Burn (Breathless #3)(40)

It all sounded so final, and yet she knew they were just words. How could they be anything else? They’d known each other such a short time. They’d only had sex once. And he was talking like this was a done deal. That they were permanent and in a committed relationship long-term.

While she didn’t doubt his commitment, or even her own, there was no way she could look down the road with any authority. There were too many what-ifs.

“Now tell me what you’re thinking,” he prompted.

She smiled. “I’m not sure how you expected me to react, Ash. Did you think I’d change my mind because you’ve had kinky sex with a bunch of women? You’re what, thirty-five? Thirty-six? It’s not realistic to think you hadn’t had affairs.”

“I’m thirty-eight. Almost thirty-nine,” he corrected.

“Okay, well, so you’re thirty-eight. I’ve just told you that I had a relationship—and sex—with a man as recently as a few weeks ago. I can hardly condemn you for having similar relationships.”

“But we won’t be seeing the man you f**ked,” Ash pointed out.

She sighed. “I won’t say it’ll be fun to look at her and mentally compare our performance, or even imagine you and your friend both making love to her. But I’ll deal, Ash. And if she’s as nice as you say she is, then I’ll like her and hopefully we can be friends. I’ll just have to not torture myself by visualizing you in bed with her.”

“It was only one time,” he said gruffly. “Don’t want you thinking about it at all when we get together. Because know this, Josie, no matter who was in the past, you’re my present and my future. And those women have nothing on you.”

A smile curved her lips and she leaned in, pressing her forehead to his. “I’ll do my best not to think about it at all, then.”

“Good. Now, it’s almost lunchtime and we still need to sort out your apartment. Want to go grab a bite to eat and then swing by your apartment so you can get all your art supplies? If you make a list of stuff while we’re there, I’ll have someone go over and get it all packed for you. Don’t want you worrying about anything other than settling into my place.”

“That sounds fine to me,” she said.

He kissed her hungrily. “We’ll see the others in time. But for now, I want you all to myself. I’m tempted to call in to work Monday and spend the week with you.”

Her heart fluttered. It was a tempting visual. An entire week in Ash’s bed. In his arms.

“Unfortunately, with Gabe on his honeymoon and the deals we have working, Jace and I can’t miss.”

“I understand,” she said easily. “I have work to do too.”

“Like the idea of you working in my space,” he murmured. “When I’m at the office, you’ll be here. I like that image. And then you here when I get home. Wearing nothing, Josie. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home each day, and when I get here, I want you naked and waiting. Unless I tell you different, that’s the way I want it.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Chapter fourteen

Jace was waiting for Ash when Ash got into his office Monday morning. Not that Ash had any doubt his friend would be chomping at the bit to pick his brain after Ash’s late-night phone call Saturday night.

Jace was sitting in Ash’s office when Ash walked in. Jace’s worried gaze found him.

“You get everything sorted out?” Jace asked, not even giving Ash time to sit down.

Ash tossed his briefcase onto his desk and then flopped down into his chair, glancing over at his friend whose eyes were dark with concern.

“I’m working on it,” Ash murmured. “Made a few calls on my way into work. Need to get a man on the ass**le, monitor his movements, figure out the best time to strike.”

“Jesus,” Jace muttered. “You’re serious about this.”

Ash’s eyebrow went up. There was a stack of notes on Ash’s desk. Missed calls that needed returning. Documents that needed his signature. But he left them untouched, leaning back in his chair as he calmly surveyed Jace across his desk.

“Have I given you any reason to believe I’m anything but dead serious? He hurt her, Jace. He put bruises on her face. No way in f**k I’m letting it go. She was too scared and shocked to report it. But I’m glad she didn’t because I can make the bastard suffer far more. He would have been out of jail in two seconds, and it’s doubtful anything would have come of it. You know how this kind of shit gets brushed underneath the rug. Especially when you have the money and connections to make it go away.”

“He has all that?” Jace asked.

“Some, yeah. No match for me, though. I’m going to make damn sure he gets the message. Josie is mine and if he ever f**ks with her again, he’s a dead man.”

“How is Josie taking all of this?” Jace asked quietly.

Ash paused. “Okay I think. I didn’t really give her time to process much. When I hit her apartment after bailing on dinner Friday night, I didn’t give her any options. I packed her shit up and told her she was moving in with me. It was an ass**le move. She needed gentle handling, but I knew if I gave her space she might never come to me. So I pressed my advantage when she was overwhelmed and shaken and I moved in quick.”