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

COOKIES

288 Mouchers

the nightmare's icy grip refusing to let

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

my nose and

a hand over my face, trying to shake off the lingering echoes. of the cold. My heart still thundered, but another

warm, sweet smell.

Cookies?

onto the couch and looked 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.

of her humming softly

she squeaked, clutching a spoon

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

set the spoon down. "You didn't scare me okay,

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288 Vouchers

I replied, leaning against

blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

I teased, arching a

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

that t-shirt?" I asked, leaning over the dining room table. Jess blushed and fuck if that wasn't the most

for dinner, you can just say so-no need to filter me. I'm basically a humane incubator right

a human incubator - well, technically - but that's not what you look like to me. I'd choose you over a chocolate chip cookie