by Nina West
I turn into him, to press my body against his from thigh to chest. “It’s over. He can’t hurt us or anyone else anymore.”
He clinks my glass with his again. I take a sip as I peer back out over the water. The champagne is sweet and bubbly, and probably more expensive than I can imagine. “I thought I loved the summer here, but now I’m thinking fall is my favorite.”
“Wait until you see it in the winter. We should have the runs ready within two years. Three at most.”
“So much for a seasonal Wolf, hey?”
“My long-term vision was always year-round. I just couldn’t sell it as that before I proved this could work.”
“You know, I’ve never skied.”
He shakes his head and mutters something under his breath that I don’t catch before saying, “We’ll go to Aspen over Christmas. I’ll teach you.”
Aspen for Christmas. Wolf Cove for winter in two to three years. He says it like it’s the most natural thing, to be planning so far ahead. To assume that we’ll be here, together.
A flash of me, lying naked with Henry among a heap of blankets next to a roaring fire, makes me smile. I smooth my hand over his abdomen, my fingers splaying over each ridge.
“I have to head out—”
“I know. The engineers. And you’re already late, so go.” Henry hates being late.
He leans in to press his lips against mine. “I’m going to be tied up until after dinner. I assume you don’t want to join us in Lux to listen to engineers talk about—”
“Sounds thrilling. No, thank you.”
He chuckles. “I figured as much.”
I trail him back inside and past the small fire burning in the fireplace, my eyes roving over the interior. It’s exactly how I remember it—a palette of creams and grays, and pure designer luxury. Only then I was a Wolf hotel employee, a secret lover. Now I’m a guest. Not just any guest. Henry Wolf’s woman.
“You remember how to call the concierge desk?”
“Yeah. And if I don’t, I know where to find the instructions.” In the tiny liaison room, where I never really spent any time.
“There’s plenty for you to do to keep yourself busy.”
“A Kodiak bear excursion by plane?” I watched Henry leave on countless tours, always wishing I could tag along.
He chuckles. “Let’s maybe save that one. I was thinking more like the spa.”
“I do want Tris to do my color again,” I murmur, running my fingers through my lackluster hair. No one has done it quite as well since.
“Then book it. Between that and a few spa treatments, you’ll be occupied until I get back.”
I know what he’s trying to do. “I’m going to see my friends, too, Henry. All of them,” I say carefully. I spent too many years listening to Mama’s orders and doing what others wanted me to do. But Henry pushes for us to always be open and honest with each other. I’m not going to start doing things behind his back now.
Henry’s feet slow to a halt. He sighs heavily. “Abbi, I’m not going to tell you that you can’t see your friends.”
“Good.”
“Just be careful what you get yourself into. I’m who I am and I do have to maintain separation and respect from my employees, even if we’re together.”
I frown. “What are you saying? That they won’t respect you because you’re with me?” My chest stings with that prick.
He holds up a hand in warning, closing the distance between us. “That’s not what I’m saying. I just don’t want you anywhere near the kinds of things happening in that staff village. I’ve seen enough security footage to know what goes on there.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I doubt it’s worse than the things happening in a certain chateau in France.”
“That’s a controlled environment. No one’s recording it—”
I snort. “A lot of art gallery walls would beg to differ.”
“That’s... different. Here? People will be watching you. The wrong ones will be looking for stories and pictures of you to sell. They’re not your friends, Abbi. I’m trying to protect you.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “And what kind of stories and pictures do you think they’re going to get while I’m sitting on a couch in the staff village?”
“Well, you do have a bad habit of getting caught in rooms where people are fucking,” he says evenly.
“At least half of those situations have been because of you!” I say indignantly, even as my cheeks flush.
“Regardless, you’re not a Wolf employee anymore. You’re openly with me now, and I own all of this. You are in a different class from everyone here.”
“If you’re about to tell me that I’m above everyone here, then stop. Just because you have a swimming pool’s worth of money, doesn’t mean you’re better than the people who clean that pool. You know, you keep talking about needing your employees to respect you. You’d go a long way with earning their admiration by getting to know them. Letting them know you’re not the stiff asshole they all think you are.”
Henry’s mouth hangs open for a beat, speechless. “Did you just school me on how to act around my employees?”
I set my chin. “I guess I did. And also, you’d probably like Ronan and Connor if you got to know them. Or at least Ronan.” Connor can be a bit much for anyone.
Henry shakes his head. “Look, I just like my private life to stay private, when it comes to my employees.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I don’t know how me going to say hello to a few people I used to work with turned into me getting caught up in some orgy. And relax, I’m not going to give them intimate details about us.”
He smirks. “Even when they ask you how big my dick is.”
“They’re not going to ask me that!”
He gives me a knowing look.
“Okay, some of them might ask me that,” I admit reluctantly. I’ve heard firsthand just how crass the female staff can be when Henry is the topic of conversation. “And I’m not going to answer them.”
“You’re terrible at deflecting.”
“Fine. I’ll tell everyone you’re hung like a horse.”
His eyebrows rise in shocked amusement.
“What? I spent some time on the McArthur ranch when I was younger. I’ve seen things.”
“Now who’s being ridiculous? Just... remember who I am around here.”
“You’re the big bad wolf. How could I forget?”
“See? You’ve just proven my point. I’ve got to go. And have someone come out for a massage. I noticed you were tense earlier. I’m sure it could help. A female masseuse.”
“Yes, sir.”
His brow arches. “Sir?”
“Sorry. This whole exchange is bringing me back to the early days, when you were my tyrannical boss.”
“You weren’t mouthy back then.” He reaches up to cup one side of my face and smooth the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “You were shy and nervous, and awkward.” He slides his thumb into my mouth, grazing my teeth.
I softly bite down.
Heat flares in his eyes. “But I’m beginning to think you’ve always been a wolf, hiding in an innocent girl’s clothing.” His gaze dips downward, over my fitted light sweater and the deep V that plunges into my cleavage. “How’s your hip?”
I smile coyly. “I guess you’ll have to wait to find out.”
Henry’s jaw tightens. And then a wicked smile curls his lips. “No, I don’t think I will.”
Everything changes in a split second.
Suddenly, I find myself facedown and bent over the dining room table. “Arms up.” I comply and Henry tugs my sweater up and over my head, leaving my bare torso against the cool wood. With a flick of his wrist, my bra is unfastened and peeled off me. Then he moves on to my lower half, dropping to his knees to peel my leggings, panties, and socks off in one go.
In less than thirty seconds, Henry has stripped me bare.
“I’ve always loved the mirrors in this
place,” he murmurs, fumbling with his belt.
I look straight ahead to find our reflection staring back at us, my mussed hair and cleavage, and Henry hovering behind me, his hard cock gripped in his hand. Heat pools between my legs.
“I thought you had to leave,” I say innocently, spreading my legs farther apart and arching my back to give him a better view. My lips apart as I feel the first slide of his finger through my core.
“I do. I promise, this won’t take long.” Pushing his jeans down to his thighs, he slips his hands between my legs to wrap around the front of my thighs.
I gasp in surprise as my feet leave the floor, as my hips lift and tilt toward him. I have a second’s warning—the feel of his cock pressed against my entrance—before he’s sinking deep into me, earning my guttural moan.
And then he’s thrusting mercilessly, and I’m crying out, my body not fully prepared for this. But I did taunt him, I remind myself. I should know better.
My back and shoulders strain as I manage to adjust myself on the table and watch us in the mirror again, to see the tense look on Henry’s face, the concentration as he focuses on where we’re joined, his eyes searing as he pumps in and out of me
This is the Henry Wolf of the early days. The seemingly cold, volatile rich bastard who intimidated me like no one else, who took me where and when he wanted, with no apologies but full of passion.
Heat builds deep within my body as he hits that special spot with each thrust. If he keeps this up long enough, I won’t even need to touch myself to orgasm. “Harder,” I demand through soft, shallow pants.
His searing eyes lift to meet mine.
I cry out as his hips slam into me over and over again, my ass taking the brunt of the impact as that heat spreads through my veins, along my thighs, into my lower belly. My fingers claw against the table, the only purchase for my body where my breasts press against the wood, the rest of me in the air and at Henry’s mercy.
He comes moments later, his head thrown back, his cries slipping from his parted lips as I feel him pulsing deep inside me.
Those pulses have barely stopped when my feet are settling onto the floor and he’s pulling out of me.
“Henry.” I whisper his name, but it’s more of a pleading moan, the ache between my legs unbearable.
“Come here.” He guides my body, wired with tension, up and over to the other side of the table. He lifts me onto it, and hoists my legs up to spread me wide in front of the mirror. He kisses my temple and then checks the reflection. “Fuck, Abbi,” he mutters, his eyes locking on the view—of heavy, full breasts, my swollen folds. His seed is running out of me. Reaching for my hand, he fits it between my legs.
“Watch me.”
His jaw clenches. “If I stay and watch that, I’ll be fucking you on this table again, and I’ll never get to the engineers.”
He makes a move to tuck himself into his pants.
And hisses, as I seize his semihard length with my free hand. “Watch,” I demand more firmly, unwilling to let go. “It’ll only take a minute.” I draw my finger through my slick core and over my clit, making circles around it with his cum.
He sighs heavily, but then caves, casting his eyes downward. With an arm around my back and a hand settled on my knee, he watches me as I masturbate for him, the mirror reflecting the entire intimate act.
Not even thirty seconds later, heat floods my lower half and that slow build erupts in waves of ecstasy that engulf my entire body, pulsing through my core, causing my muscles to spasm.
“See? I told you. Not even a minute,” I whisper, releasing him.
He leans in to kiss me in a way that only Henry can, deep enough to make my knees buckle if I were standing. It leaves me dizzy with lust and brimming with love.
“And I told you what would happen if I stayed and watched.” He gently pushes me back against the table and starts peeling off his clothes.
~ ~ ~
I spot her cinnamon-colored pixie hair and I smile.
“Oh my God! Abbi!” Autumn squeals. She runs out from behind the concierge desk and tears across the cavernous lobby to throw her arms around my neck, earning several looks.
“It’s so good to see you again.” I left in such a hurry the last time because of my father’s accident, I never got to say proper goodbyes.
“Tillie said she saw you out on the dock.”
“We just got in about an hour ago.”
“So, where is he?” Autumn whispers, searching the faces around us.
“Meeting with engineers.”
She grabs my hand and drags me over to one of the benches. “Sit and spill.”
I laugh nervously. “There’s not much to say.”
She settles wide, knowing eyes on me. “Your boyfriend is Henry Wolf and there’s not much to say? Oh come on! Enough with the lame answers you’ve been giving me over text. Talk!”
It sounds strange, hearing her call him my boyfriend. A man like Henry Wolf just doesn’t wear a label like “boyfriend” well. And he’s so much more than that to me.
I shrug.
“So, when exactly did it start?”
Of all my roommates, Autumn was probably the nicest. But still, I’m not about to admit to being with Henry all that time when I was working for him. He and I agreed that the only person who had a right to know the truth was his father.
“After I left to go home,” I lie, hoping she doesn’t notice the way I shift my gaze.
She studies me for a moment. “He told you not to talk about it, didn’t he?”
“We agreed that there is enough gossip circulating about his family that we don’t need to add more to it.” That sounds like the best answer.
“Oh my God, right? I read about that. Isn’t that insane! Were you actually there when Scott died?”
I wasn’t just there. I was trapped underneath him. I fight the urge to touch my forehead, the bruise suitably covered now.
If nothing else, at least Scott serves as good distraction from the topic of Henry and me.
“Yes.”
She shakes her head. “It’s just crazy. Both of them gone in weeks. Henry’s all that’s left.”
“I know. It’s still a shock. So, how’s life here?” I don’t want to talk about Scott anymore. “
“Oh, you know. Everything’s changed and yet not much has changed.” Autumn fills me in on Wolf Cove’s goings-on for the next ten minutes—Tillie moved cabins because she and Lorraine couldn’t make peace after that fiasco with James, Ronan and Connor got busted by security for being ringleaders to a secret fuck club—where players went into a dark cabin and waited for an unidentified person to be led in to perform a sexual act on them—and somehow weren’t fired, and Katie and Rachel have finally admitted to dating each other.
“Come to the staff lounge tonight!”
“We’ll see how late Henry’s tied up. I want to be home when he gets back.”
“I’ll bet you do. Oh, shit, that’s my supervisor.” Autumn smiles and waves at the stern-looking man hovering nearby. “He can fuck right off. Does he not realize I’m talking to the future Mrs. Wolf?” she mutters.
“Oh my God, stop. That’s so far off from where we are.” But my heart pitter-patters all the same.
Her eyes twinkle. “It’s so good to see you, Abbi. I’m glad your dad is okay. And Henry Wolf!” She lets out a little girlish scream.
“It feels like a dream. I was so nervous coming back here,” I admit. “I was afraid of how people might react.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, we’re all jealous as fuck. But we’re also happy for you. Except for Tillie. She’s just jealous, no surprise.” She rolls her eyes.
“Great. Can’t wait to see her.”
“Whatever. Come to the staff lounge tonight and you can rub it in her face.”
“I’ll try. Tris is going to do my hair and then I’m going to the spa for a facial.” I’ve never had one, but the brochure promises a glowing complexion.
She
tsks. “Rough life you lead, huh? Come visit us peasants when you have a chance.” With a wink, she trots off, leaving me shaking my head.
~ ~ ~
I’m going to be another two hours. We just sat down at Lux. Someone delayed me from my day earlier, and discussions went later than expected.
Those must have been some intense discussions. I heard they serve only the best scotch at Rawleys.
I see your vast network of spies is serving you well.
I respond with a smiley face so he knows I’m not bothered. Rachel texted me an hour ago from the upscale pub where she was serving Henry and his engineers drinks, wondering when I was going to come in. It’s almost nine now. With the time difference, and the fact that I’m curled up on the couch with a soft blanket, it’s not likely that I’m going anywhere tonight. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.
I’ll probably be asleep when you get in.
I’ll wake you up.
Thoughts of how he might do that make my body stir with anticipation. After days of undivided attention—his hands and mouth on me at every opportunity—I’m suffering from Henry withdrawal. I need to feel the press of his body against mine. I keep inhaling, hoping to catch that delicious scent that is all him—his cologne, his shampoo, the lingering soap on his skin. And my fingers itch to crawl along his curves, weave through his silky hair, again. It’s enough to drive a person crazy.
Fine. I’ll just be lying on this couch, naked, waiting for you.
I’m actually not naked, but maybe that’ll make him rush.
It’s a few minutes, but another text comes in.
I’ll show you exactly how much I love you soon.
A thrill courses through me. Will I ever get used to that? Will Henry telling me that he loves me ever not make my heart swell? God, I hope not, because this feeling is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. If what I felt for Jed was actually love, then whatever I feel for Henry transcends love.
With a sigh, I set my phone on the coffee table and replace it for the remote control, flipping through the channels in search of a movie.
My phone chirps with another text, and I assume it’s from Henry.