Glazed with passion, her eyes closed as a deep moan escaped her lips. If she could, she would never let him stop. The feel of his lips pressed against hers in a soft, lingering kiss made her pulse race with abandon. Ashton scraped his teeth gently against her lower lip before closing on it like it was a delicious treat. Hearing Hayley’s pleasure-filled moans, he quickly soothed the sting with his tongue. She grabbed his head and kissed him back with equal abandon.
Ashton groaned with pleasure at her response to him. It didn’t feel like they had ever separated. It felt as if they had resumed where they had left off the last time.
The sound of the doorbell alerted them, and Ashton released her mouth reluctantly. “Who has a death wish now?” he growled with frustration.
“It should be our dinner, Ashton. I asked them to send it here.”
“I was already enjoying my dinner. Who needs food?” he grumbled, walking over towards the door. Hayley lay back, a small smile of satisfaction tugging at her lips. This was what she had been dreaming of and it was finally happening. She wouldn’t let him go now. She would surely get her happily ever after with Ashton this time.
After a minute, the main door closed, and Hayley got up to grab some dinner. “Who decided the menu? The food looks so bland!” whined Ashton, while she rolled her eyes at him.
“The doctor has made a diet chart and you better adhere to it if you want to get back on your feet.”
“I’m already on my feet. I don’t need a diet chart!”
“Eat Ashton or I’m going back to New York.” That was enough to quieten him and he ate the bland food without complaining at all. Hayley watched him discreetly, feeling bad for threatening him this way. It seemed he didn’t want her to go.
“I know you can’t leave without me. You love me!” he grumbled after a while.
“You’re right, and so do you. But I’m worried. I don’t want everyone to gossip about our living together. I don’t know how to handle that.” He looked deep in thought and then smiled.
“I don’t care about gossip, but if anyone asks me directly, I can tell them we love one another and we’re in a serious relationship.” Hayley smiled, loving his answer.
“Are we?”
“Yes, I’ve always considered you as my girlfriend. It was because of Gambino’s threat that I couldn’t pursue you openly.” Hayley now clearly understood the situation and nodded.
“I understand now, Ashton. I used to feel so frustrated with you for not treating me right. I thought you were involved with Madison, but now I know the truth. But why didn’t you seek help from the cops if Gambino was threatening you?” she asked, just as they finished dinner. Ashton groaned inwardly, knowing he couldn’t avoid answering her for long. Should he tell her?
“My dad, Steven Pierce, was in Gambino’s custody for the last fifteen years, Hayley. I didn’t have any information about him. I was scared to go to the cops in case Gambino killed him.” Hayley’s jaws dropped with horror as she tried hard to digest this fresh piece of news.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ashton. I didn’t know about this. Why did he capture your dad?” she asked, still looming clueless.
“He used to work for Gambino and borrowed some money from him after my mom died. Gambino sent his men to capture him when I was just thirteen. For years, I had no news of him. I couldn’t tell anyone for fear of being abandoned. After all, no one wanted to be associated with a mafia Don’s employee. Then they summoned me when I turned twenty and for the next few years, I had to repay three times the debt amount with interest if I wanted some news of my dad.”
Hayley listened with her mouth hanging open. She had no idea what Ashton was going through since the age of thirteen. “Then? Could you repay the debt? Did Gambino release your dad?” Ashton gave her a sad smile and slowly shook his head.
“I paid him back with interest, yet he refused to update me about my dad. He even refused to free him since Dad knew all his dark secrets.”
“Gambino was a monster. I saw the condition of the hostages. So, did the Navy SEALS rescue your dad?” asked Hayley curiously, a sense of dread now spreading all over her heart.
“Yes, they did. I came over to Brooklyn Medical Center, where all the hostages were being treated. I found my dad in critical condition, battling with life. Gambino had shot him brutally, not once but thrice before his own death. My dad had lost hope and had given Gambino away to DeLuca, who attacked him.”
“Oh, so it was your dad who gave him away!”
“Yes. For two days, we interacted just like we used to. He thanked me for repaying the debt so diligently and not seeking police help. Gambino was happy with me and didn’t torture my dad at all. I was so happy that finally, things were looking good, but my dad’s health deteriorated. I got the best treatment possible for him, shifted him to Columbia Hospital, and spent all my money on his treatment, but he suffered a stroke in the OT. He died on the spot without giving me a chance to reconnect with him properly.” Tears pricked at his eyes but he blinked them away. Hayley got up and hugged him to her body, letting him take it all out.
Ashton couldn’t help the tears that poured out of his eyes like a waterfall. His arms went around her delicate body and he sought comfort in her warmth. It felt as if he was home at last, as if he belonged there forever.
“You’ve done everything you could, Ashton. I’m sure he felt proud to have a son like you. You saved him from the torture that the other hostages had to endure. That means a lot!” She gently stroked his hair, silently comforting him, letting the tears wash away the pain. Everything now fell into place. She understood what he went through. Why he didn’t contact anyone? Why he disappeared so suddenly? Why he looked so broken?
After a while, Ashton released her, feeling a lot lighter than ever before. This was exactly what he needed to get a grip on himself.
“Yes, you’re right. At least he didn’t die from Gambino’s torture. I couldn’t forgive myself if that happened.”
“Yes. Bullet wounds are mostly fatal. You couldn’t do anything about that. At least you could meet him, talk to him in his last few days. At least you know he was at peace with everything when he left you for his heavenly abode.”
Ashton smiled and nodded with gratitude. He finally found the closure he needed to face his dad’s demise. “Let’s sleep, Hayley. I have a lot of pending work to take care of tomorrow.”
“You need to take your medicines first, Ashton. And haven’t you heard the doctor? You need to rest for a week.”
“Please, I’m fine now. I’ll go crazy lying in bed all day. I could consider only if you stay in bed with me for a week.” His eyes twinkled with amusement on seeing the horrified expression on her face.
“Simon Baylor will go crazy if we do that. He might be planning to appoint you as CEO tomorrow morning itself.”
Ashton groaned and walked over to the bedroom, with Hayley following him with the prescription and the packet of medicines. As he lay waiting for her to administer them, he chuckled, knowing this was how his married life would look like. He loved the idea immensely. Soon he would have to plan a unique way to propose to the love of his life. But before that, he had to complete the mountain load of work that had piled up in his absence.
“Sleep now or we both will faint in front of everyone.”
Ashton chuckled, pulling her closer. “Do you know how the gossip will go? They’ll think that we made love all night and exhausted each other.” Hayley gasped with horror and pushed him away.
“No way. Good night, Ashton.” She turned her back to sleep, but he wasn’t allowing her.
“What’s the hurry to sleep? I’m not sleepy. Are you? What do you say? Should we give them something to gossip about?” he whispered in her ear, grazing his lips against her neck.
“Not at all. Regain your strength first.”
“I’m quite strong. Do you want to test me? I could pump into you all night,” he said, trailing his tongue along her nape.
“No, I want you to get well first,” she said, her cheeks coloring profusely at his dirty talk.
“Good night, babe! After a week, you won’t be able to stop me.”