Page 41 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)

AXEL

W alking out of Jett’s with my girl under my arm felt right. From the second I walked into the bar, I felt on edge. The longer I couldn’t see her, the worse it felt. The storm that had been raging only calmed the second I laid eyes on her.

Hurricane really is a fitting nickname. She’s my hurricane. She wrecked any peace I had, and now the only place I find calm is in the eye of her storm.

I pull her in tighter, relief coursing through me at having her so close.

Goddamn, I just wish I could kiss her. Every fiber of my being was screaming at me to take her in my arms and claim her in front of every asshole in that bar.

I want there to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that I’m hers and she’s mine.

I’ve always been hers. I just need her to recognize it.

Soon. I have to believe that.

Excitement bubbles inside me at my plans for tonight. I’m going to get her on the back of my bike—the first and only girl who will ever ride on it with me and I can’t fucking wait.

I drop my arm from around her neck so I can look her in the face properly. “Have you eaten?”

“Do cupcakes count?” she flashes me a cute grin.

“No, babe, you need to eat. Come on, I know a great pizza place.”

I grab her hand, trying to ignore the electricity that surges through my arm at the contact.

I’m on a mission to get my girl fed. We walk to the bakery in half the time it usually takes and go up to my apartment together.

Seeing her in my space does things to me, proving she belongs here.

If I wasn’t so excited to have her on the back of my bike, I’d find a way to keep her here tonight.

But there’s time for that.

Leaving the cakes on my kitchen counter, I walk back into the hallway and cup her face in my hands, stroking her soft cheeks.

Lowering my face to hers, I watch her eyes flutter closed as I kiss her like I’ve wanted to all day.

This isn’t the fiery kind we’ve been defaulting to though, it’s slow, languid, exploratory.

I want to take my time with her, I need her to know this isn’t just sex for me.

It’s everything .

I might not be able to tell her that yet, but I’m sure as shit going to try and show her.

Pulling away slowly, I take her in while I try to calm my wild heart. Dark unfocused eyes, flushed face, and breathless—good. I’m glad it isn’t one sided. This is a good first step.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day. I missed you.”

Well, shit. That just slipped out. Why isn’t there an undo button on the mouth?

Her eyes widen in surprise before she recovers with a smirk. “You just saw me this morning, silly.”

I mean, it’s fine . I didn’t expect her to say it back. I didn’t expect to say it out loud, for fuck’s sake.

I grab her hand and tug her toward the door before I cram my foot in my mouth again .

“Let’s go, Hurricane. It’s time for you to feel the wind in your hair for a change.”

She stops short, nervously biting that lip again.

“I don’t know, Axel. I’m not dressed for a bike ride, and I don’t even have a helmet.”

“You’ll be fine, babe. Do you trust me?”

I stare into her eyes, waiting for her answer, nerves prickling my gut. Now I’ve thrown it out there, I realize that her answer is important to me. I want her to trust me. I need her to.

“Well, yes, but?—”

“No buts, Haven. Yes or no. Do you trust me?”

Her aqua eyes search mine for a second before she breathes in and answers quietly.

“Yes, with my life.”

Elation crashes through me at her response, and I release the breath I wasn’t even aware I’d been holding. I pick her up and whoop as I spin her around on the spot, her pink hair flying into my face as we laugh.

“You are ridiculous,” she says, poking me in the chest.

“I’ve told you before, Sprinks. You make me ridiculous.” Leaning down so I’m face to face with my girl, I quirk my lips. “I dare you to go on a ride with me.”

Cheap shot I know, but in Haven’s words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it .

“Oh my God, fine! If it’s that important to you. We need to have a word about how you’re using these dares, you know.”

I laugh and pick her up off the floor, taking the stairs two at a time, impatient to get my girl on the road with me.

We’re both laughing hard by the time we get to my bike, the shiny chrome and black Harley gleaming in the late sunshine.

I sit her facing me on the seat and Goddamn, that stops me right in my tracks.

My heart stops, my breathing stops .

The world just fucking stops as my vision narrows down to my girl sitting on my bike for the very first time.

“Oh my God Axel, this thing is huge. How does it even stay up?” She’s examining every inch of my Harley in amazement, trailing her hands over the body.

She looks so tiny sitting on top, her feet can’t even touch the floor.

Her hands circle the long steel handlebars, running up and down their length, giving me ideas—other, wildly different ideas that’ll have me dragging her back inside if she doesn’t quit it soon.

“It’s a Harley Davidson 2008 Road King Classic. I customized it myself to add a few things, including the twenty-one-inch ape handlebars you’re currently jacking off. You keep that up and the bike won’t be the only thing that’s huge, Sprinks.”

She glares at me in mock outrage before tipping her head back and laughing out loud. The sight of her sitting on my beast, her glorious tits shaking in that sexy shirt as she laughs, is enough to make me fall to my knees in thanks.

“Stay there, let me grab a photo.” She nods back at me, her face radiating happiness. That’s my girl. She’s always sparkled brighter than the sun—I saw it, even when she didn’t.

I frame the scene in front of me on my cell, taking a few extra seconds to just stare at her through the screen.

The contrast of black and silver against her creamy skin and pink hair and the sky full of pinks and blues is just breathtaking.

For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I understand what people mean when they describe the feeling of home.

This, right here? This is home.

How would she react if I fell to my knees right now and begged her to stay with me forever?

The plan, stick to the plan.

I shake my head and take a few photos. One of them will undoubtedly be my new phone wallpaper later.

Nervous energy courses through me. I really hope she doesn’t hate this. Riding is one of the things I love most in the world. I would love it if she felt that way about it too.

I open the saddlebag and pull out a glittery pink helmet. I bought it especially for her. In fact, I picked it up in store the first week she was back in town even though I was acting like a total ass. Apparently, my subconscious had plans all along.

“That is so cute!! Why do you have a pink helmet? Is it for all the ladies you entice onto your ride?” She laughs, but I can see her eyes dim. I hate that she thinks I’m a playboy creep, but then again, I guess I was for a while so I only have myself to blame.

I approach her slowly, moving to stand between her legs, my face serious. I need her to believe what I’m about to say. I run a hand up her neck, cupping her face and tilting it up until her eyes meet mine.

“Haven, I’ve never enticed any ladies onto my bike.

This is mine and mine alone. Ever since my dad died, I felt this constant pressure, like I was trapped.

He left me his company, I had Mom to worry about, and I wanted to make something of myself as a firefighter.

The second I bought this, things felt a little better.

This beast is my happy place. I ride it, and it clears my mind.

It gives me freedom—life. I’ve never once wanted to share that with anyone. Not until now.”

She stares back at me, her wide eyes sparkling with unshed tears and her lip trembling as she says, “I’m sorry about your father.”

“Thank you, it’s OK. He’d been sick for a while, so we sort of accepted it.

But I didn’t tell you that for you to pity me, Sprinks.

I just need you to understand. This isn’t just some random trick I use to impress chicks into banging me.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I bought this helmet for you. The second I saw it, I knew I wanted you to come out on the bike with me, if only you’d give me half a chance. ”

She sucks in a shocked breath, and I can’t resist planting a kiss on her soft lips before lowering the helmet onto her head.

Making sure it fits, and my girl is safe, I trace the freckles that dance along her nose, not quite ready to stop touching her yet. Shrugging my jacket off, I drape it around her shoulders.

“Put this on, Sprinks, it can get cold on the road. I want to make sure you’re warm enough.”

“But what about you?”

“Having you wrapped around me will keep me plenty warm.” Her gaze softens, a tiny smile playing on her lips as she shrugs my jacket on. It swamps her smaller frame, but she looks hot as fuck, my cock twitching in approval.

After I instruct her on how to sit astride the bike, I climb over and pull her flush against my back. Her thighs lineup alongside mine, and even through my way too large jacket, I can’t miss her tits pressing into my back.

Hell, riding with a boner will be a whole ass new experience.

“It’s going to get a little loud. Are you ready, Sprinks?”

She squeezes her arms around me, and I turn the engine, the bike roaring to life.

We pull out of the parking lot and speed down the road heading out of town. Her arms tighten around me as we speed up, and I feel her everywhere.

This moment will stay in my mind until the day I die. The day I found heaven on earth in her arms. She really is turning me into some hallmark bullshit. I need to calm the hell down.

We take the coastal highway, watching the sun slowly set over the ocean, before I pull onto a hidden dirt track I discovered. It leads to a little alcove that’s just perfect to take in the sunset, and the best part is no-one else has realized it’s here.

I drive down and park, removing our helmets. Her face flushed, and her wild hair get me, but her wide smile delivers the final gut punch. She looks like she loved it.

I pick her up and lean her against me, wrapping my arms tightly around her while we stare out at the ocean. She immediately snuggles back into my arms and sighs contentedly.

“What did you think?” I whisper quietly into her ear.

“That was amazing. I totally get what you mean about riding now. I loved it. Thank you so much for bringing me out with you.” She tilts her head back to look up at me as she says it, making my heart hitch.

The urge to tell her how I feel is so damn strong. It’s the perfect place for it, but I know it’s too soon. Instead, I lean down to kiss her, telling her without words what she means to me.

I turn her in my arms, forcing her to straddle me, and deepen the kiss. Her hands creep under my shirt and the feel of her fingers tracing my abs zap my blood with electricity.

I need to feel her too.

Sliding my hands under her shirt, I circle her waist and explore her soft skin until I reach her pebbled nipples. With a groan, I tug them, pinching them between my fingers, making her break our kiss with a gasp.

Staring into her wild eyes, I see need burning in their depths. I want to make her come again. Here. On my bike. In my special place. I want to be able to come here and relive her screams for years to come.

“Did you enjoy feeling my beast vibrating beneath you, sweet girl? Did it leave you wanting more?”

She slowly nods, chewing that lip again, her cheeks flushed with arousal.

I want to devour her. Every damn, delicious inch. But first, I need to see her shatter in my arms.

“I dare you to use me to make yourself come.”