Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(31)

She sat up, suddenly understanding. “That’s why you want to marry me so quickly.”

He dipped his chin. He didn’t want to...not until they were married. Her heart clutched at the sweetness of the gesture. She didn’t know a lot about these things but she suspected, a man like him, going without couldn’t be easy. But he was doing it, for her. Even now she knew he was stifling his need. She’d felt him so hard against her thigh.

“Marcus.” She slid her arms around his shoulders. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m not taking any chances.” For a moment she clung to him in perfect silence.

He said, “From now on, you have two guards wherever you go.”

“But—”

He placed a finger at her lips. “No argument. I know that dick turned up again.” His face grew sober. “Sharo saw him in the shop.”

She straightened. “I didn’t— He didn’t—” She wasn’t sure what she was trying to explain so she stopped.

“I know.”

Cora bit her lip. It was now or never. “He said something. He was trying to warn me.”

“About what?” Marcus’s face was carefully blank.

Did it really matter what that man said? He’d drugged and kidnapped her. He was obviously fixated on her, and he’d had several blows to the head. Was she really going to believe his ‘warning’ over everything she knew about Marcus?

Not that she really knew Marcus, but so far he’d been a perfect gentleman. And she did know him, didn’t she? The things that mattered anyway.

Her eyes dropped to her lap. “Nothing. He said nothing.”

Marcus trapped her hand between both of his, squeezing. “Cora, this...what we have...is new. But it’s gonna last.”

“I know that.” And she did. Because now she couldn’t imagine her world without Marcus in it.

“You know my work isn’t always above the law.”

“I don’t know much about what you do—” she started shakily.

“You know enough.”

“I know who you are, Marcus. I know that you have principles. You want good people to be safe… And bad people punished.”

“That’s right. I do.” His grip tightened, almost painful, then it eased and he raised her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “But I promise you, my work will never touch you. I’m gonna put you so high on a pedestal, you’ll live in the stars.”

“Lock me in an ivory tower?” she tried to smile. “The penthouse?”

“If that’s what it takes.” His voice was hard but then it turned reassuring. “Cora, that man won’t ever bother you again.”

Her stomach plummeted, a jumble of guilt and relief. “He won’t?” she whispered. What will you do to him? She gulped back the question. Even if Marcus told her, she didn’t want to know.

“No.” His eyes crinkled in a chilling smile. “Don’t worry. I told you I’d take care of you.”





Eight





They got married two weeks later in a brief, private ceremony in a small chapel near the Crown hotel.

Well, private in that Marcus only invited what he called the ‘bare minimum’ of his friends and business associates who would be offended if they didn’t get an invitation. So the chapel was full to bursting with people.

Traditionally his guests would fill one side of the aisle and hers the other, but Cora only had one person to invite—the only other person in the city she really knew besides Marcus—Maeve.

Cora felt a pang thinking about her mother as she hovered at the back of the church, but it was mainly along the lines of wishing she had a normal mother who could be here, happy and joyful to give her daughter away. Instead it would be Sharo walking her down the aisle.

The only other person she even really knew there was Armand, and he was still technically more Marcus’s friend than hers, though she did get to enjoy more of his boisterous personality as she had dress fittings with him. He had a line of wedding dresses so it seemed natural to go to him for her dress.

Never one to go completely traditional, Armand had picked a dress that was white with black straps and black lace at her waist. Cora wasn’t picky. The dress was beautiful and it was clear Marcus approved by the look in his eye as she walked down the aisle. She wore white flowers in her hair and she positively floated the last few feet to him.

She couldn’t believe she was actually here, about to marry him. He would be hers, forever.

She was so giddy, she couldn’t stop grinning throughout the entire ceremony, even though the priest droned on.

And finally, the ancient priest got to the only part Cora cared about. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Marcus pulled her close, cradled her head in his large hand and slanted his mouth over hers. It wasn’t a chaste kiss. Fireworks exploded as his tongue stroked once, twice, three times before her lips parted and it swept inside. Heat rolled through her, running into her mouth like nectar from Marcus’s lips, spilling down her neck, chest, and pooling with exquisite weight right between her legs. Her thighs clenched. Wedding bells were ringing, and every cell in her body blasted to life.