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

HEAT LAURA

I felt the heat creep up my cheeks as his smirk deepened. "Fair enough," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "But you

shouldn't be in here alone, you know." The subtle shift in his tone sent chills racing down my spine, leaving my nerves buzzing.

I stepped back instinctively, my shoulders bumping into the cold dent of a window pane. Carefully, I set the bottle of wine on the ledge, grasping its edge with both hands to steady myself. Maybe it was the alcohol clouding my mind, but the room suddenly felt smaller, like his presence alone had sucked the air from the space.

Turning to the garden below, I focused on the scattered clusters of kids on the lawn, trying to ground myself. More people strolled up the driveway, their laughter muted behind the glass.

"This dress is something," Josh murmured. His voice was closer now, his breath ghosting over my skin.

Startled, I whipped my head around to find him inches away. His gaze raked over me, lingering on the curve of my waist and the hem of my dress. It felt like he was touching me, even though his hands hadn't moved.

"You've never worn anything like this before, have you, Laura?" His eyes traced the lines of my body, his voice low and rough.

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I fought the impulse to tug the short dress lower, settling instead for pressing my thighs together as warmth pooled between them-a sudden, traitorous ache I didn't want to acknowledge. 1288 Mourne

When his eyes finally met mine, they held a spark that made my pulse stutter. He raised an arm and braced it against the wall next to my head, caging me in. "You usually talk so much back at the house," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "Now you're so quiet. Why is that?"

I didn't have an answer, so I just shrugged, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. His quiet chuckle rippled through me, a low vibration I felt more than heard. His eyes were slightly hazy, probably from the tequila shots I'd seen him down earlier, but the sharp blue with a hint of hazel still cut right through me.

"So innocent," he murmured, his head tilting slightly as he leaned closer. "Not used to a guy getting this close to you, huh?"

against the cold glass, letting it bring me back to reality. "You're drunk, Josh," I said, my voice firmer now. "Go find a cheerleader to flirt

in

of his mouth quirked up into a smirk, his dimple

I were flirting." His

back, forcing my voice to stay cold. "You and I don't talk. And I don't think half a bottle of wine and a few tequila shots are going to change that." My stomach twisted as I saw his smirk widen, but I pressed on. "Sorry if

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His voice dipped, amused

think I don't know what you guys come to these parties for." I crossed my arms, trying to put up some kind

deliberately, his tone dripping with feigned innocence as he leaned one hip against

"You're going to have

come on. Everyone here knows about your...sexcapades." The word felt foreign on my tongue, but I

something new. Slowly, he stood upright and began circling the

this was National Geographic, I was the Impala, and he was

thought I'd hear a word like that come

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brush his thumb over my lower lip. The touch was soft, fleeting, but it set my skin ablaze. I couldn't move,

kill me. He's her brother. My best friend's brother. What the hell am I

was everywhere-his size, his scent, the heat rolling off his body-and I felt trapped in

way.

like this before?" he whispered, his breath hot against my cheek.

I couldn't focus on anything except the