Brian was still trying to figure out what the right way to handle this situation was when she said the words that gave him no choice in the matter.
"Please, I need you," her voice was fragile and shaky.
Those four words trumped whatever discomfort he knew he'd inevitably experience as he exercised the iron-willed, self-control this situation called for.
Becca's sparkling baby blues were looking more and more awake with each moment that he remained frozen in place above her. They searched his. He had no idea what she was finding on her visual mission. His brain was in overdrive just trying to deal with the avalanche of desire that was burying him. His aching bulge was demanding things that he was having a very difficult time making it understand that it was not going to get. Every ounce of brain power he had was focused on that, so he had none left to worry about what Becca would see as she searched his soul.
Whatever she found in his stare caused her to say, "Just lie down next to me. Please. Stay."
Shit.
If he did as she asked and laid down beside her, cradling her in his arms, then the evidence of his arousal would be very much apparent. Brian was concerned he might even bruise her-he was that hard. So he decided that, even though there was no way he could stop her from being visually assaulted by the need thrumming through him, at least she wouldn't have to feel the physical manifestation of his body's unrelenting desire for her.
Shifting his weight Brian turned so that he was lying down on his back, tucked his arm beneath Becca's slim frame, and pulled her firmly to his side. He closed his eyes, his jaw tightening as her hair tickled his chin while she snuggled her soft curves against his body.
His hand roamed up and down her back as she got settled into a comfortable position, fitting perfectly like a puzzle piece, tucked beside him. He did everything in his power to not think about the way her hips sent a thrill spiraling through him every time they bumped his side, how the fullness of her breasts against his ribs made him want to rip off the dress she was wearing and fill his hands with the plump weight of her rounded mounds, how the sensation of her body moving beneath his touch (as he rubbed her back) made him think of her writhing beneath him as he made love to her.
Yeah, he tried not to think of any of that. He wasn't having much luck.
Becca sighed contentedly as her body melted into Brian's. He could feel her muscles relax as her chest rose and fell against his side in even breaths. He knew there was no way he was even going to get a moment of sleep tonight. Not with the super-sized boner he was currently sporting. But that was actually fine by him.
He didn't want to miss one moment, one second, of this night. Spending the night with Becca and not being able to touch her the way he wanted to, to kiss her the way he wanted to, make love to her the way he wanted to, was torture, but it was worth it to hold her against him while she slept. It was enough that she wanted-needed-him to stay.
It was enough.
Becca's hand moved and rested on his chest, and Brian had to swallow a groan as her fingers trailed along the line of the pocket above his heart. He looked down and watched as her pink-painted nail traced its way around the square. His heart was pounding so hard beneath her touch that he knew she must've felt it.
His breaths became more labored as her finger moved to the line of buttons that ran down the center of his shirt. Her touch was tentative as her fingertips brushed down the line. Resting his hand on Becca's hip, he massaged her lower back with circular caresses of his thumb, reminding himself not to dip his hand just an inch lower to the firm flesh of her backside.
Brian knew the moment she saw the massive pole tenting his slacks; her hand stopped exploring his buttons and she sucked in a startled breath.
Great. She needed to be in the comforting arms of her best friend, the man she could always depend on, and instead, she got a horny teenager who couldn't control his body's response to her.
"Just ignore it," Brian said as casually as he could. His head was filled with the sound of blood rushing down south to join the tent party, but he was pretty sure he hadn't pulled off casual. As a matter of fact, he was pretty sure he'd growled the command.
"No." Becca's voice sounded shaky as she pushed off of him and up onto her elbow. "I don't want to ignore it."
Brian removed his hand from her back, closed his eyes, and rubbed his hands over his face. Perfect. Now they were going to have to have a talk about how they were just friends and she was sorry that he felt that way about her but she just didn't see him like that-
"Did we kiss at Haley's wedding?" Becca asked breathlessly.
Shit.
Well, he'd figured that this might come up sometime. He would have liked if it hadn't come up when he was so up, but they might as well clear the air.
Removing his hands from covering his face, he looked over at her and started to explain. "Look, Becca, you were drunk and-"
"So we did kiss," she interrupted, her blue eyes looking at him intently.
Brian pushed off the bed so that he was sitting up, his back leaning against the quilted headboard. "Yes, but it was no big-"
"Did you like it?"
He looked down at her. "What?" He usually knew where Becca was going with things, but this line of questioning had him baffled.
She shook her head slightly, and he saw that she swallowed like she was trying to build up courage. Then she sat up straighter and looked him straight in the eye with determination, but she was barely able to lift her voice above a whisper as she asked, "Did you like kissing me?"
"Yes," he rasped before his mind had even had a chance to figure out the ‘right' way to answer that question.
A small smile that looked like relief pulled at the corners of Becca's perfect lips as her gaze dropped down to her lap and she brushed a lock of hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear. When she looked back up, he noticed that her breaths were shallow as she said, "I think I liked it too. A lot. I think about it. A lot."
Brian was shocked. He just sat there staring at the greatest temptation he'd ever faced. Becca, sitting next to him, in her bed, her legs pulled up beneath her rumpled dress, her silky hair falling over her bare shoulders, looking so sensually innocent that his heart ached.
She licked her lips, and he heard a primal moan rip from deep inside of him.
Becca moved slightly, towards him. "Brian." Her blue eyes gazed up at him through inky lashes as she said his name in a whispered plea.
Brian didn't know if this was a good idea or not, but at this point, he was too far gone to care. With lightning speed, his hands were on her hips and he pulled her onto his lap, her legs straddling him. Becca's eyes widened, in surprise, as she rested her hands on his shoulders.
Reaching up, he cradled her face in his hand. He watched as the blacks of her pupils dilated at his touch, and when she licked her lips-either nervously or in anticipation-his shaft twitched impatiently behind his zipper.
Brian tried to take a moment before he did something he couldn't take back. This was Becca. Yes. They'd kissed before, but this was different. This time was not a product of a drunken night. This felt like their real first kiss. The first kiss when they were both totally aware of their actions. The first kiss that would count.
On their own accord, his hands moved to the back of her neck, threading his fingers into her hair. Becca's chin lifted as her head tilted slightly, giving him perfect access to her mouth. Brian's fingertips grazed her scalp, and he heard her suck in a short breath. Shutting her heavy-lidded eyes, Becca dug her fingers into his shoulders.
Brian's pulse raced and a deep pull tightened in his groin as he leaned forward, stopping just a breath before his lips touched hers. A rush of hot urgency spread through Brian like a wildfire. Closing his eyes, he waited, just feeling the magnitude of this moment. The air between them was crackling with electricity, desire, need. The prolonged anticipation was almost unbearable.
When Brian couldn't wait any longer, as his fingers fisted in her hair, he closed the space between them and kissed her softly. His lips moved against hers as he explored the velvety warmth of her full lips in a slow, drugging kiss. Her mouth parted on a gasp and Brian moved his attention to Becca's lower lip, kissing it as his tongue brushed sensuously across its plump fullness.
Brian felt a strong tremor run through Becca's body, perched on his lap, at the touch of his tongue. Her responsiveness caused lust to surge through him with a hurricane force. Not being able to control himself any longer, he captured her mouth with hungry urgency. She kissed him back with equal passion and fervor, meeting him lick for lick. Their tongues met in an erotic dance.