Page 17 of Riding the Line (Steel Saints MC #1)

Over the next couple of weeks, Dalton showered me with affection.

The usual morning coffee he greeted me with was now accompanied by a kiss.

Mac was a bit more reserved, finding me in the quiet hours when I was alone.

He interrupted my cleaning frequently, stealing kisses in darkened rooms. I was damn near giddy with happiness, even if at night that same happiness was the thing that kept me from sleeping.

Maria and Holly teased me relentlessly, but I learned to roll with it.

One morning, as I walked to my bike to head to work, Dalton surprised me at the door of my apartment building. He held an empty saddlebag aloft, and I gave him a questioning look. He tossed the bag to me. “Pack for a weekend, Vixen. We’re going on a trip, no work for you. Meet me by the bikes.”

He winked at me before turning to leave, and I hollered at his retreating back, “Wait, what am I packing for?” He smiled at me over his shoulder but, of course, didn’t bother answering me.

Back in my apartment, I grabbed some spare clothes and shoved them in the bag.

I hesitated before also tossing in some lingerie Holly had made me buy the last time we went shopping.

Switching out of my Vans, I slipped on my boots and a heavier jacket better suited for the road.

I texted Maria and Holly in our group chat, letting them know I would be gone for the next couple of days with Dalton.

Holly replied with a winking emoji and an eggplant next to a donut.

I blushed crimson but laughed at her antics.

Maria sent, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. ”

I grabbed the loaded saddlebag and slung it over my shoulders before heading back down to meet Dalton .

Dalton whistled as I walked toward him, and I rolled my eyes.

“You saw me literally not even twenty minutes ago.” He grabbed my hips and pulled me into him.

I was still holding my helmet and bag, but I wrapped my free arm around his neck.

He kissed me deeply, and I ran my hand through the hair on the back of his head.

When he pushed the kiss further, I opened for him eagerly and moaned.

He sighed into my mouth and pulled away. “We better get going, Vixen, otherwise I may just take you right back up to your place.”

I leaned into him, nipped at his ear, and whispered, “I might just let you.” I heard him swear as I sashayed over to my bike. “Where are we going, by the way?” I asked as I secured the saddlebag to the back of my Triumph.

He just smiled before swinging his leg over and starting a Roadster I hadn’t seen before.

“Whose bike is that?”

He gave the throttle a little gas, and the engine purred. “I’ve got more than one bike, babe. But I only got the one girl.” He gave me a cheesy grin.

I laughed. “Oh yeah? She know you’re here?”

Shrugging, he said, “Probably. Not much gets by her; she’s pretty damn smart. Now, please shut that beautiful mouth and follow me.”

I gave him a mock salute and followed his bike out of the lot.

We drove for an hour before stopping to get a bite to eat.

The waitress at the diner flirted openly with Dalton.

I shot daggers at her until he switched seats to one next to me, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

She turned bright red and stomped away with a huff.

He kissed me on the cheek and whispered, “I kinda like you jealous.” He paid, and when we got back to our bikes, I kissed him like a woman starved.

Someone hollered at us to get a room, and we broke apart laughing.

We drove for another hour, the air getting cooler and cleaner the longer we rode.

We were riding along Lake Sinclair when he turned onto a gravel road.

My mind was racing with questions, wondering where we were when he stopped in front of a beautiful cabin right on the edge of the water.

It was shielded by cedar and oak trees, had massive bay windows along the side, and a long path that led down to where the water lapped gently at the shore. It was absolutely stunning.

Dalton parked his bike under a carport, and I pulled in beside him. “Where are we?”

With an arm around my waist, he led me to the front door.

“Welcome to the Mills cabin, Vixen. This has been in my family long as I can remember. Mac and I made some updates when we got it.” He unlocked the door and swung it open, gently pushing me inside.

I turned full circle, taking in the sweeping staircase, the deer antler chandelier, and the warm golden wood around us. “What do you think?”

I turned to him, smiling so big it hurt my cheeks. “Can I see the kitchen?”

He laughed. “Yeah, baby, you can see the kitchen. You can go wherever you want. Come on.”

He led me down a hallway with a large sitting room off one side.

Opening up a Dutch door, he stepped back to let me in.

The kitchen was just as stunning as the rest of the house, and I ran my hand along the grey marble countertops with gold inlay.

Over the sink was a huge window overlooking the lake, and the dining room had a large sliding glass door that opened onto a patio.

I turned to Dalton who was watching me carefully, waiting for my reaction. When he smiled at me tentatively, I ran to him and jumped into his arms. He caught me easily and said, “So you like it?”

I kissed him. “Baby, I love it. It’s absolutely perfect. It’s all ours for the weekend?”

He carried me over to the counter and sat me down, running his hands down my thighs and squeezing my calves. “Just you and me, Vixen.”

A little voice in the back of my head told me this wasn’t a good idea, but I shoved it away. Just for the weekend, I told myself, and my heart was all too eager to accept what my brain knew was a lie.

Dalton went to grab the bags from our bikes while I roamed the lower half of the house.

Each room was just as stunning as the next.

The sun sparkled off the lake as it sank lower in the sky, filling the house with a beautiful evening light.

I stepped outside and walked down the path to the dock that bobbed peacefully in the water.

Before I could think better of it, I took my boots and socks off, then rolled up my pant legs and dangled my legs off the dock.

The water was soothing, and the peaceful silence was utter bliss.

I sat there, face tilted towards the sky as I basked in the warmth of the evening.

I didn’t even hear Dalton come outside until he stepped on the dock and it wobbled under his weight.

I smiled at him over my shoulder, and he sat next to me.

Leaning into him, I said, “I don’t think I’ve seen a place so perfect.

” He made a general sound of agreement, and we sat there together until the sun touched the horizon.

Eventually he stood up, pulling me up with him. “Come on, I’ll make us dinner.” I gave him a look, and he pushed me playfully. “Yes, Vixen, I can cook.” He grabbed my boots, and I followed him inside.

I sat on one of the barstools at the kitchen island, watching him while he made our dinner, sipping the whiskey and Coke he had made me, and laughing at the stories he told me.

I wasn’t prepared when he asked me about my childhood.

I knew Nicky’s backstory, but I didn’t want to tell him that one.

I wanted him to know the real me—Katie. Not some made-up cover story.

I decided that a little truth wouldn’t hurt, and I blended my story with Nicky’s as best I could.

The closer we became, the more lying to him hurt like a knife twisting in my chest.

He didn’t notice my inner turmoil as I told him about growing up in South Carolina, weaving my elaborate story like a con artist. I was beyond grateful for the change in subject when he carried two plates to the patio, leaving me to grab drinks.

We didn’t say much as we ate—I was watching the sunset as I savored one of the best rib eyes in my life.

When I looked back at him, he was watching me closely, and I smiled nervously. “What?”

But he just grinned back and reached for my hand. We sat there until the moon rose in the sky, and I shivered—at which point, he insisted we go inside.

“Come on, Vixen, let me show you your room.”

I followed him up the stairs, realizing he hadn’t intended on us sleeping together in one room. I didn’t say anything about it, not wanting to come off as needy or worse, but I was surprised. The room he showed me was easily half the size of my apartment, with a massive en suite bathroom.

He pulled me to him before I went in. “I’ll be in the office, just down the hall. Third door on the left. Go ahead and get settled in. Should have everything you need.” He squeezed my waist, but I stopped him when he stepped back, standing on tiptoes to press my lips to his.

The kiss was burning hot and excruciatingly slow.

I nipped gently at his lower lip, running my tongue over the spot, until I felt him smile against me.

He wedged a knee between my legs, and I rubbed against him, relishing the delicious friction.

I tousled the hair at the base of his neck between my fingers, pulling him closer to me in a way that made him moan.

Hands on my hips, dragging me closer, until there wasn’t an inch between us.

Like we couldn’t get close enough. When I finally pulled away, I was panting a little, and his eyes were hooded.

I smiled softly before reaching for my door and watched him walk away, enjoying the view—and hungry for what was to come.