Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(67)

Cora glared at her. “You can go fuck yourself.”

She strode back toward the table where Marcus was sitting. Marcus stood like he meant to pull her chair out for her but she jerked it out roughly before he could and sat down hard, keeping her eyes firmly forward at the auctioneer and not looking his way.

Champagne had been served around the table and Cora grabbed her glass and tipped it backwards. It was bubbly and cool and in spite of the bite, she drank it all the way down. She reached for the untouched glass in front of Marcus but he swiftly put his hand out and stopped her.

She glared his way. His eyes darkened and locked with hers in response. He did not look happy.

Well fuck him too. She gave him a saccharine sweet smile. “Oh darling, I’m so thirsty,” she said loud enough for everyone else at the table to hear.

“Have my water, sweetheart,” he replied, handing her his water goblet.

She narrowed her eyes at him but accepted the water. She’d get her hands on more champagne later. If there was ever a night to get drunk, this was it. She didn’t care that she was only nineteen.

Suddenly, Marcus lifted an auction paddle she hadn’t even realized he had in his lap and called out, “$50,000.”

There were gasps from all around them and Cora sat up straighter, suddenly looking back and forth from the auctioneer at the front of the room to Marcus.

“Well folks, that’s one expensive set of theater tickets. Do I have any other bids? Didn’t think so. Sold, to number forty-six.”

Cora’s mouth dropped open. Did he just—? Her head swiveled back to Marcus.

“What did you do?”

He gave her his characteristic mouth twitch. “Donated to charity.”

She stared at him as the auctioneer went on to rattle off the next item.

She was left to stew in her own head about the evening, her mother, the woman in the black dress, and most of all, Marcus. She came to few conclusions about any of it other than the fact that she was very confused and probably couldn’t trust her own judgment.

The auction finally finished and dinner was served. Armand chattered in her ear about city gossip and others around the table made polite conversation. When the subject of Marcus’s donation came up, a reckless hair struck Cora.

“I’m not surprised,” Cora said, smiling at Marcus. “Marcus supports all sorts of charities. It’s one of the reasons we fell in love. He loves the fact that I spend so much time at a dog rescue shelter down on 35th and Thebes.” She turned her smile towards Marcus. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

His eyes narrowed but he nodded. “Yes, I’ve always admired your generous spirit.”

“Oh really?” said a man from across the table, leaning in in obvious interest. “I don’t know if I said, but I work for the New Olympian Post. Everyone is always curious about the elusive Mr. and now Mrs. Ubeli. I’d love to get a story on the charity.”

“No,” Marcus said at the same time Cora clapped in apparent delight and said, “Yes! That’d be wonderful.”

Marcus’s head swung her way and she continued smiling at him. “Oh come on, darling. You’re such a respected businessman about town.” She lifted a hand to straighten his tie even though it was already perfectly straight. “It’s natural that there’s curiosity about you.”

Cora looked back to the reporter. “Come by this Tuesday. I’ll be volunteering then.”

Underneath the table, Marcus’s hand clapped on Cora’s thigh. She turned back to him and gave him a glittering smile. “Maeve will be so delighted to share the shelter’s story.”

Marcus smiled coolly, his eyes hard, before changing the topic. His hand, however, was still very much engaged, as it slid under the slit in the side of her gown up her inner thigh.

Cora had to hide her gasp by taking a quick sip of water.

Marcus’s hand didn’t stop there, though. With one hand he ate his smoked salmon and with the other, he continued his path up her thigh until he was nudging her panties aside and then, oh—

Cora’s fingers went white knuckled around her fork as he thrust a finger inside her. Right there at the dinner table. In a room with hundreds of people. While she was wearing a designer gown and Marcus chatted with another man about the current state of the stock market.

How dare he—

Oh. Oh—

The pleasure quickened her stomach, sharp and surprising. She sank back in her chair and opened her legs as wide as the dress would allow.

No. What the hell was she doing? She couldn’t—

Oh! Two of his long, thick fingers explored her now, in and out, stroking through her folds and up to her clit before pushing inexorably inside her again.

It was wrong. So, so wrong for her to be enjoying this.

Her chest rose and fell sharply as pleasure radiated throughout her body, warm lapping waves. She clutched her water glass and bit her bottom lip to keep herself from crying out. Oh gods. Oh yes. Oh yes. Right there. Just like that.

It was coming— Oh! She wanted to throw her head back and close her eyes. But none of them could know what he was doing to her. She didn’t even want to admit what he was doing to her. His fingers worked her even more furiously.

The climax hit soft at first but it spread, wave after wave, radiating out from her center. A lightness so pure and freeing she wanted to hold onto it forever. The things Marcus made her feel, oh gods. The things he made her feel—