Page 13 of Bringing Home the Biker

This was not how I wanted their first meeting to go. Having my mom see us mid-kiss? Mortifying. But there was no undoing it now.

Mom stepped forward and reached out her hand. “I’m Carmen. It is so nice to finally meet you. Heck, it’s nice to know youexist. We were just inside talking and taking bets on whether Star was actually telling us the truth.”

I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Mom…”

Axel chuckled, and the sound was low and easy as he took her hand in a firm shake. “I’m one hundred percent real,Carmen,” he said smoothly, and his grin was nothing short of charming.

Mom laughed, and her eyes flickered between the two of us. I could already see the wheels turning in her head. She wasn’t going to let this moment go anytime soon.

“Well,” she said, releasing Axel’s hand, then stepping back toward the door, “Don’t just stand out there in the cold. Come inside. Everyone’s excited to meet the infamous Axel.”

Axel gave me a quick wink before guiding me toward the door, his hand resting lightly at my waist. Mortifying as the moment had been, his steady presence made me feel a little more grounded. At least for now.

Mom disappeared into the living room and left us alone in the entryway. We paused to pull off our coats and kick off our boots, as the warmth of the house was a stark contrast to the cold air outside. My fingers fumbled with my zipper, and my nerves started to creep back in.

My family didn’t think Axel was real.

I had no idea they were even thinking that.

I mean, they weren’t exactly wrong, but now the pressure to sell this whole thing had me second-guessing every move. What if they saw right through it?

Lost in my swirling thoughts, I bent to tug off my boots and straightened up, only to find that Axel’s hand had slipped to my waist. He gently tipped my chin up with his other hand and forced me to meet his eyes.

“Look at me,” he said softly.

“Iamlooking at you,” I whispered back, and my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

“Stop worrying,” he murmured, and his gaze was steady and sure as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” I drawled, sarcasm masking my anxiety.

His lips twitched in amusement. “When I’m kissing you, you’re not worrying.”

I scoffed lightly, though he wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, well, your kisses seem to make everything melt away. But I don’t think my family would appreciate you and me making out for the next three days, yeah?” Not that the idea sounded entirely unappealing.

“Take a deep breath and relax,” he said, his voice calm and even.

“I’m about to walk in there and pretend that you’re my boyfriend, Axel. There’s no relaxing to be had.”

“Then don’t,” he said simply.

I frowned, my brows furrowing. “Don’t pretend you’re my boyfriend. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason you’re here.”

“Don’t pretend,” he repeated, and his voice dropped to a near whisper. His gaze flicked to my lips, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. “Iamyour boyfriend, Star. We’re not pretending.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he shook his head, silencing me with his lips.

The kiss stole every coherent thought from my mind. His hand tightened on my waist and anchored me to him while his other hand slid up to cup my cheek. The warmth of his touch and the deliberate way his lips moved against mine made the rest of the world fall away. It was soft but consuming, the kind of kiss that made me forget where I was, who I was, or that my family was just in the next room.

By the time he pulled back, I was breathless, and my head was spinning. He rested his forehead lightly against mine as his voice rumbled softly against my lips. “Did that feel like pretending to you?”

I shook my head slowly, still caught in the haze of his kiss.

“Then we’re not pretending,” he said firmly, and his tone left no room for argument. His hand lingered at my waist. “I’m your boyfriend. And now let’s go meet the rest of your family.”

Still dazed, I nodded. I let him guide me toward the living room. For the first time, I started to think maybe—just maybe—we could actually pull this off.

Chapter Ten

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