Last Minute (Timeless Series Book 3)

HAVE YOU EVER had a weekday that feels like a Monday?

My Wednesday was having hardcore Monday-esque vibes.

I was on day three of not having talked to Max, and I thought I was doing good. I mean, sure, from the moment my feet touched the ground, I’d been thinking about the scruffy mechanic who’d thrown a wrench into everything I believed in. All my plans of not having a plan seemed off now.

But I’d held on and hadn’t called. Nope. I was not that girl. He had my number too. After we woke up almost simultaneously on his couch, he’d given me the sweetest look before leaning over and kissing my forehead and then confusing the hell out of me by saying he was going to take me home.

He had my number and knew where I lived. It’d been three days, and he had obviously figured out the hot mess I was. Especially for a guy who had everything all planned out and his life together. No, ma’am, I was not the girl who called.

I also wasn’t the damsel in distress type, but my Wednesday had completely other plans for me.

The most Monday-est Wednesday in the history of time had placed one obstacle after another in front of me. For the most part, I had rolled with the punches and gone with it.

For example, when my toaster died mid bagel browning, filling my tiny apartment with smoke, what did I do? I didn’t freak out, that’s for sure!

Or when I’d spilt my precious coffee all over my purse, forcing me to move everything from that one to a another, I took a deep breath and kept on moving.

Though when my favorite bra fell in the toilet while I had been in the shower, and I had to change up my entire outfit, I started to get a little testy. Though I thought I looked pretty cute in black skinny jeans, a cagey sports bra, and bright blue tank top.

The weather was still warm, and it was totally my silver lining as I drove to do my volunteer hours at the local child daycare center. Then moved on to a double shift at the coffee shop since fall classes hadn’t started yet.

It was all going to be fine.

Or at least that was what I kept telling myself throughout the day.

But the day got even worse.

I’d accidentally left my ATM card at home in the commotion of moving everything to a new bag, so I wasn’t able to grab lunch after my time at the daycare center.

One of our coffee grinders broke, so we were extra busy, and then the sunshine we’d been enjoying got covered up by dark ominous clouds that matched my day.

By the time we closed up at Daily Grind, it was pouring rain outside. I’d lived in the desert city for the last three years, going on my fourth now, and had never seen a summer storm like the one that had rolled in.

But even so, I kept pushing forward. I ran to my car and quickly got in. Only to find my engine did nothing.

It didn’t make one sound.

I tried again, and nothing.

With a sigh, I rested my head on my steering wheel and my eyes fixed on my phone. I knew he had slipped his number in there. I’d seen him do it and pretended not to notice. It had been cute. It’s how I knew he also had my number.

I had fought the urge to text him the last couple of days, but after the day I had when I sat in my tiny old car that had seen better days and thought about who I’d want to spend my time with, it wasn’t my new buddy Rosalee or my sister, who had just returned from living on the east coast, but Max.

Max.

Oh, Max.

He was put together. A man.

I, on the other hand, was a hot mess. Twenty-one, still undeclared undergrad who had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Liar, a little voice whispered in my ear. You want Max. I grabbed my phone and scrolled down my contacts until I found Max.

I was about to dial when a knock on my window startled me, making me drop my phone on my lap, and I looked out. I’d parked beneath a city light post, but it wasn’t the brightest. A large, wide figure stood there, the light from behind him only making whoever it was seem like more of an imposing figure.

“You okay?” a deep voice said as he stepped back, and I breathed in. It was the owner of the pawn shop. He was older, probably about my dad’s age but built like a Mack truck.

“F-fine,” I stuttered, giving him a smile. “Thank you. I’m good.”

“You sure, kid?” he asked, shielding his eyes with his baseball cap from the rain pelting down.

“Yes.” I smiled and nodded. “Thank you.” He was nice, but I didn’t know him other than as one of our regulars.

“Okay, then. Safe trip home!” the man said, waving goodbye as he walked toward his own car. My phone rang, and the shriek that escaped me made me giggle.

“Breath, Leti!” I said to myself, grabbing my phone.

“Hi, babe,” I said, focusing on the old man driving away, my voice holding a small tremble.

“Hey! Let? Babe, are you okay?” Rosalee asked, and I smiled.

“Yeah, why?”

“You sound funny.” I would. I was distracted and trying to figure out what the hell to do.

I could call Triple A. Or my sister.

I was sure Nina and Brandon would come over. But did I want to bug them?

I looked out contemplating the walk home, but it was raining too much, and the streets were too dark. In the words of my abuelita, that was asking for trouble.

Call Max, my inner Jiminey Cricket whispered.

“Leti? You okay?” Rosalee asked again, and I cleared my throat.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I said with a scoff and sigh. I could ask my new bestie for help.

“Tell me anyways,” she said, and it was weird. Despite how Rosalee and I had met, it was like we were meant to be friends. I opened my mouth and told her all about my day. I vented every moment. Every frustration. My scare with pawn guy and my current situation.

“Babe, why didn’t you call me?” she said, and she would. Rosalee was sweet and kind. My nose started to sting.

“It literally just happened, and I didn’t wanna bug.” My voice trembled. I hated feeling weak. As the youngest, everyone babied me, but I’d never needed that. But tonight, tonight was different. It was dark, and I was wet and cold, stuck in the center of the city. Every other building other than the local bar down the street was closed. I had never noticed how terrifying Main Street was in the dark.

“Don’t worry! I got you,” she said, and I believed her. She hung up, and not even ten minutes later, a truck approached and slowly parked behind my car, and my heart stuttered.

“Oh, Rosalee, what did you do?” I whispered to myself.

It was darker now, and the rain was still coming down with force. Despite all that, I knew it was him.

His large frame nothing but a darkened shadow that grew as he closed in, making its way toward me. I knew it was him like I knew it was pouring outside. My body knew it too. My nipples were in tight, hardened peaks, and it had nothing to do with the cooler temperature. I drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I had to pull up my big girl panties and face him. Grabbing my bag, I tossed my phone in, opened my door, and heard the heavy sounds of his boots speed up.

“Jesus, Leti, what are you doing?” his voice sounded out just as thunder rumbled as I hurried to lock my car door.

“Getting out so you won’t get so wet,” I said over my shoulder, trying to keep my teeth from chattering.

“So I won’t get wet?” he asked, and I looked up at him just as lightning lit up the sky. His expression was fierce yet handsome and gallant. Gallant? What the hell was wrong with me?

“What? It’s raining.” I shrugged, feeling off kilter and guilty about not having called him.

“You didn’t call,” he pointed out like I knew he would. I pressed my lips together to bite away a lie. His gaze on mine, I couldn’t stop myself.

I spilled the truth.

“I know.” I wasn’t going to try and make any excuses. At the end of the day, that’s all they would be. Excuses.

“Why?”

“Max…” I didn’t have any words. I wasn’t sure yet why I couldn’t get myself to call him. How many texts had I typed up and deleted before pressing Send? “I messed up, okay?” I confessed, and he opened his mouth to respond, but lightning struck. I jumped and he took me right into his arms. The warmth from his body heat enveloped me, and I felt completely safe. At home.

“Let’s get you warmed up in my truck, okay?” His arm draped over my shoulder, drawing me in close to his body. He smelled amazing. Familiar. Masculine soap and motor oil. We rushed to his truck, and he opened my door like a gentleman.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my body shaking. The cold seeping into my bones.

“I’ll go see how if I can fix your car.”

“Leave it.” I sighed.

“Leti—”

“Please,” I whispered softly. “Take me home, Max.”

“Your home?” His jaw clenched, and I shook my head slowly, never taking my eyes off his.

“No,” I said softly, but I knew he heard me. I felt it. His strong, tense body gave slightly. “Yours.”

I was done trying to keep him at bay. Three days had felt like years. Decades. It sounded dramatic, but it was true.

Max

“Let’s get you warmed up and dried off,” I said, leading her to the bathroom off my bedroom. I could have taken her to the guest bath. I probably should have. But she brought out the primal Neanderthal in me. I more than liked the idea of her nude body in my shower, her body smelling like my body wash. Like me. It’d be as close to marking her as mine as I could.

“Max?” I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. I could smell the rain and her soft perfume.

“Yeah?” I asked, trying not to stare at her and the way her tank top was painted onto her torso.

Her scent was driving me crazy enough the visual could drive me right into a straightjacket. I grabbed two towels for her, thankful for my mom’s housewarming gift of good towels and not the ratty ones I used to have before.

“Can you please look at me?” she asked in such a tender tone I couldn’t not comply.

“What’s up?” I said, schooling my expression and trying to keep my face emotionless.

“You’re mad.”

“I’m not.” I shrugged. “Here are two towels; soap and shampoo is in there.” I pointed to the blue terry cloth. “I’ll bring you something to wear—“

“Max, please just—“

“What?” I snapped, but her hand fell on my wrist and I looked into her deep brown eyes; they were like a balm to the crazy intensity rushing through my veins.

“I should have called.”

“You should have.” I licked the bottom of my lip and felt her eyes drop down to it.

“I should have called, but I didn’t. I’m just confused and a hot mess and—“ l didn’t want to hear her put herself down. I pulled her into me, her front flush against mine, so I could feel her tightened little nipples were fighting their way through the material of her sports bra.

“Let’s get something straight, yeah?” There was a huskiness to my voice, and her eyes widened. “You’re not a mess. I don’t want to hear that kind of shit again.”

“Max,” she whispered, her tone almost pleading me to shut up, but I wasn’t going to.

“You’re fucking fantastic,” I told her. I probably sounded crazy to her, but it was the truth. Every moment I’d spent with her proved my point.

“You don’t have to say that just—“

“I’m not.” I shook my head. “It’s okay if you don’t know what you wanna do yet. Fuck, I didn’t know what the hell I wanted to do either. I went into the Army right after high school.”

“You did?”

“I did. I was infantry, and one day, Logan—“

“The guy who was left at the altar.”

“One and the same.” I nodded with a grin. “He got this old beat-up motorcycle, and I started tinkering with the engine, trying to help him restore it,” I shared. “Spark Plug, I don’t know, I got hooked. It was like a lightbulb turned on and I suddenly found something that really interested me.”

“Motorcycles?”

“Motorcycles. Cars. Honestly? Anything with an engine.” My hand did a slow trip up her elbow, tracing the satiny skin of her upper arm until I reached her face and swept a strand of hair behind her ear. “You will figure it out. But that isn’t all that makes you, you. Get me?”

“That’s really sweet, Max.”

“It’s not sweet, just the truth, Leti. Now, let’s get you warmed up before those pretty lips turn blue, yeah?” I suggested, trying to get out before adding I should join and help her with the hard-to-reach spots of her back.

“Thanks.” She blushed, and I took a step back, but her hand touched mine. “Max?” she called, and I gritted my teeth. I didn’t know if I was praying she’d ask me to stay or tell me to lock the fucking door behind me.

“Yeah?”

“Umm… Thanks for tonight and for bringing me over.” God, I was dying to ask her why my place, but it wasn’t the time nor the place. I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything. I shouldn’t. “Do you think you could…”

“Leti,” I warned. I was only so strong.

“Did you change your mind about us?” she asked, the vulnerability shining in her eyes humbling.

“Fuck no.” My tongue felt almost too thick for my mouth.

“Then?” she questioned, and I exhaled roughly.

“I don’t want you to feel rushed and feel pressure—” Nothing else was said because my little spark plug jumped and attacked me.

She bounced up on the tips of her toes, and as a gentleman, I bent to meet her kiss.

Her sweet, passionate kiss.

“Leti,” I groaned against her lips.

“You feel right. Everything feels right with you, Max.” She moaned, her lips working against mine.

Jesus, the woman was a damn dream come to life. Her hands were frantic trying to fight to take my shirt off, but I didn’t miss the way her skin was covered in goosebumps.

“We gotta warm you up, Spark Plug.”

“I think you’re pretty capable for the job.” She gasped.

“You have no fucking idea,” I growled against her lips.

In a blur, we ripped off our clothes. Every piece of clothing fell on the floor in wet thumps against the tile. She was incredible. Too beautiful for my greased-up hands to touch, but fuck me, I would own her. She’d be mine. Only mine. She was a last-minute curveball I never saw coming. No way in hell I could have predicted.

I pressed her bare chest against mine, the sensation incredible. Everything we had done up until then had been fully clothed, but Leti Montenegro was absolute perfection. I wanted to take my time with her body. Kissing and licking and teasing every square inch, but I needed to warm her up. I had to take care of her needs before mine.

I had one hand on her lower back while the other worked on getting the hot water running. The bathroom clouded around us with steam. We pulled away, breathing heavily, and without a word we stepped into my shower. Warm water sprayed over us, droplets trickling down her body.

“Jesus, you’re beautiful,” I said, looking down at her naked, wet body.

“Max—”

“I’m serious, baby. So damn beautiful you make my heart hurt.” My hands were on a mission. They went from her waist up the sides of her torso only to end up cupping her perky breasts. They fit perfectly. Her eyes fluttered shut as my thumbs swiped her nipples, and I couldn’t stop myself. I fell to my knees, just the perfect height to pop one of her beautiful tips into my mouth and suck. Lightly. Teasingly slow, barely-there flicks of my tongue. The sweet taste of her flesh making me harder, her soft cries drew my balls up tight, and when her hands tangled in my hair and pulled me closer, I fought the urge to come. Fuck, I hadn’t done more than suck on her tit and I was ready to blow my load.

Leti was trouble with a capital T.

I switched sides and continued my attention on her other breast as her sweet pleasure-filled sounds echoed against the walls. She had a filthy little mouth, and I fucking loved it.

“Don’t stop, Max,” she purred, and I dropped her tit out of my mouth and moved lower. I wouldn’t take her in my shower, but I would make her come. I’d make her come so damn hard she wouldn’t remember anything but my name. My mouth skated down, nipping at her under boob and down to her navel. I circled it with my tongue and continued lower. Right to her sweet pussy. My finger moved through the dark trimmed curls, and I found her puffy little bundle of nerves and she buckled.

“You want my mouth here?” I asked, slipping my finger in just enough to feel the slick wetness envelope my digit. She was so damn tight I was afraid I’d bust my load before I got her off.

“Eat me,” she whimpered, and I loved that she wasn’t shy about asking for what she wanted. My nose flared and I breathed in her unique feminine scent deeply.

“My pleasure, baby,” I growled and took my first swipe of her.

She tasted amazing.

Tangy and clean. Completely Leti and utterly delicious. I was starving. My attention was focused on her and every single one of her sounds. I licked her swollen clitoris; it was all but begging for attention. She was slick and warm and so damn tight. With every lick and nip, I became wilder. I lapped at her like a delirious animal. Her hands clung to my hair, pulling and tugging. The pain ebbing away my need to come.

“Max,” she gasped, “I need more. Please, Max!” Her needy cries had me finger her faster. Harder. “Max, I need you. I need—“

“I fucking know what you need,” I growled, kissing the inside of her thigh as I watched her pussy eat up my finger. “So damn wet.”

“Max,” she cried, pulling my head between her legs opening wider. I kneeled and took my fingers out of her.

“What are you—“

“Shh,” I whispered, my hands grabbing her plump cheeks, and I pulled her closer, her legs over my shoulder so I could support her weight against the bathroom wall.

“Oh my god!” she squealed as my mouth fully covered her sweet pussy.

This time I didn’t stop.

My tongue worked double time. Firm and strong, I kept savoring her until Leti’s thighs clenched tightly around my ears. Her cries sounded like music in my ears. Loud as they echoed against my tiled bathroom walls. Water gliding down our bodies, she came hard. Her sweet nectar filling my mouth, I didn’t miss a drop of her feminine sweetness. I glanced up at her, carefully setting her down, her eyes closed, her gorgeous face washed over with satisfaction. The sweetest smile on her lips. I kissed her knees and the front of her thighs before standing up. She wrapped her arms around me, and I locked mine around her. I wanted to be responsible for that look on her face day after day, year after year, until I took my last breath.

Mine, a possessive voice shouted in my head, and I smiled.

She rested her head over my heart, and I stroked her hair as we stood under the rain shower head. The water still warm, air surrounding us steamy as our breathing fell in sync.

In that moment I knew without a doubt that’s what this was. This magnetic pull between us was an end game, a for keeps kind of situation.

Mine. All mine. She was mine.

And I was definitely one hundred percent hers.

I just had to make sure she understood that.