Page 55 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)

Bent over the counter, we gasp for breath, nerves still buzzing, before I lean back and gently lift her, careful to keep my dick inside her as I move.

The caveman in me wants to leave my dick plugging her to keep as much of my seed inside her as I can.

I don’t know if it was her calling me Daddy that unlocked a new kink, but I now can’t get the idea of her carrying my baby out of my mind.

Something I probably need to unpack later, considering I’ve never wanted kids, and my girl here thinks this all ends in a couple of weeks.

Palming her soft tummy, I imagine it swollen with my baby, and my dick twitches inside her, making her moan again as another jet of cum shoots out. I know she’s on the pill, so it’s not going to matter how big a load I just blew into her, but damn, I’m so gone for this woman.

Sinking to the floor while still inside her, I lean against the counter, and gather her close. Our combined juices are leaking out all over my jeans, but I don’t give a fuck.

She’s leaning on my chest, her eyes closed with the most serene smile on her lips, and the sight sends another stab to my heart.

I need to see these secret smiles every day for the rest of my life. I don’t think I’ll survive without them.

“Axel, that was incredible,” she mumbles into my chest with her eyes still closed. Her pussy clenches around my dick as her smile widens. My dirty girl likes me keeping her full.

“Stay with me tonight, Sprinks. Please, stay.”

Shit, that just slipped out .

My whole body tenses as I wait for her response, praying like hell I haven’t just fucked up the most perfect sex I’ve ever had.

She must have heard me because I didn’t exactly whisper, but she doesn’t react.

My heart is thundering in my ears, and beads of sweat trickle down my neck.

Her eyes are still closed on my chest. Has she fallen asleep?

Well damn, if I dicked her so hard, she passed out right at this very moment I’m not sure if I want to high five myself or kick my own ass.

“I’ll stay.”

Her response is so quiet I barely hear it over the pounding of my heart. I’m not entirely sure I didn’t imagine it. But then those eyes open and meet mine, and she presses a soft kiss above my thundering heart, and I know I heard it right.

My breath stalls.

My heart, pounding so violently a second ago, stops.

Everything just fucking stops.

The eyes I love so much, hold mine for a second more, a dreamy smile spreading on her face.

She’s finally gonna stay.

Here.

With me.

“Take me upstairs, Axel.”

After all these years apart, I’ll fall asleep with her wrapped in my arms where she belongs .

But what if she leaves again?

What if you only get this one night of heaven?

Icy shards stab my heart, fear coiling and squeezing around me like a python claiming its prey.

If we do this, there’s no coming back for me.

None.

I’ll be done.

Finito.

Balls well and truly dropped in the blender—although, Beckett would say they already were.

But this is different.

She’s only spent a few short hours in my apartment so far, and I already see her everywhere.

Smell her everywhere.

She’s taken my safe place, and made it ours without even meaning to.

Without even wanting to.

Because this isn’t an admission that she loves me back.

Or that she’ll stay.

Sure it’s progress, but is it enough?

Once I see her in my bed for the first time—something I’ve imagined every fucking night since I pulled her out of that fire, and many nights before that if I’m entirely honest—I’m toast.

The memory of her there will be burned into my very soul.

The same one that turned black when she left.

Can I do it?

Can I take this one last risk and break the only rule I’ve ever held myself to.

The one that’s protected me so far.

It might have protected you this far, but have you been living?

Burying my nose in her hair, I drag in a ragged breath, letting her scent wash over me.

The tension filling me cracks, fragments slipping from me like little pieces of an iceberg falling away.

She curls further into me, burying her face in my neck—trusting me to keep her safe again.

Finally .

Shifting her in my arms, I walk us out of her dream come to life, and head straight into mine.

My every step is slow and purposeful.

Because as much as I want to race back up these stairs and toss her on my bed, claiming her in the one place that’s only ever been mine, giving her the last piece of me left changes everything.

Tightening my arms around her, I take a step, and another, my open apartment door beckoning us.

Come on Verona, this is all you’ve ever wanted. You’re holding it—her—in your arms right now.

That’s true.

She might not have said the words I want so desperately to hear tumble from her perfect lips, but agreeing to stay tonight means something.

Haven isn’t the type to play with people’s feelings. She would never deliberately hurt someone.

Anyone.

Let alone me.

My decision to keep women away from my apartment, my bed—maybe on some subconscious level I did that for her.

Because it’s always been meant to be hers— only hers.

I know it bothers her seeing my past everywhere we go. Physical reminders telling her I moved on. Even though I know I never did.

But my bed— our bed —isn’t tainted with any of that. It’ll only ever be her in there with me.

In my heart.

In my dreams .

Now, in my reality.

Taking the final step, I cross the threshold into my apartment. With my girl curled in my arms, I’ve never been more sure of anything.

I’m ready.

I’ll give her everything and anything she wants.

Everything I have.

And hope it’s enough to make her stay.

Planting a soft kiss on her head, I flip the lock. With the sound, the missing piece finally clicks into place.

“Welcome home, Sprinks.”