He snorts. “She thinks she does.”
Moving in to loop my arms around his waist, I shut my eyes against the spray of hot water and press my lips against his spine. “She needs time, Henry. And then she’ll realize how lucky she is to have you in her life.” Is that what Henry wants, though—to be in this girl’s life? He hasn’t hinted where his head is at. “Thank you for letting me come with you today.”
“Let?” Finally, I hear a smile in his voice. “You surprised me. You’re not usually that forceful.”
“And you don’t usually give in so easily. Why did you?”
He pauses on his answer. “Because you tend to get insecure about women from my past, and I didn’t want to give you time to sit here and create something in your head that doesn’t exist.”
“I barely slept last night,” I admit sheepishly.
“I figured as much. I know you, Abbi.” He pulls my left hand to his lips, kissing my bare knuckles. “Where’s your ring? Having regrets about marrying me already?” he says lightly, but I don’t miss the edge in his voice.
“It’s on the bedside table.” I lay another kiss against his skin. “And don’t be silly.”
He turns in my arms so we’re facing each other, our bare, slick chests pressed together. “Are you sure?”
In his bright blue eyes, I see concern. It’s almost laughable, given it was me who was worrying about Henry having regrets just last week. I stretch onto my tiptoes until I can skate my lips against his. “Yes, I’m sure.”
He sweeps the damp, clinging hair off my face and leans down to kiss my forehead. “Let’s forget everyone and get married tomorrow.”
I slide my palms up and down his biceps, memorizing their size and shape. “That would be much easier.” With Violet storming into our lives the way she did, I haven’t had time to think about last night’s disastrous dinner in Greenbank. Mama hasn’t called or texted since and, knowing her, she’ll wait for me to make the first move. “But I want everyone I care about to be there when I marry the man I am hopelessly in love with.” I gaze up at him. God, he really is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
His jaw tenses. “And you’re not afraid of the next thing that’s waiting around the corner?”
“What next thing?”
“I don’t know, but there must be one. It’s been one fucking catastrophe after another since we met.”
He’s not wrong about that. Since the night a burly lumberjack collected me from the docks of Wolf Cove, my life has been turned upside down.
The muscle in his jaw ticks. “I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to be done with me.”
I’m not used to Henry being the insecure one. I hate it. I muster as much confidence as I can because that’s what he needs from me right now. “What am I going to find out about next? Your secret foot fetish?”
The hint of a smile creeps out. “Funny.”
“There’s no need to be ashamed.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“Okay, fine.” Humor seems to be working on his mood, at least. “If it’s not that, what else could there be …” I tap my chin in mock thought. “Wait, I know. Of course, it’s so obvious.” I pause for effect. “Porn.”
Henry’s eyes twinkle. “You think I’ve been in porn.”
“Honestly? I wouldn’t be that shocked.” Henry’s only hinted about his previous escapades but, given there doesn’t seem to be much he wouldn’t try at least once, it wouldn’t be the most shocking discovery. “What would it be called? Let me guess … The Wolf of Porn Street?”
His deep chuckle echoes around the shower stall.
“Too obvious, right? How about The Big Bad Wolf Gets Pegged by Little Red Riding Hood? No, that’s too long. How about Little Red Pegging Hood—ah!” I squeal as he spins me around, his foot sliding between mine to force my stance wider.
“Tell me, where did you learn about pegging?” he purrs, pressing his hard length against the crevice of my ass as he herds my body forward, out of the water stream.
“Can’t remember.” I fall back against his chest. I don’t dare tell him that Connor and Ronan enlightened me one drunken night in their attempts to make me blush. It worked.
He bows his head to graze his teeth against my earlobe “Why don’t I believe you?”