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.”
“Yes, but only if you share.” Henry has me off the seat and sitting in his lap before I know what’s going on, pulling me backward and against his chest. The move stirs an acute reminder of the silver toy. “Take them off.”
“Happily.” I kick off my shoes, letting them fall to the black floor.
He lifts one of my stockinged feet and rubs the center with his thumb, drawing circles.
I whimper with relief. If the House of Mirrors is Henry’s favorite part, I’m happy to say we’ve seen it and I’m ready to go home now.
Merrick leans against one mirrored wall, his arms folded across his chest, watching us. “Didn’t we get lost in here for half an hour last year?”
“Yes, and you swore you were done with the maze, so why are you here again?” Henry grins.
“Because I asked him to,” Margo purrs, trailing her index finger down the center of his bare chest, bypassing a red kiss mark someone planted above his nipple.
Was Merrick in one of the display boxes already tonight?
He smiles at Margo, and I can imagine the dimples hiding behind that mask. “So it’s your fault, then.”
“It is all my fault. Let Abbi rest her poor feet and I can make it up to you.” She presses her lips against his as her hand settles between them, shamelessly cupping him while her boyfriend stands only two feet away. In her sheer black dress and thong, she may as well be naked.