Surrender To Me (Wolf Hotel, #4)

by Nina West

“I’ll leave you the passcodes to my home computer so you can get work done. I think Zaheera is waiting for some answers from you about the website?” I glare at him. “How do you know about what she’s waiting on me for?” I told her I’d get back to her three days ago with the preliminary design feedback, but then I got caught up in coming to New York. “Because I’m blind copied on all your emails.” “What?” I let out a sigh of frustration. “I told you to stop interfering!” “And I have.”

“No. You are not having Tami Newman or anyone else back you. That means giving up control and you’re not doing that.” He pulls up his briefs, sliding his hand down the front to adjust himself. “Besides, you already have the start-up money.” I should have known. “Henry—” “I’m not arguing about this, Abigail.”

“You have me to help you. You don’t need anyone else.” “But then it’s just you backing me instead of someone else. How is that different?” “Because I’m not staking any claims, and not expecting any cut of the profit. It’s 100 percent yours.”

“But the money is—” “An interest-free loan with no strings attached. You can pay it back when you ear...

“You count on me to give you everything you need, because I can and I want to. I take care of you.” A little more softly, he adds, “And you take ca...

He sighs, and smooths my hair back off my face. “I know you’re not with me for my money, Abbi.” “I’m not with you for your money,”

“That callous bastard has already taken everything from me,” Scott hisses into my ear. “So I figured I’d take something of his. Something important.”

“I’ll bet he likes these. Fuck, no wonder.” His fingers dig under the lace of my bra to grope my flesh. I pull my lips part and bite down hard, sinking my teeth into his fleshy finger. “You fucking bitch!” he howls as the taste of copper touches my tongue.

I manage one scream before he grabs the back of my head and slams my forehead against the hardwood. Agonizing pain explodes between my eyes and I struggle to regain clarity. I’m only vaguely aware of Scott tugging my leggings down. “I’m going to love telling that asshole how good it felt to shove my dick inside you. By the time I’m done, he’ll never want to touch—”

A moment later, his body is rolling off me. I scramble across the floor on all fours to get away from him, while struggling to pull my leggings up “Miss Abbi?” Raj stands over Scott, the handle of a heavy-bottomed pan gripped within his fist, fear and shock filling his face. I let out a shaky cry of relief. I’d forgotten he was here. We both stare at Scott’s unmoving body, waiting for a twitch, a stir. Something to tell us we should run.

But after a minute of nothing, a new wariness settles in.“Raj, how hard did you hit him?” “Hard. Very very hard,”

“Tell me what to do to fix this, Abbi, so you don’t....” His words stop as he clenches his jaw. “Don’t what?” It’s a moment before he answers. “So you don’t decide this isn’t worth it anymore.” “What are you talking about?” I attempt to sit up, but the pain in my hip and shoulder from where I hit the hardwood floor when Scott took me down is too much, and I finally give up on that idea. “What isn’t worth it?” “This.” He gestures between us.

“Why would I ever do that?” “Oh, I don’t know, Abbi!” He throws his hands in the air. “Maybe because my brother just tried to rape you! Maybe because my brother conspired to kill my father! Why the fuck would you want anything to do with me after this?” “You aren’t Scott. You didn’t do anything to deserve what happened today, any more than I did.”

“What is it?” “I fucking hate that his hands were on you,” he admits through gritted teeth. “It’s making me sick.” My stomach tightens. “That’s what he wanted. He wanted to....”

“He said you wouldn’t want to touch me again. Is that true? That you don’t want to touch me?” Henry’s heavy gaze lifts to meet my eyes. “No. That’s not true,” he says evenly. I swallow my doubt. “Then do it. Touch me. Please. I need to erase those other memories.” He opens his mouth, but hesitates. “Are you sure?” “Yes. I need you to touch me.”

“No one—not Scott, not anyone else—could ever make me not desire you,” he says in a low, even tone. “Do you understand that?” “Yes.” “Do you believe me?” I reach up to smooth my palm over his cheek, now prickly with evening stubble. “I believe you.”

“When they called me to tell me what had happened….” I feel his jaw clench beneath my touch. “I was so sure I would lose you.” “No.” “I can’t lose you. Ever.” Rare emotion pours from his voice. “You won’t. Ever.”

“Never in a million years did I expect to fall in love with that virgin farm girl from Greenbank, Pennsylvania, in the interview video.”

“I’m in love with you, Abigail Mitchell.” My eyes brim with tears as I commit this moment—his words, the sound of his voice, the look in his eyes—to memory. “I love you, too. So much, it hurts.”

“It’s not your fault,” I remind him, stroking his hair back. He settles his forehead against my abdomen. “At least he can never hurt you again.” His warm breath skates over my skin with his heavy sigh. Over my womb. Exactly where our baby would grow.

Henry told me that he loves me. I know him enough to know that wasn’t flippant or ill-considered. Henry wouldn’t have said it if he wasn’t absolutely sure. Henry loves me.

“Speaking of people we’ve fucked....” Henry’s hard gaze sizes Connor and Ronan up. “Did you tell them you were coming back?” “No. I never told anyone. But I’m guessing everyone’s going to know soon enough.” “I’m not comfortable with those two being near you, Abbi,” he says evenly. What’s he getting at? “But they’re my friends.” “They’ve fucked you.” “Well, only Ronan has.” I get a sharp glare in return. “You know what I mean. Those two would be all over you if given the chance.”

“And Margo would fuck you if given the chance.” He snorts. “And you, if given the chance.” “Fair enough. But they’re not getting a chance, because I’d never give it to them. They know how I feel about you.” “You’ve told them?” “I don’t need to.”

“They won’t.” “They’re fucking deviants, Abbi. If you knew half the shit they’ve been up to—” “I can only imagine. But Ronan’s a private guy. He never says a word about anyone he’s been with, and he told me he’d make sure Connor wouldn’t.”

“Is this going to be weird? Being back here, I mean.” “For you? Probably.” “Thanks,” I mutter, earning his dark chuckle. “I’m glad you find this so amusing. You know, there was a time when you were vehemently opposed to the idea of anyone knowing about us,” I remind him. “Vehemently?” “Vehemently.” “You’re right. But that was back when you were my assistant.” He resumes a standing position, to tower over me. “Do you want that job back?” “Maybe.”

“I’d get to spend more time with you.” “And I’d get very little work done.” I mock-frown. “Yes, I do remember your work ethic needing improvement.” He smirks. “Besides, I think Miles would feel betrayed if you made me replace him with you.”

“Son of a bitch!” I exclaim, earning several looks. “Abbi?” Henry asks, a puzzled expression on his face. I offer him a tight smile. “Stubbed my toe.” His eyes narrow at my black boots and the fact that there’s nothing around to stub my toe on, but thankfully Isabella approaches him then, distracting him from pushing farther. Henry’s birthday is in two days.

Abbi: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. Henry: I’ll show you exactly how much I love you soon.

“You’ve been really busy.” He hesitates and then leans down, using the couch behind my head to hold himself up. “None of them come close to being with you,” he whispers into my ear. I chuckle, even as I blush. “Yeah. Okay. You tell that to every girl.” I’m not stupid. “You know I don’t.” He pulls back enough to show me his eyes, and the sincerity framed within those thick, dark lashes. “You were special. You were different.”

“You were special to me, too. I’ve never had a friend like you. I’m guessing I never will again.” Unless I count Margo, but that friendship is unique on a whole different level. His gaze slowly skates over my features as he takes a deep breath. “Does he make you happy?” “Yes.” His jaw tightens. “Does he satisfy you?” “Yes.” “Are you sure? Because you were ready to—”

That’s when I notice that it’s grown quiet in the lodge, the buzz of voices dying down to leave nothing but the sound of music through the speakers. Henry stands ten feet away, staring at me. His face is unreadable but menacing all the same. I hear a soft “fuck” slip from Ronan’s lips. Slowly he sits upright again, and sigh...

Henry holds up my phone that I left on the coffee table at the cabin. “You forgot this.” His tone is friendly enough. I peel myself off the couch to weave through the bodies to him, feeling so many eyes boring into us. I wrap my arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so...

Ronan doesn’t balk, meeting his glare. “For old times’ sake?” Connor holds up a shot of tequila for Henry. There are no old times. These two have never drank together. If Connor is at all nervous—about the fact that Henry knows our history and could fire his ass on the spot if he wanted to, or give him a good run for his money in a fight—he doesn’t show it.

Henry settles that steely gaze on Connor for two... three... four beats before he accepts the shot. “I think Abbi needs one, too.” “No, I’m good, thanks—” I start to say, but Henry smoothly plucks another from the tray and holds it out to me. “Oh, no. You’re going to need it,” Henry warns softly. His smile is downright wicked as he throws back his shot without salt or a lemon wedge.

He’s going to punish me for what he just saw, but in a way that I’ll enjoy.

Henry lifts a hand and snaps at the bartender. “Next round’s on me.” Everyone cheers. “What are you doing?” I hiss. He gazes down at me. “Getting to know your friends. Isn’t that what you want?”

“Hey Tillie, next time you spread your legs for a woman, maybe ask for her name first,” I murmur as airily as I can.

“...I should fire your ass right now. I should have fired you months ago,” I hear Henry snarl, squared off against Ronan. Oh, shit. I’m instantly sober. “If it makes you feel like a bigger man, go ahead. But I’m just looking out for Abbi,” Ronan retorts, not backing down, his face equally hard. “You’re just looking to fuck Abbi.”

“How could I not want to? She’s fucking perfect.” Ronan grins wickedly. “And we like the same things. You know which kinds of things. Stuff a fucking asshole like you can’t give her. Won’t give her, because you’re too damn jealous and selfish and controlling.” Ohhhhh... shit. I watch as Henry’s fist closes tight by his side. Ronan’s not done though, stepping right into his face. “And if you hurt her again like you did last time—”

I’m shivering. Henry shrugs off his checkered jacket and holds it out for me to slip on. “I guess you didn’t have a chance to grab a jacket, what with those two assholes coming to my doorstep to throw you over their shoulder and carry you here.” “How do you—” “Security cameras, Abbi. They’re everywhere. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I don’t want Ronan, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t think about being with him again. I don’t think about anyone but you. You are all I need or want.”

“And yet I walked in there tonight to find him hanging over you, and you looking like you were enjoying every second of it.” “Ronan wasn’t trying anything. I mean, he asked me if I was happy, but after how sad he saw me, of course he would. We just.... I can’t explain our relationship. I guess maybe it’s like yours with Margo.”

“He has feelings for you.” “No. It’s not like that.” “It is. Trust me.” I sigh. “How did that fight start, anyway?”

“I needed some fresh air. I went out and found him there smoking. He didn’t waste any time telling me that you deserve all my love and attention and I better be giving it to you.” “Oh.” I frown. “Well, that’s not the worst thing for Ronan to say.” “He also said that you don’t want to be treated like a good little girl.”

“It took everything in me to not knock his teeth out. I know exactly what you need.” “I’m sorry, Henry. Maybe you were right. It was a bad idea to come here, tonight.” Silence lingers. “They didn’t hurt your hip carrying you over here, did they?” he finally asks, more softly. “No. It’s fine. After this afternoon, you know it’s fine.” He smiles slyly. “Did you have fun tonight?” “I did, until I ran into Tillie.”

“They’re people who came into your life and who will leave just as quickly. You won’t remember half their names in ten years. Others, you won’t even remember that they exist. They won’t come running when you need them, believe me. If they want to waste their time and money betting against us, let them. None of them will be winning a damn dime, that I promise you.” “You’re so sure?”

“We were. The first time.” He bends to whisper into my ear. “I stripped you down and fucked your pussy on the work bench. The second time, I bent you over and fucked your ass until you came. You screamed the entire time, but you loved it.”

“I knew even then that I didn’t have a hope in hell of resisting you, even though I convinced myself otherwise. You’d already won me over. And you keep winning me over, night after night. So, yeah. I’m sure that those fools who are betting against us are nothing but fools.”

Henry pulls the door shut. And starts to chuckle. “What was that I said, about you somehow always finding your way into rooms where people are fucking?” My giggles follow soon after as I press my face into his chest. “Oh my God, I had no idea....” “That people used this shed to fuck? Or that those two are gay?” “Both? I mean, I’ve overheard some people talking about doing it in the sheds, but those two....”

“You know I don’t like quitters.” With a hand on my back, he guides me to stand exactly where Simon was moments ago. “Not when there’s a perfectly good bottle of lube here that shouldn’t go to waste.” He spins me around and stands behind me, his hands gripping my waist. He dips down to nibble and kiss the crook of my neck.