by J. M. Walker
“Fuck.” He cupped my nape, leaning his forehead against mine. “I know you haven’t slept with them. I trust you, baby. And I trust them. I wouldn’t be with you…I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. And I wouldn’t have asked them to help you and watch out for you, if I thought something could happen.”
“You’ll get to know Brynn and she’ll get to know you, but I talked about you constantly. You have to know that I did. Please believe me. And this past week with you has been amazing. It’s a start, Jaron.”
“I know.” He cupped my face, kissing my forehead. “I have to tell you something. I don’t know what it means. People are trying to cause shit and I don’t like it. It’s pissing me off.”
“What’s going on?”
“I ran into this woman at the grocery store. It was harmless but she’s seen you around.”
“Oh…” I thought back to my times at the grocery store. I never noticed anything out of the ordinary, but it didn’t mean anything when I was stuck in my own head for the most part. “What do you think she wanted?”
“I’m not sure.” Jaron ran a hand through his hair. “But I don’t give a shit about her or the mayor or any of them. Working through us, is the most important thing right now.”
My heart jumped to my throat. “I agree.”
He titled his head, his eyes, eyes that I had fallen in love with so long ago, searched my face. “You better.”
I laughed lightly. “I did think this would be easier though. No one warned me that it could be hard.”
Tanned, rough, calloused hands covered mine. Warm lips kissed my forehead. “I will make this right. Us. Our family. Everything you need, I will provide for you. I’m here. I am always here. Forever.”
“You better,” I whispered, repeating his words.
Jaron smirked, ran his hand to the back of my head and crushed his mouth to mine.
Snaking my arms around his shoulders, I pulled him closer and held on. So many things still needed to be said. So many truths needed to be revealed. But for the moment, instead, I just held on and breathed him in.
The minty taste mixed on his tongue.
The scent of his cologne that mixed with the scent of him. Everything that made up him.
“Stop thinking,” he murmured, his voice low. He held my hand between us, leaning his forehead against mine.
“I was just thinking how good you taste and smell.” I tilted my head back, grazing my fingers through his beard. “That’s all.”
“Good. Enough with this heavy shit.” His brows dropped, a deep vee settling in his forehead. “We’ll work through this because I refuse to have it any other way.” He paused. “I’m scheduling our date.”
I leaned back. “You are?”
“Yes.” He paused. “You said that we hardly know anything about each other. I want to get to know you more. I want to know your hobbies, what you want to do for a living, whether you like horror movies or romance movies. What music you like. I want to know all of your quirks, Piper.”
“I want to know that about you too.”
“Good, I’ll make us a reservation.”
“Thank you.” I pulled him closer.
He gave my bottom lip a gentle nip. “No thanks needed because I wasn’t taking no for an answer anyway.” He released me and gave me a wink before joining the guys and our daughter out in the backyard. As soon as he shut the door behind him, he stood there, staring at me.
Something changed between us and I couldn’t wait to explore more of whatever it was with him.
Jaron
My parents were dragging me to Uncle Coby and Aunt Brogan’s place. It had been something we did quite often when I was younger, but we had skipped the past couple of summers for whatever reason. Adults were too damn busy all the time if you ask me.
“We’re almost there.” Mom turned to me with a wide smile on her face. “Are you excited? You get to see your friends again.”
“I am.” And that was the truth. We talked on the phone, texted, chatted on Facebook, and so on, but I hadn’t seen them face-to-face in over a year. We lived a couple of hours away in a large house that held more than its fair share of people. I loved my cousins who lived with us, but they weren’t blood. Not that it ever mattered of course but it still wasn’t the same. They were also older and living their lives while I was stuck in school and trying to graduate without pummeling my fists through the other kids’ faces just for being annoying half the time.
“I know Zach is looking forward to seeing you,” Dad said, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.
I nodded, leaning my head against the back seat and watching the world fly past us. Half an hour later and we were pulling into Angel and Jay’s driveway. I had come to understand that their house was the biggest, so that was why they always had everyone over. Their backyard was my favorite too. I would have the same one day. With a giant pool as well.
“Alright, let’s go before your sister rips my face off for keeping her boys away from her.” Mom laughed, leaving the car. Just as she shut the door behind her, Aunt Brogan came running from the backyard. She threw her arms around my mom, which was funny in a way seeing as she was so short.
Mom’s body shook with laughter as she returned the hug.
Dad chuckled. “Let’s go, Jaron.”
I left the car as everyone else came from the backyard to greet us.
As we gave hugs, said hi, carried on like we had only seen each other the day before, I couldn’t help but notice…her.
Piper stood off to the side. She was chatting with Gigi and Luna, other girls we had grown up with.
She laughed. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. She wore a red tank top that was tucked into cut-off shorts and no shoes. Her skin glowed like she had just spent hours in the sun. Her head turned, her dark eyes meeting mine.
She gave me a small wave.
I did the same.
My heart thumped hard, my mouth going dry.
From that day on, I knew one thing. And it was the most important thing of all.
Piper Michaels, no matter how long it took, would be mine.
I had only ever gone on one date. Once. And that was when I was a teenager and had no idea that it would be Piper my dick would be lusting after. Not until that little reunion took place at Angel and Jay’s place that summer so many years ago. I wish I would have waited for her. If we lost our virginity to each other, the wait would have been worth it, but neither of us did that. Life had different plans for us. It forced us a part only to bring us back together again in another country.
I knew then that Piper would be mine and now it was what I strived for. But there were still pieces to our puzzle that were missing. Maybe a date would help. It would surely set us on the right path. It had to because like I told her, I refused to have it any other way.
I would burn the mother fucking world down just to put a smile on her face.
“This pizza is so good. I could eat ten of them to myself.” Sammy patted his stomach and leaned back in the patio chair he was sitting on.
Piper laughed.
Cyrus only shook his head.
“It is good.” Piper wiped her hands on the paper towel and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. “Meadow is the one who got us into it. Although, she swears she can make it better. But she’s never tried.”
We ordered pizza after putting Brynn to bed. Piper was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed beneath her. After our moment in the kitchen, we had come outside. Piper had snuggled with Brynlee and ended up putting her to bed an hour later.
While Sammy and Cyrus talked amongst themselves, I couldn’t help but watch Piper. She pulled the elastic out of her hair, smoothing her fingers through the long dark strands. She massaged her head, a wince furrowing between her eyebrows.
“Come here,” I blurted.
Sammy and Cyrus looked my way.
Piper’s gaze snapped to mine.
I pointed to the floor in f
ront of my feet.
She looked from the spot I was pointing at, to my face.
“Sit in front of me,” I told her, something sparking inside of me that I would soon have my hands on her again.
She chewed her bottom lip, a light flush gracing her cheeks, but she did as she was told. When she moved to the spot at my feet, I pulled her back between my knees and pushed my fingers through her hair and into her head. Massaging out the kinks, her worries, and everything else, I rubbed and kneaded.
Give me your fears, baby. All of them. I’ll take care of you. Both you and our daughter.
Piper sighed.
“Hey, if you’re offering free massages, I’m down for that.” Sammy waggled his eyebrows.
Cyrus smacked him across the back of the head.
“Ow.” Sammy punched his brother’s shoulder. “That hurt, fucker. You have like fifty pounds on me.”
Cyrus only smirked.
I leaned down to Piper’s ear. “Better?”
“Yeah,” she breathed, that single word husky and low, shooting right to the tip of my dick. “Thank you.”
I wasn’t there when her back hurt while she was pregnant with Brynlee, but I was here now. Any pain she had, was mine. I would make it go away. No matter what I had to do. I would take it on my shoulders and bear the brunt of her agony, whether she offered it to me or not.
Sitting back, I started braiding her hair. “Elastic,” I said when I was done, holding out my hand.
“Did you just braid my hair?” she asked, trying to turn her head.
“Yes, but you’re going to mess it up. So I need the elastic. Please.”
She gave it to me, but I could see the shock on her face.
Tying the elastic around the end of the braid, I tugged the end, forcing her head back. “Surprised, Piper?”
She laughed. “Little bit.”
Cyrus and Sammy only grinned.
“We were taught to braid hair a long time ago, kiddo.” Cyrus pulled his pack of smokes out of the inner pocket of his jacket. He lit a cigarette and handed it to Sammy before lighting one for himself.
“All of you know how to do braids?” she asked, running her hand down the length of her hair.
“Yup.” I released her and sat back, satisfied with my handiwork.
“You can actually thank Jaron for that,” Sammy said, puffing on his smoke.
“Why’s that?” Piper hooked an arm across my knee.
My breath caught in my throat, thankful that she didn’t pull away.
“I got in trouble and Uncle Tray made us braid Bee’s hair. She was five, had hair so fucking long, it kept getting in her way. I was being a little shit, so he made us braid it.” I shrugged. “All of us had to learn.”
“At first, I thought it was lame, but it usually ends up impressing the ladies. And…” Sammy sat forward. “It gives us something to pull.”
“Truth.” Cyrus winked.
“Interesting. I can see you guys now, sitting around and braiding her hair, but I can’t picture you as boys. So all I’m seeing are grown men, braiding hair.” She giggled. “Which is super adorable by the way.”
“And hot right?” Sammy wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s definitely hot.” He elbowed Cyrus. “It’s hot. Admit it.”
“It’s impressive.” Piper laughed, shaking her head. Her gaze flicked to mine. “And yeah, it’s definitely hot.”
I grinned, cupped her nape, and pushed my thumb into her shoulder.
She sighed, leaning her cheek against my knee, but kept her eyes locked on mine.
“We should go.” Cyrus butted his smoke out on the bottom of his Shitkicker. “We’re driving up tomorrow to see Bee, so we should have an early night.”
Sammy scoffed. “Right. Not like I’m going to sleep anyway.” The air around him suddenly shifted.
Our cousin, Bee, named after their parents, lived off in the middle of the woods with her husband and their son. I didn’t see them as much as I would have liked, especially since being home, but I knew she would understand. I could almost hear her now, telling me to get my shit together and sort things out with my own family first.
“Did you want to come with us?” Cyrus asked, sticking the smoke between his lips. “I know you have your own shit to work through right now but…”
Piper and I passed a knowing look between us.
“Tell her we’ll come up and see them soon,” Piper suggested.
Cyrus nodded.
“Strip club?” Sammy stood, stretching his arms out above his head.
“No. Let’s go to a regular bar.” Cyrus rose to his full height. “I don’t want to be washing the club off of me for days.”
“Whatever. That’s because you choose the sluttiest—”
“I do not. That’s you, asshole.” Cyrus shoved him.
Sammy scowled. “Nah. Not anymore my man.”
My ears perked up at that. “Are you telling us that you’re finally a one-woman man, Sammy?”
Sammy looked between all of us, puffing on his smoke. “I’m not saying shit,” he finally said. “But there’s…someone.”
“Red.” Cyrus cupped Sammy’s shoulder. “She’s keeping our Sammy boy on his toes.”
“This Red must have made quite an impression on you,” Piper said. “You haven’t told me much about her though.”
“She’s someone I call when I need an itch scratched,” Sammy muttered. “It’s no big fucking deal. She’s just convenient. She’s there.”
“When you need her.” I pointed out. “Sounds serious to me.”
Sammy rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You sort your shit out first and then we can talk.”
Cyrus chuckled, pushing his brother toward the side of the house. “Let’s go. We’ll call you guys tomorrow night.”
Kissing the top of Piper’s head, I slid out from behind her and followed the twins around the side of the house.
“You two will get through this,” Cyrus told me, heading to his SUV.
“I know. But listen, I need you to do something for me. I need you to tell my dad about Price being at the grocery store. I’d call him but we all know how much he hates talking on the phone and would rather it be done in person.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I just need my girls safe. I don’t know if he showed up because I was there or because he actually needed to get groceries.”
“I’m betting on the former,” Sammy mumbled.
“We’ll tell Greyson,” Cyrus said, clapping my shoulder. “Keep to yourself and if you need groceries or anything, you let us know and we’ll get them for you. Until we can figure out what the hell Price wants, it’s better if you probably just stay home.”
“I’m taking Piper on a date.” Both of us were nervous to be out in public but I knew a date was what we both needed. “I’ll take her out for dinner and then come back home. But I know she wants to see her friends too.”
“Text us when you’re going and where you’re going, and we’ll be around.” Sammy pulled a pack of smokes from inside his leather jacket. “We got you, J.”
I nodded, blowing out a slow breath of relief. “Thank you.” I turned and started making my way back to the house. “Have fun,” I called out.
Once I was in the backyard, I closed the gate and clicked the lock into place.
Piper was still sitting on the ground, by the patio couch. Her gaze caught mine as I approached. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I sat behind her, needing the feel of her beneath my hands.
“Did Brynlee go down okay?” I asked, figuring that was a safe question to ask, and massaged my fingers into the base of her neck.
Piper nodded. “She usually does. She likes sleep just like her mama.”
“Sleep is overrated.”
“It can be.” She sat up, turning her body toward me. “So, are we really going to go on a date? Like a normal couple?”
“Come here.” I patted my lap, instead of answering her question.
She stood and straddled
my lap.
“What is it?” I asked, brushing a thumb over her collarbone.
“Can we be a normal couple?” she asked, voicing thoughts that were putting that frown on her beautiful face.
“Why can’t we?” But her question made sense. Our relationship wasn’t normal. I had never asked her out on a date like a decent guy would. No, instead, I followed her to another country and fucked her at my hotel, only for her to leave the next day. Couldn’t say I blamed her. I wasn’t an easy guy to get along with then and I sure as hell wasn’t easy to get along with now.
“We’re not doing things the right way. But I want to date you,” she quickly added before I could argue. “I want to be with you. I want what you said. I want to learn every little thing there is to know about you. I want us to work. I want us to be happy for Brynlee and also for us. I know a lot of couples stay together for their kids, but I can’t do that, Jaron. I need to be happy first because I know she’ll sense if I’m not. I also want to help you through your nightmares.”
“I’m fine,” I told her, the hackles raising on the back of my neck. I suddenly felt cornered and I didn’t like it. Not one fucking bit.
“That’s all you got from that?” She grabbed the collar of my jacket when I went to push her off my lap. “This is what I’m talking about. We open up, you demand for me to tell you what I want and then you push me away.”
“You push too, baby.” I shoved her off my lap that time, probably a little too hard when she bounced on the couch beside me. “Piper, I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s fine.” She stood, smoothing down her shirt. “I’m going to get ready for bed. But I want you to know something, Jaron.” Her gaze locked with mine. Hers was hard, determined and I could feel her soul reaching only for mine to cower away like the damn pussy I was. “You say you’re in this for the long run. You say you’re not going to leave me or your daughter, but I feel you keeping me at arm’s length.” She took a step toward me. “So I just want you to know that I am making a promise of my own. If you hurt me, if you break my heart like you keep telling me you’re not going to do,” she cupped me over my pants, “this dick won’t please anyone. Ever again.” She squeezed me hard, making me jump. She released me and with that she walked away. “You can join me,” she said from the patio door. “Sleep on the couch or leave. I don’t fucking care anymore.” She headed into the house; the patio door slamming shut behind her.