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

WATER IS WINE JESS

Hi, babe! I'm so happy you're here!" Laura pulled me into a hug so tight I thought my lungs would explode. I pushed back the tears and swallowed the knot in my throat. I was so happy to see her-even though I'd seen her a month ago, it felt like an eternity.

She was the only piece I had left of them. It was just us now. We would have to be each other's family because we'd lost ours. I pulled back and saw the same thoughts reflected in her eyes, but neither of us voiced it.

We never would. But it was there-the scar we both now bore.. Widows. We were widows, and that was that.

"So I've got the cutest little apartment, and there's a new manager at the gallery. I haven't met him yet, but we're going to dinner tonight. I'm so happy you're here. I was so

nervous, but I feel better now." Laura took a deep breath and pulled me to her side again, placing a gentle hand on my stomach.

"Are we talking about this yet, or not...?" She asked softly. shook my head, biting my bottom lip and blinking back tears. I wasn't ready. I knew I needed to, but I wasn't ready.

I felt like I was betraying him. Doing things he would miss out on without him. Like he'd show up out of nowhere, and

everything would suddenly go back to normal. I knew it wouldn't -I wasn't delusional. I was just... broken, I guess.

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WATER IS WINE

"Laura-" She turned around, wiping away her own sadness, and gave me a small smile, holding out her hand. "We'll do this together. New start, okay? Let's just try..." she whispered, and I knew she needed this as much as I did. After a coffee and a croissant, we got ready for the dinner. I pulled a navy blue dress over my head, thankful for the A-line cut that hid the evidence of my... well-anyway.

Laura helped me braid my hair over one shoulder in a loose, sophisticated style, and in turn, I helped her let her dirty blonde hair fall in soft curls down her back. She looked stunning-the low, plunging neckline of her satin black dress with thin straps made her a vision. "See-we can still get dressed up and go out. It's okay to do this, right?" Laura looked up at me in the mirror as if I held the answer, the key. To make it okay to move on with our lives despite... everything.

The restaurant was a beautiful mix of rustic charm and modern elegance, with flickering candles casting warm light across the wooden tables and leather chairs. I felt my nerves flutter as we stepped inside, the soft hum of French conversation and clinking glasses creating Laura and I had barely taken in our surroundings when two very tall, handsome men approached us, accompanied by an older woman with striking silver-

gray hair, her beauty softened but unmistakable. Their eyes sparkled with that effortlessly elegant look the French seemed to pull off without trying.

Laura smiled, squeezing my hand. "Jess, I'd like you to meet Catrina and Ivan," she said, gesturing first to the woman and

WATER IS WINE

then to one of the men, his light eyes warm as he gave me a friendly nod. "And this..." Laura paused slightly, "...is Marcello."

The third man stepped forward, towering over us, his gaze intense. He was dark-haired, with a strong, square jaw, and his eyes were dark-like pools of obsidian that seemed to take in every detail. His face was ruggedly handsome, with just a hint of stubble on his sharp cheekbones. Something in his gaze made me shiver, and I quickly looked away, feeling a bit too seen.

He extended a hand to me, and I managed a small smile as I shook it, his fingers firm and warm. "Marcello is the new owner of the gallery," Laura said, her voice cheerful. "We're so lucky to have him on board."

Marcello inclined his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Jess."

His accent was thick, his words smooth, and somehow it made my name sound different, softer. I tried to smile, but my mouth. felt dry, or maybe I was nauseous....

We settled into our seats around a large, round table, and while Laura and Catrina started talking about art and the gallery, I found myself uncomfortably aware of Marcello's gaze. Every so often, I'd look up to find him watching me, his expression unreadable, like he was st Laura nudged me with a small smile. "We've been talking about all the gallery updates. You have to meet some of Marcello's artists-they're extraordinary."

Marcello turned his attention fully to me. "So, Jess," he began, his voice as smooth as silk. "Do you like art?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My mind went blank, and my throat

felt like sandpaper. I coughed, reaching for my water glass and feeling my cheeks heat up under his piercing gaze. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his lips quirking as he reached toward me with his glass of wine.

wine is water." he

out, my face flushing as the words slipped out before I could

a beat, everyone pausing to look at me in surprise, and I could feel my cheeks turning

BRUTAL BUT PEMITIFUL

ISLAND VIBES LUKE

into the tree trunk, scratching out another line with a little too much force. "Sixty-fucking-four days," he growled, his

out my sore shoulder. "Tell me about it," I muttered, focusing on the makeshift roof. "This place is one rainstorm away from washing us out. And when

want to sleep in a normal bed for a whole week

scoffed, still gouging into the tree. "I want damages for the fucking psychological trauma of being in your company for this amount of time." He let out a bitter laugh,

that we'd scoured every inch of the island, hoping to find some way off-or at least some damn

we'd scavenged and a few old journals left behind by a bunch of scientists who, for whatever reason, had ditched this hellhole. Their "camp" was barely a flimsy tent patched with tape and wire, which we'd

stabbed the knife into the tree, leaving it there. "I swear to God, if we're stuck here much longer, I'm gonna lose my shit." He sighed, running a

14:04M

GLAND VISE

Vouchers

under his breath.

than I'd seen it in weeks. She held a small fish over her head, grinning like she'd conquered the world. "Guess who just caught dinner?" she called out, practically glowing with pride. Josh smirked, a sarcastic edge to his tone. "Well, damn. Look who finally became a hunter-gatherer. Guess we

gleaming in the low light. I looked away, swallowing hard. Somehow, even in a place like this, she managed to get under my

but sharp. "Laugh all you want. I'm

you're the new Bear Grylls and

watched her go. "This whole damn situation belongs in

I could remember how to fish, but I don't think I can do another month of fish and coconut." He shook his head, letting

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seem like a real possibility, and then when we were

this focused determination, ignoring us as she worked

she shot me a glance that lingered a bit too

I'll handle this too, huh?" she muttered, gutting the fish with an impressive and

meager portions, silence settled heavy

"You know, at this rate, one of us is

sure which

stifling a weary smile. "Give it another week.

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if

shared that flicker of grim humor, a brief distraction from the reality that was weighing us down like stones. But deep down, I knew we were all running on fumes, clinging to whatever was l "Here's to day sixty-four," Josh mumbled,

be the last fucking

WATERFALL

288 Wouchero WATERFALL

LUKE

me in its endless rhythm.

to sinking into her core and waking up after dreams of her was driving me crazy. I needed to cum. I

as all the tension left my muscles, and I was

over. My mind had drifted far away to Jess, home, and something that felt like peace. But suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I heard the softest rustle, a subtle shift

behind the waterfall, and then I spotted it-blond hair catching in a

I called out, straightening up and quickly covering

cheeks. "I, uh, I wanted to ask you