while he sucks down my cock, I’m lost. I half expected him to go about this the same way he seems to go about everything—quick and efficient. Instead, he teases me as he explores my length with his mouth. Sucking me down one moment, easing to achingly light movements around the head of my cock, then licking down to my base and back up again. The pleasure leaves me helpless to do anything but dig my hands into his hair and hang on. “Fuck.”

Hephaestus—Theseus, whoever the fuck he is right now—eases back the tiniest bit. I don’t have a chance to protest. He catches my chin and drags me down until our faces are almost even. “I like you. I have no fucking business liking you.”

Before I can respond, he shoves two fingers into my mouth. Theseus holds my gaze as he fucks my mouth with his fingers, pressing deep enough to have me gagging around him. My grip spasms in his hair. Gods, why is this so sexy?

Just when I think I can’t handle it another moment, he eases his fingers out of my mouth.

“Say my name when you come. My real name.” He descends on my cock again and, this time, he’s not playing around. He presses his fingers, wet from my mouth, into my ass.

My brain shorts out. All intentions to be careful disappear. My body takes over, my hips rolling to fuck his mouth, to fuck myself on his fingers. “Oh gods.” I can’t catch my breath, can’t slow down, can’t stop. My orgasm is coming too quickly, but there’s not a single thing I can do about it. “Theseus.”

He growls around my cock, the vibrations only making me come harder. My knees buckle, but I manage to keep my feet through sheer desperation. If I fall now, I lose the feeling of him drinking me down.

Theseus lifts his head slowly and presses a kiss to my stomach. “Good boy.”

The praise spoken so gruffly by this scarred warrior buoys me in a way I’m not prepared to deal with. He eases his fingers out of me and leans back. “That was a good start.”

“I…” There’s nothing to say, is there? “Bedroom.”

“Yeah.” He nudges me back and rises. “Let’s go.”

We take a quick detour to the bathroom for him to wash his hands, and then I lead him down the hall toward my bedroom. I pause long enough to wonder what he thinks of it. My apartment isn’t particularly large. There’s only me here, and I don’t care to keep up with cleaning a bunch of rooms I don’t spend time in.

I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to my bedroom, though. My mattress is top of the line and my sheets have the kind of thread count that used to make Eris tease me with a wicked look in her eyes.

No.

I’m not thinking about Eris right now.

I ignore the ache in my chest and start for the window to close the curtains. Theseus’s hand closes over my shoulder. “Wait.” His free hand skates down my spine, stopping at the small of my back. “I want to fuck you, Adonis.”

“I want it, too.”

“Do you need to prep?”

I flush when I realize what he’s asking. Part of me wants to pretend I don’t understand, to deny that I even considered it a possibility we might get to this place tonight. I swallow my pride and rasp, “We’re good.”

Theseus gives a low laugh that makes my skin tighten. He steps closer, pressing against my back, his cock a hard length against my ass. “You really are a good boy, aren’t you?” He kisses the back of my neck. “Got yourself all ready for me.”

The contrast between his mouth soft on my skin and his fingers digging into my shoulder makes me moan. “Yes.”

He coasts his hand from the small of my back to my hip and jerks me closer. “Tell me what you like.”

I don’t exactly mean to lean back against him, but it’s like he’s got a gravitational pull of his own and I’m helpless to resist it. He drags his hand from my shoulder and down around to my stomach, splaying his fingers out and holding me in place as he keeps kissing my neck. I’m hardly in my early twenties, recovering in the space of seconds, but my cock twitches all the same.

“Adonis,” he murmurs against my skin. “Tell me.”

The truth is that I’m not entirely certain I’d dislike anything he does to me. I don’t know how I got to this place, but it feels so good to let my brain click off and my body take over. To submit, just a little, and let someone else shoulder the worries that have plagued me for weeks.

Even if they’re still there, lingering at the edges of my mind, along with my broken heart and far too much anger.

I will not think about her. Not now. Not in the midst of this.

He nips the spot where my shoulder meets my neck and the words spill out. “I want it slow.”

Theseus’s hand on my stomach shakes, just a little. “You really are the little romantic, aren’t you?” I can’t help tensing, waiting for derision or mocking, but he just sounds as faintly wondering as he looked earlier. He sets his teeth against my skin. Not quite a bite, but it makes me jump all the same. “You want me to fuck you like I love you.”

“I didn’t say—”

He spins me around and then his mouth is on mine. Gods, but I could get addicted to the way this man kisses me. This time it’s soft and slow and, yes, like he loves me. I know it’s a lie, but I can’t stop myself from sinking into it. Theseus will never be mine, not in reality, but I’m so damn tired of reeling after Eris’s moves that I’ll take the illusion of it.

Even if it’s only for tonight.

Pre-order ‘Cruel Seduction’ by Katee Robert

Pre-order Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert through her website, BookShop.org, or Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads list.

Do you love the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert? Read my review of Neon Gods, Electric Idol, Wicked Beauty, and Radiant Sin, then visit our books page for more reviews and exclusives like this Cruel Seduction excerpt.