After Us (Next Generation Book 6) Read online

  Brynn stared at me, leaning her head against Piper. She held a small stuffed pink pig in her hands while sucking on a matching pink soother.

  “Pigs?” I asked Piper, taking hold of Brynn’s hand.

  “Yeah.” Piper laughed lightly.

  “I thought you got over that obsession,” I said, staring into our daughter’s eyes. She did have my eye color, but the rest of her features were definitely Piper’s.

  “You remembered?”

  “Oh yeah.” Piper had been obsessed with pigs as a kid. I thought she outgrew it but clearly, I was wrong.

  “Everyone else forgot.”

  I met Piper’s stare then. “I would never forget anything when it comes to you.”

  Her breath caught. “We should go inside. Your parents missed you but when you’re ready, we can leave and do whatever you want.”

  I nodded.

  “Did you want to hold her?” she asked softly.

  I nodded again.

  Piper handed Brynn to me and much to my surprise, she came into my arms willingly. It was like she knew. When she snuggled her chubby face into my neck, my throat closed, working hard over a lump.

  Brynn sighed, holding her pig tightly in her arms and let her eyes close.

  Piper ran her hand down her back. “She knows, Jaron. I’ve been telling her about you since I first found out I was pregnant with her.”

  “Really?” I was taken aback by her words. “You did?”

  “Of course.” Piper started walking toward my parents’ house which doubled as the clubhouse. “Come. We’ll talk more later.”

  Holding our daughter, I followed Piper. How I lucked out and had a woman like her was beyond me. I had to tell her what I did to make it back to her. I just hoped she still wanted to be with me after she found out everything.

  Piper

  Watching Jaron with Brynn was surreal. He talked to her and she responded in her baby babble like they were having an actual conversation. It made others around us laugh and I couldn’t help but sigh every time he smiled down at her.

  I knew this time would come. I had been praying for it every day while he was gone. But seeing it right in front of me forced to the forefront all of these newfound emotions that I never imagined.

  Although something was still very wrong with him, he held Brynn like she was his lifeline. Like he survived solely for her.

  Jaron met my gaze, giving me a wink.

  My stomach tumbled.

  No. Correction.

  He survived. For us.

  “Piper.”

  My head snapped around, finding Tray coming toward me. “Hey, Uncle Tray.” I remembered back to when I first met him, when he demanded that I call him Uncle.

  “You’re Jaron’s girl. You call me Uncle Tray.”

  It seemed everyone knew about me before I knew about them. Word got around rather quickly over what Jaron had done for me. Not the exact details, but most knew that he had saved me.

  “How are you doing?”

  “Me?” I frowned. “I’m fine. Why?”

  He nodded toward Jaron, his dark eyes zeroing in on his nephew. He crossed his thick tattooed arms under his broad chest and rubbed the graying scruff on his strong jaw. “He’s off.”

  “Well, he did spend some time in jail,” I muttered.

  “True.” Tray wasn’t a man of many words and I found I liked that about him. His wife, Zillah, did all the talking for them. Along with their daughter, Bee, who I didn’t see as often since she lived with her husband and son a few hours away in the middle of nowhere.

  We stood in silence, watching Jaron mingle with people he hadn’t seen in quite some time while holding our daughter. But while he talked to them, his family, he kept glancing my way. Probably making sure I was still there. I wasn’t sure why he needed me close by, but I appreciated it just the same. He also didn’t have to worry. I wasn’t going anywhere. I was in this for life. I just had to prove that to him.

  “You should go.”

  I glanced up at Tray. “What do you mean?”

  Tray nodded toward Jaron. “He needs time with you and Brynn. His family. I know his parents will understand.”

  I looked back at Jaron. “But that’s not fair.”

  “Yes it is, Piper.” Tray gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Jail can do funny things to a person. Doesn’t matter how long you’re in there for. Trust me when I say this, he needs you and you need him. Both of you also need to be patient with each other. You can’t expect to fall into a routine right away.” Tray gave my shoulder one final squeeze before heading back to join his wife at the bar.

  Zillah glanced my way, gave me a small wave and greeted her husband with a kiss.

  I gave myself a shake, surprised that Tray had said all of that to me. I knew he cared for Brynn and I, but the man never said more than a few words at a time.

  But maybe he was right. Jaron was on edge. I wasn’t sure what he needed but I knew that I was willing to do whatever it took to make him feel better.

  Heading toward him, I couldn’t help the way my heart picked up speed the closer I got.

  I had spent years having a crush on him, only to find him at the same café in Paris of all places. I never asked him how he found me. Maybe I should have but I didn’t really care knowing that I was the one who would spend the night with him, and I had. It started our obsession with each other and only grew from there.

  When I stood a few feet away, my palms became sweaty at the mere sight of him. He was big, intense, and powerful. God, I missed him. I missed his dirty and vulgar words telling me what to do and how to do it. I missed his sweet, vulnerable side that he never shared with anyone else but me. I missed how he controlled me in ways I never thought I would ever be interested in. I wasn’t new to sex but for the most part, all of the partners I had were vanilla at best. But Jaron? He was anything but vanilla.

  “Suck my cock, baby. Just like that. Your mouth is so damn hot.”

  A shiver raced down my spine at the memory rushing through me. A memory that had taken place so long ago. But no matter how hard I tried to forget that night, I couldn’t. Not that I really wanted to. What I wanted to forget; was how I left the next morning.

  Before I closed the distance between us, Jaron glanced over his shoulder, his gaze locking with mine.

  I stopped suddenly.

  A silent conversation fell between us. So many unanswered questions. So many emotions that neither of us could admit to.

  Clearing my throat, I stood up taller and walked the last few steps toward him.

  He was standing with Sammy, Cyrus, and a few other guys I had only seen a couple of times.

  “Give us a moment,” he said, not taking his eyes off me.

  The guys grunted their responses but all I could focus on was the slate orbs peering into my soul.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, shifting Brynn to his other arm.

  “Nothing.” I ran my hand down her back. “I was just wondering if you wanted to leave. We don’t have to. Or you can stay here. Whatever you want. Brynn has a room here if you wanted some time alone with her.”

  “No.”

  My gaze snapped to his. “Okay but—”

  Jaron pinched my chin, tilting my head back and staring into my eyes. “I said no. I’m going home with you. I need to go home with you. I need…” The air crackled around us, his eyes darkening. “I—”

  “Are you guys leaving?”

  Both of us turned as Jaron’s mom approached us.

  “We should,” Jaron said. “I need some time with my girls.”

  Eve grinned, glancing between us. “Okay.”

  My heart skipped a beat like it always did whenever he referred to me as his.

  Eve pulled me into her arms, squeezing me tight. “I’m happy he’s home. But most of all, I’m happy your family is now complete.”

  I swallowed hard. I was happy too. Scared yes, but definitely happy.

  “I know you have a lot to work through,�
�� she said, her voice low enough for only me to hear. “But he loves you.” She leaned back, cupping my face. “Believe me when I tell you that.”

  I nodded, the vision of her blurring in front of me.

  She smiled, glancing at her son. “I’ve never seen him look at a woman like he looks at you.”

  My cheeks burned.

  Jaron gave me a small smirk, running his hand down my arm and linking our fingers.

  I looked at Brynn.

  She was fast asleep with her head against his shoulder.

  My heart warmed. “She’s never fallen asleep in someone else’s arms before.”

  “What?” Jaron looked down at her. “Oh. She hasn’t? I wonder why.”

  “I think she was waiting for you,” I whispered.

  He kissed my temple, letting his lips linger. “Just like her mama.”

  A slow smile spread on my face, my eyes welling. God, all of these new emotions were not the norm for me. If I let myself, I would be a blubbering mess, but I refused. I had to be strong. For me and for Brynlee.

  “I’ll let you say bye.” I moved off to the side, still making sure I was in his line of sight.

  He glanced my way every so often, his big body relaxing every time he saw me still standing there. Was that even possible? Could the mere presence of someone be calming?

  When he was done, he walked toward me.

  I turned and left the large house, taking in a deep breath of fresh air.

  “Piper?”

  I jumped, spinning around.

  Jaron raised an eyebrow, hiking the strap of Brynn’s diaper bag higher up on his shoulder. “You good?”

  I nodded. “Thank you for grabbing her bag.” I was in my head and completely forgot.

  “You’re welcome.” He walked by me and headed to my beater of a car.

  “I have stuff for you at my…our…home,” I stuttered, following behind him.

  “Really?” He unlocked the back door and placed Brynn in her car seat. She stirred, letting out a cry of protest. She held her arms out for Jaron. “I’ll hold you when we get home, baby girl.” He kissed her head, which seemed to settle her down. “What stuff do you have?”

  I opened the passenger door and slid into the vehicle. “Clothes and anything else your mom thought you might want. It was her idea. I didn’t want to force you into anything, but she insisted. She said that you…”

  “What?” He buckled Brynn into her seat. It was so natural; it was like he had been doing it since the day she was born. He met my gaze. “Piper, what did she say?”

  I cleared my throat. “I…uh…she thought you might want to live with…us.”

  He only stared at me. A few seconds went by and I thought for sure his mom had been wrong. Why would he want to live with us? It wasn’t like we ever made it official. There was something there. Neither of us could deny it but to be tied down and so quickly…

  Jaron made sure Brynn was buckled in safely before shutting the door. He took a minute. I almost thought he was going to bolt but when he opened the driver’s side door and sat beside me, I let out a breath of relief I didn’t realize I had been holding.

  “I don’t want to force you into anything,” I said, wringing my hands in my lap.

  “You know how I feel about you, Piper,” he finally said, covering my hands with his.

  “I don’t want you to feel tied down.” I took a chance and looked at him then.

  “I don’t feel tied down.” He brought my hand up to his mouth, the scruff of his beard tickling my knuckles. “I want this. I want you. I want her. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be in your car about to drive us to our house. Unless the house is yours and you just want me as a random hookup. Or some stranger who sleeps on your couch. I am pretty handy, so I can help with fixing up the place if needed too.”

  “How about a babysitter?” I laughed lightly.

  “That works.” He chuckled, lowering our joined hands to my lap. As quickly as the humor fell between us, it soon disappeared.

  We had a lot to work through.

  I just hoped both of us were patient enough for it.

  Piper

  Once we pulled up in front of my house, my heart started racing. I had only ever lived with my best friends. Never a guy. Before Jaron, I never even spent the night with a guy. It’s not that anyone I had been with never tried; it just wasn’t my thing. It didn’t feel right. I didn’t want the guys to feel like I was hinting for more when I wasn’t. But then Jaron came along and even though it only happened once, sleeping beside him felt natural. When I woke up the next morning, I realized that, and it scared me.

  Now that Jaron was going to be living with me, even though I knew from the very beginning that it was a possibility, I never thought he would actually stay.

  “You’re not mad?” I asked, waiting for my dad to blow a fuse.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Why would I be mad?”

  “Well, I’ve had a baby before marriage and…and Jaron and I could possibly move in together once he’s out.”

  My dad sighed, placing his mug of coffee on the table in front of him. “Listen, I like Jaron. He was raised well and has a good head on his shoulders. He’s a better man than I ever could be and I’m glad that he’s yours. And what he did for you…” He shook his head. “That’s love, kiddo.”

  “This is your place?” Jaron asked, slowing the car down.

  “It is. But I guess it’s ours now. I moved in about six months into my pregnancy. My parents had been saving money for me to go back to school but that never happened. They gave me the money anyway and I used it as a down payment. It’s small but it’s perfect.”

  “How small?” Jaron asked, pulling the car into the driveway.

  “There’s a master bedroom, Brynn’s room, a smaller room that I’m just using for storage right now but would like to turn it into a library one day. It also has two bathrooms. It does have a finished basement though and…I actually have a surprise for you,” I said, leaving the car.

  Jaron left the vehicle shortly after. “You have a surprise for me?”

  “I do. The guys helped me set it up. It’s nothing big but I thought it would make you feel more at home.” The back of my neck heated. It wasn’t much but I wanted to do everything I could to make Jaron feel better, knowing the time he spent in jail messed with him.

  I opened the back door and leaned in to get Brynn out of her car seat. Once she was in my arms, I grabbed the diaper bag and kicked the door closed. Heading up the sidewalk to the house, I stopped at the base of the front steps. Glancing over my shoulder, I found Jaron standing with his hands in his pockets, staring up at the house.

  “Take your time, Jaron,” I told him. “There’s no rush. For anything.”

  ***

  (Jaron)

  I watched Piper take Brynn into the house. As much as I wanted to follow her, as much as I wanted her back in my arms, something was off. I couldn’t figure out what it was. But maybe she was right. There was no rush. Although I wasn’t a patient person, not everything needed to feel normal right away.

  The house looked small from the outside, but I couldn’t wait to make it a home with Piper and our daughter.

  Taking a deep breath, I headed toward the house and followed Piper inside. I shut the door behind me, taking in every inch that lay before me. She was right. The house was small. But I liked it. It was perfect.

  As soon as you entered, you were brought to an open concept which held the living room and dining room. The kitchen was off to the right with an island separating it from the rest of the large room. You also had to walk up two steps to reach it.

  “I like it,” I finally said.

  Piper placed Brynn in her playpen and turned to me. “Yeah? It was fixed up a bit, but the backyard is huge. When Brynn gets older, she’ll love it.” She walked to the large patio door leading out to the back of the house.

  I joined her, standing behind her and following her gaze. There was a san
dbox, a swing set, and a shed. “It needs a pool.”

  Piper looked up at me. “I agree but I can’t maintain it myself. That’s why I haven’t gotten one yet.”

  “I can do it.”

  She stared at me. “Really?”

  “Why not?” But I knew the reason she was questioning me. We never did put a label on what we were doing. Hell, I never even wanted kids but when I found out she was pregnant with my baby, I wanted to fuck more babies into her. She had been the only one who could ever reach a part of me I never wanted to give to anyone else and I could never thank her enough for that.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her voice lowering.

  I pinched her chin, placing a soft peck on her forehead, nose, and then I hesitated before placing one on her mouth.

  Her breath caught. Snaking her arms around my neck, she pulled me closer.

  Wrapping my hand in her hair, I pulled her head back and deepened the kiss. This, this right here was the reason I survived. With her mouth fused to mine, it was the only thing I had been itching to come home to. Beside our daughter, Piper was my very existence.

  She was the reason I made it out of jail alive.

  She was the reason I didn’t give up.

  She was the reason I lived.

  I swallowed her moan, taking in every inch of her mouth. Her breaths were mine. I consumed and breathed her in, reveling in the way she felt in my arms after all of our time apart.

  Piper broke the kiss, leaning her head to the side, her chest rising and falling.

  I took that as a hint and brushed my mouth up the length of her neck.

  “Jaron,” she whispered.

  “Yeah,” I murmured against her throat.

  “We can’t.”

  “I know.” But it didn’t mean I couldn’t tease us a little. Running my hand down her back, I cupped her ass and pulled her flush against me. Making sure to push every inch of me into her, I wanted her to feel how my body reacted to hers. I didn’t want her to doubt for one single second that I didn’t want her as much as she wanted me.

  “God,” she panted. “It’s been way too long.”

  “It has.” I scraped my teeth along the length of her jaw. “I’m going to have so much fun getting reacquainted with your body.”