Originally posted on AO3.
Smutty little oneshot set after 'What You Have To Offer'
This oneshot is a stand-alone so you don't need to have read WYHTO in order to follow its - arguably small amount of - plot.
If you have read WYHTO I'm glad to have you back for some more Beth/Snow.
Enjoy!
Beth carefully chewed and swallowed the bite she had taken before she set down her fork and lifted her wineglass to her lips. The wine was sickeningly sweet on Beth's tongue before it gave in to her attempts to swallow it.
The room was filled with soft background music, the sound of food and drink mixing with the soft tunes. Beth had spent the last hours shifting her attention back and forth between the various conversations that had been going on, her husband's conversation always her focal point as she smiled and nodded along and added little tidbits when appropriate. At least Snow's deep voice was easy enough to filter out of the overlapping conversations that blended together and seemed to try and rival the melody of the classical music playing in the background.
Tingles ran up and down Beth's thigh, as if to draw her attention to Snow's hand that rested there most of the time. The ever present weight and heat of his palm burning itself into her skin - it was a natural place of contact for them. Snow removed his hand every now and then to eat, to drink, to put his napkin to his lips, but it always found her thigh again.
It hadn't taken long for them to find and perfect a rhythm of small, seemingly insignificant gestures, that made their relationship far more believable to any potentially suspicious onlookers.
Beth ran her hand over the napkin in her lap before covering Snow's hand with hers. Curling her fingers around his ring and pinkie finger she turned her head and focused her attention on the person sitting to her left.
Aria was one of those people that Beth had found to be quite pleasant company. She was the wife of one of the Capitol's high ranking officials and even if she looked far from approachable, with her blond hair and piercing gray eyes, once Beth had gotten to know her there was a warmth behind her cold demeanor. Aria exuded confidence and sophistication in everything she did, from the clothes she wore to the way she carried herself. Beth was sure that Aria's marriage had been arranged by her wealthy and influential family, something Beth had learned was rather common in the Capitol, so she felt naturally drawn to Aria. Their friendship had first developed on purely superficial terms out of convenience. They saw each other regularly so the unspoken agreement they had come to was 'if we spend time together - might as well get along'. It had developed into something more as time went on. Their conversations were still mostly superficial, barely scratching the surface of anything real, but they both enjoyed the comfort of having someone to fall back on.
When the last person finally finished their dinner, the Avoxes, that had previously been standing in the corners of the room like statues, first started clearing the table and then bringing out drinks. The smell of cinnamon burned its way down Beth's nose as she curiously looked at the clear liquid in front of her before she took another close look at the guests at the table.
Most of them, except one, were familiar faces, regular participants of business dinners such as this one, important political figures and their wifes hoping to bring Snow good news and leave a good impression - or none for that matter - everyone more than just a bit worried to have their missteps exposed and consequences imposed upon them.
Beth had learned the names of the regulars quickly and she had just as quickly learned to assess when it was a good idea to learn more about a newcomer and when it would be worth neither the effort nor the time. Certain ones just didn't stick around long enough to justify showing interest in them. It wasn't a secret that people that disappointed always ended up disappearing. And from what Aria had told Beth about this specific newcomer - a financial administrator in charge of handling a big chunk of the Capitols funds to be specific - Beth wondered how long it would take for him to vanish off the face of the earth. She guessed that it would be sooner rather than later.
Snow's hand on Beth's thigh shifted when he leaned forward to reach for his glass and as expected everyone at the table followed his lead, their eyes glued to Snow.
'We're here tonight for a special reason.'
Calm words rang through the room, but Beth knew better than to fall for the false sense of security.
'In fact we're here tonight because I want to thank you.'
Out of the corner of her eye Beth could see how people's expressions changed, the relieved exhales and tension leaving their bodies. They really believed that or did they just want to? Beth had spent enough time with Snow to know that it was never that easy. She would let the tension leave her body when he got to the point, not two sentences into building up to it. Maybe she was too suspicious, too concerned, but Snow's voice was too calm, his face too focused. Beth's eyes briefly darted across the room before she focused back on her husband.
'And I want to thank one of you in particular.'
The air seemed to be buzzing with electricity as everyone leaned forward in their chair, hoping for their name to be called. Snow slowly lifted his hand a bit higher, his eyes locking with the person across from him.
'Thank you, Phineas'
Beth's stomach dropped when she followed Snow's gaze and not only remembered the last time she had heard that name but also that it belonged to the newcomer at the table. She decided that she had in fact not been overreacting.
The disappointed faces of everyone else at the table became unimportant when Snow raised his glass in a toast. Beth felt as if the temperature dropped a couple degrees when Snow slowly moved his glass to his lips and everyone followed suit. A cough caught in Beth's throat as the liquor burned its way down. Phineas seemed to feel similarly about the taste, disgust flickering across his face as he swallowed. The corner of Snow's mouth twitched for a split second when Phineas exhaled shakily. For a few moments it seemed as if the financial administrator had caught his breath and recovered from the drink but then Beth saw that his eyes started to water, coughing and choking sounds started to escape his mouth at increasing frequency. The horror that washed over Phineas' face when he realized that no amount of coughing would clear his throat reminded Beth of only one thing - the facial expression that came with the grave realization that one's death was imminent, she had seen it in the Games, the image forever burned into her mind.
'Thank you, Phineas, for reminding everyone that it is of paramount importance to honor their acquired position.'
Aria's shocked gasp reached Beth's ears but she only distantly registered it. When Phineas' head hit the table with a dull thump seconds later Beth closed her eyes and took another sip of her drink. Turned out it really had been sooner rather than later.
Beth didn't need to look at Snow to know that the only expression on his face was a lack thereof. To him it was simply necessary politics - just business.
It was moments like this, when Snow so casually, so calmly, and yet so ruthlessly, dominated any situation, exuding power, power that he held over everyone and everything, as if it was nothing, that posed as an example why he had been in charge for so long and would continue to be. Snow didn't need to raise his voice to command any room. It terrified Beth and it excited her just the same.
Months ago she would have called herself a fool and questioned her sanity had those thoughts crossed her mind, instead she decided to take another sip of her drink while she fought the urge to rub her thighs together. Beth could feel heat pooling in her stomach as the muscles in her thighs flexed. Shivers running up her spine as her vision turned blurry around the edges. Still Beth avoided looking over at Snow, desperate for her arousal to pass without alerting him to it.
The silence only lasted mere moments but it felt like an eternity, the heat in Beth's stomach spreading and mingling and mixing with the heat of Snow's palm on her thigh. Beth wasn't sure when his fingers had started to draw circles on her skin but it certainly didn't help to calm her spiraling thoughts. Neither did the next sip of liquor that Beth took when the conversations hesitantly picked up again. And when the evening came to an end, the guests slowly bidding their goodbyes, Snow's grip on Beth's thigh tightened.
Snow nonchalantly dismissed the Avoxes and other staff with a wave of his hand leaving the couple alone in the big dining room. Beth's shuddering exhale was the only thing breaking the silence before Snow spoke.
'You didn't seem surprised.'
Beth untangled her fingers from Snow's and slowly turned in her chair to face him. A decision she regretted when Snow's eyes met hers and the effort she had put into pushing her arousal down was shattered. Snow was staring right into her soul, studying her every move, while his hand traveled along her thigh. Her traitorous body moved closer to him, inching her along until her butt was on the edge of the chair. Beth nervously flicked her tongue over her bottom lip before she answered.
'Rewards and consequences.'
Beth drew a connection to the conversation they had had months ago, it was the only safe choice in her opinion. Snow inclined his head as if to ponder her words before he slowly started to move his hands from her thigh, traveling up, over her hips, to the legs of the chair.
The sound of the chair scraping along the floor echoed in the room when he forced it closer to him. It startled Beth and she stared at Snow with wide eyes. Their lips were so close that they almost touched, the heavy smell of cinnamon on his breath surrounded Beth and clouded her senses.
'Yes, it does seem like you had both of those things on your mind.'
Snow's hands were back on Beth's thighs and she willingly parted them for him. Not that safe of a choice after all. But there was no use in denying it anymore as one of Snow's hands made its way to her waist, the other brushing over her breasts. Snow ran his knuckles over her nipples, pinching one of them between his fingers. The sharp pain made Beth suck in air through her teeth. Snow was dangling the bait right in front of her, waiting for her to bite - Beth decided to take it.
'Maybe.'
A single word out of Beth's mouth and Snow's other hand was in her hair. He guided Beth out of her chair and onto his lap, her back flush against his front, legs dangling off the chair on both sides.
His strong hand gently wrapped itself around her throat from behind, the iron grip he had on her in all aspects of life, breaking her down and building her up at the same time, holding her in place yet giving her the security to roam and explore. Beth's head rolled back onto Snow's shoulder, her mouth fell open and a drawn out sigh escaped her mouth.
Perhaps she should have felt shame, it was unethical to say the least, but she had thrown those things to the wind long ago and of all the things Snow had made her feel the need to be ashamed of her body and desires had never been one of them.
'Maybe, it would do you well to make up your mind.'
Snow lightly squeezed Beth's throat, coaxing a moan from her lips, while his other hand lazily stroked along her ribcage. Beth knew that Snow was waiting for her to beg him but she had no intention of playing this game with him. Beth had no doubts that he was enjoying this just as much as she did but unluckily for Beth she also knew that his control and patience far outweighed hers.
The fire between Beth's legs was roaring when she started to roll her hips, to push herself into Snow, digging her nails into the fabric of his pants. She squeezed her eyes shut before she opened her mouth.
'We both know I already did.'
Snow's soft laugh rang in Beth's ears as the hand that had been stroking her side undid the laces on her top. With the laces undone the fabric fell apart exposing her chest to the cool air. Soft touches made Beth arch her back in a desperate attempt to give him better access and force his fingers to move where she wanted them. But still his fingers only stroked along her ribs, her belly, the undersides of her breasts. An annoyed huff left Beth's mouth. Why couldn't he just give her what she wanted? Instead he kept her in a delirium, on the edge but giving her too little to take her over it.
Her arms twisted uncomfortably when Beth reached behind her back as best as she could, one hand pulling at Snow's belt, the other one reaching for his nipple, scratching her nails over his chest. A sob caught half way in her throat when she felt him twitch against her but still Snow made no move to give her what she needed.
'Please…' A whisper was all she could manage but it was enough.
It felt like Snow's hand was all over her at the same time, touching her breasts, traveling down her belly, hiking up her skirt, stroking over her soaked panties. Snow dragged his teeth over Beth's shoulder, his words muffled by her skin. 'That wasn't so hard, was it?'
When Snow finally pulled her panties aside and slid his fingers into her Beth's hips moved to meet him. Again she reached behind her, fumbling with and pulling at his belt, desperately trying to open it. It almost seemed like her struggle amused Snow. He showed no interest in helping her, his only response was the curling of fingers inside her and the heel of his hand grinding against her clit.
'Please…' Again Beth clawed at Snow's clothes.
And then finally Snow showed her mercy. Beth's eyes shot open when the hand on her throat moved to her neck and pushed her forward. Beth barely managed to move her hands infront of herself in time to catch her fall. The slap of her palms against the top of the table was obscenely loud. If it was possible to go mad with arousal Beth thought she was close to it. She could feel her juices slowly dripping down her thighs, seeping into Snow's pants, the fabric clinging to her shaking body, rubbing against her with every jerk of her hips. Leaning her head against the cold surface of the dining table did little to help her collect her thoughts - Beth was stuck in a raging storm with only Snow to guide her out of it.
It seemed as if Snow had finally made up his mind when he undid the buckle on his belt and the buttons on his pants before he pulled Beth back against him. Her arms caught behind her back, she reached for him eagerly, her hands making their way into his pants as his fingers found her cunt again. Snow's erection was hot against her palm and Beth twisted her hand, trying to move it up and down his length, as best as she could with her limited range of motion.
A sob tore itself from her lips as she attempted to focus on giving him pleasure but his fingers were hitting her insides at an angle that made her shake in his arms. Unforgiving and relentless strokes drove Beth closer to the edge until she froze against Snow. A silent plea died on Beth's lips as her muscles contracted around him before she went limp. Snow's arms around her were the only thing that stopped Beth from hitting the table infront of her.
When the fog in her brain finally started to clear it only gave way to one question.
When would she disappoint?