Page 97 of The Backup

“Okay?”

“Okay,” she repeats, stepping closer until our bodies are almost touching again. “But just so you know…I’m still a little scared.”

“Good,” I say, grinning as I tilt her chin up. “So am I. It’s natural—because neither of us knows what the future will hold. But I think we’ll be fine.”

And then I kiss her again, slow and deliberate this time, like I have all the time in the world.

Her laugh is soft and breathless as she steps back, her hands smoothing the front of her pencil skirt. “You know, I think you’ve got a thing for librarians, Knox.”

I grin, leaning back against the door. “Can you blame me? Especially when they look like you.”

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away. Instead, she tilts her head, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “So, did you figure out the costume was for you?”

“Oh, I knew the second you walked into that party,” I say, stepping closer until there’s barely any space between us. “The skirt, the glasses, the way you looked at me like you wanted to ruin me? Yeah, it screamedAsher Knox fantasy fulfillment.”

She lets out a soft laugh, biting her lip. “Well, then I guess it worked.”

“Keep it on tonight,” I murmur, my voice dipping lower.

Her eyes widen slightly, but then she laughs again, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love it,” I shoot back, my smirk growing.

She pats the couch, arching an eyebrow. “Sit. If I’m keeping this on, we’re doing this my way.”

My heart thuds hard in my chest, a grin spreading across my face as I follow her lead. I sink onto the couch, sprawling outslightly as I look up at her. “You love it when you get to order me around, don’t you?”

Her lips curve into a mischievous smile as she straddles my lap, her hands bracing on my shoulders. “You’re not wrong.”

I let my hands settle on her hips, pulling her just a little closer. “So, what’s next, Miss Librarian?”

She leans in, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispers, “Shh. No talking. You’re here to study, remember?”

The low, teasing tone of her voice sends a shiver down my spine, and I can’t help but laugh softly. “Right. I’ve been having trouble paying attention in class.”

“Well then,” she says, sliding a hand down my stomach, her touch feather-light but enough to make my muscles tense. Her fingers brush against me over my jeans, and my breath hitches as heat pools low in my stomach. “Guess I’d better offer you some extra motivation.”

The look in her eyes—wicked and knowing—has me ready to lose it on the spot. I grip the edge of the couch, watching as she unzips me, her hands moving with an infuriating mix of confidence and leisure. When she unzips me and pulls me out of my jeans without even taking them off, I’m already rock hard, and the way her lips part slightly, her eyes flicking up to meet mine, makes me throb in her hand.

The first touch of her mouth has me sucking in a sharp breath, the heat of her tongue making my entire body tense. She takes me slowly, her hand and mouth working together in a rhythm that’s both torturous and perfect.

Jesus. How is she so fucking perfect?

I can’t take my eyes off her, the way her cheeks hollow slightly as she moves, the faint purr of satisfaction vibrating against me. She looks completely focused, utterly in control, and the sight of her like this—on her knees for me, her librariancostume still perfectly in place—has me gripping the cushion so hard my knuckles ache.

This isn’t just sexy. It’s insane.

The way she’s getting into it, the soft sounds she makes, the way her nails drag lightly against my thigh—it’s all too much. My breathing is uneven, my heart hammering in my chest, and I swear my vision is starting to blur.

“Fuck,” I groan, my head tipping back as a wave of pleasure rushes through me. My hands move to her hair instinctively, threading through the soft strands, and she doesn’t stop, doesn’t slow. “Sloane.”

I glance down again, and the sight of her—on her knees between my legs, her lips stretched around me, her hand wrapped firmly around my length, and her eyes flicking up to meet mine with a look that’s equal parts sweet and sinful—is enough to push me to the brink. My fingers dig into the couch cushion beside me, holding on for dear life as my chest heaves.

She knows exactly what she’s doing, and she’s enjoying every second of it. The way her tongue teases the sensitive spot just beneath the head, the soft hum in her throat, the way her free hand rests on my thigh, her thumb making lazy circles that are somehow maddeningly distracting—it’s a symphony of sensation.

For a moment, she pulls her mouth off of me with a quiet, teasing pop. Her lips are flushed, and there’s a smug little glint in her eyes that makes me want to laugh and groan at the same time.

“You know,” she starts, her voice playful but almost shy, “I never liked doing this until you.”

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