Jo was about to withdraw from his hard kiss, when Ash changed tactics and softened his lips against hers.
Jo's hands on his chest slackened before they gripped him.
Ash sought to deepen the kiss and gently ran his tongue over her lips, an unspoken plea for her to let him in.
When it seemed like Jo wasn't getting his message, he nipped her lower lip gently.
Jo let out a gasp as bolt of pleasure that shot straight to her core, and Ash pushed his tongue in, groaning with pleasure as his tongue made contact with hers.
Jo ran her fingers through his hair as his hands slid down her body to cup her derriere.
“I'm not letting you go on a date with Pascal.” He said when they came up for air.
Jo looked into his eyes. They were filled with lust and possessiveness, or so she hoped.
“I wasn't going to anyway.” She replied.
“Good,” Ash said with savage satisfaction, a scant moment before he captured
Some minutes later, Ash forced himself to get up from the sofa. Yes, he told himself, he was going to comfort Jo. He knew how hard it was, not to have anyone to comfort you when you needed it.He steeled his shoulders as he walked into the tiny kitchen and found Jo leaning on the tiny counter, with her head in her hands.He took a deep breath and went to her. Worst case scenario, she'd tell him to fuck off.It wouldn't be the first time that would happen, he thought ruefully.When Jo noticed he was around, she turned and stared at him with eyes swollen from crying, “I want to be alone.”“No, you don't.” Ash said, trying to take her in his arms.“Yes, I do. Who do you think you are, telling me what I want and don't want?” Jo asked belligerently.“A friend, I hope.” Ash said sincerely.Jo looked up at him and saw that he meant his statement.A dam she didn't kno
Jo kicked out of them. Her panties received the same treatment as Ash impatiently rugged them away.When her naked body was open to his gaze, he stared at her like a man mad.Jo had always felt conscious about her body; she always thought her ass was too small and her stretch marks were too many among other things, so she sought to cover herself.“Don't!” Ash rasped, holding her hands, “Why would you do that?”“I know my body isn't much to look at.” Jo said bluntly.“Not from where I'm standing.” Ash said, “I could tell you how beautiful your body is, but why do that when I could show you? Actions do speak louder than words.”He released her and removed his jeans. Jo took in the impressive appendage that shot up from between his legs and rested flat against his abdomen.“This is how beautiful I find your body.” He said as he rejoined her on the bed.He fuse
14After what seemed like millions of years later, Jo finally looked up and saw Ash resting on his elbow, looking at her.“What?” She asked groggily.“You've been asleep. Snoring.” Ash replied with a grin.“What? I don't snore.” Jo replied, blushing.“Yes, you do. With your mouth open.” Ash said, his grin widening.Jo could feel herself getting worked up. Snoring with her mouth open? How unsexy was that? Then she realized she hadn't seen Ash sleep. Maybe his was worse.“Yeah, so?” She asked defensively.“It's cute.” Ash said, touching the tip of her nose with his finger, “You're cute.”Jo was pleased before she remembered who she was. She was a gangster for crying out loud. Gangsters didn't do cute!“How many girls have you used that line on?” She asked, trying to change the subject.All traces of a
Jo was out of the bathroom and getting dressed when her phone rang.It was a three-way call from Sia and Andrea.She answered, “Hey, girls!”“Can you hear how happy she is? Green eyes must be good in bed!” Andrea said, and Sia concurred.Jo cleared her throat, “Whoever put that stupid idea in your head?”“There's no use lyin' to us.” Sia admonished, “We called you earlier and he answered. He told us you were bathing.”Jo groaned, she'd been caught. She had half a mind to march into the bathroom, where Ash was bathing and ask him why he did such, but she knew if she did, the sight that would greet her would make her toss her phone away, slam him against the wall and go for a second round.“How good was it?” Sia asked.Jo sighed, “It was great. Best I've had in a long time.”Andrea sniffed, “Just as I knew.”
15“You see, Jo, I'm not from Ganghaven.” Ash admitted, “I'm from Gulden.”Jo's eyes flashed with an 'I told you so' look but she refrained from saying anything when she saw the sad smile that was fixed on his face.“I grew up super comfortable, I didn't lack anything I wanted,” Ash continued, “Had the best teachers, best designers, best cars. I was the envy of the private schools I attended.”Jo scowled, “The best of the girls, too?”After she said that, she winced at how insecure it sounded.Ash looked at her, “Well, yeah,” he shrugged, “But even then, I wasn't interested in meaningless encounters.”That he hadn't been promiscuous or anything soothed Jo.“I went to an Ivy League University and got a bachelor's degree in Business Administration; I was hoping to take over my father's business.” Ash said bitterly.
Ash sighed, “Josiah Greenwood.”“No!” Jo said, wide-eyed.“Yes,” Ash said quietly.“First of all, you look nothing like him,” Jo stressed.“Yes.” Ash nodded, “Thankfully, I took after my mother.”“Secondly, Josiah Greenwood is the most philanthropic soul I've ever known. I mean, Greenwood Charity was one of the few charity organizations that agreed to come down to Ganghaven when I pled with them.” Jo said in disbelief.“Make no mistake,” Ash said, gritting his teeth, “Josiah Greenwood is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He goes around, parading himself as a messiah when in all actuality, he's a vile entity who puts money over people's lives and dignity.”“I believe you.” Jo said.“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” Ash said as he took their plates to the tiny sink, before returning to gently pull Jo up
“And how do you suggest we do that?” Ash asked, “What evidence do we present them with?”“The greatest one of all, we give them the Hatter.” Jo said.Ash sighed, “If only we knew who he was.”“We can make him reveal himself to us,” Jo said.“Yeah?” Ash asked.“Yeah.” Jo said as she stood up and started pacing around the room nude. She muttered to herself as she did that, and a smile broke out on Ash's face.She looked so cute as she moved her slim frame back and forth, a frown of concentration on her face.Suddenly, she stopped right in front of him and did a fist pump, “I got it!”“Got what?” Ash asked lazily.“The plan, idiot.” Jo said reclaiming her position by his side.Ash leaned in and kissed her fiercely.Jo let him for a few minutes before she pushed him
“Of course, not!” Rex said when Jo told him her plan. They'd invited him and Capo over to finalize the plan.“It's just too risky,” He told Jo. Then he turned to Ash and scowled, “And you're encouraging this plan?”Ash tensed, “There's no other way. Unless you want her looking over her shoulder the rest of her life.”Rex gripped Jo's shoulders, “This is madness. I'd take you living and looking over your shoulder over you dying, any day.”“Rex,” Jo said angrily, “I'm not a child, I'm your boss. I've been in a lot of hairy situations and I've come out on top. This one will be no different because I've got you watching my back and I know you won't let anything happen to me.”“You're damn right I'm not.” Rex agreed gruffly.“Well, that's settled then.” Jo said, hugging him.Ash stared at them with such jealousy that Ca