Page 11 of Bringing Home the Biker

Slowly, I felt her start to melt, and her body leaned ever so slightly toward mine. Her hands fisted in the front of my jacket, almost like she was grounding herself, and I took it as a good sign. I deepened the kiss just a little and coaxed her to let go of whatever hesitation she was holding on to.

Her lips moved against mine, tentative but willing. I couldn’t help the small hum of approval that escaped me. God, she tasted sweet, like honey, and something uniquely her. I kept the kiss unhurried and savored every second of it because I wasn’t just trying to prove a point—I wanted her to feel it, to trust me, to like kissing me. Because I sure as hell liked kissing her.

When I finally pulled back, I rested my forehead against hers, and my thumbs brushed lightly along her jaw. Her breathing was uneven, and her eyes stayed closed for a moment before fluttering open to meet mine.

“Okay,” she whispered again, this time with a hint of wonder in her voice.

I grinned and brushed my thumb against her cheek one last time. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

She let out a breathy laugh, her lips curving up in a smile. “No, but maybe we need to do it a few more times just to make sure.”

I chuckled and leaned in, pressing one last, quick kiss to her lips. “Good,” I murmured, stepping back just enough to give her space but still keeping her close. “And practice does make perfect, honey.”

“That it does,” she agreed, and her lips curved into a soft smile.

I stepped back fully and motioned toward the open passenger door. “Hop in. Did you want to stop for lunch or work our way through all of your snacks?”

Star climbed into the truck, her boots scuffing lightly against the running board. She settled into the seat, then glanced at me with that mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I wouldn’t be opposed to stopping for a burger. What’s a road trip without eating yourself silly?”

“Burger and fries it is.” I reached into the back, grabbed the bags I’d tossed there earlier, and handed them to her through the open door. “Snacks for later.”

She took the bags with a grin so wide it could have lit up the whole parking lot. “Now we’re thinking alike.”

I chuckled again and fought the urge to lean in for another kiss. Damn, it was hard not to. That kiss had set something loose inside me, something I hadn’t realized I’d been holding back for years. But I didn’t want to push my luck.

If that one kiss was all I ever got from Star, though… well, I could die a happy man.

I closed her door with a soft thud and rounded the front of the truck. My breath puffed out in small clouds as I climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The truck rumbled to life beneath us.

For five years, I’d felt this pull toward her. Five years of stealing glances when I thought she wasn’t looking. Five years of knowing she deserved the world, so I kept my distance.

But now? She’d given me an opening—a chance to see what we could be.

And I wasn’t about to waste it.

Chapter Nine

Star

We were ten minutes away.

I had made the drive from Flagstaff to Redmond more times than I could count, but this time was different. Axel was behind the wheel with his hands relaxed on the steering wheel like this was just another drive and not a lead-up to the most stressful family Christmas of my life.

I stole a glance at him and took in his calm expression. His confidence was reassuring, but it wasn’t enough to settle the knots twisting in my stomach. “Should I run over everything again?” I asked, my voice breaking the quiet hum of the truck’s engine.

Axel chuckled, and the sound was low and warm. “Honey, I think I’ve got it all. Your mom is Carmen; she’s married to your stepdad, Jim. Your dad passed away when you were five.”

“Four,” I corrected him automatically. It didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Four,” he repeated with a slight nod, not missing a beat. “Your sister is Rain, who’s married to Ben, and their son is Woods. Rickie and Davis are your aunt and uncle.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“And we started dating right before December last year,” he added with a smirk and glanced at me briefly before focusing back on the road.

I couldn’t help but smile, even as nerves prickled in my chest. I’d told him way more about my family than I expected him to remember, but Axel had nailed the essentials. Maybe this would work after all.

We made the turn out of town and started the climb up the winding hill toward my mom’s house. The pine trees lining theroad blurred together, and I clasped my hands tightly in my lap. My heart felt like it was trying to escape through my ribcage.

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