Page 78 of The Backup

“Let’s get back to studying for Econ,” he says loudly, glancing at me with a barely concealed grin.

I glare at him, but the effect is ruined by the way my legs are still trembling. “You’re insane,” I mutter, grabbing the book and shoving it back onto the shelf.

“Better get back to studying,” he counters, his smirk widening as he takes my hand and leads me back toward the corner table.

“So…econ. What do you think about the Gold standard? Do you think it really caused all the wars of 1914?”

“It wasn’t the cause

He smirks. “Every time I try to out-smart you, you’re one step ahead of me.”

“Does that intimidate you, that I’m smart?”

He laughs. “Honestly…yeah, I admit it. I think you’re smarter than me.”

“It’s not a competition.”

His hand falls on me. “Promise me something, Sloane.”

“Yeah?”

“Just that you’ll never, ever dumb yourself down for me. I like you exactly the way you are.”

My breath catches as he sits down in the chair I was just occupying, his hands still holding mine as he guides me closer.

“Come here,” he murmurs, his tone a mix of command and invitation.

I hesitate for half a second, my heart pounding, before I let him pull me into his lap.

The second I’m straddling him, his hands move to my hips, steadying me as I settle against him. My skirt rides up slightly, and I’m hyperaware of every inch of him beneath me—solid, warm, and completely focused on me.

“This okay?” he asks, his voice softer now.

I nod, swallowing hard as my hands rest against his chest. “Yeah.”

“Good,” he says, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before his lips capture mine.

The kiss is slow at first, deliberate and teasing, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. His grip on my hips tightens, pulling me closer as the tension between us snaps, giving way to something more urgent, more consuming.

My fingers curl into the fabric of his tank top, and I can feel the way his muscles shift beneath my hands as his lips move against mine. He kisses me like he’s been waiting for this moment forever, like he’s trying to make up for every second we’ve spent apart.

A soft sound escapes me, and his hands slide up my sides, sending heat pooling low in my belly. He pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine as he catches his breath.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he murmurs, his voice rough and unguarded.

His words send a fresh wave of warmth through me, and I tilt my head, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“I’ve missed you too,” I admit quietly, the truth slipping out before I can stop it.

His eyes darken, and I can see the flicker of something deeper in them—something that scares me as much as it thrills me. But before I can get lost in it, his lips are on mine again, silencing every doubt, every question, and leaving nothing but him.

His hands move to my waist, sliding beneath my sweater and grazing the bare skin of my hips. The contrast of his calloused fingers against my softness sends a shiver rippling through me, and I can’t hold back the quiet gasp that escapes my lips.

“Asher…” I whisper, not entirely sure if it’s a plea or a warning.

He leans back slightly, his smirk returning as his thumbs draw slow circles against my skin. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.

My cheeks flush, and I can’t stop the soft laugh that bubbles up. “You saw me two days ago.”

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