Turning a losing battle?

“Your girlfriend’s very considerate, asking me to drive you home when she could have just let you walk.”

“She was worried about me walking around in the dark.” I told Rebecca the reason before adding, “And my girlfriend is a little strong just yet. We’ve only had half a date.

“Aw. That’s sweet.” Rebecca pulled away from the kerb, grinning at me. “She must really like you. Although I’m not sure she’d think much of that last bit.”

I glanced across at her. She was still wearing the same outfit she'd worn to the cinema: the fitted top, the ridiculously short skirt, and the confident expression of someone who knew perfectly well that she looked good. Kat had spent the evening in track pants and an oversized jumper, completely unaware that Rebecca had apparently dressed for an entirely different occasion. The contrast was almost funny.

“You know, most people would have changed into something comfortable by now,” I said.

“Most people haven't had such an interesting evening.”

“Interesting?”

“Watching my two favourite people pretend they weren't on a full date while one of them practically climbed over me to kiss the other.” She gave me a sideways glance. “Very romantic. Not particularly good for my personal space, but romantic.”

“You're never going to let us forget that, are you?”

“Not a chance.”

We laughed, and for a few minutes the conversation stayed light. Rebecca made fun of the film, complained about the cinema's popcorn prices, and imitated Kat's completely justified expression of frustration when she'd finally landed a kiss from me. But as we turned onto our street, her teasing gradually faded. Our houses were right beside each other, close enough that the drive from Kat's place barely gave us time to finish a conversation. Still, Rebecca slowed as she approached my driveway, as though she weren't quite ready for the evening to end.

“So,” she said, “did you have a good time?”

“With Kat?”

“No, with the cinema snacks.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, with Kat.”

“I did.”

“Good. I bet you're glad I organised this whole evening now.” Her smile wavered slightly. “I'm happy for you. Honestly.”

I turned towards her. “You don't sound particularly happy.”

“I'm working on it.” She looked down at her lap, sounding more unsure than I'd heard in a long time. Rebecca smoothed the fabric of her skirt before looking back at me. “It's just strange, isn't it? I've spent my entire life assuming you'd always be there. And now you're going on dates with Kat, taking evening strolls in parks, kissing during movies…” She gave me a pointed look. “You know, all that stuff you were supposed to do with me.”

I wasn't sure whether she was joking, and I think that uncertainty was exactly what she wanted.

“Rebecca…”

“Oh, don't look at me like that.” She smiled, but there was something vulnerable behind it. “I'm allowed to be a little jealous, aren't I?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” She leaned across the centre console before I could say anything else and kissed me.

For a moment, I simply sat there, surprised by the suddenness of it. Then she pulled back just enough to look at me, and the expression on her face made it difficult to remember all the reasons I should have left things alone. Rebecca was my best friend. She was the girl I'd spent years wanting to kiss, the girl I'd convinced myself would never see me as anything more than the familiar boy next door. And now she was waiting to find out whether I'd kiss her back.

So I did.

Her smile disappeared against my lips, replaced by something much more genuine. One hand settled against my cheek while the other moved to the back of my neck, drawing me closer. I put a hand against her waist, and she kissed me again, more confidently this time. It felt wonderfully familiar and completely new at once, as though a door I'd spent years staring at had finally been opened.

I knew I was responding much more enthusiastically than I should have been. The evening with Kat had left me feeling steamy and pent up. The feeling of our time together in the park hadn't exactly faded by the time Rebecca collected me. Now, with Rebecca kissing me and holding me close, I found myself rising up in the moment before I'd fully considered what I was doing.

For a little while, I let myself enjoy it. We kissed until we had to break apart for breath, both of us smiling a little awkwardly. Rebecca brushed her thumb across my cheek, looking at me with an expression I'd never quite seen on her before. She seemed pleased with herself, certainly, but there was also a tentative sort of hope in her eyes.

“See?” she whispered. “You still feel something.”

I let out a quiet laugh. “Of course, I feel something, Becca.”

“Then maybe we've both been pretending we don’t want this for too long.”

She kissed me again, and I responded before I could talk myself out of it. My hand remained around her waist, pulling as she moved a little closer across the console, making our awkward position in the car seem almost comical. We bumped noses, laughed against each other's mouths, and then kissed again. Every time I thought we might finally stop, Rebecca would give me another look or brush her fingers through my hair, and the words I meant to say would disappear.

Eventually, she drew back and studied my face. Her gaze lingered there for a moment, before dropping down to the tent in the front of my pants. Becca’s expression shifted into a teasing smile. “Well,” she murmured, “someone seems to be enjoying himself.”

Heat rushed into my face. “Rebecca.”

“What?” she asked innocently. “I'm only making an observation.”

“You're enjoying this way too much.”

“Can you blame me? I've been waiting a very long time to find out whether you'd kiss me like that. And judging by your reaction, I'd say I have my answer.”

I couldn't deny it. She was right there, looking beautiful in the outfit she'd chosen, and I was still caught up in the excitement of finally being wanted by her. My body hadn't forgotten my earlier arousal with Kat, either, and I was acutely aware of how difficult it was becoming to think straight.

Rebecca seemed to recognise that I was struggling to decide what to say. Her smile became more playful as she brushed her hand against the outline of my wood.

“You know,” she whispered, “I could always help you with that little problem.”

I went still even as a gasp escaped my mouth.

She raised an eyebrow, her confidence returning as she watched my reaction. Her soft touch became a full squeeze around my shaft as she started to rub me. “See how badly he wants me.”

For one dangerous second, I considered letting her continue. She was offering, not demanding, and the thought of staying there with Rebecca, finally experiencing something I'd wanted for years, was incredibly tempting. After all the time I'd spent wondering what it might be like if she ever looked at me this way, it was hard to summon much enthusiasm for being sensible.

She leaned in to kiss me again, and I met her halfway. The kiss lasted only a few seconds before I made myself draw back, groaned out slowly as I moved back as Rebecca released her hold on my shaft.

“Wait.”

Rebecca stopped immediately. Her playful expression faltered as she searched my face.

“What is it?”

I looked down at the space between us, trying to get my thoughts in order. Rebecca’s skirt had risen up, and I could see the small swatch of fabric that covered her pussy easily. A dark line of arousal and moisture ran down the centre. “I want to. That's the problem.”

Rebecca had seen where my eyes were and leaned back, opening her knees wider, putting her gorgeous teen body on display. Her panties clung to her even tighter, and I could see the full outline of Rebecca’s camel toe. “You can have all of this. I’d let you be my first.”

How I resisted, I don’t know. “I can’t.”

“Why not? You said it yourself. She’s not your girlfriend yet. That means you're not exclusive yet. This is perfectly fine.” As she spoke, Rebecca reached down between her legs and started to rub her pussy through her wet panties. Her fingers worked the outline of her lips and strummed her clit.

“Because Kat trusts me.”

Rebecca looked away towards the windscreen. For a moment, she didn't say anything, and I could see her trying to decide whether she was hurt or embarrassed.

“You've already kissed me back,” she said quietly. Then louder, “I'll suck your cock for you!”

“I know.”

“I felt how hard you are. You can’t tell me you’re not interested.”

“I'm definitely interested.” I gave a short, humourless laugh. “Believe me, I'm having a hard enough time remembering why I’m trying to be so good right now.”

That drew a reluctant smile from her, but it didn't last.

“I just don't want to be the reason I mess things up with Kat before we've even had a proper chance,” I continued. “We had a really good night. She was honest with me about how she feels, and I told her I wanted to see where things went. I can't turn around and do this, not while she's sitting at home thinking we're giving this a real try.”

Rebecca studied me for a long moment.

“And what about us? I’ll do things for you,” she asked. “Are you telling me there's nothing here?”

“No.” I met her eyes. “I'm telling you there is something here. There always has been, for me. But that doesn't mean I can just forget about Kat because you've finally decided to kiss me.”

She winced slightly at that. “That sounds harsher than you probably intended.”

“I'm sorry.” I reached for her hand. “I don't want to hurt you, either.”

She looked down at our joined hands. Then she gave a small sigh and leaned back into her seat, putting a little distance between us.

“I suppose I should be grateful you're at least trying to be a decent person. I don’t think I’d like you as much if you cracked so easily.”

“I'm not sure I'd go that far.”

That got a genuine laugh out of her.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. We were still sitting in her car outside my house, and her own house was only a few metres away. She could have driven into her driveway and gone inside at any point, but she hadn't started the engine again. Neither had I made any move to leave.

Finally, Rebecca turned towards me. “I'm not going to apologise for kissing you,” she said. “I wanted to do it, and I'm glad I know you wanted to kiss me back.”

I smiled faintly. “I did.”

“And I'm not going to pretend I don't want more. I need to have you inside me.” She gave me a pointed look. “But I heard you. No more tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Don't thank me yet.” Her mischievous smile returned. “I'm still going to be very annoying about this.”

“I'd expect nothing less.”

She leaned over and gave me one last kiss, gentler this time but lingering just long enough to make me once again consider the position I’d taken. When she drew away, she pressed the fingers of the hand she’d been touching herself with, and I smelt the scent of Rebecca for the first time.

“Goodnight, Trouble.”

“Goodnight, Becca.”

I opened the car door and stepped onto the pavement. Before I closed it, I looked back at her. She was still in that same outfit, still watching me with the same mixture of confidence and determination, as though she viewed our kiss as merely the first battle in an extended engagement.