by Nina West
“He was trying to have you framed for rape, Henry.”
Henry’s eyes drift out the window. “He scared the shit out of you. He introduced doubt into your mind that I didn’t do anything to get rid of. Here you are, this twenty-one-year-old who’s only ever been in one relationship, with that fuckhead who crushed you. Of course you’re going to have a hard time trusting anyone so easily again. I expected you to take what I said at face value.” His eyes flicker to me. “That wasn’t fair to you.”
“What happened with Michael—”
“The asshole took advantage of a distraught woman. I saw the video.”
My mouth falls open. Oh my God. “There’s a video?”
“Security footage. Of you running into him, and him leading you back to his cabin with his arm around you. And of you leaving the next morning. I wasn’t sure you actually fucked him until I saw your face. Then I knew, right away.” He shakes his head to himself. “I have to say, it’s the first time I’ve ever had a woman I was with do that to me.”
His words are soft and without accusation, and yet I flinch as if they’re a slap. “I wish I could go back in time and change it all. Really, I do.”
His jaw tenses. “Did you enjoy it?”
“No. I mean....” I close my eyes. “I did, for what it was, at the time. But I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be with you.”
“I should have made you come home with me that night, instead of walking that....” His words drift off with a snort and an eye roll. “That piece of work back to her cabin.” He sighs, chuckling to himself. “But I didn’t. And then, to top it all off, I threatened you with a video. Knowing that would terrorize you. Not one of my finer moments, Abbi. But...” He hesitates. “I didn’t like how you made me feel.”
“Do you have a video of me? Of us?”
He pauses to peer at the bottom of his glass. “I would never do that to you.”
“You did it to your last assistant,” I remind him.
“No, I didn’t.”
“You didn’t videotape the two of you together?” Was that a lie, too?
“No. To be fair, I asked if she’d be willing but....” When he looks up to see my mouth hanging open, he chuckles softly. “There’s this table in the foyer of my penthouse. One night, Kiera decided to surprise me by stripping down and lying on it. She figured I’d enjoy stepping out of my elevator to that sight. She didn’t realize that there’s a security camera there, with a perfect angle.”
“So you got a video of everythi—”
“Right down to the happy look on her face as I fucked her.”
I cringe with mortification, putting myself in that unwitting position. “But you knew the camera was there.”
“I did,” he admits with a sheepish smile. “I pulled the security footage immediately after so no one could exploit it. The benefit of owning the building.”
I frown. “But you kept it.”
“I did.” Heat flares in his eyes. “And I watched it. I enjoyed watching it; I’m not going to lie to you. But I also tossed it into my safe and had no plans of ever letting anyone else see it. I consider myself lucky for that choice. And stupid, for all my other ones. Had I listened to my father, the last eight months of my life would have been a lot easier. But it’s all over and done with now, and everyone can move on.” He reaches for my tray. “You done with that?”
I nod. I’m not sure if I feel better or worse about him taking some of the blame off my shoulders. The way he’s speaking, it’s like he’s resigned to the fact that it’s really and truly over.
“I guess we both made a lot of mistakes that we can’t take back.”
He carries the trays over to a small bar. “There should be some decent movies to watch on the TV. I’m going to grab some sleep.” Reclining the seat back all the way, he stretches his arms back behind his head, the move lifting his shirt up to reveal that delicious thin line of hair that starts below his belly button. “Wake me up if you hear anything.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I’m far ahead of Henry, rushing through the emergency room, my stomach in knots.
Jed hasn’t updated me.
He hasn’t responded to my messages.
I know my phone’s working because Ronan and Connor have been texting me, but Jed has not.
I fear the worst. That my father has died and Jed doesn’t want to tell me over the phone.
A nurse kindly points me in the direction of the emergency room waiting area.
The first person I see is Reverend Enderbey. His back it to me, but I’d recognize that short-sleeved button-down and summer vest ensemble anywhere. Jed’s mom, a tiny blonde woman, stands next to him. They’re talking with a man in doctors’ garb. Jed and Mama are on the other side of him.
Jed’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Abigail!”
“Oh, thank God!” Mama exclaims, her short brown curls matted, her eyes red rimmed.
My stomach sinks. Bernadette Mitchell doesn’t cry. Ever.
They must see the panic on my face because Jed rushes for me, arms up. “No! It’s okay! He’s out of surgery. They think he’s going to be okay!”
What? I process this as Jed scoops me into his arms. I offer no resistance. “But.... Why didn’t you call?”
“My phone died and nobody in this hospital has a freaking cord!”
That’s a fair excuse, given he’s been here all day. I hadn’t even thought of that. “So, he’s going to be okay?”
“Yeah, we think so. It’s still early but it’s mainly a lot of broken bones. One of his lungs collapsed and he ruptured his spleen, but they said it’s a miracle that it wasn’t worse.”
I crumple against Jed’s chest as tears of relief overwhelm me.
“Come here, baby girl.” Mama waits with her arms open wide. She’s still in one of her floral nightgowns, which looks a lot like most of the dresses she wears anyway—long and flowing and covering her girth. I dive into her arms, happy to be consumed by her overbearing presence as we listen to the doctor answer our questions.
Surprisingly enough, it feels good to be home.
“We didn’t expect you until tomorrow, Abigail,” Reverend Enderbey says.
“I know. I lucked out.”
Henry!
I pull away from Mama long enough to search for him with my eyes. I find him near the registration desk, talking to an older woman in a suit. She looks like she works here, and perhaps knows him, because she’s smiling and nodding in a friendly way. They part ways with a handshake and Henry’s thanks.
“I’ll be back in a second.” I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I make my way over to Henry.
He offers me a smile. “Good news, I take it?”
“Yeah. It looks like he was really lucky.”
“I’m glad.” His gaze drifts over to where Mama and the Enderbeys wait, his eyes narrowing slightly. At Jed, I assume. “There’s a suite booked at the Wolf downtown, if any of you need to grab some sleep or a shower. They just need to give your name at the front desk.”
“That’s.... Thank you.”
“No problem. I’ll be heading back first thing in the morning. Call Room 4001 if anything changes. Otherwise....” He sighs. “Take care of yourself, Abbi.” He turns to leave.
“Wait!” I’m not ready to say good-bye to him again, even if what we had is done.
I don’t care who’s watching. I don’t care if he’s not okay with this. I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight hug, reveling in the feel of his strong, hard body against mine.
With a slow exhale, his arms wrap around me, returning the embrace, his nose grazing the top of my ear. I’d like to think it’s an intentional sign of affection from him. “I’ve gotta go, Abbi,” he whispers into my ear.
Reluctantly, I peel myself off him, and watch his back all the way down the hall.
~ ~ ~
“You should go and get some sleep, Mama. May said there are two bedrooms and a couch there.”
“I’m not goin’ nowhere until he wakes up.” Mama holds Dad’s still hand. They let us into his room an hour ago, and I burst into tears at the sight of all the machines and tubes. Outside, the beginnings of daylight creep into the sky, warning of the coming sunrise.
A nurse strolls in. “How are we doing in here?”
“We’re doin’ just fine. Got my man alive and my baby girl home, where she belongs. I’m counting our blessings.” Tough Mama is back in full force.
The nurse smiles at me as she checks the machines and drips. “It certainly was a blessing. I hear they pulled Dr. Eisenhower out of surgery and threw him right into a helicopter.”
I frown. “You mean he doesn’t work here?”
“Dr. Eisenhower?” She chuckles. “No. He’s out of New York. And he’s considered to be the best trauma surgeon in America. Your father must be someone pretty special to the Wolf family.”
My heart starts racing.
That’s why Henry was talking to that lady in the suit. She was probably the Chief of Staff or something. He must have made that phone call the second he heard about my father’s accident, before he met me on the plane.
Without Dr. Eisenhower, would my father have survived?
“Where you goin’?” Mama glares at me as I grab my sweater and purse.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You are not goin’ anywhere, young lady. Your father is going to wake up any minute. He’ll want to see you here when he does.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. But I have to go.”
“This doesn’t have anythin’ to do with that man, does it?”
I snort. “That man is Henry Wolf, and he’s the reason I got home so fast, and the reason Daddy had the best trauma surgeon in America.”
“So we can all call him and thank him together, later. Now it’s time to focus on your family.”
I head for the door.
“Just so you know, Jed broke up with Cammie. He’s still in love with you. He’s determined to win you back.”
She obviously thinks that’s going to matter to me, that the news will stop me from wanting to run to Henry.
“Sorry, Mama. Gotta go.” I charge out the door.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Come on.... Pick up, pick up, pick up.” I’ve had the hotel dispatch put me through three times already, but no one’s answering. No one can tell me if he’s checked out yet.
Please still be there.
I rush down the quiet hall, nodding at the room service guy on my past, to the very end, to hammer on the door with my fist.
Henry opens the door, holding a towel around his waist, beads of water still dripping from his body, a confused look on his face. “What happened? Did something happen?”
I step forward, forcing him back inside. The door shuts with a noisy bang. “Dr. Eisenhower. Did you fly him in?”
He frowns. “I called in a favor, yeah. Why? Is your father okay?”
“Yeah. He’s fine. He’s....” My eyes drag over this man as my chest swells with an overwhelming amount of emotion.
Of love.
I no longer care what he put me through, or how badly he hurt me, or how badly I hurt him.
I dive for him, for his mouth.
He pulls away, his jaw cording with tension. “Abbi—”
“No. Don’t. It is not too late for us. We can’t go back, but we can go forward, and we can do it better. I know we can. It is not too late for us so don’t you dare say that. I know you still feel something for me.”
He tips his head back as if to find an answer in the ceiling. I so badly want to drag my tongue over his throat, but I restrain myself, and instead let my fingers settle on his chest, reveling in the beads of water and his nipples, pebbled from the cold, the gooseflesh covering his hard muscles, even as his breaths become ragged.
Beneath my fingers, I feel his heart beating hard and fast.
“Abbi, I can’t. I’m—”
“Then end it!” The thought that Henry may be—probably is—involved with another woman crossed my mind in the cab on the way here, and I quickly decided I wouldn’t accept that excuse. “Tell her you’re sorry, but you never should have started anything because your heart has always been with me. End it now because I need you right now.” My hands slide down to grip the top of his towel. It would be nothing to uncover him, a quick tug.
“Oh, fuck me.” He closes his eyes and heaves a sigh. “I’m not seeing anyone, Abbi. I just.... I can’t do this again. Not with you.”
I step in to him, pressing myself against him. “Give me one good reason why not.”
He finally drops his gaze, and it’s a pensive one. “Because it hurt. It hurt you.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “And that nearly killed me. I can’t....” He’s shaking his head, some internal dilemma going on inside his mind. He’s struggling though, I can see that much. Because I can feel him hard under the towel.
“Look at me.”
It’s a moment before he does, the fire burning within his cold blue eyes enough to make my knees wobble. “Don’t make me beg, Henry.” I lift up onto my tiptoes, letting my lips float over his. I drag the tip of my tongue over the seam of his lips, so slowly. I give his towel a yank, releasing it to drop to the floor. “I will, but please don’t make me.” Without shame, I reach between us to wrap my fist around his length and stroke it, a loud moan escaping my lips. I don’t know what it is about Henry’s cock, but no one else’s compares.
He’s like a bull released from his gate.
Strong hands seize my head, his fingers weaving through my hair to get a good hold as his mouth attacks mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth, claiming it with aggressive, almost angry swirls. He leads me backward toward the bedroom, stumbling and bumping into tables and a wall on the way, not breaking free of me even once.
The backs of my legs hit the bed and I’m suddenly being pushed backward, with Henry’s naked form crawling on top of me, overwhelming me with his size, his hands on my shirt, tugging it over my head, and then on my jeans, unfastening the buckle and yanking them and my panties off in one fell swoop.
He’s pulling down the front of my bra, making my breasts spring free even before he has the back unfastened.
In a matter of seconds, I’m naked and straddling Henry’s lap, my arms cradling his head as I savor the sight and feel of his mouth clamped over my nipple, his tongue teasing me mercilessly.
Unable to wait, I reach down between us and guide his cock into me. I’m so wet, I offer him little resistance as he slides into me, dragging out a deep moan from my lips.
He hands seize my hips, holding me still. “You’ve been smart? Safe?” He doesn’t look at me when he asks that, but his jaw tenses, like he knows exactly what I’ve been doing since he left Alaska.
And maybe he does.
“Yes.” I hesitate. “You?”
“Yes.” Now he finally peers up at me, letting me see the plain truth.
Oh my God. “You haven’t been with anyone else.”
A pause, and then he shakes his head.
I drop my forehead against his and beg, “Kiss me, please. I need you to kiss me right now.” Because I need him to tell me it’s okay, that what I did wasn’t wrong. That he won’t hold it against me now, or ever.
He flips us over to put me on my back. Dominating me with his body, he pins my hands above my head by my wrists with one strong hand.
And simply stares down at me.
“Please don’t be mad. I kept seeing pictures of you with these women, and it made me feel horrible. Ronan and Connor helped—” I cry out as Henry thrusts into me, spearing me with how hard and long he is.
“I am fucking mad.” He seethes, pulling out and then thrusting once again, earning another cry from me. “This is mine and no one gets to fuck you unless I say they can.” Stilling his hips, he leans down and kisses me deeply. “But I’m not mad at you. I let you go. You had every right to want someone else.”
I break free of his grip, working one hand out to grasp his jaw, to force his eyes to me. “I don’t want anyone else but you. Ever.” I grind my pelvis into his and he groans. Hooking one leg up over his arm, his hips start moving in that languid, slow, but forceful way he has, pumping in and out of me, each stroke pure ecstasy.
No one can fill me the way Henry does.
No one can make me feel this all-consuming level of lust as Henry does.
And I can say that based on a modicum of experience now.
I don’t wait for him to tell me to; I reach between us and begin working my clit with my finger, stroking it hard and fast, not wanting to miss the opportunity to come with him.
“Fuck,” he curses, finally climbing to his knees and hoisting my hips up. He drives into me at a ruthless rate, his eyes locked on my fingers stroking myself.
Henry’s mine, again.
This man.... The sight of him alone, straining and glistening with sweat as he fucks me mercilessly, it’s enough to set me off, tearing an orgasm from me as I buck wildly against him. He follows closely after, his fact contorting with pleasure as he grunts. I open myself up completely to him, reveling in the feel of him pulsing inside me, filling me with him.
~ ~ ~
“Your mother?”
I set my phone on the side table. “No, Ronan. They wanted an update.”
Henry’s hard swallow carries through the room.
“Don’t fire them.”
He pauses, and then chuckles. “Or what? Are you going to try and blackmail me again?”
I curl into his chest, draping my naked body over his, hoping I can keep him here forever. “No, I’m asking you. Please don’t fire them. They’re just friends, and they mean a lot to me. They—”
“I won’t fire them, even though I want to. And I didn’t fire Michael, either. Even though he deserved it.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“I gave the asshole a promotion. And a raise. He’s a manager in Aspen now. The deal was he packed his shit, got on a ferry, and didn’t say a word to you or anyone about it.”
