Page 45 of Hard as Stone
Axel’s expression remains neutral as he watches my futile attempts. “You done?”
“Not even close,” I snarl, giving the bike another shove. My arms are shaking from exertion. “I’m just getting started.”
“Uh huh.” He steps closer, his eyes roaming over me. “And how’s that working out for you?”
I glare at him, hating how calm he seems. How unaffected. “Go to hell.”
“Already there, sweetheart.” His voice is low, meant only for me. “Watching you tear yourself apart over this is worse than any hell I could imagine.”
His words hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. For a moment, I see a flash of raw pain in his eyes before that mask of calm slides back into place. It’s enough to make my anger falter, replaced by a confusing swirl of hurt and longing.
“I hate you,” I whisper, but there’s no venom behind it.
“No, you don’t,” he whispers back.
“Sure I do.” A fat tear falls from my eye, and I swipe at it as I kick the tire, which hurts about as much as kicking the stand did. “And I’ve still got plenty of rage to work through. Though I have to say, your bike is being really uncooperative with my revenge plans.” I take hold of the handlebars, figuring if I angle the front tire a little, then I might get somewhere.
“That’s enough, Poppy.” His tone makes my stomach flip. Not with fear—never that with him—but with the knowledge that I’ve pushed him to his limit.
“Ah, so this is the secret to making it fall.” I grip the handles tighter, starting to turn them.
“Let go of the handlebars. Now.” The command in his voice makes me shiver, but I’m too stubborn to back down.
“Make me,” I challenge, even as my hands tremble on the grips.
“Remember, you asked for this.”
“Don’t you dare—” I start backing away, but he’s already moving.
In three long strides, he reaches me. Before I can dodge, he drops his shoulder into my stomach and lifts me clean off my feet.
“Put me down!” I pound my fists against his back, kicking wildly as he starts walking toward the clubhouse. “I mean it, Axel! I’m not done being mad at you!”
“Yeah, you are.” His palm lands firmly against my backside. “We’re going to handle this a different way.”
“Well, would you look at that?” Lee calls after us. “My boy finally learned how to handle his woman.”
“Shut up, Lee!” we both snap in unison, and despite my determination to stay furious, I feel laughter bubble up in my chest. I swallow it back down, refusing to let him charm his way out of this.
Axel carries me through the clubhouse like I weigh nothing, past whistling brothers and knowing smirks, up the stairs until we reach his room. The door clicks shut behind us with a finality that makes my stomach flip.
He sets me on my feet but keeps me caged between his body and the wall, one hand planted beside my head. “You done?”
“No.” I lift my chin defiantly. “I’ve got a whole list of property damage planned. Maybe I’ll spray paint ‘liar’ across your bikenext. I’ve already tagged my dad’s office today, so I’m getting pretty good at it.”
Something dark and possessive flashes in his eyes. “You went back to the trailer?”
“Had to get my stuff, didn’t I? Since I’m done with—” My voice cracks, and just like that, all the fight drains out of me. “God, Axel. Everything’s such a mess.”
His expression softens as he cups my face in his hands. “I know, baby. But you’re not alone. You’ve got me.”
“Do I?” The question comes out more vulnerable than I meant it to. “Because the last time I thought that, you were building a case against my family.”
“I was protecting you,” he growls. “Everything I did was to keep you safe. To make sure when this all came down, you’d be clear of it.”
“I didn’t need protecting! I needed the truth! I neededyou!”
His thumb traces my bottom lip. “You’ve got it. All of it. No more lies between us.”
