Chapter 23

Ash was in his old apartment in Ganghaven, which he preferred to the plush company quarters in Gulden when there was a knock on his door.

Thinking it was Capo or one of his other men, he took his time to open it.

He was greeted by the glorious sight that was Jo, her mouth in a hard line. His heart beat faster as he considered the idea of having her in his apartment although from the look on her face, she wasn't there to accept his apology.

Well, he would any win no matter how small, he assured himself.

"My apartment isn't much but do you wanna come in?" He asked graciously.

Jo scowled. Seeing him face to face had awakened a hunger which had been steadily growing. How could someone look this handsome, she thought.

Jo knew if she entered his apartment she might lose sight of why she'd come here in the first place and jump him.

"No." Jo said stubbornly.

"You want to create a scene for the punks who live here to see? Suit yourself," Ash shrugged although he was disappointed she didn't want to enter his place.

He wondered if it was because she didn't trust him, or maybe she didn't trust herself. He liked the second option a lot better than the first.

Jo reconsidered, she wasn't going to make a scene, "Fine, lead the way."

"Welcome," Ash said with a wolfish grin as he followed her in, closing the door and leaning against.

Jo saw the heat in his gaze as he stared at her. She felt her cheeks redden because it was plain in his gaze what he wished they were doing at the moment. She couldn't let him get her off-balance, that was probably his plan in the first place.

"Stop staring at me like that," Jo snapped.

A slow smile spread across Ash's lips as he replied, "Like what?"

Jo closed her eyes. Looking at him as he only stared at her was making her feel hot, "Like you want us to have sex."

Ash's smile turned to a full blown grin, "I certainly want to make love with you."

Jo heard the correction he'd made but didn't let her mind ponder on it. Remember what you came to do, she told herself.

"Well, that won't be happening." Jo said firmly.

Ash's eyes challenged that statement, but otherwise he kept mute.

"I've come here to tell you to quit!" She said.

"Quit what?" Ash asked with ersatz innocence.

"The billboards, the pies! All of it!" Jo said, walking up to Ash.

"And if I don't?" He asked with infuriating nonchalance.

"I'll . . ., I'll-" Jo's words were cut off by Ash's mouth on hers. For a moment, Jo was enraged at his audacity. The man wasn't taking her serious.

She was about to protest and opened her lips, only to have Ash slip his tongue in sensually.

Jo forgot about protesting and pushing him away. Instead, she grabbed his shoulders and poured all the anger, wanting and frustration she felt into it.

Ash pressed her tightly against him and she felt his rigid erection. He was aroused by a simple kiss. When he moved her even tighter against him, Jo knew if she didn't stop now, they'd be rolling in the hay, and as good as that sounded, that wasn't why she had cone here.

She put her palms against his chest and pushed. Ash was so lost in the kiss that it took him some time to figure out that Jo wanted out.

He reluctantly released her and she stepped away quickly, wrapping her arms around her.

Ash only hoped she was feeling as bereft as he does.

"Seems to me you really don't want me to stop." Ash confirmed.

"Look, I'm attracted to you, no doubt. But it's not going anywhere." Jo replied.

Ash was tired. Tired of having Jo look at him like he was a monster, tired of having to stay without her. Tired of missing her. He snapped at her, "You took a bullet for me! You told me you loved me!"

Jo looked away, "That was before!"

"Before what?" Ash asked angrily.

"Before you left me to become some CEO in Gulden." Jo snapped back.

Ash sighed, "You know why I had to do that."

"Yes." Jo said bitterly, "To protect me."

"You don't believe me? You think I did that because I wanted to live lavishly?" Ash asked incredulously.

"Yes," Jo said vehemently, "Not that I blame you."

"I see," Ash said sagely, "Now tell me, would you have done the same thing?"

Jo scoffed indignantly, "Of course not. And that's why it hurts so bad, because you don't love me as much as I did."

Ash heard her use of past tense when saying she loved him, and it injected a healthy dose of fear into his system. What if she'd stopped loving him and he was still holding on? He refused to even consider the concept.

He walked up to her and scowled when she took some steps backwards, "Jo. Tell me one thing," he said furiously, "If I love being a rich kid CEO in Gulden, why did I give it up to come back here?"

Jo was so surprised her jaw slacked, "You, you, gave it up?" she stuttered.

"Of course I did. I finally found a worthy replacement. She was an intern. The look of shock on the members of the board's face was something to behold," Ash said as he chuckled with remembrance.

Then his features hardened, "I gave it up. It shouldn't come as a shock to you because I never wanted it in the first place."

Jo was dumbfounded. Ash took advantage of her silence to press home his point, "I know it sounds impossible, but I wasn't even in the least tempted to stay in Gulden."

"Why?" Jo inquired.

"First of all, being the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation is not all it's cracked up to be. It's too stressful. And to think there was a time I thought that life was for me," he shuddered before continuing, "But that's not the main reason. The main reason was you. I quit because I knew you wouldn't desert Ganghaven for Gulden even with all the trappings I could have provided you with. I don't want to stay anywhere that you aren't because I love you."

Jo was silent for a minute as she processed his words. Finally, she looked at him quizzically, "You really love me."

Ash wanted to laugh, "Of course I do. Is it just sinking in now?"

Jo nodded, "So you left Gulden to become a gangster once again?"

"No," Ash shook his head, "About that. I was actually meaning to come over to your house with a proposal."

Jo got a confused look as she wrinkled her nose, "A marriage proposal?"

Ash replied, "I would have gotten to that, but no. I meant like a business proposal."

Jo nodded, "Let's hear it."

Ash got into business mode and outlined his plan for them to set up a school and a charity organization that'd be run by both their gangs.

Jo let him finish his pitch, and after that she walked up to him, "I'm sorry for doubting you, Ash."

"I'm sorry for running off on you too." Ash said as he kissed her. This time, Jo didn't protest.

He carried her over to the bed and laid her down, "Gosh! How I've missed this!" He said as he helped her take off her clothes.

"How I've missed this too." Jo said as she returned the favor. Soon, they were both naked and Ash didn't waste any time getting into her.

They both groaned as multitude of sensations bombarded them.

Ash began to stroke in and out slowly, "I love you."

"I love you too," Jo replied clenching her legs tight around him.

Ash moved faster, and after many more strokes, Jo climaxed screaming his name.

Seeing her come undone for him, believing that he'd finally got her back pushed him off the edge and he groaned out Jo's name as he came.

Minutes later, when they'd both recovered from their mind-altering orgasms, Jo turned to Ash, "You still haven't met my mother."

"We'll go when I regain my strength," Ash said, "Whenever that is."

Jo laughed before she sobered up, "Ash. I'm no longer the leader of the Sky Hawks."

Ash narrowed his eyes, "Babe, why?"

"I want to get a college degree." Jo announced, "You're the first person I've told."

Ash leaned over and cradled her face in his hands, "That's great news. I hope you're not doing this for me."

Jo looked at him indignantly, "Of course not! I'm doing this for me. I've always wanted to get a degree."

"Okay," Ash said placatingly, "Have you decided the course?"

Jo shook her head.

Ash kissed her forehead, "Take your time, there's no rush."

Jo smiled, "So, are we going to get married?"

Ash smiled, "Only if you want us to. I'm perfectly happy just being like this with you because that's what counts."

Jo kissed him, "Yes. Yes! Let's give the people of Ganghaven a wedding." Those were not popular in Ganghaven.

"Sure. Sure," Ash said as he captured her lips in a heated kiss that drove all else away from her mind. As Jo moved against him, she thought her life was looking up.