Page 21 of Sweet Hate
The cupcake thievery is criminal.
I turnon my heel and stomp down the stairs, but I won’t let him get the last word, no sir.
“I hope you choke on them, Verona.”
7
AXEL
Aloud 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’vealready 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.
Onmy 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.
