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?"

snapped me out of my haze. I pushed back against the cold glass, letting it bring me back to reality. "You're drunk, Josh," I said, my voice firmer now. "Go find

in

flinch. The corner of his mouth quirked up into a smirk, his dimple

flirting." His gaze held steady

I don't talk. And I don't think half a bottle of wine and a few tequila shots are going to

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voice dipped,

an option. Don't think I don't know what you guys come to these parties for." I crossed my arms, trying to

deliberately, his tone dripping with feigned innocence as he leaned

to have

about your...sexcapades." The word felt foreign on my tongue, but I squared

grin faltered for a brief second before he blinked, his expression darkening with something new. Slowly, he stood upright and began circling the table, his eyes locked on mine. I froze, watching him stalk closer, my instincts screaming at me to

National Geographic, I was the Impala, and he was

Laura," he drawled, his voice low and dangerous. "I never thought I'd hear

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over my lower lip. The touch was soft, fleeting, but it set my skin

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

but my body stayed rooted in place. Josh was everywhere-his size, his scent, the heat rolling off his body-and I felt

way.

whispered, his breath hot against

but I couldn't focus on anything except the way