Page 56 of Hard as Stone
“I know, but the kid’s got potential. Sharp eyes, good instincts. Might be worth keeping an eye on him, get him ready for when he’s old enough.”
I nod. “We’ll see. For now, let’s just be glad he’s doing better, and Maria seems happier too.”
“You’re right,” Lee says at a normal level before adding louder, “Though if Hugo breaks Maria’s heart, we might have to have words with him.”
Hugo falters slightly, his neck going beet red as he realizes we’re watching. He mumbles something to Maria before hurrying off, nearly tripping over his own feet in the process.
I shake my head, chuckling. “Kid’s got it bad.”
“Can’t blame him.” Lee shrugs. “Maria’s a catch. Strong, independent, great with her kids. Plus, have you tried her tamales? Man could fall in love over those alone.”
“Careful,” I warn jokingly. “Keep talking like that and folks might start to thinkyou’vegone soft.”
“Nah,” he says, backing away to rejoin the others. “I’m not interested in finding myself an old lady. I just think Maria deserves to be happy again.”
Poppy catches my eye from across the yard and smiles, that special soft smile she reserves just for me. My heart does a familiar flip in my chest as I watch her hand Adam back to Andi and stand, brushing grass off her jeans. She looks good in her cut, the ‘Property of Axel’ patch prominently displayed as she makes her way over to me.
“Hey trouble,” I greet her, pulling her in for a kiss that lingers just a bit too long to be strictly PG. “Having fun with the rug rats?”
Her whole face lights up. “They’re amazing. Adam’s starting to pull himself up now, and the twins showed me how Steel taught them to sing ‘twinkle, twinkle little star.’”
The image of our tough-as-nails prospect doing twinkle fingers in his signature tiara flashes through my mind, making me chuckle. But it’s quickly replaced by a vision of Poppy with our own baby, teaching our own kids nursery rhymes and silly dances.
“What?” she asks, catching something in my expression.
“Just thinking.” I brush my thumb across her cheek. “About how natural you look with them. How right.”
Her breath catches as she reads between the lines. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I lean down to murmur in her ear. “Makes me think about putting one of our own in you.”
The shiver that runs through her tells me she’s not opposed to the idea. “Axel...”
“Quit burning those burgers and go get a room!” Duck calls out.
Poppy pokes her tongue but doesn’t look away from me. “Maybe we should. Test out that new mattress of ours.”
I grin and wrap an arm around Poppy’s waist, pulling her flush against me. “You read my mind, trouble.”
Grabbing her hand, I practically drag her across the lawn, pausing only long enough to press the tongs into Lee’s hands, ignoring his knowing smirk as I guide Poppy back toward the clubhouse. The moment we’re up in our quarters, I have her pressed against the wall, my hands already working to undo her jeans.
“Eager, are we?” she teases breathlessly, but her own fingers are just as desperate, tugging at my belt.
“For you? Always.” I capture her mouth in a searing kiss, swallowing her moan as I work her jeans and panties down her legs. She kicks them off impatiently, then goes to work shoving my jeans down to my ankles. But they get caught on my boots.
“Fuck. Oh, forget it,” she says, wrapping her hand around my thick cock and flicking her tongue over the head, making me groan. “I got what I want.”
“Poppy,” I hiss, gripping the door frame for support.
“Mmm?” she hums, running her tongue down my shaft, drawing me in deeper into her warmth. Her hand strokes the base as she takes me deeper, humming around my cock in a way that makes my knees weak.
“Fuck, sweetheart, your mouth...” I thread my fingers through her hair, not pushing or controlling, just holding on for dear life as she works me over.
She pulls off with an obscene pop, her lips shiny and swollen. “You like that, Road Captain?” Her voice is throaty, wrecked, and so fucking sexy. “You like it when I get on my knees for you?”
“You know I do.” I tighten my fingers in her hair, guiding her back to my aching cock. “Now be a good girl and put that sassy mouth to better use.”
Her eyes darken at the command and she obeys eagerly, wrapping her lips around me once more. She takes me deep, relaxing her throat until her nose brushes against my abs. Stars explode behind my eyelids at the tight squeeze of her throat working my sensitive head.
