Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

PART 4-CHAPTER 168 JESS

The soft clink of wine glasses echoed through the cozy warmth of my apartment as I poured the deep red liquid, watching it swirl as the rich scent filled the room. Eric was at the stove, stirring something delicious that was making my stomach grumble in anticipation. He alw especially in moments like this.

I handed him his glass and took a sip from mine, letting the warmth of the wine spread through me as I leaned against the counter. The moment felt... nice. It was peaceful, like the world outside didn't exist. It was just us.

"You're spoiling me, you know," I teased, watching the way the light caught his dark hair as he worked. Eric looked up, a slow smile pulling at his lips.

"Well, I aim to please," he said with a wink, turning the heat down on the stove.

I laughed, but before I knew it, Eric reached for my hand, his grip firm and playful. "C'mon," he said, pulling me away from the counter. I barely had time to react as he spun me around, my feet stumbling slightly, but I couldn't help but laugh.

"Eric!" I squealed, the unexpectedness of it making me giddy. He twirled me again, the room spinning around us as his laughter joined mine, and before I knew it, I was dipped low, my

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hair falling back as he leaned down and kissed me. It was soft at first, sweet, but then it deepened, his lips claiming mine in a way that made my heart race.

He pulled me back up, his eyes gleaming with something intense, and we moved together, our bodies instinctively finding the couch. I barely had a chance to catch my breath before he was kissing me again, this time with more urgency. His hands. roamed, exploring my wa But... something inside me tugged, a whisper of hesitation I couldn't ignore.

breathed out, pulling back slightly, my hand gently resting on his

hovering over mine, his breath still warm against my skin. His brow furrowed as he studied me, his hand falling away from my waist.

I want to take things slow," I admitted, my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and vulnerability. "It's not that I don't

darkened, a flicker of something else flashing

taken aback by the question. "Aiden? No..." I shook my head, confused by the sudden shift in his tone. But then Eric's eyes narrowed, and

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EDS HO

PART 4

something more guarded.

"Not Aiden, Jess. Luke."

the mention

racing

gaze hardening as he watched me, like he was searching for something in my expression that I wasn't giving him. "Are you sure?" he pressed, his voice softer now, almost cautious. "Yes, Eric, I'm sure." I reached out, wrapping my arms around his Waist in an attempt to bring back the lightness from earlier. "I just want to take things slow, that's all. It has nothing to do with

for a moment longer before nodding slowly. But something had shifted between us. I could feel it in the way his body stiffened slightly against mine, in the way his lips met mine when I kissed him again, but without the same heat they'd had a few minutes ago. It was like he

to shake off the uncomfortable tension creeping between

smooth over whatever just happened. "So... still going to take me to your cabin this weekend?" I asked, keeping my voice light, trying to steer us back into