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

COOKIES

LUKE

Darkness swallowed me whole.

The water was frigid, cutting into my skin like shards of broken glass. I fought to find the surface, my arms thrashing through the black abyss. My chest burned, my lungs clawing for air, but no matter how hard I kicked. I couldn't tell which way was up. I was lost.

Panic wrapped around me like chains, dragging me deeper. The cold pressed in on all sides, suffocating and relentless. Jess's face flashed in my mind-her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was worth something. I'd never see her again.

The thought was more suffocating than the water filling my lungs.

I was drowning.

My chest seized, my heart pounding like a drum, faster, harder-until suddenly, everything stopped.

I jerked awake, snapping back to reality like a ripcord yanked too hard.

Air rushed into my lungs, sharp and hot, and I doubled over, my palms finding the wooden floor. It was cool beneath my palms and real. Rock solid and real.

My chest heaved as I fought to breathe, my skin slick with sweat.

17.560

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inch of me trembled, the nightmare's icy grip

real. It wasn't real. It was a dream. No, it

nose and blew out

off the lingering echoes. of the cold. My heart still thundered, but another sensation crept

warm, sweet smell.

Cookies?

around. It was dark outside. I must have passed out on the couch, so I made a mental note to drag Jess back to this couch for something other than sleeping. The reality of

This was home.

couch, I stood and made my way toward the kitchen. The sound of her humming softly reached my ears, grounding me with every step. As I entered, Jess turned, saw

a spoon to her

eased a little. "I didn't mean to scare you," I said, my voice still rough

scare me okay, maybe just a

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I replied,

smiled, her blue eyes

I teased, arching a

of my T-shirts, although she's been wearing it a lot, it seems. Even with her pregnant belly, it's way too big for

t-shirt?" I asked, leaning over the dining room table. Jess blushed

balm. "If you want cookies for dinner, you can just say so-no need to filter me. I'm basically

look like to me. I'd choose you