Page 8 of Sweet Hate (If You Dare #1)

AXEL

A loud crash wakes me from the most hellish night of sleep. Sitting up in bed, I rub a hand down my face, half convinced I dreamt it.

I close my eyes, my mind automatically going back to Haven on her knees at my front door. I’ve got no business picturing her down there, but the flare of interest on her face as her eyes trailed up my body has me thinking all the things I shouldn’t.

Like how it would’ve felt to hold her chin, and run my hard cock across her plump, shiny lips.

Would she have opened for me and taken it so beautifully, like she used to?

Jesus, the way I acted, she’d have bitten it off, more like.

I hear another crash right below me.

Shit . Haven .

Jumping out of bed, I pull on my sweatpants. My pulse spikes at the thought of something happening to her down there. What if the rest of the ceiling caved?

Cap signed off on it, but I should have checked it out myself.

If she’s hurt…god. I don’t know what I’d do. I’ve already beaten my own ass six ways to Sunday over my behavior when she came looking for a handyman. I was a total dick.

Worst of all, I don’t even have an explanation for it. Not to mention, the fact that I opened my big mouth and brought up the twat she’s living with in London, so now she’ll think I’ve been asking about her.

Real smooth Verona.

I’m losing it when it comes to her these days. It’s like all I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears, and I see red.

But right now, I just need to know she’s safe.

I don’t bother with a shirt, just grab some sneakers and run out the door, taking the stairs two at a time.

Running into the kitchen, I see my pink-haired minx brandishing a sledgehammer, some guy draped around the back of her like a Klingon showing her how to hold it. My blood boils at the sight of his filthy hands on her arms.

On my girl .

Hell no, you don’t.

Unaware of my presence, she steps out of his grip and swings the hammer in a perfect arch, shattering one of the kitchen units with a crash.

That explains the noise. She’s safe. I should leave before she sees me. So why are my feet rooted to the spot?

Before I can bring myself to look away from her, let alone move, the jackass currently draped around my girl turns and spots me.

No way.

Over my dead body will this joker fix up the bakery. It’ll be on fire again before it reopens.

I clear my throat, glaring at them. “Haven, a word.”

Her eyes land on me, widening in surprise as they drop to my bare chest. She hands off the sledgehammer to the dickweed and crosses her arms .

Defiant little shit.

That spark is one of my favorite things about her. Or at least it used to be. But, right now, this fucking spark of hers is a problem. It’s keeping her rooted to the spot instead of where she needs to be.

In my bed.

What the fuck? No.

I mean, in front of me. You know, where I can talk to her.

“I need to speak to you. Outside. Now.”

“I think we’ve said all there is to say to each other, Verona. Don’t you?”

I wish she’d stop calling me that.

She used to say that was what my knucklehead friends called me, and she wanted to be different. Special. And I loved hearing my name fall from her sexy lips.

Now, she might single-handedly be the most infuriating person I know.

“Is this guy bothering you, ma’am?” The lazy slurred drawl of this prick catches my attention for a second, and I glare at him. I don’t miss his bloodshot eyes and unfocused stare.

Fuck this. It’s time for him to go.

Stalking over to Haven, I toss her over my shoulder, carrying her ass back out to the parking lot with her swearing and slapping my back the entire time.

Once outside, I let her go, caging her against the back door with my arms so she can’t bolt again. It doesn’t stop her from pressing her warm hands to my bare chest to try and shove me back. Nice try, but I’m not going anywhere, and neither is she.

I pin her with a glare.

“Haven, would you give me a damn second to talk?”

Her derisive laugh sets me even more on edge. “Now you want to talk. What could you possibly have to say? You’ve said no more than the bare minimum to me since I’ve gotten back. I think we’re done here. ”

She pushes against me harder, but I’m not budging. She needs to hear this.

Her safety is non-negotiable, no matter how much of an ass I’ve been. I’ll take no chances when it comes to her.

“We are far from done. Did you know that guy in there had his electrician’s license revoked for negligence? We got called to a house fire that started because of his shoddy work. He drinks on the job, and he’s known for getting a little too comfortable with the women around him when he’s drunk.”

“Oh please, you’re just saying that. I know you don’t want to help me for whatever reason, but you don’t have to screw this up for me. I thought you loved Grams, but I guess I was wrong about that too. Just leave me the hell alone.”

“I’m not just saying shit, Haven. Look.” I spin her around, pulling her against my chest so I can open the back door quietly.

Well, shit, I should have thought this through. Her curvy ass is now pressed right up against my dick, and my fingers are splayed across the soft skin of her abdomen.

I bite down on my lip, doubling my efforts to focus and keep my erection at bay, while I hold her tight and edge us inside.

Oh hell.

This really isn’t my smartest move. My dick is beginning to stir, wanting to join the party, and I didn’t bother with boxers in my rush to get dressed.

Try explaining the gray flagpole, Axeman.

Redirecting my attention to the scene ahead, I lean down, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Watch.”

She stands rigidly in my arms. I haven’t held her this close since we said goodbye, and I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel amazing.

Right.

Just holding her in my arms clicks something into place and calms the storm of emotions inside me.

Nope. Not going there .

Step back, you idiot.

But no. I ignore all common sense, banding my arms tighter around her waist.

She’s no longer struggling to get away. If anything, she’s relaxed into me, her soft hair tickling my chest.

I rest my chin on top of her head, allowing myself to savor her sweet vanilla caramel scent as we watch quietly.

This feels so good. Too good. I love that she’s letting me freely hold her in my arms. For a second, I can pretend things are like they used to be. It would be so easy to drop my lips to her neck and taste her or slip my hand under the waistband of her pants and trail a finger over her clit.

Would she let me?

Would a pretty gasp fall from her lips?

My fingers twitch on her bare skin ready to report for duty.

I must be drunk off her scent, that’s the only explanation I’ve got.

Head falling forward, my lips brush the top of her head while I glide my fingers slowly down, the tips making contact with the waistband of her jeans.

She sucks in a breath, but doesn’t stop me or pull away.

The air around us thickens, swirling with tension, while I watch her, as she watches him, pretending my fingers aren’t about to deep dive into paradise.

There’s been a breach.

Distantly, I can hear a siren wailing in my mind, but I’d sooner burn it all to the ground then listen to that warning right now.

I slide my fingers beneath the waistband, inch by inch, her muscles tightening beneath my hand. It hits a scrap of lace, the last defense. My pinky slips in, followed by my ring finger, setting my pulse thundering harder than a herd of wild horses.

As my hand begins its decent, Haven’s head falls back on my shoulder. We’re both ready—so goddamn ready for this moment .

A crash has us both jerking, my fingers freezing as Haven’s head snaps up.

No, fuck no .

With the sledgehammer now on the floor by his feet, the idiot slides a small bottle of Jack out from his back pocket, dragging us out of the haze and back to reality.

She sucks in a breath, her body tensing at the sight of him downing the entire bottle.

This time, she does push against my arms. Reluctantly I step back, letting them flex as they fall away. A chill runs through my bones at the loss, the crushing emptiness almost suffocating.

I watch her storm toward Leroy, bending down for his tool kit, denim stretching tight over that delicious ass. All too soon, she stands and thrusts it at him.

There’s no sign of the shy, anxious girl she once was. Her shoulders are back, and the fierce set of her face says she takes no prisoners. It’s hot as fuck. She radiates confidence, not caring that she’s squaring up to a guy twice her size.

She takes my breath away.

He stares down at her, swaying slightly on his feet, and stumbles. This jackass can’t drive, he’ll kill someone. I fire off a text to Swayze, a friend of ours and the local police lieutenant, asking him to send a patrol car over to take this drunk prick home.

“Leroy, I won’t be requiring your services any further. Please leave.”

He turns toward her and flashes her a leery grin. “What’s that, baby cakes?”

Oh, she won’t like that. Not one bit. I cross my arms and move to stand behind Haven. You know, for moral support. Her slight nod tells me she’s aware of me, but I won’t interfere unless she needs me to. My girl has this.

“I said we no longer require your services. You’re fired.”

“Your loss. I don’t need a little girl with crayon hair bossing me around anyway. Your kind are only good for one thing. ”

“ My kind? You mean women? I think you’ll find women, me included, have bigger balls than you could ever dream of having. So, how about you cut your misogynistic bullshit and take your shriveled, drunk nutsack the hell out of my kitchen before I ask this big strapping fireman to toss you out?”

Pride surges through me, and I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of my chest. My girl’s a firecracker.

Eyes widening at her outburst he stumbles past just as Jason, a PD officer, shows up. He escorts Leroy, swearing and stumbling, to the back of his patrol car.

I slam the back door shut and lock it before turning back to face Haven, a wide grin stretched across my face.

Only she’s no longer standing, she’s sitting on the dusty floor, leaning against the wall, her face in her hands.

Hell no .

I notice the subtle shake of her shoulders.

She’s crying.

How is she crying after tearing that twat a new asshole?

Fuck. I can’t watch her cry. That shit tears me up inside.

I’ve made such a mess of everything. I know I have. But I couldn’t let her keep this guy working here, putting both her and Grams at risk.

“What the hell do I do now?”

Her quiet voice blasts through my internal noise—I’ve always been attuned to her every word.

Crouching in front of her, I take her hands in mine to lower them from her tear-streaked face and tip her chin up till my gaze collides with those big, watery aqua eyes.

My fingers ghost along her jaw, sliding her glasses back up her nose, and brush a loose pink curl off her face. I can’t tear my eyes away from her stricken expression. It tears me in two.

I ignore my racing heart, my internal alarm screaming Mayday Mayday , and all the reasons why this is a bad idea, and cup her face in my hands. They tremor as I brush away a tear with my thumb.

I suck in a breath, my eyes scanning hers.

Fuck it.

“I’ll do it…I’ll fix up the bakery.”