After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,29

went to walk away and turned me toward him. He lifted my shirt, placing a soft peck on my stomach. “Did you have any depression or anything?”

My heart jumped. “Postpartum depression?”

He nodded.

“No. I was lucky that way. That had been one of my fears because you weren’t here, and I couldn’t see you. But I was fine.” I pushed my fingers through his hair.

He leaned his forehead against me and took a deep breath. “I’m glad.”

“Me too,” I whispered.

Jaron stood, grabbed a hold of my hand, and brought it up to his mouth. His dark eyes never strayed from mine. They looked into the deepest parts of me. The parts that had only ever been his.

Stepping away from him, I led him to our bedroom. While we both got ready for bed, I could still feel him inside of me. All throughout me.

“Tonight was amazing,” I told him, slipping into bed after getting pajamas on.

“It was.” He joined me, pulling the covers up and over us before pulling me down and into his arms.

“I just want you to know that I understand if things can’t go back to the way they were. I mean, you changed. Not that it’s a bad thing, I just want you to know that I get it.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “I’m not making sense.”

“I get it, baby. I’m still him but I’m not. Yes, I changed but I think I became stronger because of it, just like you have as well.”

“I don’t feel strong half the time,” I confessed.

“I get that too.” He cupped my cheek, turning my head to meet his stare. “As much as I may have changed, my feelings for you have not. It’s like being away for all of this time, only made them become more intense.”

“I agree.”

“We do have to take this one day at a time though, baby. That’s all we can do. That’s all we have.” He kissed me softly on the lips. “I wish I could tell you that you’ll get that man back. The one who went to jail for you. The one you fell in love with. But you won’t. Not completely anyway. The only thing I can promise is that I will be the best man for you. Do you understand me?”

I swallowed hard at the mere intensity rolling off of him. “I understand.”

“Good.” He hugged me closer.

“One day at a time,” I repeated, a yawn trembling through me.

“One day at a time,” he murmured in my hair, pulling me against him.

I agreed with him but at the same time, I felt like that one day would turn into a lifetime.

***

(Jaron)

Holding the shank in my hand behind my back, I zeroed in on my victim. This felt good. Too good. The blood that was already on my hands shouldn’t have felt so damn perfect. These men. These vile human beings. They deserved everything that was given to them.

“Kill him and we’ll protect you.”

I didn’t believe those words but listened to them just the same. It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter. It was kill or be killed and I had a woman who was pregnant with my baby to get home to. I would do anything to get back to her and unfortunately these men knew that. How they did was beyond me. But I wouldn’t put it past the mayor to let that little tidbit slip into unwanted ears.

My dad told me to keep to myself, to stay safe and not get into trouble. Keep my nose clean so to speak. But when I was jumped last week by three larger fuckers and put in the infirmary, I’d had enough.

These men needed to know that I was not one to be messed with. That I would kill them first and ask questions later.

Cross me and die.

My eyes popped open, memories of my nightmare slithering over my skin.

I placed my hand on my chest, trying to ease the racing of my heart.

Turning onto my side, I stared at Piper’s sleeping form. She was on her stomach, her head facing the other way. The covers had ridden below her ass, showing the curves of her rear that the pajama bottoms couldn’t cover.

My palm twitched, itching to reach out to her. To hold her. To tell her everything. How I felt. What I had to do to make it back to her. To tell her that I loved her.

I leaned over, placed a soft peck on her shoulder, and