After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,31

through her hair, I gently tugged her head back and stared intently into her eyes.

Something passed between us. We knew how the other felt even though we hadn’t said it yet. But those feelings suddenly turned into something more. They became dark, feral. I needed her in ways I had never felt before. It went far past just love. It became possessive, bordering on insanity. The thought of her being taken away from me left me on the verge of snapping.

“You’re scaring me,” she whispered but I knew she could feel it too. Her nipples hardened, her breathing picked up. We had always been attracted to each other, but this took on a whole other meaning.

Piper licked her lips, wetting the full pout of her mouth.

My body vibrated, my skin tightening over my muscles.

“Hey.” She ran her hands down my stomach, dropping them to my sides. “Talk to me.”

“I had a nightmare,” I finally said. “And then I went to see Brynn. I needed to hold her. I also continued reading your journals. I found the one where you gave her my last name.”

“Oh. Well, I thought it was only right. You weren’t there to help me name her and you weren’t there for anything else. I thought it was only fair. And I know…we are…we’ll be…”

“What?” I needed her words. Her feelings. I needed her to tell me that she loved me. I tightened my hold on her head. “What?” I repeated, my voice lowering.

“What’s going on? Are you mad?” She cupped my face. “Please don’t be mad.”

“Fuck, baby. I’m not mad. I’m far from being mad. I’m turned the fuck on, and I have no idea whether I should rip you open, make love to you, or go take a cold shower. It’s driving me fucking crazy because I can see your nipples through your tank top, and I can…” I closed my eyes, taking a deep inhale, the sweet scent of her desire wafting into my nose. “I can smell your pussy,” I growled.

“Oh.” Her breath caught. “I’m…sorry?”

I chuckled, leaning my forehead against hers. “I just…I need a moment.”

“Jaron.” She ran her hand over my crotch, her fingers grazing the line of my thick cock.

Another growl escaped me. “Piper.”

“I don’t know what’s going on with you but I’m here. For whenever you’re ready. You can make love to me, fuck me, rip me open…” She tilted her head back. “Whatever you want. I just want to make you happy.”

“I…” A tremor of something unknown rushed through me. Instead of taking her up on her offer, I released her and jumped off the bed. Pacing back and forth, I shoved a hand through my hair, avoiding her eyes but needing her to look at me just the same.

“What’s wrong? What did I do?”

“Fuck, Piper.” I spun on her, making her jump. I blew out a slow breath, trying to take control of the sudden rage rushing through me. What the hell was going on with me? “First off…” I took another deep breath. “You don’t need to make me happy. Do you understand?”

“What?” She shook her head, her hair brushing her shoulders with the movement. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m saying that I’m happy. I am happy. Yes, I’m fucked up. But I’m happy and no, you didn’t do anything wrong. You could never do anything wrong. I’m so fucking confused right now…I just…I need…” I didn’t know what I needed but this wasn’t right. She didn’t need to worry about making me happy because it didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. Her happiness came first and foremost. That was all I cared about. Nothing more. Nothing less. Her happiness was it.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you but you’re the one who suggested sex, Jaron.” Piper pulled the blankets up to her chest, shielding her nipples from me. A growl was on my tongue. A demand for her to not hide herself from me threatened to fall from my lips. But like the stupid ass that I was, I didn’t say shit.

“I need a moment,” I mumbled, leaving the room. Shutting the door behind me, I leaned against it and blew out a slow breath. It had been less than two days since I had been home. I thought that we would have a happy reunion and that would be it. But I was wrong. I was so very wrong.

Piper

I didn’t sleep well after Jaron left my room last night. I knew I had to have