Page 79 of The Backup

“Too long,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Before I can respond, his hands tighten on my hips, lifting me effortlessly as he stands. My breath hitches as he carries me the short distance to the desk, setting me down with a deliberate slowness that makes my heart race.

The cool surface beneath me contrasts sharply with the heat radiating from him, and I’m hyperaware of how exposed I am, my skirt riding high as he steps between my legs.

He rests his hands on my knees, his gaze locking onto mine as his fingers trail upward, spreading my legs with a deliberate, unhurried motion.

My pulse pounds in my ears, my breath catching as he kneels before me, his smirk softening into something more reverent.

“You’re nervous,” he says, his voice quieter now, almost teasing.

“A little,” I admit, my cheeks flaming as his hands slide higher, his touch sending sparks racing across my skin.

“Good,” he murmurs, leaning forward just enough for his breath to ghost over my thigh. “I like knowing I can do that to you.”

“Asher, what if someone comes?” I blurt out, my voice a little too loud for the hushed sanctity of the library.

He pauses, his lips hovering just above my skin, and tilts his head to look up at me. The glint in his eyes is unmistakable—equal parts amusement and challenge.

“No one studies at this hour,” he says smoothly, his hands still tracing lazy patterns on my thighs. “And if they do? Guess they’re getting a free show.”

My jaw drops. “Are you serious?”

He shrugs, his smirk deepening. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had an audience.”

I swat at his shoulder, mortified.

He takes my wrist gently and presses a soft kiss to my palm, his playful expression softening for a moment. “Relax, Sloane. No one’s coming. Just me and you. That’s it.”

His reassurance does little to calm the frantic fluttering in my chest, but the way his hands slide higher, anchoring me in place, makes it hard to remember why I was worried in the first place.

My vision blurs, the world narrowing to just him and the heat pooling low in my belly. I lean back on the table, my palms pressing against the cool surface for balance as Asher sinks his mouth between my legs.

A soft gasp escapes me, my body tensing at the first brush of his lips. He moves deliberately, his hands gripping my thighs to hold me in place, his thumbs tracing small, maddening circles against my skin.

“Asher,” I whisper, my voice trembling, but I don’t even know what I’m asking for.

He glances up, his eyes dark and full of something I can’t quite name, before dipping back down, his tongue finding a rhythm that steals the air from my lungs.

The contrast between his mouth—hot, soft, unrelenting—and the cool library air against my skin sends shivers rippling through me. My fingers curl against the edge of the table, gripping tight as waves of sensation roll through me, sharp and insistent.

“You taste incredible,” he murmurs, his voice rough and muffled against me. The words send a fresh jolt of heat through me, and I arch my back, unable to keep still under his touch.

Every nerve in my body feels like it’s on fire, the tension building with every slow, deliberate movement. He’s meticulous, teasing me with just enough pressure to keep me on edge, never letting me fall completely.

“Asher,” I say again, this time more desperate, my hips shifting against his hold.

He chuckles softly, the sound vibrating against me in a way that makes me tremble. “Patience,” he murmurs, his lips curving into a smirk I can feel more than see.

I bury my face in my arm, biting back a moan as his hands slide higher, his thumbs pressing into my hips to keep me steady. The tension inside me coils tighter, threatening to snap, and I know I’m seconds away from losing control completely.

The thought that someone could walk in at any moment flickers through my mind, but it only adds to the rush, the intoxicating mix of fear and desire making every touch, every sound, every movement feel sharper, more electric.

“Asher, please,” I whisper, my voice breaking as the dam finally starts to crack.

His grip tightens, his mouth working me over with a single-minded focus that sends me careening over the edge. The worldblurs, my body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me, leaving me breathless and completely undone.

“Please, what?” He says, looking up, and licking his lips.

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