After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,5

single guy she had been with.

As if she could hear my thoughts, Piper ran her hands around to my front. They inched beneath my hoodie, the tips of her fingers brushing over my abs.

My dick jumped but not because it turned me on. There was that too, but this was more of us getting to know each other again. Getting reacquainted in ways neither of us were prepared for.

Piper leaned her head against my back. I could feel the shudder rippling through her. She wasn’t a crier and the sobs that tore through her when we were finally reunited, made what I felt for her grow into something I had never experienced before.

Love.

It was definitely love I felt for the woman behind me. She held onto me like I was her lifeline when really, she was mine. She kept me sane. Her and our daughter were the only reasons I survived the months in jail. It could have been longer but the time we were apart, fucked me up. I did things to survive. Evil, vile things. Things I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies. I had been known to be a hothead, more so than my own father, and it was used against me.

Piper squeezed me, pulling me from my thoughts. It was like she knew.

I cupped her hand, giving it a squeeze, silently thanking her.

She looked good. So damn good. Her body was fuller. She was also curvier than I last remembered. Although I would have known this, if I would had let her come see me in prison. But I refused. It wasn’t a place for her. As much as I needed it, I had to protect her from those monsters. And at the same time, I had to protect her from me.

Once we pulled up in front of my parents’ place, I killed the engine, kicked out the kickstand and waited. For what, I wasn’t sure. I looked out at the vast house. For some reason, it felt bigger since I had last seen it. My father wanted to expand on it, but my mother had always told him no. She said it was big enough.

I pulled off my helmet, resting it on the gas tank in front of me.

“Jaron?” Piper wrapped her arms tighter around me. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. I wasn’t sure what I needed. A drink. Sex. To leave. I didn’t know. Maybe I would never know but whatever it was that I needed, I knew that I needed it with Piper and only her.

She slid off the back of the bike, pulled off the helmet, and rested it on the seat behind me.

“What did you tell me months ago?” She cupped my nape, running her fingers through my hair. “You said we had this. That we always had this.” Her chocolate brown eyes locked with mine. “I can’t do this without you but whatever you need, I’m here. If it’s space, time, to talk…something else…I am always here.”

I swallowed hard, nodding slightly.

Her light brown hair was a mess of waves, the ends sitting just below her chest. I noticed then how freckles graced her skin even more now since I had seen her last, almost like the sun had kissed her beautiful body.

“I promise, Jaron.” She cupped my face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I covered her hands with mine, staring intently at her. “I need you,” I told her softly.

Piper leaned her forehead against mine. “You have me. You’ve always had me. Even when we were apart…”

“I know.” I cupped the back of her neck, sliding my fingers into her hair. “I should have gotten my head out of my ass and searched you out long ago.”

She laughed lightly, standing upright. “We’re together now.” She gave me a small smile. Reaching out, she brushed her thumb along my bottom lip.

That soft touch eased some of the anxiety rushing through me. Being without her was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I would do it again and again, if it meant keeping her safe.

I pushed her back gently and slid off the bike before I pulled her back into my arms.

She sighed, melting into me.

Every inch of me pressed up against her and if we were alone, I would have taken advantage of the situation. But we weren’t, and we wouldn’t be for a while, so instead, I just held her.

“God, I missed you. I missed this. I just…I missed us,” she whispered,