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  "Let's go, we can get to my place in about five minutes if we hurry," I said as we made our way towards the front of the restaurant.

  "I've got a better idea," he said. "Come with me."

  Chapter Seven

  Gideon

  I didn't want to wait to get to Becca's place. Five minutes was too much time. I took Becca's hand and pushed through the crowd until we were in the back of the restaurant near the kitchen. There had to be an empty room or some place we could be in private.

  A short hallway led us to several doors, but each one was locked. By the time we reached the end, I didn't care who was around, I needed to taste her again.

  Moving my hand to her waist, I pulled her close to me like I had that night at the fundraiser. I wasn't going to let her go this time. I was going to make sure she understood exactly how I felt about her.

  As I lowered my lips to hers, her arms wrapped around my neck. With my suit jacket unbuttoned, the warmth of her soft body through my shirt drove me crazy. As my tongue entered her mouth, I pushed her against the wall and pressed my body against hers.

  My hands slid down her sides, following her curves to the roundness of her ass. I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around me, waking my manhood more.

  A gasp escaped her lips as I nipped her exposed neck. For a moment, I didn't care what happened tomorrow or next week, all I wanted was now. I needed her now. I didn't care about the complications.

  A loud crash of plates hitting the ground startled us. We both turned towards the kitchen, where the sound came from, as we were brought back to reality. A restaurant on New Year's Eve was not the place to be impulsive.

  "Let's get out of here," I said.

  We escaped through the back door and made it to her street in record time. I picked her up and carried her up the steps as she giggled.

  While she unlocked the door, I kissed her softly, just to satisfy my hunger. I couldn't remember ever wanting a woman more than I did her.

  As I carried her into the house, her dog trotted over to me and looked up at Becca.

  "I'm sorry, Cinder," I said. "But you're really not my type."

  Becca reached down and petted the greying dog before she disappeared into the living room. I heard the dog hop onto the couch while Becca kicked off her shoes, still in my arms.

  "Let's go upstairs," she said as she rested her head against my shoulder.

  As I carried her up the steps, I realized that this could change everything. We never spoke about things, we just put everything on hold for the night.

  Damn brain, now is not the time for you to wake up, I thought.

  "Are you sure about this?" I asked.

  "I've never been more sure about anything before," she whispered.

  She turned on the light as we entered the room and I went straight for the bed. Any doubts about how this would affect our friendship were gone. All I could think about was how I was going to make her scream before the morning came.

  I set her down on the bed and removed my suit jacket, tossing it aside. She was crawling toward the headboard when I grabbed her foot.

  "First things first," I said. "Your jeans have to go."

  Giggling, she flipped over to her back and I unbuttoned her jeans, then lowered the zipper to reveal her panties. Trying to control myself, I growled as I hooked my fingers into her belt loops and lowered her jeans past her hips as I kissed her stomach.

  I wanted this night to last, but all of my restraint was gone. I was drunk from kissing her and as I yanked her jeans off the rest of the way, my arousal swelled further.

  I undressed before she could change her mind. The last thing I wanted was for us to go back to being friends. I would do whatever she wanted, but I was ready for more. Based on her expression as she watched me undress, she wasn't going to stop me.

  As she propped herself up on a pillow, she reached out to me. I wanted to be selfish and devour her, but I wanted it to last. I wanted to make love to her all night. I lay beside her and sank my fingers into her hair as my mouth found hers.

  My hand slid down her torso to her hip until I reached her panties. I had had enough of her clothing – losing the jeans wasn't enough. I wanted to see her and to worship her body the way she deserved. Forcing my lips away from hers, I pulled up the edge of her blouse and lifted it off her. The more of her untouched skin I saw, the more my lips needed to touch.

  I removed her bra and tossed it aside. As my hands drifted over her breasts, my fingers squeezed her tightening nipples. She moaned as my tongue flicked her tight buds before I brought one into my mouth.

  Her body trembled from my touch. As I moved from one peak to the other, my hands gripped her panties and slid them down her body, leaving her naked.

  Spotting a cluster of freckles on her thigh, I moved my lips down her silky skin towards it. The lower my lips moved, the more she invited me to her womanhood by spreading her legs. I needed to taste her.

  I nibbled on her inner thigh, close to her mound, and her back arched. Every touch awakened her body more. When my mouth finally reached the apex of her legs, I ran my tongue up and tasted her most intimate place.

  Her moans filled the room as I moved my tongue skillfully within her moist heat. She gasped as her hips bucked in response to my pleasuring her, and I sank my fingers into her as I continued.

  As I sucked in her sweetness, her body tensed before she let out a long gasp and cried out as the release took over her. I watched as her back arched and her head fell back. My hands slid over her breasts, pulling her taut nipples before she went limp.

  She giggled as she caught her breath with a satisfied smile. She reached for me and pulled me close as she opened her mouth for my kiss.

  My mouth hungrily consumed hers as my hands explored her body. My fingertips moved from her breasts, past her soft, quivering belly, towards her wetness.

  As I slid my fingers over her swollen nub, I teased her opening before slipping them inside. A gasp caught in her throat, followed by a deep groan of pleasure.

  I didn't know how much more I could take. My member was stiff and aching for her, but I loved focusing on her pleasure.

  I slipped my fingers inside again, and she clutched at me with desire. Her eyes focused on mine as she bit then sucked on my lip.

  I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to have her. I had to make her mine. I reached for my pants and grabbed a condom, ripped the wrapper open, and slid it onto my cock.

  I positioned myself between her legs, and her heat made it hard for me to control myself. I pressed the tip of my erection against her moist opening.

  Slowly, I thrust myself into her, a little at a time. I took it slow, enjoying the torture of having to hold myself back while her hips moved in rhythm with mine.

  With our eyes locked, I pulled myself out, then thrust a little deeper. Her hips rocked with mine as her legs wrapped around me, begging for more.

  Her heat surrounding me forced me to hold back. I was ready to explode, but I contained myself. Once my erection was fully in her, I groaned as she tightened around me.

  "You belong to me," I whispered into her ear. "Come for me."

  As our hips moved in a steady rhythm, her body buzzed underneath me. Her breathing quickened in my ear with soft moans of excitement. I couldn't contain myself anymore. I thrust quicker and she held onto me tighter, pressing her body against mine and digging her fingers into my back.

  Her body tensed again as a gasp turned into a long moan. Her body shook, tightening around me even more, and sending me over the edge until my release.

  I held her, unmoving, while we caught our breaths. I moved onto my side then kissed the top of her head as I held her. I couldn't imagine a more perfect time than lying there with her.

  Why had I taken so long to say anything to her? Now wasn't the time to think about that. I didn't know what would happen in the morning, so I had to make the most of right now.

  I kissed her shoulder as my hand caressed her hip.
r />   "Before this night is done, every one of your freckles will be kissed or licked by me," I said.

  She laughed. "I'd like to see you try."

  "Challenge accepted."

  As I kissed her collarbone, I thought of all the ways I was making her mine that night.

  This is a first, I thought.

  Usually I was gone by now. It didn't matter how much I thought I was in love with whatever woman I was with, my goal was always to get out of there as quickly as possible and sleep in my own bed. Tonight was different.

  Tonight I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay and listen to Becca's steady breathing. I wanted to count the freckles on her nose that I could see now that her make up had faded.

  What was I doing? Why was I still there? I was young, I should be out banging every woman I could get my hands on. But somehow none of them mattered since I started seeing Becca differently.

  She was the cream in my coffee, the yin to my yang. And man did my yang enjoy her yin.

  I laughed to myself as I propped myself up on my elbow. The moonlight caressed Becca's body, highlighting her curves in a way I had never seen them before.

  Everything about last night was a first. But while I kept thinking I wanted more firsts with her, something in the back of my mind said I'd be better off running.

  There was a reason I never had a serious relationship. Had I been in love before? Of course. Definitely. Maybe. Maybe I just thought my dick wanting a warm place to hide was love. Maybe what I thought I felt wasn't love at all.

  All I knew was that what I felt for Becca was another first for me. And it was one I didn't want to end.

  Becca rolled over and snuggled into me. I closed my eyes as I breathed in the familiar lilac scent in her hair and held her close.

  I didn't want the morning to come. The new day meant things might be back to normal between us. I didn't want that. For me, Becca would never be just my friend again.

  Chapter Eight

  Becca

  I woke up to the smell of French toast, my favorite breakfast. For a second I thought maybe one of my neighbors was cooking, but when I realized I was naked, everything from last night came rushing back.

  Why did I sleep with Gideon? Have I no self-control?

  Having a woman for a best friend was much easier. I never thought about sleeping with Cassie or Sandra. Maybe my problem was that I got along better with men than women. I blamed growing up with Uncle Mack for that.

  I quickly got dressed and went downstairs, where I found Gideon cooking wearing nothing but his suit pants. The sight of his rippled arms made me salivate even more. As I remembered the weight of his lips against mine, I smiled.

  That is not how you look at your best friend!

  He must have felt the heat of my eyes on him because he flipped several pieces of French toast over, then turned around and gave me his devilish grin.

  "Morning, beautiful," he said. "I figured I'd make you breakfast to thank you for such a great night."

  He winked and I cringed.

  A great night? Is that what he was calling sleeping with me?

  He crossed the small room and took my hand and kissed it, not letting it go. His eyes slowly moved up and down as he looked at me.

  "You look good enough to eat, maybe I'll just start with you," he said.

  He pulled me against him and his lips closed on top of mine. My legs jittered as I tried to not melt against his body. I was suddenly reminded of all the women who came before me. Being lumped in with them was the last thing I wanted.

  I didn't want to be just another Gideon Kohl conquest, but I didn't know what I wanted. The only thing I was sure of was that I didn't want to think about any of this right now. I could pretend last night didn't happen and we would go back to being friends.

  I pushed him away and Gideon's eyes widened. Before he could speak, I turned him around and started pushing him towards the door.

  "No, this isn't happening," I said. "You need to go."

  "What? But--"

  "No, Gideon, this isn't right. It's morning now and we're back to being just friends, remember? That's how it should be."

  My nose scrunched as I pushed him towards the door. I was happy to be behind him where he couldn't see it. I noticed his shirt and suit jacket hanging over the couch and handed them to him.

  "But--" he said.

  "No, I'm not going to be just another notch. Remember, I'm your best friend, I know you. Just get out, go home, go on with your day like last night didn't happen at all. I'll see you at work on Monday."

  He spun around and grabbed me by my shoulders. I could tell he had a lot to say, but I didn't want to hear it. I shouldn't have said yes, let's have sex. I shouldn't have enjoyed it so much. I shouldn't be wishing he would kiss me so I would stop thinking so much.

  It was the holidays and I was lonely. I knew Gideon. He was going to give me the usual bullshit he fed all his girlfriends.

  "Becca, you don't understand. I love you," he said.

  And there it was. The same crap he fed to all those other girls before. The words were like being punched in the gut. For as long as I had known him, Gideon always thought he was in love. I knew better, I knew it was just his dick talking.

  "Please, leave," I said. "Before this gets any worse."

  His brows knitted as he stood in my doorway. He slipped his arms into his shirt and roughly shoved his feet into his shoes, all while never taking his eyes off my face. Then he slowly nodded as he pursed his lips.

  "I get it. I’m leaving it up to you, whatever you want," he said as he walked out, slamming the door shut behind him.

  My phone rang an hour after Gideon left. I was still cleaning the griddle and assumed it was him calling. I felt guilty for how I pushed him out of my house and wanted to apologize.

  I leaned towards my phone, expecting to see Gideon's name, but instead Sandra's name flashed on the screen. Remembering everything she was going through, I forgot about Gideon. Why was she calling so early? As thoughts of Billy breaking the door down and entering the house filled my mind, I quickly answered the phone.

  "Sandra? Is everything okay?"

  She laughed and I relaxed, happy to hear the lightness in her voice.

  "Yes, everything's fine. I'm so sorry about last night. I can only imagine how much you must have been worried about me."

  "Well, you know me, I worry about everything."

  "You do! You need to loosen up more. Maybe find a boyfriend to take you out."

  "You know I don't have time for that," I said.

  I shook my head even though she couldn't see it over the phone. I had been telling myself I didn't have the time for a boyfriend for so long that I believed it without giving it another thought.

  As I curled up on the couch, something hard poked my butt. I got up and found Gideon's ring on the cushion where his jacket was earlier and the guilt came back.

  Why did I push him out? Last night was incredible. I wanted more nights like that, but I kept thinking it would never last. Gideon wasn't the kind of guy who was ever serious. I'd end up with my heart broken and losing my best friend. I didn't want either of those things to happen.

  "Everything alright?" Sandra asked. "You got quiet."

  "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just tired," I said as I placed Gideon's ring on the end table. "Don't worry about me. What's going on with you? Is everything okay with Billy?"

  "I've been up all night," she said. "Around three a.m., Billy called me and I was going to ignore the call like I had been doing all night, but something told me to answer it. It's a good thing I did too."

  "What happened?"

  "He told me he took a handful of pills and wanted to die. I know him, he didn't want to die. But you know there are suicides in his family and you just never know with him, so I kept him on the phone while I called 911 with the other phone. They admitted him into the hospital and they'll most likely hold him for a while."

  "That's good."

  "It is. H
e'll be able to get sober there and hopefully when he's clean again, he'll go to rehab. He really needs that, but he's been so resistant before."

  "Are you thinking of taking him back?"

  "No, I can't. Not after everything that happened. Not after this time. He needs to do a lot of things before I even consider that."

  "You're doing the right thing," I said.

  "Then why do I feel so bad, Becca? Why do I feel like I'm dooming him to some horrible life if I don't take him back? He's got nowhere to go, no family, no friends who can take him in. All he had was me and the kids."

  "You can't think like that, Sandra. I know you love him, but you need to think about your kids. Put them and yourself first. If things with Billy are meant to be, they will be. There's no reason to rush it, especially when you're so set on not taking him back. There's nothing wrong with you feeling that way."

  "You're right. I know you're right. I don't know what's wrong with me that I keep blaming myself for what happens to him."

  "Don't even think about that," I said. "Just stick to whatever you feel is best for your family."

  "I know we're better off without him, at least for now. I just need to remind myself of that." She yawned and then let out a long breath. "I’ve gotta go. I have to finish clearing out the old house now that he's not there to get in my way."

  "What's going to happen when he gets released from the hospital?"

  "I don't know. I guess he'll go to a hotel."

  "Will they call you?"

  "No. He might call me, I don't know, but I'm not taking him in. There are plenty of hotels he can stay at."

  "It's a little ironic that the family in your new house is what set him off."

  "What do you mean? Him giving them money to stay at a hotel? Or that they reminded him of his own life of moving in and out of hotels with his mom? I guess it all came back full circle," she said. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound glib about it, I'm just tired and still have a lot to do at the old house before the landlord takes the keys back. Billy is like a cat, he always lands on his feet. I know he'll be fine."