But that didn’t change the fact that ever since she put the bug in my ear, I had a massive hard on for her. Maybe not literally the whole time, but any time I let myself truly imagine sinking into her, which was more often than I cared toadmit.
More than anything, I wanted to ease the ache in her blue eyes. I wanted to bring a smile to her lips, like I’d done the night before. I wanted to comforther.
Becky was drifting from group to group, trying to thank as many people as she could for being there. I waited until she was relatively alone to approachher.
“Can we talk for a moment?” I pleaded, nodding toward the hall that led to the bathrooms and the emergency exit. Becky eyed me warily and nodded. She led the way with her arms crossed over her chest, subconsciously shielding herself. She made sure to keep her distance from me until we’d stepped outside into the back alley behind O’Riley’s and the hardwarestore.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice guarded, a stark contrast to how open and trusting she’d been with me lastnight.
“I wanted to check in with you, make sure you wereokay.”
“I’m fine.” Becky couldn’t hold my gaze. Her shoulders slumped indefeat.
I stepped closer to her, pulling her toward me so that I could hug her. “It’s okay to not be fine, you know that right? You don’t have to keep it together all thetime.”
It didn’t seem fair that Becky had nobody to hold her while she grieved. I could at least do that, even if I couldn’t give her what she reallyneeded.
But she felt so good in my arms. Her scent was intoxicating, like peaches and honey. She smelled good enough to eat, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she tastedlike.
“I know that,” she replied, her voice muffled against my chest. Her hands hung limply at her sides for a moment, and then she brought them up to wrap them around my waist, hugging me back. I rested my chin on the top of her head andinhaled.
Becky lifted her face, studying me while I tilted my head so that I could look down at her. Her blue eyes were full of hurt. She swallowed hard. “Why are you being so nice tome?”
“Haven’t I always been nice to you?” I asked her,surprised.
“Not like this,” she pointed out. It was true—we’d never touched like this before, and we probably wouldn’t be touching today if she hadn’t asked me for a one-night stand the night before. She needed physical comfort, she’d all but said as much. I couldn’t deny how amazing it felt to have her in my arms, and the appealing thought of spreading her legs had consumed me since the moment she askedme.
I had to back away before she felt the effect she had on me. I ran my hands through my hair, tugging at the roots, and dragged in a ragged breath. I started to pace, restless with just standingthere.
“I feel like this is a big thing, you coming to me like you did last night, and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t want you, because honestly… that’s not it. You’re gorgeous, Becs, and I want you…badly. But you’re my best friend’s little sister, and you can play things off as much as you like, but you’ve been hurt…badly. I can’t promise you the commitment you deserve. I travel a lot, and I like to have fun,” I winced, realizing how crass that sounded, but it was true…and Becky deserved myhonesty.
With my grand speech over, I stopped pacing and looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction to my words. I couldn’t bear the idea of hurting her, but I had to make her understand. She didn’t seem put off by my honesty, she looked at meearnestly.
“I’m not looking for commitment. I don’t need those things. We’ve been fine on our own and we’ll continue to be fine. I just…I need…“ Becky broke off, her eyes misting. She inhaled sharply, her eyes finally landing on mine again. “I need to feel desired, Travis. That’sall.”
I stepped up to her, unable to stop myself. Her broken confession sliced into my resolve. Becky was too gorgeous to feel undesirable, and I knew I could make her feel that at least. I looked around, making sure the coast was clear before my hands gently went to her hips and I pulled her againstme.
“Do you feel that?” I murmured, my eyes never leaving hers. She drew in a sharp breath, swallowing hard and nodding as I pressed my hard length against her. Even just talking about this in an abstract way with her had me throbbing. “You are desired. Don’t ever doubt that. Any guy would be lucky to haveyou.”
“Just one night, Travis,” she pleaded, her eyes wide. “Then we can go back to just being acquaintances, almostfriends.”
“What if you want more afterwards?” I suggested, waggling my eyebrows at her. I may have been playing it off with humour, but I wasn’t exactly willing to face theconsequences.
Like Brock’s fist against my jaw, forexample.
I had only just reconnected with him, and I didn’t want to screw things up now that he was back. He’d been gone for four years, and we’d barely spoken. After his arrest, he stopped talking to everyone. It stung, but I was beginning to understand hisreasons.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe we won’t even like each other afterwards,” she countered, her lips twitching to repress a bemusedsmile.
“Oh, I doubt that very much,” I murmured, arousal making my throat feel thick. Her chest rose and fell with each frantic breath she dragged in. Her nipples pressed against the thin material of her dress. Almost like my hand had a mind of its own, it moved to cup her breast over her dress. My thumb brushed across her nipple, and she let out a tinygasp.
She looked so responsive, I couldn’t help but lower my mouth to hers. Her lips were soft and seemed to fit mine perfectly. I kissed her slowly at first, then deepened it when she moaned and parted her lips. My tongue darted out, finding hers and beginning an eroticdance.
My hips pressed her against the brick wall, and I felt like I could spend hours just kissing her. Her hands came up to my chest, her fingers gripping the material of my shirt. Then she pushed on me, breaking ourcontact.
“Not here,” she whispered, flushed. Her eyes lingered on my lips for a moment before she rose them to meet my eyes. “I can meet you tomorrownight.”
“Where?”
