Minute by Minute (Timeless Series Book 2)

“I’M GLAD WE finally stopped.” I groaned as I took his hand and stepped out of the moving truck.

“Tired of me already?” he asked with a teasing note in his voice before gently bumping my shoulder. I looked up at him. It was crazy how tall he was. I forgot sitting next to him in the truck, but when we stood together, it was impossible to ignore. Not when I had to look up at him. His oceanic eyes made it easy to let myself float in, and his caramel skin made me crave something sweet.

“Macie?” his voice rumbled, and I could see his lips twitching, trying to hide an inevitable smile. That was a plus about taking a road trip with someone. By the end, or day two as the case might be, you got to know them quickly.

“Umm what?” Geez, I was such a spazz. He opened his mouth when Brandon and Nina came up.

“Hey! Good news, we are all checked in.” Nina said too bubbly and I knew something was up.

“So bad news, the hotel only has two rooms left. Do you guys mind sharing?” Brandon asked.

“Oh.” “Umm,” Sam and I both said as we looked at one another. Sharing a room with a hot guy wasn’t the worse of possibilities.

“I’m fine with it.” he cleared his throat, something sinfully delicious flashing in his gorgeous eyes. “I mean, if you are. If not, I can sleep in the truck.”

“Sleep in the van?” I repeated, my lips twitching as I imagined him trying to sprawl out. “You’re, like, seven feet tall. We can share a room.” I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. To me at least.”

“Cool,” Nina said, almost bouncing on the tips of her feet. “How about we meet up about nine tomorrow to hit the road?”

“Sounds good,” Sam said, taking the key cards from Brandon.

Holy smokes. I was sharing a room with Mr. Blue Eyes. Keeping my hands to myself was hard enough in a car. The energy between us and the flirting.

“Okay.” I smiled turning to grab my duffle. The guys walked off and Nina approached.

“You sure you’re okay with sharing a room?”

“I’m fine.” I smiled. “Are you having fun with Mr. Chu?”

“I am. I’m sorry. I know this road trip would have been totally different if it had been just us.”

“Sam’s cool. Don’t stress. Plus, I didn’t decide on California till after Brandon and you got back together anyhow. Just maybe cut a couple minutes out for a drink with your bestie tomorrow night?” I compromised, and she smiled brightly.

“Deal. Wherever we stop, it’s totally ladies’ night.”

“I don’t see Brandon letting you out of his sights for a whole night, but I’m cool to catch up and hang for a drink.”

“You’re probably right.” She laughed. “I better go.” She blushed, and I hugged her and watched her go.

“They’re really in love, huh?” Sam said, making me jump, catching me completely off guard. The man was huge but could move without making a sound.

“Jesus, you scared the crap out of me,” I blurted out. “For being a giant, you’re pretty stealthy.”

“Shit they taught in the Marines. Here.” He slid the strap of my duffle bag off my shoulder and swung it over his. “Let’s put our things down and look for dinner?”

“Wow! Are you asking me on a date?” I joked.

“If I did, would you say yes?” He took me off guard, and my smile slipped.

“You would have to ask and see,” I miraculously responded as we walked toward the elevators, highly impressed with how smooth I’d come off. Usually I was a bumbling idiot.

“I just might.” He bumped my hip, and I playfully rolled my eyes, trying not to feel a sliver of disappointment he hadn’t asked. But even then, we walked in comfortable silence toward our room after the elevator reached the third floor.

Like a gentleman, he opened the door wide, smiling down at me. “Have dinner with me,” he asked, pulling my hand up and putting his lips to it. I could feel the stubble on his jaw and the soft but firm plushness of his lips against my skin, and it was like a jolt of lust rushed through me. I wanted to know what those lips felt against mine. Against every square inch of my body.

“Dinner?” I repeated, the idea of going out with him making my heart pitter-patter.

“Dinner and drinks,” he suggested, his gaze full of heat and promise. “Maybe dancing?”

“Dancing, huh?”

“Whatever comes up,” his voice rasped, his eyes molten, and I licked my lips. I would definitely be interested in doing whatever came up with him. All night long. I licked my lips and tried to keep my gaze on his and not on the bulge at the front of his jeans.

“I like the sound of that.” I bit my lip and cast my stare downward, knowing exactly how flushed my face was. We stepped into the room and froze at the sight in front of us.

One bed.

Only one.

In the center of the hotel room, one bed for the two of us.

My body had already been buzzing and primed before; now that single bed felt like it was taunting me. Goading me to make a move like a bright neon sign. I swallowed hard. It was only a matter of time before we took whatever chemistry was burning between us to another level, and I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to wait.

“One bed,” his deep voice vibrated in the empty room, repeating my own thoughts.

Almost simultaneously, we turned to look at each other.

The AC kicked on, the sound making my body jump slightly. The heat reflected in his aquatic stare that matched my own. The air around us might have started to cool down, but it felt like the oxygen was being vacuumed up and out. My skin ached for his touch, and my sex felt too empty.

“Macie,” he rasped, the need clear in his voice.

“Sam.” I breathed, my chest heaving up and down, like I’d just finished running a mile.

I opened my mouth, but he shook his head and I stayed quiet. My eyes followed his as they moved down to his hands. His hands held mine gently one moment, and the next, they were holding my wrists.

“Sam?” I whispered, the silent anticipation killing me. In a move that would defy the laws of physics, and if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it possible, he had my back against a wall and my hands above my head.

All without hurting me.

Or scaring me, for that matter.

If anything, my nipples tightened behind my cotton bra. Need pooled between my thighs and sweat prickled my skin.

“This goes down one of two ways, but the end result is the same, just up to you,” he roughly announced, and he had my undivided attention. It felt like we were definitely on the same page.

“And those are?”

“You tell me to get out of here and pick you up in an hour,” he laid out.

“An hour?”

“You get showered.” His eyes flared, and I knew he was thinking about me wet and soapy, “Dressed”—he cleared his throat—“and ready. I’ll wine and dine you, tell you I think you’re fucking magnificent and…”—he paused for a second, as if forcing himself to say the words—“and let you know I’m yours for the trip.”

“For the trip?” I repeated, forcing my face not to show what a disappointment that was. “A fuck buddy?” I bluntly spit out, ignoring the sting of disappointment in my belly.

I wasn’t a romantic. I was a realist. My parents, hell, my father’s second marriage had shown me clear as day that love was an illusion.

“Babe—“

“Or?” I cut him off. I didn’t want to hear the reasons why this couldn’t be more than what it was.

“Macie.” He searched my eyes, but I knew I had shut him out just like the feelings I had thought were starting to grow.

Feelings I knew better than having. It could have been the fact we’d been confined to a small space together the last couple of days, minute after minute, that had me slip up. Or maybe it was Nina and Brandon’s fault. The only other people regularly around us were madly in love, and it had mucked up my head.

I knew better now. He was being clear, and I was thankful.

“What’s my second option, Sam?” I pressed. His jaw clenched.

“I take you here and now. I don’t stop until your voice is hoarse from screaming my name,” he rasped.

“You sound pretty confident about being able to deliver all that,” I breathed, knowing I was playing with fire.

“Just call me Domino’s baby. I’ll get you there, in thirty minutes or less,” he teased. The playful tone setting me at ease. I could do fun and playful. I knew the rules. His lips were a breath away from mine, tempting and teasing. He skimmed the tip of his nose against mine and then lower. I shivered. My head hit the wall behind me, and I closed my eyes. I wanted him. I was already on edge, and he hadn’t touched me, not really.

“Just for the trip. Fun for now,” I said. “So we’re clear,” I whispered, my resolve dying quickly.

“Right. To be clear.” His eyes moved from my mouth to meet my gaze. “Just for the trip.” There was something in his bright blues I couldn’t decipher, and I honestly didn’t want to. I wasn’t going to let myself read into anything that wasn’t there.

“Okay, Domino’s, show me what you got,” I goaded, knowing no matter what happened, this amazing trip was only going to get better.

Sam

“Okay, Domino’s, show me what you got.” Fuck I loved how she busted my balls.

I was a sick, sick bastard.

With both her wrists above her head in one of my hands, I let the other roam down the lines and angles of her body. “Do you have any idea what I wanna do to you?” I teased both of us. The ideas that had been swimming in my head the last couple of days were almost too much to bear.

“Tell me,” she brazenly ordered, and I smiled, pressing my mouth against her neck, moving closer to her ear.

“My girl like it dirty?” I asked with a grin and watched as she nodded.

“Yes,” she hissed.

“Everything,” my voice rasped deeply, my body aching for her. “Moment I saw you, I wanted you, Macie. Add in the time in the truck. Being so damn close to you but not being allowed to touch.” I shook my head, my nose flaring as I breathed her in. “It was driving me crazy.”

“Who said you weren’t allowed to touch?” she goaded, and I had to close my eyes. The girl was going to make me nut myself without taking off my damn pants.

“Fuck,” I cursed. “You gotta be a good girl for me.”

“Being good can be overrated.”

“Being good will get you off,” I countered, my face right in front of hers, and I watched her open hers as a Cheshire grin fall over it. One that promised a good time.

“Being bad will get both of us off,” she shocked the hell out me by responding and slipping her hands out of my hold. They cupped my face, closing the small amount of space, and that kiss…

Jesus Christ, that kiss.

It was like fireworks going off during a hurricane. Intense and chaotic. Mystical and beautiful.

The need fueling through my veins ran as hot as her skin felt against mine. That kiss was the proverbial gun shot that started the race. We were off to a hot and heavy start. Our hands moved quickly. A blur of clothing fell to the ground. Skin bared in the daylight. The moment we were completely nude, I picked her up and dropped her on the bed. She wasn’t even on her elbows when my knees hit the ground and my face was between her thighs.

Her taste, her smell, everything about Macie drove me wild. We were going fast, and I should have slowed it down, but I couldn’t rein it in. “You taste so fucking good.”

“Sam,” she panted. Her hands in my hair tugged hard. The bite of pain feeding the frenzy of lust inside of me. Between my fingers and mouth, I could tell I was getting her close. My cock was beyond aching to get in there, my balls full and tight.

“I need you,” I groaned against her pussy.

“Don’t stop,” she whined, and I licked again. “I’m so close. Please, Sam,” she whined, but I didn’t want her to go off yet. Soon, I’d swallow her honey, but not yet. I wanted to be balls deep inside of her when she did.

I took one last swipe at her sweetness before I got up.

“You’re going to come on my dick,” I announced, and her nose flared. “You like it when I get bossy, Cap?”

“I like your dirty mouth,” she sassed, and I chuckled. “You’re going to get more than my dirty mouth, baby.” Her legs opened wide, the invitation clear, and there wasn’t any going back. Our skin touched, hers soft and silky while my balls drew up tighter. I settled between her thighs and let myself dip the tip of my angry dick at her opening.

“So fucking hot,” I groaned, resting my lips at her temple. With my free hand I stroked my dick against her wet slit. “This is mine. You’re all wet, Macie. Wet for me.”

“Yes!” she hissed.

“I can’t wait,” I groaned, dying to feel her little pussy stretch around my cock.

“Condom,” she reminded me, and I closed my eyes. She was dangerous for me. I was losing my damn mind about to take her ungloved.

“Shit, right.” I quickly took care of it. Grabbing a rubber from my discarded jeans, thankful I had one in my wallet.

“Let me,” she ordered, her voice slightly high, making my dick strained toward her.

Leaning beside her, I watched as she sat up. I took my fill of her naked body. I liked how comfortable she was in her skin around me. Any other thoughts disappeared when her pretty, soft hand grabbed hold of my cock and she stroked me.

Once. Twice. A growl rumbled deep from inside me. Desire-laced eyes met mine as she ripped the square packet and slid the condom over my shaft, then I lost sight of her. My eyes closed, my body paying close attention to the sensation. She stroked me. Tight and slow.

“Enough,” I clipped, pulling away, and we quickly returned to me on top of her. This time when the tip of my dick pressed against her entrance, I didn’t stop.

I thrust completely inside, her dewy wetness allowing me in, and a gasp had me holding my body still.

“Macie?”

“Just. One moment. You’re so big.”

“Shit, baby, don’t say that.”

“You are. You have to know that. You feel so good.” She moved, squirming a little, letting my cock slide in and out, and even though I was on top of her, she was the one fucking my dick, the sight the most erotic thing I’d witnessed in my life.

“Oh yes. Oh my… Sam, you feel so good.”

“It’s gonna get better,” I growled, pulling back and rolling her over. She quickly got in position. I settled between her pretty thighs, smacking her delectable ass. “This is mine,” I said and thrust in. Hard. Her back arched, and her cries sounded out in the room.

“Yes!” she cried, and I fucked her as she fucked me back.

We burned bright and fast. Racing to the finish line. Together. Simultaneously. Something I’d never shared with a partner because it felt too intimate. With her it wasn’t enough. The concept of fate and destiny wasn’t something I subscribed to, but she made me a believer.

“Once won’t be enough.” The words slipped out in heavy pants, the profoundness of them hitting me hard.

I waited a second for it to freak me out. But it didn’t. I molded my body against hers and kissed from her shoulders down the line of her back. The act intimate and not at all what I was used to doing. Then I felt it. Her body began to shake, the light laughter washing through the heavy buzzing in my ears.

“Give me five, and we can have a second round,” she said, resting her body on her stomach, my spent cock slipping out of her sex.

She thought I was talking about tonight, and I didn’t correct her because I was an asshole who wasn’t ready to admit that for the first time in my life, I wanted more than fun.