Page 60 of Sweet Hate
“Axel!” she practically screams, the bar falling silent insurprise. She’s standing now, and literally stomping her heeled foot like a child having a tantrum, clearly not getting the hint.
She’s making the biggest bloody scene, and every eye in the place zeroes in on me draped over Axel’s lap like a horny cat. Not totally wrong, to be fair, because I’m pretty sure I’m close to leaving a mark on his freakin’ boner if this lady doesn’t get the hint soon.
Please, God, Buddha, anyone up there who’s listening, please, please, please don’t make me leave a wet patch on his jeans. I will die of mortification. There’s no coming back from that.
This is entirely my fault for not charging my trusty vibrator. I found that out the hard way last night. But in my defense, I wasn’t expecting to be grinding on the fireman’s pole less than twenty-four hours later.
I keep everything crossed that this isn’t going to end up another spectacular addition to my collection ofmortified Haven in Sweet Havenmoments.
Axel's deep voice breaks the silence that’s fallen across the bar.
“Keely, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Haven.” Shock rips through me at his words. They sound so real.
“Hell yeah!” Lucas and Kim shout out in unison, the rest of our friends hooting and hollering as Keely stares from me to him and back again.
“Your girlfriend?” she sputters out. “Her? You choseher?You could have had me, but you chose someone who never grew out of her pink phase?”That’s original.I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes as Axel tenses, his arms banding around me like iron now.
“It’s always been her, Keely. Now, if you don’t mind, can you please stop making a scene and get the fuck out of my face so I can get back to spending time with my girl?”
Her face contorts in disgust as she turns on her heel andstorms out of the bar. Axel's arms loosen around me as he starts to laugh, his chest shaking against my back.
Trying to resist rubbing myself over his still hard cock, I turn back to face him taking in his relaxed features and wide grin, I can’t help but smile back.
We stare at each other for what feels like hours but in reality, was probably only minutes before his gaze dims. His eyes search mine. I can almost hear the questions running through his head.
I don’t want to talk about this now. I’m not even sure I can give him the answers he’s looking for. How can I when I don’t even know what the hell just happened. It’s going to be awkward enough having to explain what I just did to our friends, not to mention working with him every day.
Mayday, mayday, get the fuck out of this Haven. Now.
“Shit, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just reacted when I saw how uncomfortable you were. It doesn’t mean anything, OK? So don’t worry. I should really get going.”
His hands grip my thighs, flexing to keep me there. I push against him before he slowly lets me go. Instantly, my body cools with the loss of his body heat, like it…misses him?
I’ve got no time to examine that shit. I jump up and turn, practically running as fast as my chunky boots allow me to get out of the bar, not even stopping to say bye to our friends.
Now I know how Cinderella felt as the clock approached midnight.
21
AXEL
Istare at the doorway my girl just ran through and fight every instinct in my body to go after her. The emotions that flew across her face made it clear she needs space, so I want to give her some, despite my desperation to know what she’s thinking suffocating me right now.
I called her my girlfriend tonight. I’ve never used that label on anyone, but shit, did it feel right on her.
Was it all just an act for Keely’s benefit? I don’t think it was, because if it were, she would still be here, laughing it off—even though I’m sure as shit not in the laughing mood right now.
I’d rather bury myself inside her until we both forget all the years we spent apart.
The second she kissed me, I felt alive again. Whole. The hollow feeling I’ve gotten used to finally disappeared. I felt like I could breathe while she was in my arms.
I need to feel that again. I need to feelheragain.
I can’t focus on the what ifs. When she leaves, I’ll deal.
I’ve done it before; I can do it again.
The thought of losing her a second time and not being able to spend whatever short amount of time we have togetherinstead of wasting it in this weird, stilted dance, is so much worse than the devastation I’ll face in the aftermath.
