"Are you proud of yourself?"
I nod, tucked into his chest.
We stay like that for minutes that quickly turn into moments and then my brain reminds me once again that I'm cuddling my best-friends brother. I don't have the chance to really focus on that though because then Asher is pulling me into his chest, hookinga finger under my chin and pulling my face closer to his, kissing me soundly on the lips.
He moves over me, hands on either side of my body as he kisses me like he's a starving man, moving from my lips to my jawline to the sensitive spot on my neck and lower.
I breathe harshly, his lips suctioning slightly to my skin and my eyes widen, slapping his shoulder.
"Don't you dare give me a hickey." I hiss on a laugh, and Asher looks up with a grin.
"Why not?"
"If my brother sees it-"
"He won't know it's from me." He tries to reason and I blink.
True but why does that thought ache?
"Let me mark you? Show the whole college your-"
I hold a finger to his lips, shushing him and move my head to the side, hearing something outside my door.
I strain my ears to listen, and Asher rests his head against my chest, listening too.
The unmistakable sound of Leon walking up the stairs, the god awful song he loves to whistle a tell-tale sign that it is in fact my brother.
"Do you want to-" I look back at Asher to see his eyes on me, "stay the night? So, you don't get caught?"
He looks between my eyes before nodding. "Yeah, yeah I will." Asher says, no hesitation in the words.
He pulls me back into his chest, but I untangle for a moment to reach for the lamp and switch it off before curling back into his arms.
• • •
I wake up snuggled into the body beside mine, my head resting against Asher's chest and his hand running up and down my spine.
He must realise I'm awake because he murmurs my name and I look up at him. "I have class soon." He whispers and I furrow my brow.
"What's the time?"
"Eight." He shifts a little under me. "Are you free tomorrow morning?" Asher asks quietly, staring at the roof of my bedroom, his chest naked and I'm trying not to stare.
"Yeah," I say softly. "Why?"
"I have another assignment due, was wondering if you could help? At the library? Say, nine?"
I nod then realise he's not staring at me, so I reply in words. "Yeah, I can help."
We're quiet again and then I start to feel awkward.
"My brother might be up soon." I say into the quiet.
Asher tenses a little and then sits up, reaching for his pants. "I'll go," He dresses swiftly, and stands, stalking for the door. I sit up in bed, wrapping my arms around myself as I watch him leave.
He stop at the door and turns to me, "so I'll see you tomorrow?"
I nod, "see you tomorrow."
