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

SWEET DREAMS JESS

| awoke slowly, my eyelids fluttering against the soft, golden morning light that spilled through the window. The

sheets, crisp and white, tangled aroundlike a cocoon, envelopingin warmth. His hand rested

possessively against my stomach, fingers splayed as if he n | could feel the rhythm of his breath against the

nape of my neck-warm, steady, a tantalizing whisper of intimacy that sent shivers cascading down my spine.

His lips brushed against my shoulder, the soft, lingering touch igniting a fire beneath my skin. A delicious shiver

danced through me, melting my defenses like wax under a flame. At that moment, I'd almost forgotten the

intoxicating thrill of his presence, the way the air crack "Morning," | whispered, smiling and closing my eyes,

sinking back against him.

Luke didn't answer, but his fingers traced along my hip, and he kissed the base of my neck, warm and lingering.

A kiss that meant he was right here, that he'd never left..

| felt him kissto my very core, and then his hand slipped to my stomach - resting there like he knew. But he

couldn't because | haven't told him.

SWEET DREAMS

238 Wouchera

This wasn't real - this can't be real...

"Luke..." | breathed, feeling the bliss of it, wanting to hold onto this feeling forever.

But he stilled, his breath suddenly uneven. And then, his voice muffled, he whispered, "Jess... cfind me."

| blinked, confusion threading into the calm. "What do you mean?" | turned my head to look at him, only to see

him there, just as he'd been, staring atwith his usual soft, steady gaze.

"You're right here," | murmured, pulling his hand closer to my chest.

He didn't answer. | blinked again, and he was different. Suddenly, Luke's hair was matted to his forehead,

soaking wet, and water dripped from his lips. His hand slipped from my waist, fingers clawing at his throat

as he struggled to breathe, the water spilling from his mouth in choked, desperate gasps.

"Luke!" | tried to reach him, to pull him back to me, but I couldn't move. | watched, helpless, as his eyes

widened, pleading, and he mouthed words | couldn't hear, couldn't understand.

| screamed, anxiety suddenly rushing through me. Why couldn't | move? | needed to get to Luke, but | couldn't.

Then | jolted awake, gasping, drenched in sweat. | blinked, my heart racing, as my hands clutched the edges of

my bed. The dark room settled around me, shadows flickering from the blue light of the TV. The news channel

was on, muted, but | could still make out the word 14.04

| exhaled, pulling the blanket up to my chest as my heartbeat began to slow. Just a dream. Only a dream. But |

could still feel the weight of his arm, the warmth of his hand. The image of him choking on water refused to

leave my mind,

| fumbled for my phone on the nightstand and texted Laura.

Me: | had another dream... it felt so real.

Not even ten seconds later, my phone buzzed.

Laura:too. They need to stop. I'm not sleeping, and my exhibition is in two days. You are still flying out, right?

I let out a shaky breath, staring at her message. | had no idea what these dreams meant or why they felt more

real each time.

Me: Yes, of course. | wouldn't miss it for the world.

Laura: The OBGYN signed off? | know the dreams haven't been good for the baby?

| swallowed hard. | almost lost the baby, but that was because my body was in a stress reaction, and | didn't eat

or sleep. | kept running and running, hoping I could run away from the pain, but | couldn't.

Me: She said I'm good to go. It's still early in the pregnancy so the fliht won;t have an effect and now that I'm

healthy- baby is fine. Everything is fine. We will see you soon!!!

| typed out my response and hit send, but the reassurance | gave Laura felt hollow, like | was trying to convince

myself just as much as her.

| closed my eyes, taking a steadying breath, but the image of

SWEET DREAMS:

Luke's face-water pouring from his mouth, his eyes full of desperation-still lingered.

| pulled my knees to my chest, running a hand absently over my stomach. The faintest swell was starting to

show, a quiet, almost invisible reminder of everything | still had to live for, to fight for. I'd cclose to losing

this baby, and that thought scaredmore than anythi | couldn't let myself fall apart again; | had to stay

grounded, focused, even if everything aroundfelt like it was slipping through my fingers.

The dreams had been relentless since the night of the

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so vivid | woke up feeling Luke's

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A warning? A cry for help? | didn't

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know, and | didn't want to overthink it,

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but | couldpyshaketé feeling that

hEAbas still out there somewhere,

trying to reach me. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

The phone buzzed again, and | glanced down to see Laura's reply.

Laura: I'm so glad you're okay. Can't wait to see you. And maybe... | don't know, maybe these dreams mean

something? It just feels... off.

| stared at her words, my heart

pounding harder with every word.

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hauptin\féeing hat something was

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wrong. That they weren't just gone.

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Me: | feel it, too. | can't explain it, but

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it's like he's still here. Like The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

SWEET DREAMS

he's... waiting."

| hesitated, hovering over the keyboard, then sent one last

message