Page 42 of A Stop in Time
She hesitates, then her words are barely audible. “Like I somehow know you, even though we’ve never met before.” A beat of silence hangs for a moment. “Like I can’t get enough of this”—she tightens her hold on me—“of you.”
Her admission acts like a smooth hand stroking over my balls, and a jolt of need ricochets through me.
More than that is the comfort knowing I’m not alone in this. Our connection is unexplainable; that strong-as-fuck magnetic pull combined with the sensation that we’re somehow familiar with each other.
My hand moves of its own accord up her spine until I tangle my fingers in her soft hair, giving a gentle tug for her to show me her face.
Once she lifts her head, peering at me with eyes filled with a mix of uncertainty and lust, I give myself permission. Permission to get lost in this woman for the night. To ignore my grief and to set aside my mission to find my sister’s killer.
Just for tonight.
“I feel it, too.” My voice sounds hoarse to my own ears, as if I’m dragging it from somewhere deep inside me. “We’ve only got tonight, so go ahead, and take all you want.”
As soon as I say it, the finality slams into me like a ton of bricks. At its heels is the guilt that I’m giving in to this when I should be regrouping to find answers about Emilia.
I shove aside the self-recrimination and bargain with myself. It’s only one night.
Mac sucks in a sharp breath, lips parted, making me wonder if I’ve spooked her. At least until she brings her face closer to mine to nip at my bottom lip. “You might regret saying that.”
“Doubtful.” I groan when she soothes my lip with her tongue. “Very doubtful.” My other hand cups her ass, and I urge her to take notice of my hardening dick. “Sure about this?”
Shifting to straddle my thighs, she props herself up slightly, gaze searching my face. I’m not sure what she’s looking for, but a flicker of that fear crosses her features a second before her other hand toys with the bottom button on my shirt.
“Honestly?” A shade of vulnerability colors her voice.
“Honestly.”
Her eyes hold mine for a beat. “No. I’m not sure at all.”
That makes two of us.
“Just for tonight.” She whispers this against my lips before pressing a light kiss to each corner.
Just for tonight. Those three simple words taunt me for some reason. Eager to shake off that unsettling feeling, I raise my brows in challenge.
“If you’re just plannin’ to tease me with that mouth all night, I’m gonna have to take charge.”
Defiance flares in her gaze, and damn if I don’t like it a whole hell of a lot. “You’re a little too arrogant for your own good, you know that?”
I catch her by surprise when I swiftly flip her on her back, pinning her to the mattress.
“Hard not to be when I’ve got a beautiful woman in bed with me.”
Hurt and fury swirl in her eyes, and she bites out each word. “Don’t do that.”
I stare at her in confusion. “Do what?”
She focuses on a spot over my shoulder. “I’m a sure thing, so you don’t have to bother calling me beautiful.”
“Don’t you fuckin’ dare give me that shit.” My razor-sharp tone has her eyes snapping to mine. “Just because a bunch of goddamn numbnuts can’t see how beautiful you are doesn’t mean they’re right.” I match her glare with my own. “Got it?”
She parts her lips, no doubt to fire back at me, but I cut her off.
I place a kiss at her jaw where smooth skin meets scarred flesh. She goes rigid beneath me, and I know she’ll run off on me if I push her anymore. It’s why I veer to the other side and land a kiss there.
Her fingers flex around my biceps, and when I rake my teeth along her earlobe, she lets out a gasp that goes straight to my balls. I trail kisses along her right jawline, and she arches into my touch.
When I grip the hem of her T-shirt and ease it up, her hand encircles my wrist, stopping me. I raise my head to peer at her, but she quickly averts her gaze somewhere past my shoulder. “I’d rather keep my shirt on.”