After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,62

Is that bad?”

I took her hand, enclosing it in mine. “You had a trauma there, Piper. It’s understandable that you feel that way.”

She nodded, chewing her bottom lip. “Gigi doesn’t throw parties anymore. Vince doesn’t like them anyway, but they have people over every now and again. I’m looking forward to their wedding. And Luna and Zach’s.”

And ours. My heart clenched. It was way too damn soon to think about it, but I still liked to hope that one day it would happen.

“Did you live with your parents after everything happened?” I had learned that she never went back to the old house, but I still wanted her to tell me everything. I wanted Piper to reveal every feeling, every dark secret. Her pain, her agony, and her love. I wanted to know her fantasies, her kinks, and her desires. I wanted to know every single thing that made up Piper.

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I felt bad. I think Gigi feels that it’s her fault but it’s not. God, it’s no one’s fault but Brody’s,” she said, her voice wavering.

I squeezed her hand. She said that it wasn’t my fault either. And while I knew that, I still acted out before thinking. I caused so much damn pain for her and my parents, I didn’t know how to make up for that. I just wanted to move on but the noise in my head was too loud at times.

“We should go.” Piper left the car, staring up at the house.

I forced myself to do the same and joined her at her side. Linking our fingers, I brought our hands up to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “We can stay an hour and then go.”

She nodded. “It looks like everyone’s in the back.”

With her hand in mine, Piper led us to the backyard. The voices from our friends carried, getting louder and louder as we neared them.

She took a deep breath and then another. “Jaron.” She stopped.

I stepped in front of her, cupping her cheek. Brushing my thumb along her bottom lip, I kissed her forehead. “Deep breath.”

She inhaled, mirroring my own breathing. “I don’t get out much anymore. It’s kind of…it’s scary.” Her voice trembled, hitting somewhere deep inside me that had never been reached before.

“Again,” I demanded, not liking the sound of fear in her voice.

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

“Better?”

She looked up at me through her dark lashes. “Yeah. You?”

“Yeah.” Leaning my forehead against hers, I cupped her arms. “We got this, baby, and I’ll help you through it all. I promise.”

She nodded. “I’ll help you too.”

“Good because we do have this. I refuse to have it any other way.” I grabbed her hand again. “Remember, I’m a stubborn fucker.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I know.”

“Hey.”

Both of us turned at the sound of a deep voice.

Ashton Donovan stood behind the fence leading to the backyard.

My hackles rose, my stomach twisting at the sight of him. Knowing that both he and his brother used to have a thing with Piper, didn’t sit well with me.

His eyes locked with mine, a slow smirk spreading on his face.

My jaw clenched, my teeth grinding together so damn hard, a pain shot up the side of my face.

“You joining us or just going to stand there the whole night?” he threw at us.

I could see out of my peripheral that Piper was looking up at me, but I could only focus on the cocky fucker staring at us.

Ashton lifted his chin as if he were egging me on.

“Jaron.” Piper tugged my hand.

My gaze slowly slid from Ashton to her. “Why don’t you meet me in the back? Grab us a drink and save me a seat.”

She frowned. “What are you going to do?”

Something I should have done a long time ago. In a quick move, I had my hand wrapped around her throat before I could stop myself.

A gasp escaped her. Her eyes darkened, lust billowing between us.

I took one last look at Ashton before lowering my mouth to Piper’s.

She sighed, opening to me and, being the type of woman she was, didn’t care that I kissed her in public. She didn’t care that I was staking my claim in front of a guy she used to fuck. I didn’t give a shit that it had only been a handful of times. The fact that Ashton and his brother both knew what Piper looked like, tasted like, and sounded like, didn’t sit well with me. Especially when he threw it in my face without so much of a