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

JOSH AND LAURA JOSH

When I walked in, the house was quiet, the kind of peaceful silence that settled when it was just Laura and me. Dropping my duffel bag by the door, I called out, "Laura?"

Her voice floated in from outside, "Out here! I'm painting."

Painting? At this hour? I smiled to myself, shaking my head. Of course, she was. Laura could get lost in her world of colors and canvases, day or night.

Curiosity pulled me toward the back door, and the cool evening air greeted me when I stepped out. The pool shimmered under the soft glow of the patio lights, and there she was-sitting cross-legged on a drop cloth with a canvas propped up in front of her. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, strands falling around her face, and smudges of paint adorned her cheeks and

arms.

I crept closer, quiet as I could, until I was right behind her. Then, with a quick move, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her back against me. She squealed, laughing, as pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck.

"Josh!" she scolded, though there was no real heat in her voice. "Be careful! I'm going to get you full of paint."

"I don't care," I murmured against her skin, grinning when she shivered in my arms.

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Laura twisted to look at me, her eyes sparkling in the dim light "You say that now, but wait until you're scrubbing it out of your clothes."

"Still don't care," I replied, leaning in to steal another kiss.

and melodic, the sound wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "What are

on her waist. "But seriously, why are you painting out here? And

blue and silver paint. "I'm trying to paint the stars," she said simply, tilting her head to

glitter against the black canvas above* us, but I was more interested in the way the light caught her face, the way her eyes glowed with determination and joy. "It's

deep in my chest. "What if I

with me

at me with mock seriousness, then pointed toward the pool. "There's a

say a word, she flicked her paintbrush at me, leaving a streak of blue across my arm. "Oops,"

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suppressed laughter. "Guess you

lips curving into a slow grin. "Oh, you're gonna pay

"Josh-"

arm under her knees and the other around her back. She let out a surprised shriek, her laughter ringing out as I carried her toward the pool.

into the air, holding her tight as we splashed

as she splashed water at me.

hand through my hair, slicking it back as I grinned at her. "Admit

wading closer to her. "But you

cheeks flushed as I reached out, brushing a stray drop of water from her cheek. "And what exactly do I owe

my voice dropping low. "I'll