Own Me (The Wolf Hotel, #5)(47)

“Every other year, yes. You weren’t in my life then.”

I falter. Okay, that’s somewhat of a declaration, but it still doesn’t ease my worries. “What about next year or the year after? What if you decide that’s something you want to do again?” What if, as Merrick so bluntly declared earlier, he’s bored? Why have one woman when he can have three? “I’ve never seen you so giddy. You’ve been like a kid in a candy store all night here. You’re telling me you’re just going to give up this lifestyle and not have regrets?”

He purses his lips, and I don’t know what is going on in his head, but I’m equal parts afraid to hear it and dying to know. When he finally meets my gaze, his blue eyes are piercing. “You still don’t get it, do you?” A strange look fills his face. “You have commanded my attention without pause since that interview video. I lied and manipulated to get you to Alaska as my assistant, I risked my entire future because I couldn’t stay away from you, I came back even after you shattered my heart.”

Henry’s never been so direct about how much my mistake hurt him this past summer.

“I feel like I’m on a fucking leash, and I don’t even care. There isn’t a woman out there who has ever tethered me like this.” His voice turns gruff. “You own me, Abbi. Everything that I have and am is yours, and that will never change. That, I can promise you.”

I fold into his body, pressing my cheek against his chest to feel the steady hammer of his heartbeat. “I love you so much. I’m terrified that I won’t always be enough for you.” As soon as I admit the words out loud, I accept how potent my fear still is, despite the ring on my finger, despite our conversations about this in the past.

“That’s not possible.”

“How do you know?”

He wraps me in his arms. “Because I’ve already had everything else, and none of it feels a fraction as good as you do.”

I sink into his warmth, reveling in it. I know what he means, the latter part, anyway. But will I ever feel like enough for him?

“Do you want to leave?”

“No. I am having fun.”

“Good. Because my favorite part is ahead.” He slides down his mask.

“Which part is that?” I would much rather stay in this little stall.

He grips my jaw between his thumb and forefingers and leans down to capture my lips in his. A whimper escapes me and he deepens the kiss, forcing my mouth open wide to make room for his tongue.

My hands smooth over his hard chest, reveling in his curves as I slide my palms downward, aiming for his belt buckle.

Just as quickly, he pulls away, stopping my fingers from their goal. “The part where I prove how I could never be bored with you.”

I slide my mask on and follow him out, my pulse racing.





“I got lost in a House of Mirrors when I was nine,” I admit as we ease along the corridor of reflections. The maze is draped in tulle and illuminated by red lights, and I’m already confused which direction to go. “I was convinced I was going to die there.” Jed didn’t help any either, running off to ride the Gravitron.

“You obviously found your way out.” Henry leads, one hand gripping mine.

“My father came and got me. I was sitting on the floor, bawling. After, he walked me around the structure outside and showed me how small it was, that they’d never lose me in there.”

“This one is big, with a lot of dead ends, so you better stay close.” He squeezes my hand.

“I’m also not nine anymore.”

“No, you certainly aren’t.” He stalls a moment to regard our reflection—one of a hundred.

“We look good together.” I’ll admit, I’ve never had so much fun dressing up for Halloween.

“We do.” He leans forward to plant a sweet kiss on my lips.

I jump as I feel his fingers prodding the metal base of the toy through my bottoms. The dull, needy throb between my legs is growing more difficult to ignore.

“And how’s that feeling?”

“Barely notice it.” I lie.

“Really?” His mouth is inches from mine as he slips his index finger under the seam.

I roll my hips against his hand.

With a knowing grin, he slips his fingers away, and then continues.

We round a corner and find ourselves facing Margo, Joel, and Merrick.

“Dead end,” Merrick announces, gesturing the way they came.

“We came from there,” Henry points behind us.

“Then we must go this way.” Joel points in another direction.

And bumps into a mirror.

“Okay, this way,” he corrects, moving forward cautiously.

After what feels like a dozen wrong turns, frustration is growing.

“How big did you say this maze was again?” My feet are aching from these heels.

“Not this big,” Henry mutters. “I don’t remember it being this complicated either.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Merrick laughs as he leads us to another dead end. “But look, they left us a chair this time.” Sure enough, a simple wooden chair painted in shiny black lacquer sits in a corner.

“Oh, thank God.” I park myself onto it. “Can I please have five minutes? These shoes were the worst decision ever.”