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

She bit her lip, her eyes bright with unshed tears, and my throat felt tight, like I might lose it if I said another word. But she gave my hand at

reassuring squeeze, like she was grounding me, steadying me, just as she always had.

Then it was her turn, and as she looked up at me, her gaze steady, her voice clear and strong.

"Luke." she began, her voice barely a whisper but full of conviction, "you've been my constant, my protector, even when I didn't want you to be When I lost my memories, when I lost us... You've seen me at my worst and still somehow saw someone worth standing beside. A tear slipped down her cheek, and I lifted a hand, brushing it away with my thumb, unable to keep from smiling. The whole world seemed to melt away until it was just the two of us, our hands intertwined, our hearts in

sync.

The officiant smiled, looking between us. "Luke, Jessica, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Luke, you may kiss your bride."

And I did, without a moment's hesitation, pulling her close, my hands framing her face as I pressed my lips to hers. The cheers and applause from our friends and family faded into the background, and all I could feel was her, warm and soft and perfect. Jess's arms slid aro "I love you, Mrs. Reynolds," I whispered, my heart feeling like it might just explode.

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DONUS

"I love you too, Mr. Reynolds," she replied, her voice filled with happiness, her eyes shining with all the love I felt in my own.

sea of familiar faces that had seen us through everything. But as we walked down the aisle together, all

And for the first time, I knew with absolute certainty that every moment, every heartbreak, every mistake had been worth it because it had led us here, to this

A NEW START

A NEW START

JESS

into the room, gently coaxing me from sleep. Buried beneath a ridiculous pile of pillows-Luke's doing, no doubt-l stretched and yawned, taking a

my life now. Two months into marriage,

padding out of the bedroom. The cool floor woke me up a little more with each step. As I neared the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee got stronger, making me smile, and

against the counter, shirtless. His broad shoulders and toned muscles were on full display, looking like he belonged on some magazine

was mussled just the slightest bit. I bit my lip when my eyes drifted towards the tented portion of his grey pants, and my body shivered, knowing what was beneath that thin material. He glanced up

his voice still a little rough from sleep as he slid a

to keep my cool, but every time

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A NEW START

trying to mask my smile as I eyed him over the rim of my mug. "I could get used to this, you know. Waking

his arms over his chest. "Thought you already had," he said, watching me with a look that made me feel