Under The Table

Marcus crossed the foyer, and the sheer relief of seeing him made Selene step forward without a second thought. She threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder with a heavy sigh.

"Where have you been?" she muffled against his shoulder.

“I had to fly in from London, El.” Marcus chuckled, his arms wrapping securely around her waist to lift her slightly off her feet before setting her back down. "Missed me that much?"

She pulled back just enough to look up at him, but Marcus didn't let her go, his hands resting casually on her hips. It was the same familiar affection they’d shared since they were kids, back when Marcus would fly in for summers and the three of them; her, Cassian, and Marc—were inseparable. But looking at him now, she couldn't help but feel the sting of how much had changed since college, since the marriage, since everything shattered.

A smirk touched his lips as his eyes moved over her dress. "El. That dress is doing a lot of damage tonight."

Selene let out a soft laugh, swatting at his chest. "Marc, stop it. I’m stressed enough as it is, don't start with me."

"Just stating facts babe," his grin widening.

Cassian stepped up right behind her, but Marcus just raised his champagne glass in his direction, totally unbothered. "Don't look at me like that, Cass. I have eyes, and your wife is the most beautiful woman in the room."

"Go find something else to do, Marcus," Cassian said, positioning himself right next to Selene.

"Fuck off, Cass," Marcus shot back. He finally let his hands drop from her hips, his smile shifting into something more observant as he looked down at her face. "You alright, El? You look a little tense."

"I'm fine." She couldn't help but think back to the stairs, the feeling of Cassian’s touch still at the back of her mind. "It's just been a long day."

"Yeah," Marcus said slowly, his eyes moving between the two of them, taking in the chaotic tension he knew all too well. "I bet."

"There you are." Evelyn's voice cut across the foyer as she walked toward them. "Come sit before the food gets cold. Your father and Edward have been arguing about a business model for an hour and I need someone to change the subject."

"We're coming, Mom," Cassian said.

"Good." Evelyn paused, her eyes bouncing between Cassian and Selene. "I'd love to hear what's next now that—well..." She lifted a hand, gesturing vaguely between them, before letting it drop.

They all just stood there, caught in the awkward silence, until Marcus cleared his throat. Stepping forward, he offered Evelyn his arm and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.

"Come on," Marcus said easily, guiding her back toward the dining room.

"Let's go in," Cassian said, his hand finding the small of Selene’s back, and this time she let him guide her without pulling away.

At the dining table, her parents sat across from Edward, who watched as Marcus guided Evelyn into the seat beside him. Marcus then dropped into the chair across from Selene, while Cassian took the one beside her.

"Selene," her father said, setting down his glasses. "I hear you're moving full-time into your own firm."

She brushed off the question without looking up. "I am. I start next week."

Edward frowned, swirling his glass. "The advertising firm? Cassian, you're alright with her stepping away from the company entirely?"

Cassian leaned back, a faint, mocking smile touching his lips. "Of course, Dad. She’s been building Vellum for years, I’d be a fool to stand in her way now."

Selene looked down at her plate, knowing fully well he didn't care about Vellum, but about how it looked to sit, and play the supportive husband in front of their parents.

"Actually, this is good timing," Marcus said, looking up from his plate. "I was speaking to a friend who owns an art gallery, Daniel Sterling. He's looking for an agency for the new launch, and I already mentioned you, told him you're the best in the city."

A sudden spark of excitement hit her, and she leaned forward. "Marcus, I've been trying to get a meeting with his firm for months."

"You've heard of him?" Marcus asked, his smile widening at her reaction.

"Of course, I've visited his gallery multiple times with Noa, but we haven't actually met, unfortunately."

"Leave it to me, I'll set it up myself."

"Thank you," she said.

He caught her eye and offered a quick wink, making her roll her eyes jokingly right back at him.

Suddenly, a leg brushed against hers under the table, catching her off guard. Cassian's hand followed, sliding over the open slit of her dress and landing directly on her exposed thigh.

She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him, but he only glanced her way for a split second before ignoring her completely.

Under the cover of the tablecloth, she swatted his hand away with a sharp smack.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" her mother asked from across the table.

Selene froze, What was she supposed to say? That Cassian, whom she was supposed to be furious with, was riling her up right under their noses? That her own traitorous body was responding shamelessly to his touch?

Forcing her voice to remain steady, she responded with a weak, "I'm fine, Mom."

Selene looked back down and took a bite of her food, trying to ignore his hand sliding right back onto her bare thigh. Under the table, she tugged desperately at his wrist, but his grip was unyielding. Realizing she couldn't break his hold without drawing attention, she finally let go.

The moment she stopped fighting, his fingers slid even higher, his palm coming to rest firmly against her center.

Selene choked on her food, a sharp cough escaping her as the sudden contact trapped the air right in her lungs.

"Oh dear, drink some water," her mother said, as voices around the table murmured in concern.

Blinking through her watering eyes, Selene looked up just as Cassian turned her way, his smile masking the dark smirk in his eyes.

She realized he was playing a dangerous game right in front of everyone and she feared he might just be winning