Page 15 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)

AXEL

D rowning myself in the bottle was a mistake.

It didn’t even have the desired effect of leaving me totally unaware of my Hurricane's presence in the bar tonight.

The minute she walked in, she had every dude's attention. She was oblivious, as per usual, unlike me. There was a low hum buzzing over my skin, my every sense hyperaware of her any move.

Which, of course, is why I couldn’t stop myself from watching as she spent half the fucking night sitting on Lucas’s lap. It took all my willpower not to go over and grab her. He has no right to touch her.

Neither do you.

Growling at the mental image of that luscious ass pressed onto his lap, I sit up and turn the light on.

What’s the fucking point? I’m not getting any sleep tonight anyway.

I couldn’t even muster up the excitement to talk to the nice blonde flirting with me.

She was down. Made it super fucking easy.

It’s been months since I had the desire to hook up with anyone, but I figured it might help get Haven off my mind—take the edge off so I stop trying to maul her every chance I get.

But of course, the asshole downstairs apparently took a vow of chastity unbeknownst to me.

The blonde was flashing her cleavage practically under my nose, and I didn’t even feel a little tingle. If anything, the minute she touched my arm, my dick hid like a turtle in its shell.

I might be worried my junk was broken, if not for the fact that the fucker not only stirred but stood to salute at the sound of Haven’s laugh.

Apparently, this is me now. Tits and ass don’t do shit for me unless they belong to her. Even if she’s sitting on someone else’s cock.

I know I’m being irrational. She wasn’t sitting on Lucas’s cock. But right now, I don’t feel like I’ve got a rational brain cell left.

I need a distraction. Picking up my phone, I see a bunch of messages from my friends.

I usually ignore the group chat. They know I don’t have the time or capacity to keep up with the inane bullshit chatter, so they know they need to contact me separately if they need anything urgent.

Tonight, though? Maybe this is just what I need.

Opening the chat, the screen jumps around at the sheer volume of messages. Jesus Christ. They’ve been busy. But shit, my distraction has gone up in smoke. Lucas added Haven to the chat.

The image I was trying to get out of my head of the two of them looking cozy as fuck, is right here too—immortalized forever.

Like a man obsessed, I study her heart shaped face. The wide smile lighting up her eyes—the one that used to make an appearance when she looked at me.

I should put the phone down and walk away, but like a car crash rubbernecker, I need to see more. Reading what she said is like an insight into her mind. Yeah, I know, it’s my fault I don’t know shit but that’s not the point. Here I am, scrolling like a fucking creeper.

Of course, the girls grill her about the men she’s fucked, and Lucas even has the balls to throw my name out there while he’s sitting with my girl draped over his lap.

My jaw aches from the grinding. At this point, I’m lucky I have any teeth left.

What I see next stops my heart clean dead.

“Fuuuuuuuuuuck” I groan into the empty apartment, flinging my head back onto the pillow.

She’s sent a bunch of photos from her time in London, and in one particular photo, she’s standing against a floor to ceiling window, the London skyline behind her, wearing a short black lace dress that looks incredible on her curves, and the highest, sexiest hot pink shoes I’ve ever fucking seen.

My cock is suddenly rock hard and straining against my boxers as I zoom in on the photo. Her eyes shine like aquamarines against her black makeup, and her plump lips are shiny and pink. They look exactly like they used to after I spent all afternoon kissing her senseless.

“I had a date.” I see red, my nostrils flaring like a bull ready to charge.

She dressed like this for some guy. Her lips probably look like that because that fucker kissed her senseless.

I hate her. I hate her so fucking much. But as I save the photo to my phone, my palm squeezing my still rock-hard cock, I hate myself even more.

She's a walking, talking, sinful temptation. My salvation and destruction.

So why can’t I walk away?

Bleary eyed, I wake up to find I’m still holding my phone with my left hand. My right hand grips my cock, the sticky, wet sensation under my palm shocking me fully awake.

What the hell?

What rational grown-up man has a wet fucking dream?

The memory of it floods my brain.

She crawled over me in that black lace dress with no panties on, before lowering herself onto my cock slowly. Her wet heat surrounded my hard, aching length in the most delicious familiar torture, and it felt so real I swear I can still smell her in the air.

And as if that’s not bad enough, I’m late to meet Lucas at the bakery. Which means not only having to ignore all thoughts of him touching her but also facing her after coming all over myself like a virgin boy with his first crush.

The irony that it’s exactly how I used to wake up as a teenager after dreaming about her is not lost on me.

This is some bullshit.

I’ve never wished for a five-alarm fire harder than I do right now. I’d have no choice but to drop everything and head to the firehouse.

Groaning, I drag my ass into an ice-cold shower, get dressed, and bypass the coffee to head straight down to the bakery, already late enough. Before I even reach the back door, I can hear them laughing, a jarring reminder of the night before.

Walking in, I let the door slam shut behind me, and it makes Haven jump, while Lucas only turns around to face me, a big shit eating grin splitting his face.

The urge to smack it off is strong, so instead I turn to look at her.

I shouldn’t have.

She looks cute as hell in fitted pink overalls, her hair tied up in a messy bun today, trademark bandana tied around it, leaving her bare neck and shoulders exposed. My brain misfires and my mouth waters with the urge to bite her and mark her as mine like I used to.

This needs to stop. I need to get it together.

This isn’t me.

“Afternoon, Fireman, nice of you to eventually show up. Blondie tie you to her bedposts?” Haven side-eyes me before pointing at the wall. “I was just showing Lucas the wiring you mentioned the other day, since he was nice enough to show up on time.”

I know I shouldn’t take the bait, but the fact that she noticed the blonde talking to me fills me with shame. Shame I shouldn’t be feeling. I can fuck whoever the fuck I want. Whenever I want.

But apparently, I can’t let it go, determined to make shit as uncomfortable for her as it is for me.

“No one ties me anywhere, Hurricane. I like to be in control—I’m sure you remember that.” Ha. That’s laughable. I’ve never been as wildly out of control as she has me right now.

I’m not giving her the upper hand, though. Her eyes go wide at my words, and I watch that adorable flush creep into her cheeks with immense satisfaction.

“Mmm, I don’t remember much, to be honest. So, it can’t have been all that memorable.” That startles a loud laugh out of Lucas, who’s been watching us intently. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you guys to figure this crap out. I’ve got plans.”

“What fucking plans?”

Did I say that out loud?

“Not your problem, Verona. Rather than busy yourself worrying about my whereabouts, how about you concern yourself with getting this bakery operational in time for my Merryweather deadline? You know, maybe do what you’re here actually getting paid to do?”

I’m not getting paid at all, but she doesn’t need to know that. I’m not taking a penny from Grams. I just want to make sure the place is safe for them.

My heart rate kicks up a notch while she faces off with me, eyes blazing, hands on her hips like the little pink spitfire she is.

Fuck, she’s so sexy it hurts. And to see her like this, owning that spark I always knew she had…wow. My girl’s all grown up, and she is phenomenal .

The realization hits me squarely in the solar plexus.

Regret for how much I’ve missed wars with anger at the fact that I can’t seem to let her go. All I seem to be doing is digging myself a bigger hole.

She looks away first, her scowl morphing into one of her brilliant sunshine smiles as she turns to Lucas again and throws her arms around his waist in a hug.

I grit my teeth, unable to keep my eyes off them. I hate how freely he seems to get her affection. Seeing him kiss her on the cheek is the final straw. Turning away, I toss my shirt to the side and crouch down to rummage through my toolbox before I do something I’ll end up regretting.

If he decides to ask her out while she’s here, I can’t say shit about it. In fact, my dumbass was stupid enough to give him the green light to do just that last night.

My whole body goes rigid at the realization. Why’d I do that?

She doesn’t say another word to me as she walks out of the bakery, leaving me desperately breathing her vanilla caramel scent like a drowning man would oxygen.

This shit right here is why I need to stick to my damn plan.

Fix the bakery. Get out. Avoid her. Forget her.

Lucas clasps my shoulder, snapping me back to the present.

“Well, you sure as shit screwed that one up, bro. ”

His merry tone does nothing but piss me off further. Shooting to my feet, I aim a glare at him but in true Lucas fashion, he gives zero fucks, throwing his hands up with a laugh. I’m so glad I’m a source of amusement to him.

“Don’t. Just. Don’t,” I say, barely getting the words out through my clenched teeth. Sucking in a deep breath, I switch my focus to the bakery and try to calm the beast. “Do you want to poke around and tell me what you reckon needs doing and how soon you can get it done?”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea. Your girl was very enlightening and walked me through the place already. I need to double-check how soon we can get a replacement fuse box and circuit breakers so I can come back to you with some sort of timeline.”

Your girl. Right.

“OK, if they give you the option to rush anything if we pay extra, just do it. Money isn’t an issue. I just need to get this place operational in time for that wedding.”

“Course bro. Hey, wanna go grab breakfast at Macy’s? I’m starving.”

My first instinct is to say no, still pissed off with him over Haven, but maybe I’ll feel less inclined to murder my best friend after coffee.