After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,43

that was tucked into cut-off shorts and no shoes. Her skin glowed like she had just spent hours in the sun. Her head turned, her dark eyes meeting mine.

She gave me a small wave.

I did the same.

My heart thumped hard, my mouth going dry.

From that day on, I knew one thing. And it was the most important thing of all.

Piper Michaels, no matter how long it took, would be mine.

I had only ever gone on one date. Once. And that was when I was a teenager and had no idea that it would be Piper my dick would be lusting after. Not until that little reunion took place at Angel and Jay’s place that summer so many years ago. I wish I would have waited for her. If we lost our virginity to each other, the wait would have been worth it, but neither of us did that. Life had different plans for us. It forced us a part only to bring us back together again in another country.

I knew then that Piper would be mine and now it was what I strived for. But there were still pieces to our puzzle that were missing. Maybe a date would help. It would surely set us on the right path. It had to because like I told her, I refused to have it any other way.

I would burn the mother fucking world down just to put a smile on her face.

“This pizza is so good. I could eat ten of them to myself.” Sammy patted his stomach and leaned back in the patio chair he was sitting on.

Piper laughed.

Cyrus only shook his head.

“It is good.” Piper wiped her hands on the paper towel and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. “Meadow is the one who got us into it. Although, she swears she can make it better. But she’s never tried.”

We ordered pizza after putting Brynn to bed. Piper was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed beneath her. After our moment in the kitchen, we had come outside. Piper had snuggled with Brynlee and ended up putting her to bed an hour later.

While Sammy and Cyrus talked amongst themselves, I couldn’t help but watch Piper. She pulled the elastic out of her hair, smoothing her fingers through the long dark strands. She massaged her head, a wince furrowing between her eyebrows.

“Come here,” I blurted.

Sammy and Cyrus looked my way.

Piper’s gaze snapped to mine.

I pointed to the floor in front of my feet.

She looked from the spot I was pointing at, to my face.

“Sit in front of me,” I told her, something sparking inside of me that I would soon have my hands on her again.

She chewed her bottom lip, a light flush gracing her cheeks, but she did as she was told. When she moved to the spot at my feet, I pulled her back between my knees and pushed my fingers through her hair and into her head. Massaging out the kinks, her worries, and everything else, I rubbed and kneaded.

Give me your fears, baby. All of them. I’ll take care of you. Both you and our daughter.

Piper sighed.

“Hey, if you’re offering free massages, I’m down for that.” Sammy waggled his eyebrows.

Cyrus smacked him across the back of the head.

“Ow.” Sammy punched his brother’s shoulder. “That hurt, fucker. You have like fifty pounds on me.”

Cyrus only smirked.

I leaned down to Piper’s ear. “Better?”

“Yeah,” she breathed, that single word husky and low, shooting right to the tip of my dick. “Thank you.”

I wasn’t there when her back hurt while she was pregnant with Brynlee, but I was here now. Any pain she had, was mine. I would make it go away. No matter what I had to do. I would take it on my shoulders and bear the brunt of her agony, whether she offered it to me or not.

Sitting back, I started braiding her hair. “Elastic,” I said when I was done, holding out my hand.

“Did you just braid my hair?” she asked, trying to turn her head.

“Yes, but you’re going to mess it up. So I need the elastic. Please.”

She gave it to me, but I could see the shock on her face.

Tying the elastic around the end of the braid, I tugged the end, forcing her head back. “Surprised, Piper?”

She laughed. “Little bit.”

Cyrus and Sammy only grinned.

“We were taught to braid hair a long time ago, kiddo.” Cyrus pulled his pack of smokes out of the inner pocket of his jacket. He