Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(32)

He finally released her, the cheers of the guests echoing in her ears. Sparks sizzling in every corner of her body, Cora reached out and swiped a thumb at the corner of his mouth where her lipstick marked him. Marcus gave her a wink and her whole body convulsed.

“Soon,” he mouthed and she flushed redder than she already was. He turned to greet the guests, handsome face smooth and polite, but she sensed the tension, the dormant readiness in the lines of his powerful body. He was impatient with the pomp and ceremony too.

First there was the reception, an elegant affair in one of the Crown hotel’s ballrooms. Cora clung to Marcus’s hand in the receiving line as person after person came by to congratulate them. Some of the faces she recognized. Santonio—or Papa Santa as he liked people to call him. He ran one of the restaurants Marcus invested in. And then there was Jimmy Roscoe and his wife and their five children. Cora didn’t know how Marcus knew him except that they did business together.

The rest were a blur of names and faces she didn’t bother trying to keep up with. She smiled and shook hands and accepted congratulations until finally the line dwindled and they were through.

“Another half hour then we’ll cut out of here, I promise,” Marcus whispered in her ear as he led her out on the dance floor.

That sounded like heaven to her. She relaxed into his body as soon as the band started to play a slow, romantic jazz number. He led her expertly across the floor, smooth as spun honey.

And true to his word, half an hour later, they’d cut the cake and made their goodbyes, encouraging everyone else to stay and enjoy the party and the open bar.

They escaped upstairs.

Cora was tired after the long day but adrenaline had her feeling wide awake as they stepped on the elevator to go to the penthouse.

It was officially her wedding night now.

She and Marcus hadn’t talked about it, but it was obvious that tonight would be the night. He’d take her virginity and they’d finally be united in every way possible. She’d truly be his, and him hers.

It was stupid, but she had the romantic notion that her whole life had been leading up to this moment.

“Oh Marcus,” she sighed, leaning into his body as the elevator continued to rise. “I never knew happiness like this could even be real.”

He didn’t say anything, he just put his arm around her and pulled her into his chest.

The elevator pinged and he let her go as he strode forward and slid his keycard from his wallet and into the door.

Cora eagerly followed behind, hurrying into the penthouse suite.

But apparently she wasn’t fast enough because Marcus pushed her from behind, grabbing frantically for her and shoving the door shut with his foot.

It was like he couldn’t get his hands on her quick enough. He kissed her forcefully, hands at her waist pulling her into him.

Cora opened to him, her adrenaline spiking even higher as pleasure warred with fear over what was about to happen. She’d tried to learn a little bit about sex online using her phone, but the pictures that had come up—suffice to say, she’d quickly closed the browser in horror. Besides, she’d reasoned, she trusted Marcus to lead her through whatever she needed to know.

Marcus immediately shucked his jacket and yanked at his tie, but then, as if he was impatient, his hands came back to her. His hands slid down her waist and around to her backside. He squeezed her bottom and she couldn’t help the groan of surprise and pleasure—gods, having him touch her so intimately was shocking…and amazing.

Next he was tearing at the buttons on his shirt and yanking it off, then pulling his undershirt off over his head.

Cora’s eyes about bugged out of her head at seeing his bare chest.

Her husband was gorgeous.

To die for gorgeous.

She knew he worked out in the mornings but…her mouth went dry the more she looked at his toned chest and the cut of his abdominal muscles, all leading to a sharp V that—

“You like what you see?” he growled and pulled her to him again, kissing her deep.

But only for a moment, because he pulled away and spun her around and pressed her face first into the wall.

She felt his fingers pulling at the laces of her dress the next moment. “Godsdamned Armand,” he hissed, tugging impatiently. “How the hell do I get you out of this thing?”

Cora giggled and reached back to help him but he batted her hands away. Finally, she felt the dress loosen around her waist and Marcus finished by pulling down the zipper. His hands glided over her flesh as he pushed the gown to the ground and helped her step out of it.

She was left in a white strapless bra, thong, and thigh-highs. She lifted her arms to her chest instinctively.

But Marcus wasn’t having it. He pulled her arms down and stared at her in that way of his, like he was drinking in every inch of her.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. She squealed and circled his neck with her arms, clinging to him, but he carried her like she weighed nothing at all.

He deposited her smoothly on the bed and followed her down, kissing her and climbing in between her legs.

She groaned as he put pressure right where she needed it. She wrapped her legs around him and ground restlessly against him, seeking what she didn’t even know. Oh gods, was this really finally happening? Was she actually here, in her wedding bed with Marcus? It was a dream. Things like this never happened to her. Was she really getting the happy ending?