Page 49 of The Backup

"Good girl," he breathes, his words a dark, husky reward. “Now I need you to come on my cock. Again.”

The room blurs around me, my entire world narrowing to the sound of his voice and the way he moves against me. Time seems to shatter, and the only thing that exists is him, and me, and the heat between us.

A hand hooks into my mouth as he pounds me furiously. I close my eyes and feel his hand drag down the length of my back, and let out a loud moan as I come this time.

Asher matches my rhythm, and pulling his torso close to me, he guides my jaw to turn into his for an all-enveloping, soul-shattering kiss as I feel him pump his release into me, coming undone himself.

When it’s over, he eventually peels himself off of me, and we lay for a moment on our backs, staring up at the ceiling.

“Holy fuck,” I murmur. “Whatwasthat?”

"Yeah. That was something else." His voice is low, almost reluctant, as he leans back against the headboard, his breathing still uneven.

I heave a deep sigh, the reality of the situation creeping in around the edges. How exactly am I supposed to go back to the party after…this? My brilliant ‘dirty little secret’ plan might not be so brilliant after all.

“So…yeah.” Asher finally sits up, his tone casual, almost too casual. “That was a lot of fun.”

Fun. That word hangs in the air between us, sharp and unkind. I force a nod, the sting of his indifference settling somewhere in my chest. "Yeah, it was," I manage, my voice steady despite the sudden tightness in my throat.

He stands up, and I steal another glimpse at his impeccable naked body before he reaches for a towel from his closet, then tenderly wipes the sweat—and anything else—off of me.

Taking the hint, I gather my clothes in silence, each movement feeling heavier than it should. His eyes linger on me, but he doesn’t say anything else. By the time I’m dressed and making my way downstairs, my mind is already racing, replaying the moments that led up to this encounter.

The party is still in full swing, a blur of music, laughter, and clinking glasses. Scott spots me from across the room, a grin spreading across his face as he approaches with a drink in each hand.

"Hey," he says, holding out a glass. "Got you a gin and tonic."

"Thank you." I take it with a small smile, sipping it immediately. The cool bitterness is a welcome distraction.

But my mind is still a million miles away.

We spend the next couple of hours mingling, laughing, and dancing—well, mostly me swaying awkwardly while Scott shows off his moves. For a while, it’s easy to forget the heat of Asher’s touch, the way his voice dipped when he called mehis.

But eventually, the night starts to wind down.

"I'm going to head out," Scott says, tilting his empty glass toward me. "That okay?"

"Yeah," I reply, offering a reassuring smile. "I'll stick around with Jacklyn and Brian."

Scott gives me a quick hug before disappearing into the crowd. I linger a little longer, nursing another drink and making polite conversation, but my mind isn’t here anymore.

When I finally say goodbye to Jacklyn and Brian, I don’t even have to fake a yawn. "I think I’m going to head back. You guys stay and enjoy yourselves."

"Sure thing," Jacklyn says, clearly tipsy but still smiling.

Once I’m alone, I bide my time, waiting until the hall clears. The party’s volume fades into the background as I climb the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. When I reach Asher’s door, I hesitate for a moment before knocking softly.

There’s a muffled grumble, and then the door swings open. Asher stands there in just his boxers, his hair disheveled and his expression groggy.

"Who—" His voice is rough, but his eyes soften the moment he sees me. "Hi."

"Hi," I reply, the word catching slightly in my throat.

"Everything okay?" His brow furrows as he studies me.

"Yeah," I say quickly, though my voice betrays a hint of vulnerability. "I just…I’d rather not be alone tonight."

His brooding expression shifts into a small, lopsided grin, the kind that makes my pulse quicken despite everything else swirling in my mind. He steps back, opening the door wider.

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