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

SWEET DREAMS JESS

I awoke slowly, my eyelids fluttering against the soft, golden morning light that spilled through the window. The sheets, crisp and white, tangled around me like a cocoon, enveloping me in warmth. His hand rested possessively against my stomach, fingers splayed as if he n I could feel the rhythm of his breath against the nape of my neck-warm, steady, a tantalizing whisper of intimacy that sent shivers cascading down my spine.

His lips brushed against my shoulder, the soft, lingering touch igniting a fire beneath my skin. A delicious shiver danced through me, melting my defenses like wax under a flame. At that moment, I'd almost forgotten the intoxicating thrill of his presence, the way the air crack "Morning," I whispered, smiling and closing my eyes, sinking back against him.

Luke didn't answer, but his fingers traced along my hip, and he kissed the base of my neck, warm and lingering. A kiss that meant he was right here, that he'd never left..

I felt him kiss me to my very core, and then his hand slipped to my stomach - resting there like he knew. But he couldn't because I haven't told him.

SWEET DREAMS

238 Wouchera

This wasn't real - this can't be real....

"Luke..." I breathed, feeling the bliss of it, wanting to hold onto this feeling forever.

But he stilled, his breath suddenly uneven. And then, his voice muffled, he whispered, "Jess... come find me."

I blinked, confusion threading into the calm. "What do you mean?" I turned my head to look at him, only to see him there, just as he'd been, staring at me with his usual soft, steady gaze.

"You're right here," I murmured, pulling his hand closer to my chest.

Luke's hair was matted to his forehead, soaking wet, and water dripped from his lips. His hand slipped from my waist, fingers clawing at his

spilling from his mouth in choked,

reach him, to pull him back to me, but I couldn't move. I watched, helpless, as his eyes widened, pleading, and he mouthed words

couldn't I move? I needed to get to Luke, but I

my heart racing, as my hands clutched the edges of my bed. The dark room settled around me, shadows flickering from the blue light of the TV. The news channel was on, muted, but I could still make out the

exhaled, pulling the blanket up to my chest as my heartbeat began to slow. Just a dream. Only a dream. But I could still feel the weight of his arm, the

fumbled for my phone on the nightstand and texted

had another dream...

even ten seconds

need to stop. I'm not sleeping, and my exhibition is in two days. You are

had no

course. I wouldn't miss

OBGYN signed off? I know the

swallowed hard. I almost lost the baby, but that was because my body was in a stress reaction, and I didn't eat or

She said I'm good to go. It's still early in the pregnancy so the fliht won;t have an effect and now that

send, but the reassurance I gave Laura felt hollow, like I was trying to convince myself just

a steadying

SWEET DREAMS:

face-water pouring from his mouth, his eyes full

for. I'd come close to losing this baby, and that thought scared me more than anythi I couldn't let myself fall apart again; I had to stay grounded, focused, even if everything around me felt like

had been relentless since the night of