Page 31 of Hard as Stone
His lips twitch. “Hawk—our sergeant at arms, you’ll meet him soon—recommended it. Brought his old lady, Andi, here on their first date.” He opens his menu, but his eyes stay on me. “Said the steak is worth wearing a tie for.”
I hide my smile behind my menu, trying not to baulk at the prices. “That’s quite the endorsement from a man who probably lives in leather.”
“Speaking of leather...” His voice drops lower. “My cut looks crazy good on you.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” The look he gives me over his menu should be illegal in public. “But I think what I’d really like to see is how you’d look in nothing but my jacket.”
My menu hits the table with a snap. “Shouldn’t you be choosing a wine or something instead of trying to make me blush?”
“Blush? I was going for more than that, sweetheart.” Axel’s smirk only widens at my flustered reaction. “But you’re right, we should choose a wine. Any preferences?”
I scan the extensive wine list, feeling out of my depth. The fanciest thing I’ve had to drink lately was hard cider at Devil’s. “Um... red?”
He chuckles. “Allow me.”
The waiter appears, and Axel orders with the confidence of someone used to fine dining, rattling off the name of a wine I can’t even pronounce. I raise an eyebrow as the waiter hurries off.
“Didn’t realize bikers were such wine connoisseurs,” I tease.
Axel’s lips quirk up. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me yet, trouble.”
“Is that so?” I lean forward, resting my chin on my hand. “Like what?”
His eyes drop to my lips. “Like how much self-control it’s taking not to lean across this table and kiss that smirk off your face.”
My breath catches. “What’s stopping you?”
His hand snakes under the table and rests on my knee, his fingers trailing gently up the inside of my thigh. “The fact that if I start, I might not be able to stop.” He pauses at the hem of my dress, teasing. “And I promised you dinner.”
If I were to stand right now, there’d be a telltale pool of dampness on the seat. My clit aches, and my insides are screaming for his fingers to climb higher,higher.
I swallow hard, hyper-aware of Axel’s fingers pressing possessively against my skin. “You and your promises,” I manage, my voice coming out as mere breath. “I’m not sure if I’m enjoying this gentleman business or if I’m mad at it.”
“Only a gentleman on the surface, sweetheart. You have no idea the things I want to do to you, the filthy things I want to say to you.”
Before I can respond, the waiter returns with our wine. Axel withdraws his hand as the man pours, and I use the moment to try to collect myself. My skin feels too tight, too hot, and Axel justexistingso close by doesn’t help. The man is stupid hot, and all I can think about, as I take a sip of my wine, is climbing into his lap and doing filthy things myself.
The waiter takes our food order—steak, of course—and when he leaves, Axel raises his glass. “To new beginnings,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
I clink my glass against his. “And dangerous promises.”
His low chuckle sends another shiver through me as we sip our wine. The rich, velvety taste coats my tongue, and I can’t help the small moan of appreciation that escapes me.
“Good?” Axel asks, his eyes never leaving my face.
I nod, licking a stray drop from my lips. His gaze follows the movement, and the intensity makes me shiver.
“So,” I say, desperate for a distraction before I do something stupid like crawl under the table and undo his pants. “Tell me something about yourself that doesn’t involve motorcycles or leather jackets.”
“Would you believe I used to spend every summer at places like this?” he says after a moment. “Family tradition. My father was a state senator, mother came from old money. Sunday brunches, charity galas, political fundraisers...” His lips quirk. “Never quite got the hang of the tie part, though.”
I trace the rim of my wineglass. “That’s quite a change, going from political dinners to MC life.”
“Not as much as you’d think.” Something darker flickers in his eyes. “Both are about power plays and choosing sides. Difference is, the MC is honest about what they are.”
“And fancy restaurants weren’t your scene?”
