After Us (Next Generation Book 6)

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After Us (Next Generation Book 6) Page 9

by J. M. Walker


  “Tell me you don’t feel how hard I am right now, Piper.” His mouth brushed along the length of my neck. “Tell me you can’t feel every vein, every ridge, every fucking pulse. My heart beats for you, baby, and I know you can feel that beat in my cock.”

  An unexpected release hit me. I gasped, arching against him, my thighs shaking as the orgasm rippled through me.

  Under normal circumstances, I was sure that I would be embarrassed over the fast release, but the growl that left from somewhere deep inside Jaron shoved the embarrassment away.

  Jaron slipped out from beside me and turned me onto my stomach, all the while keeping his body connected with mine. He fisted my hair, sinking his teeth into my shoulder.

  Our fingers joined, linking together as we spoke a silent confession.

  “Your body knows that it was made for me, Piper.” He kissed my temple. “Now I just have to remind the rest of you.”

  ***

  After we finally fell asleep with Jaron still inside me, I woke a few hours later alone on the couch. Grabbing my clothes, I trudged to my bedroom but not before I heard Jaron in Brynlee’s room. I peeked through the door that was slightly ajar, finding him sitting in the corner in the rocking chair with her on his lap. He was reading her a story. My heart warmed at the sight before me. Not wanting to interrupt their little moment, I went to the bathroom.

  Once I was done taking a quick shower, I got dressed. Deciding on something comfortable, I ended up choosing gray leggings and a dark green long tank top that hid some of the baby weight I still carried around the middle.

  My body still burned over the words Jaron had said a few hours ago. He still wanted me. He would always want me. A part of me knew that I had nothing to worry about when it came to his attraction to me, but it didn’t mean that I wasn’t concerned any less. I had been skinny before having Brynlee. Maybe too skinny at times. It wasn’t like I never ate. My metabolism hadn’t caught up with me yet clearly.

  Throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I gave myself a once-over in the full-length mirror sitting in the corner of the room. I had started doing home workouts while Brynn napped, and I did some short runs while pushing her in the stroller. But it still didn’t stop me from feeling insecure about my curves.

  Although Jaron looked at me like he wanted to devour me whole, I was still nervous to be naked around him.

  Leaving my room and heading to the kitchen, I was swiping lip gloss along my lips when I was stopped short by Jaron feeding Brynn.

  His head popped up, his gaze flicking my way. They roamed down the length of me, the deep gray orbs, darkening even more.

  My heart fluttered. I looked down at myself. Was I not presentable? When I met his stare again, I lifted my chin defiantly.

  He smirked, gave me a wink, and went back to feeding our daughter.

  I huffed, heading into the kitchen to make some coffee.

  “Coffee’s made,” he called out, his voice rough.

  “Oh.” The heavenly aroma wafted into my nose. “Thank you.” I made myself a coffee and joined him at the table. He was feeding Brynn breakfast, dishing a spoonful of the grape jelly baby food that even I loved tasting from time to time, into her mouth.

  She smiled at me, her face a mess while she played with what was in her mouth and slapped her hands against the tray of the highchair.

  I kissed her head before sitting at the chair across from her.

  “I made her a bottle,” Jaron said, still not looking at me. “Did you know that shit is fucking disgusting?”

  “You tasted it?” I asked, my eyes widening.

  He looked my way then. “I did. I wanted to know what I was putting in my baby girl’s belly. We need better food for her.”

  “I…I really have no idea what to say.”

  “Have you tried it?”

  “I have. Breast milk tastes better,” I told him, still finding it hard to believe that he actually tasted her formula.

  He placed the dish on the table in front of him. “How long did you breast feed her for?”

  “For the first three months but I dried up pretty quickly. I did what I could, but she wasn’t getting the nutrients she needed, so I put her on formula. There is better tasting stuff out there, but I haven’t been able to find it. There’s so many different kinds, it’s unreal.” Shame weighed heavily on my shoulders that I couldn’t give her the best of the best.

  “Really?” His eyes burned into me, setting my heart a flutter.

  “I had it the once when someone gave it to me as part of a present for my baby shower but ever since, I haven’t been able to restock because the stores around here don’t carry it,” I explained. “People have offered to go to another city to try and find it, but the company changed the name, and I can’t seem to locate it anywhere.”

  “We’ll find it. If I have to go to another damn country, I’ll get it for Brynlee. I’ll order it online if I have to and try every single type of formula until we find the right one. Alright?”

  I nodded quickly, a flush of heat washing over my skin at how he had claimed her as his and so quickly.

  “Good girl.”

  Those two words made my body burn even more.

  Clearing my throat, I picked my mug up off the table and headed back into the kitchen where I could drink my coffee in peace. Although Jaron never followed me, my thoughts sure did.

  Passion. Lust. Fear.

  I was scared of the feelings I had for him because I knew that I would rather he fuck me than talk about our problems. It wasn’t normal. None of this was.

  A warm body came up behind me. Jaron reached around me, placing his mug on the counter beside mine. He didn’t touch me, but he was standing so close, he might as well have. My skin tingled, my body vibrating with want. With need.

  “Cyrus and Sammy are coming over for supper on Friday,” Jaron said, his voice taking on that delicious rasp whenever he was on the verge of losing control.

  My throat went dry. All I could do was nod.

  With a shaky hand, I poured some more coffee into my mug. “What was your nightmare about last night?” That was a safe topic at least and it would get my mind off of all the things I wanted him to do to me.

  “Shit I had to do to survive, baby.” His voice took on a low dangerous timbre. He trailed his finger down my arm, a path of goosebumps following it.

  “But you did it.”

  “I did what?”

  I took a chance and turned in his arms, staring up at him. “You survived.”

  His jaw ticked. It did that whenever he was pissed or thinking about something serious.

  I reached up, running my fingers along the muscle, the beating of it in tune with my heart.

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  “I have to get Brynn cleaned up,” he murmured, closing the final space between us. “But I want you to remember.”

  I let out a soft sigh at feeling him pressed up against me. “I remember.”

  “Do you?” He stared down at me.

  I looked away, fidgeting under his scrutiny.

  “No.” He gripped my jaw in a rough move, forcing me to meet his dark eyes. “Tell me that you remember that we belong together. That I’m not going anywhere. That you need me and that I need you. Tell me, Piper.”

  “I remember,” I gritted out. “I also remember your dirty and filthy words. Your delicious way that you like to use me to make you feel better. Your need to dominate—”

  Brynn took that moment to start crying. She usually fussed right after eating. I was surprised she waited this long to interrupt us.

  I shoved out of Jaron’s grip and stepped around him. No matter what happened or how much we fought, he was my safe place. He pissed me off, turned me on, and treated me like I was the only thing that mattered.

  “Cyrus and Sammy used to come over for supper once a month,” I told him, grabbing a cloth to clean up Brynn. “We would talk about you and they would fill me in on everything they could. Sammy also told me th
at he tried convincing you to let me come and see you. But you never agreed.”

  “I didn’t want those bastards seeing you. It’s bad enough I have to deal with friends who fucked you and probably wish they were still fucking you.”

  I stared up at him, scanning his face. “You can’t seriously be jealous. I gave birth to your kid, Jaron.” I could feel the rage burning through me and I waited for it to blow, but luckily for us both, his next words stopped that from happening.

  “No, I’m not jealous.” Jaron leaned down until he was eye level with me. “You want to know why? Because you gave birth to my baby. I’m the only man you’ve let fuck you without a condom and I went to Paris for you.”

  “I never asked you to do that.” He couldn’t possibly be blaming me for something I never suggested.

  “I know that,” he said, his voice rough. “Fuck, Piper.” He pulled away from me and leaned against the wall opposite me. “Listen, I went to Paris because I needed to know that what I felt for you wasn’t just one-sided.”

  “Really?”

  “I did. When I told Cyrus and Sammy why we were going to Paris, they jumped on the idea. I only told them that I was going after you and they never asked any more questions. Even Sammy, and he hates the idea of a relationship. Or he did at the time anyway.” Jaron ran a hand through his hair, blowing out a huff. “What I’m saying is that,” he took a step toward me, “it’s you and me against the world, baby. I knew this would be hard, but I didn’t realize just how hard.” And that was the most honest thing he had said since he had been home.

  “Do you think we’d still be here if you never went to Paris?”

  He tilted his head, thinking a moment. “I’m not sure,” he finally said. “I’d like to say that if it was meant to be, which I know it was, then we would be here whether I went to Paris or not but maybe we’d have a harder time of it. Or you would be with someone else and so would I. But I’d like to take you back to Paris one day.”

  “Since it started it all,” I finished for him.

  “Exactly.” He closed the distance between us and placed a soft peck on my mouth. “It started everything.”

  I cupped the back of his neck when he went to pull away and tugged him down harder, needing to feel him against me.

  “Listen, I’ll go to the grocery store and grab some new formula,” Jaron murmured against my lips. “Anything else you need? What did you want for supper?”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if we could go out for dinner, but I hadn’t been out in so long, just the idea of being around people, sent a nervous flutter racing through me. Maybe over time that could happen.

  “What is it?” he asked, tilting his head.

  “I just…I want to go on that date.” My face burned at my confession.

  He gave me a small smile.

  Much to my surprise, he wrapped his arms around me, pushing his face into the crook of my neck like he always did.

  “I want to go on that date too, baby,” he whispered.

  My heart stuttered. Returning the embrace, I pulled him tighter. “You do?”

  “Yes.” His mouth found the side of my throat, placing a soft peck there.

  I sighed, wishing we could stay like this forever. Just him, Brynn, and I but I knew we would have to face reality sooner than later.

  Jaron leaned back, cupping my face and placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

  My eyes fluttered closed.

  “We’ll get through this.” His voice was soft. “I promise we will.”

  I believed him. I had to. We had to take this one day at a time. While we needed to talk some more, for the moment, I just wanted to give Brynn a bath and snuggle with her while watching some mindless show on TV for the day.

  While I got Brynn ready for her bath, I made it a mission to find out everything I could about Jaron. What his hobbies were. Did he have a job? His mom had told me that he worked for his Aunt Zillah at her auto repair shop but that was all I knew. His hands weren’t stained with grease from a car. Not like Shade’s hands.

  “Hey, baby girl. Are you ready for a bath?” I lifted Brynn out of her highchair, getting a babble of baby chatter. I laughed at whatever it was she was trying to tell me.

  Before I could bring Brynn to the bathroom, Jaron kissed my cheek and placed a peck on her head.

  He kissed me one last time before leaving the house.

  My stomach fluttered.

  Placing Brynn back in her highchair, my feet carried me to the door before I could stop myself. Groceries could wait. I needed him. This was more important.

  “Jaron,” I called out before he could get in the car.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, closing the driver’s side door.

  I ran up to him and threw myself around his middle, hoping for the moment that it was enough.

  “Piper.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, hugging me against him.

  “I never told you to drive safe.” I grabbed the collar of his hoodie and pulled him down to meet my mouth. “And I also wanted to tell you that you don’t have to go now. We can go together in a few days.”

  Jaron hugged me tighter, every hard line of his body pushing up against me.

  I leaned back, cupping his cheek.

  “I should go. I won’t be too long.”

  I nodded but we stood there like that for a few minutes, just staring at each other.

  “The sooner I go, the sooner I can get back to you, baby,” he whispered.

  My heart stuttered. I kissed him one last time before pulling away and running back to the house.

  When I reached the front door, I looked back at him.

  Jaron stood there, staring at me. He lifted his hand, giving me a small wave.

  I blew him a kiss and headed back into the house. With my back to the door, I let out a slow breath, a small smile creeping on my face.

  ***

  (Jaron)

  When Piper left the house and ran toward me and into my arms, that single moment would forever be burned in my memory. It had only been a couple of days since I gotten out of jail. Things weren’t all hunky-fucking-dory right away, but this was a start.

  When I originally stepped out onto the porch, I stared out at her car and my bike sitting in the driveway. Sammy or Cyrus must have dropped off my bike. I didn’t even notice. Being too wrapped up in Piper and reconnecting with her, I had no idea they had even shown up.

  My eyes scanned the street. The house was in a quieter part of town. Neighbors were few and far between. Even though Piper’s home was small, both the front and backyard were huge. My eyes flicked to a light on the wall beside the door. I remembered seeing a security panel on the wall as soon as you stepped into the house. Knowing that Piper had protection when I wasn’t around, set some of the anxiety rushing through me at ease. Her father wouldn’t have it any other way and made sure to keep his girls safe. My girls safe. I made a mental note to thank her parents for taking care of them when I couldn’t.

  With my hand still on the screen door, I hesitated.

  Before I could stop myself, I went back into the house in search of Piper.

  She was in the living room, placing Brynn in her playpen. When she rose to her full height, she let out a soft sigh.

  I rushed to her, letting my feet guide me to the person I needed most.

  Her head whipped around. “Jaron, I thought you left.”

  Instead of answering her, I crashed into her and enveloped myself around her.

  Her breath hitched as she latched on to me.

  I didn’t know what to say but I hoped, no, I prayed she could hear my words through my touch alone. I realized then I needed to spend as much time with her as I could. I couldn’t just walk away. Even if it was just to get groceries. I’d figure that out later.

  “Jaron.” Her voice was muffled by my shirt.

  I squeezed her, wrapping my hand in her hair. “I’m sorry,” was all I said, fisting her hair with both hands and crushing my mou
th to hers.

  Let me in, baby.

  She opened to me, flicking her tongue along mine.

  A rough growl left me as I deepened the kiss.

  Piper sighed, tilting her head back.

  Breaking the kiss, I leaned my forehead against hers.

  “What was that for?” she asked, her voice husky.

  “It was an apology.” I released her and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the couch. While Brynn played, I wanted to hold Piper.

  “I thought you were going to the grocery store,” she said softly, letting me tug her onto my lap.

  “I changed my mind.” I pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped it around her. “I can text Cyrus and Sammy and get them to pick stuff up if needed.”

  “Okay.” Piper rested her head against my shoulder. “I think I know why we’re having issues.”

  “Oh?”

  She lifted her head. “We haven’t had much time alone. This is new for both of us. I’ve never been in a serious relationship and neither have you. So we’re bound to have some bumps along the way.”

  I kissed her jaw. “We got this, and I got you, Piper,” I murmured, placing a soft peck on the top of her head. “I always got you.”

  “I know and I have you as well, Jaron.” She snuggled against me. “But it’s only been not even three full days yet. We don’t have to fall into a routine right away.”

  “True but I’m not a patient person.”

  She sat up, a gasp leaving her. “No. I never would have guessed that.”

  “Careful.” I jabbed a finger into her side, earning me a giggle. “You’re not patient either.”

  Her laugh deepened. “Let’s just wait a little bit and we can get groceries later.”

  I pinched her chin and covered her mouth with mine.

  She moaned, wrapping herself around me.

  I grinned against her lips, giving the bottom one a gentle bite.

  While Brynlee played in her playpen, talking and babbling to herself, Piper and I cuddled on the couch. It was perfect if you asked me, even if we didn’t talk about a whole lot. Just being together was enough.

 

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