After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,3
was. The dirty talk I always craved from him. I only smiled and pushed out of his hold before grabbing his hand. “Let’s go see the guys.”
He nodded, pulling his hand from mine and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Where is she?”
“Oh.” I stopped, turning toward him. “I was going to bring her, but she was fussy. I think she was stressed. Or she knew I was stressed. I’m not sure. But she didn’t sleep well last night.” And neither did I. It was all due to excitement, nerves, and fear.
Excitement to see Jaron again.
Nerves over how he would be. How we would be together.
And fear of the unknown. Of what life would throw at us next.
“Her mama was stressed.” Jaron kissed my cheek. “I get it.”
I turned my head before he could pull away and brushed my mouth along his.
His stiff body relaxed, melting into my touch. He cupped the side of my neck, pushing his hand into the back of my hair and crushing his mouth to mine.
I breathed him in, taking the air that gave him life, down deep into my lungs.
Before the kiss could turn into something more, he pulled back. Brushing his thumb along my bottom lip, he let out a soft sigh. “I can’t believe I’m here. Touching you again. Holding you. Kissing you.”
“It’s felt like years since I’ve seen you.” I wrapped my arms around him, leaning my head against his chest. Others had spent longer without their loved one in their arms, but it was still too long without him at my side. I needed him more than I could ever tell him, and I knew that he needed me just the same.
“I know, baby.” Jaron kissed me softly on the mouth. “I know.”
Taking a deep breath, I released him and held out my hand. “Let’s go find the guys. Sammy has been on edge all weekend, waiting for this moment. He’s been worse than me.”
“Nah, baby. It’s probably the pussy he’s been sniffing around.” Jaron placed his hand in mine and brought it up to his mouth before kissing my knuckles.
“You know about her?” I asked, watching him.
He nodded, his slate gray eyes flicking back and forth over my face. “I hear things and I’ve known Sammy my whole life. I remember the first girl he had a crush on. She was his teacher. Obviously, she didn’t want anything to do with him, but it still pissed him off. And it stemmed from there.”
“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.