After Us (Next Generation Book 6) Read online

  “Oh,” I breathed out the word.

  Jaron winked, dropping our hands to his side.

  Clearing my throat, I led him to the twins, his cousins, our family. He walked along beside me as we headed to where Cyrus and Sammy parked their bikes.

  “Brynn’s at your parents’ place,” I told Jaron, breaking the unnerving silence that had fallen between us. “We spent the night there since they live closer.” I took a chance and looked up at him. “She’s such a good baby.”

  “I can’t wait to meet her,” he said, his voice low.

  My eyes burned. God, I wasn’t normally a crier but this, this was a set of emotions I could never have prepared myself for.

  “Don’t cry for me, Piper.” Jaron stopped, pulling me in front of him and cupping my face. “I’m not worth it.”

  “But you are,” I insisted. “I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”

  His jaw ticked. Placing a soft peck on my forehead, he let his lips linger.

  A single tear rolled down my cheek at the pain and confusion seeping from him. I didn’t know what happened while he was locked up, but I knew that he needed me. Even if he couldn’t admit it to himself. He would. Over time. I would make sure of it.

  Before I could tell him more, Cyrus and Sammy caught sight of us and came rushing toward Jaron. Sammy reached him first and threw himself around him, almost tackling both Jaron and I over.

  “I missed you too, fucker.” Jaron hugged him back but kept his hand wrapped tightly around mine.

  “Asshole.” Sammy released him, so Cyrus could get a hug in. “It’s been way too fucking long.”

  “At least you got to see him,” I mumbled.

  Sammy’s chocolate brown eyes met mine. “I know, kiddo. Trust me, I tried for you.”

  “It’s not a place for a lady,” Cyrus interjected, clapping Jaron on the shoulder.

  “Not my lady, that’s for damn sure.” Jaron brought my hand up to his mouth. “Take me to her.” His beard brushed my knuckles, sending a shiver racing down my spine.

  I nodded, clearing my throat. “Did you want to drive?”

  “Are you sure you want him to? It’s been a while. He probably forgot how to.” Sammy pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. “Unless you want your baby.” He dangled the keys, waggling his eyebrows.

  Cyrus rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

  Jaron took the keys from him. “Did you bring both helmets?”

  “Of course.” Sammy held out his hand. “I’ll drive your car.”

  “Oh.” I looked ahead at my car. “The keys are in my bag. The doors are unlocked.”

  All three guys looked my way.

  “What? I was a little distracted. Sue me.” I tugged Jaron’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  “You watch horror movies with us, and you still leave your car unlocked.” Sammy shook his head, running his hand through the mess of light brown hair that was longer on top and shorter on the sides. “Women, they never learn.”

  “Ignore him.” Cyrus nodded toward us. “Take your time,” he told us, following his brother to my little beater of a car.

  “I need my girls.” Jaron turned me toward him. “I need you.”

  My heart stuttered. “We can pick Brynn up; let you see your parents and everyone and then take a drive somewhere. Unless you want to stay at your parents’ place tonight. I understand if you do.”

  “No.” Jaron walked by me, pulling me toward his bike. “I appreciate everything they’ve done for you, but I need…” He stepped up to his bike, running his hand along the sleek black machine. He pulled both helmets off of the seat and handed me one before slipping the other onto his head.

  “What, Jaron?” I asked, pulling on the helmet. “What do you need?”

  “You.” He pinched my chin, placing a soft peck on my mouth. He helped me do up the straps beneath my chin. “I need to get reacquainted with you.” He gave me a final kiss before he straddled his bike. “Everything else can wait.”

  A breath I didn’t realize I had been holding escaped me. A part of me feared that he would get released from jail and move on. I knew he would be a good father to Brynn. His parents raised him right that way but when it came to us, I had spent many lonely nights wondering how it would be when he got out. I still didn’t know but all we could do was take it one moment at a time.

  “We’ll meet you at your parents’ place,” Cyrus called out, straddling his own bike.

  Jaron nodded, starting up his bike that Sammy had driven for him and revving the engine. He glanced at me over his shoulder. “Ready?”

  I cupped his shoulder, sliding onto the seat behind him.

  He reached behind him, giving my knee a squeeze. It was as if he was saying, ‘We got this, babe.’ But a part of me wasn’t sure if we did.

  Or if we ever would.

  Jaron

  Feeling Piper holding onto me like I was the only thing stopping her from going anywhere, hit somewhere deep inside of me. It had felt like a lifetime since I touched her, kissed her, heard her laughs, and seen her smiles. I wanted more from her, but I didn’t know how to tell her that. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I could show her.

  What we had, wasn’t serious at first. Not by our doing. Friends of ours had a little thing for her and kept her from me. I shouldn’t have let it stop me, but I also didn’t want to cause a scene whenever I was around, so I played nice and kept to myself most times. But I watched her. I wasn’t even sure if she knew that.

  “Jaron.”

  My body stirred at the feminine voice coming up from behind me.

  “How are you?” Piper sat on the patio couch beside me.

  I looked around us, wondering where the twins were. Ashton and Aiden never let her out of their sight.

  When I didn’t see them anywhere, I took that single moment as my chance and inched closer to her.

  Piper’s breath caught, the sound shooting through every cell in my body. She stared up at me with wide eyes.

  The private moment between us was short lived as the twins joined us but I savored that moment with her. Even if it had only been just a second.

  Even though we had been kids, I always had a crush on her. I just wished I could have saved myself for her and her the same for me. But that didn’t matter anymore. I would make her forget every single guy she had been with.

  As if she could hear my thoughts, Piper ran her hands around to my front. They inched beneath my hoodie, the tips of her fingers brushing over my abs.

  My dick jumped but not because it turned me on. There was that too, but this was more of us getting to know each other again. Getting reacquainted in ways neither of us were prepared for.

  Piper leaned her head against my back. I could feel the shudder rippling through her. She wasn’t a crier and the sobs that tore through her when we were finally reunited, made what I felt for her grow into something I had never experienced before.

  Love.

  It was definitely love I felt for the woman behind me. She held onto me like I was her lifeline when really, she was mine. She kept me sane. Her and our daughter were the only reasons I survived the months in jail. It could have been longer but the time we were apart, fucked me up. I did things to survive. Evil, vile things. Things I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies. I had been known to be a hothead, more so than my own father, and it was used against me.

  Piper squeezed me, pulling me from my thoughts. It was like she knew.

  I cupped her hand, giving it a squeeze, silently thanking her.

  She looked good. So damn good. Her body was fuller. She was also curvier than I last remembered. Although I would have known this, if I would had let her come see me in prison. But I refused. It wasn’t a place for her. As much as I needed it, I had to protect her from those monsters. And at the same time, I had to protect her from me.

  Once we pulled up in front of my parents’ place, I killed the engine, kicked out the kickstand and waited. For what, I wasn’t sure. I looked out at the vast hous
e. For some reason, it felt bigger since I had last seen it. My father wanted to expand on it, but my mother had always told him no. She said it was big enough.

  I pulled off my helmet, resting it on the gas tank in front of me.

  “Jaron?” Piper wrapped her arms tighter around me. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

  I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. I wasn’t sure what I needed. A drink. Sex. To leave. I didn’t know. Maybe I would never know but whatever it was that I needed, I knew that I needed it with Piper and only her.

  She slid off the back of the bike, pulled off the helmet, and rested it on the seat behind me.

  “What did you tell me months ago?” She cupped my nape, running her fingers through my hair. “You said we had this. That we always had this.” Her chocolate brown eyes locked with mine. “I can’t do this without you but whatever you need, I’m here. If it’s space, time, to talk…something else…I am always here.”

  I swallowed hard, nodding slightly.

  Her light brown hair was a mess of waves, the ends sitting just below her chest. I noticed then how freckles graced her skin even more now since I had seen her last, almost like the sun had kissed her beautiful body.

  “I promise, Jaron.” She cupped my face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  I covered her hands with mine, staring intently at her. “I need you,” I told her softly.

  Piper leaned her forehead against mine. “You have me. You’ve always had me. Even when we were apart…”

  “I know.” I cupped the back of her neck, sliding my fingers into her hair. “I should have gotten my head out of my ass and searched you out long ago.”

  She laughed lightly, standing upright. “We’re together now.” She gave me a small smile. Reaching out, she brushed her thumb along my bottom lip.

  That soft touch eased some of the anxiety rushing through me. Being without her was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I would do it again and again, if it meant keeping her safe.

  I pushed her back gently and slid off the bike before I pulled her back into my arms.

  She sighed, melting into me.

  Every inch of me pressed up against her and if we were alone, I would have taken advantage of the situation. But we weren’t, and we wouldn’t be for a while, so instead, I just held her.

  “God, I missed you. I missed this. I just…I missed us,” she whispered, pushing her face into my chest.

  I pulled her tighter against me. “Me too, baby. Me too.”

  “I missed the way you touch me. The way I feel when your hands are on me.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, holding me tight against her. “I missed how safe I feel in your arms.”

  “You are safe, Piper,” I told her, rubbing my nose against hers. “Always safe.”

  I needed this. I needed her. Being without her tested my limits and I knew if I had gone any longer without seeing her, it would have made me fall into myself. I wasn’t stupid, and I was man enough to admit it, jail scared the shit out of me, and I was afraid for my mental well-being.

  Clearing my throat, I pushed away from Piper and grabbed her hand instead. “I should go see my parents before my mom kicks my ass.”

  Piper laughed lightly. “I know she’s been waiting for this day.”

  I smiled. “Me too, beautiful.” I brushed my thumb along her bottom lip. “I also need to meet her.”

  Piper’s breath hitched, her eyes shining. “I’ll go get her.”

  I nodded, my throat working over a hard lump. I wasn’t an emotional man. It was one of the things I loved about Piper. She wasn’t an emotional person either. But being reunited, this whole ordeal, it brought out feelings I never knew I was even capable of having.

  “Where is he? Where’s my baby?”

  I looked up and found my mom running out of the large house with my dad following behind her.

  Piper gave my hand a squeeze and walked away from me to head into the house. I knew where she was going. I knew she was going to get her. Our daughter. But it still didn’t stop me from rushing after her. When I caught up to her, I grabbed her arm and spun her around.

  She jumped, slapping her hands against my chest. “Jaron?”

  “Just…just stay.” I grabbed her hand, her touch calming every racing nerve in my body. “You can grab Brynn in a moment. I just need…I need you here.”

  “I’ll be right here,” she said gently. “Go to your parents.”

  “Okay.” I blew out a slow breath and turned to my mom.

  She stopped suddenly.

  My dad stood beside her. He leaned down to her ear, whispering something to her.

  She nodded, kissed his cheek, and ran toward me.

  I held out my arms and waited.

  When my mom closed the distance between us and threw herself against me, a sob left her.

  “My baby,” she cried against my chest. “I missed you so much.”

  I cupped the back of her head, holding her tight. I wanted to tell her I was sorry. Sorry for worrying her. Sorry for darkening that light that had been in her eyes ever since I was a small boy. Sorry for scaring her and for no longer being the son she raised but now a monster instead.

  A dark shadow loomed over us and I didn’t have to look up to know that it was my dad. He had agreed back in the beginning of my sentencing that we didn’t want either Piper or my mom showing up. As much as it killed me not to see them, it wasn’t a place for them. So, my dad came to visit me as much as he could, in their place.

  I could never thank him enough. Either of them. For what they did for Piper. For our daughter, their granddaughter.

  Mom leaned back, cupping my face. “You’ve gotten so big.”

  I only smiled because if I said a word, any word, I would have fallen apart at her feet.

  “How are you doing?” she asked, searching my face.

  “Eve.” Dad cupped her nape.

  She looked between us. “I can’t imagine.” Her breath hitched. “What you did for her.”

  My chest tightened, memories of that night slithering their way into my mind.

  Him.

  Piper.

  Blood.

  “Eve,” Dad repeated, his voice firm.

  “I know.” Mom cupped my cheek. “She’s perfect for you. She’ll help you heal.” She paused, her eyes searching my face. “You good?”

  “I will be,” I finally said, my voice thick. “I…” My voice trailed off when a loud rumble of engines made their way up the large driveway.

  “I love you, Jaron.” Mom gave me another hug.

  “I love you too, Mama,” I murmured, returning the embrace.

  “I’ll go check on your daughter.” She turned, gave my dad and me one final look, and headed back into the large house.

  When I caught Piper still standing nearby, I let out a slow breath.

  “How are you doing, Son?” Dad asked, clapping me on the shoulder.

  “I don’t know.” But before I could say any more, we were interrupted by other members of Hell’s Harlem.

  As much as I wanted to see everyone, I needed Piper and to meet our daughter. I needed…hell, I didn’t even know what I needed anymore. I glanced around me while the club members got off their bikes and came toward me.

  Piper was suddenly nowhere to be found. She said she would stay with me. She wouldn’t leave without telling me. Mom said she was going to check on Brynn. She must have gone inside with her. But it still didn’t make me feel any better.

  “Jaron.”

  I turned back around and found my uncles Tray and Catch coming toward me. While we weren’t blood related, they were the closest thing I had to family besides my parents. And now Piper.

  Piper.

  I needed to see her. I needed her in my arms. I needed to know that she was safe. That this was all worth it. That nothing would come between us again and we would be together forever. I needed her more than the air that was giving me life. I needed her in ways I couldn’t put into words.
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  “Hey,” I said, my voice not as firm as I would have liked it to be.

  Uncle Tray raised an eyebrow. He lifted a tattooed hand and cupped the back of my neck. “You good, kid?”

  No. I’m losing my fucking mind. I need my girls.

  “Yup,” I muttered.

  Uncle Catch came up beside him. “Have you met her yet?”

  I shook my head, unable to voice my thoughts.

  “Shit.”

  I didn’t know who spoke. I didn’t care. I needed Piper. I couldn’t explain it. It was like this unknown force was taking control of me and I couldn’t think or do anything until I had her in my arms and knew that she was okay.

  My vision clouded, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

  “Jaron.”

  “Get Piper.”

  Voices. One deep. One higher. Both male. I couldn’t place who was talking. Hell, I didn’t even care.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I spun around, finding Piper coming toward me with…her…our daughter…in her arms. My heart raced.

  “Jaron?” Her eyes were wide. “Hey, talk to me.”

  Once Piper stood right in front of me, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me, careful not to hurt either of them.

  “What’s wrong?” Piper asked, her voice muffled by my shirt.

  “I couldn’t see you.” I pushed my face into the crook of her neck. “I was looking for you, but I couldn’t find you.”

  “I’m here, baby,” she whispered, cupping my cheek.

  I shivered, resting my head against her shoulder and finally looking at our daughter who was just over ten months old. Ten months where she didn’t have me, her father. My chest felt like it was closing in on itself, but I forced the next words out anyway, “She’s perfect.”

  Piper’s breath caught. “She is.”

  “Hi, Brynlee,” I murmured, my chest tightening.

  Brynn sucked on her soother, her eyes locking with mine.

  “This is your daughter, Jaron,” Piper’s voice cracked. “Our daughter.”

  I lifted my head, cupped the back of Piper’s and kissed her fully on the mouth. “She looks like you,” I finally said.

  Piper laughed lightly. “Maybe, but she has your eyes.”