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

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JESS

I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The soft fabric of Luke's T-shirt brushed against my skin, the scent of him lingering in the cotton. It was ridiculously oversized, hanging down to my thighs, but I loved it- loved the way it felt like a shield, wrapping me in a piece of him. Through the muffled sound of water running in the bathroom, I could hear him moving, the heavy tread of his steps as he adjusted the faucet.

Another shower.

I'd asked him about it after dinner, trying to keep my tone light. "Another one? You just had one this morning."

He didn't answer right away, just looked at me with an unreadable expression before muttering, "The waterfall on the island doesn't compare to the water pressure here."

I almost laughed at that-almost. But something in the way his jaw tightened, the distant look in his eyes, told me it wasn't a joke.

Now, as I stared at the ceiling, my mind wouldn't stop spinning.

The island.

He didn't talk about it much. I was too afraid to ask because asking would have made him relive it.

And yet, the selfish part of me wanted to know.

Luke wasn't a man easily shaken. He was steady, solid-like the

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but I loved it- loved the way it felt like a shield, wrapping me in a piece of him. Through the muffled sound of water running in

Another shower.

to keep my tone light. "Another one? You

before muttering, "The waterfall on the island doesn't compare

But something in the way his jaw tightened, the

the

The island.

didn't talk about it much. I was too afraid to ask because asking would

part of me wanted to

man easily shaken. He was

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was the one who put me back together. But since he'd come back, I'd

cracks, but

the way he sometimes stared into the distance, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter. Or the way he'd grab my hand a little too quickly when I reached for him like he needed the

With me.

heard the squeak of the shower door and the faint rustle of a towel. My heart thudded in

to ask

should just ask

it. That he didn't have to carry it all by

my face in the pillow, frustrated with myself. I hated feeling this helpless and unsure of how to help

up on

an island, he looked... well, unfairly good. Less bulky

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