After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,73

what I had to do. I would help him.

Before Jaron came home, I probably would have cried over the fact that he still hadn’t told me what was going on with him. But then, on the other hand, I had to be patient. He did tell me that he was in love with me. He told me often how he loved me, so I couldn’t fault him for not revealing all. It was too soon. He needed time. We had so many lost moments together that we had to take what we could.

“Jaron? Hey.” I brushed my mouth over his. “You good?”

“You smell like me.” He nipped the side of my neck. “So yeah, I’m good.”

A breathless laugh left me.

He winked, kissed my neck one last time, and released me. “I’m going to hop in the shower.”

“Okay.” I went to the door when a throat clearing stopped me. “What’s wrong?”

Jaron was looking at my ass. “Nothing but your ass looks hot as fuck in those pants.”

A laugh burst through me. “Now you guys know why us girls like when you wear them. We can see everything.” I waggled my eyebrows.

His eyes popped to mine. “Good thing I have a pair to put on after my shower.”

I giggled, shaking my head. “Enjoy your shower.”

“You can join me,” he called out, heading into the bathroom.

“I have to check on our daughter.” Heading to Brynlee’s bedroom with a smile on my face, I went to her crib. She was sound asleep, resting on her little belly with her thumb in her mouth. Her dark head of hair matched both Jaron’s and mine. Her small nose along with her full lips, mirrored my own. Her skin was darker and that was all Jaron. His lineage was European, and those genes were definitely dominant in Brynlee.

I knew in the beginning people questioned whether I was in fact pregnant with Jaron’s baby. I wasn’t stupid. I heard the whispers. I heard my mom talking with her friends. She didn’t mean any harm by it, I knew that as well, but everyone was aware of the fact that I’d had a fling with Aiden and Ashton. Aiden kept it to himself, while Ashton bragged. Even though the fling was short lived, and we always used protection, it didn’t mean anything. Science was science. Condoms and birth control weren’t foolproof. I was just thankful that Brynn was all Jaron. As soon as she looked up at me with those beautiful eyes of hers, I knew.

“You’re doing so well, baby girl,” my mom coached. “Just one more push.”

I screamed, putting everything into that single push. Suddenly, the pressure released from somewhere deep inside of me. I fell back against the bed, my body coated in sweat.

Loud cries sounded around the room, forcing a sob from my lips.

“Want to meet your daughter?” Mom placed the small bundle in my arms, tears flowing down her cheeks.

When I glanced at my daughter through unshed tears, I knew before she opened her eyes that she was Jaron’s. And when she looked up at me, everything felt…right.

The scent of spice wafted into my nose.

My body heated.

Jaron came up behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder.

“I still can’t believe we made her,” I told him, gripping the edge of her crib.

“She’s the best part of us,” he said, his voice low. He curled his fingers around the edge of the crib on either side of mine, caging me in. He moved his hands closer to mine, his thumbs reaching out to brush along the sides of mine.

“She is,” I whispered. “She’s the only parts that matter.”

“I caved and was going to call you and get you to come visit me,” he confessed, still brushing his thumbs along the sides of my hands.

“Really?” I looked up at him then.

“Yeah, but somehow it got out. Someone was listening because I told Sammy and that evening, I got jumped.”

“Jaron.” I gasped. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but he was standing in front of me, so of course he was okay. But I wondered if it still hadn’t left a lingering effect.

“I don’t know who they were.” He pushed away from me and began pacing. “I thought maybe they were with a rival club or someone we had issues with, but no one would tell me anything. I had never seen them before. And I had a hard time seeing them anyway when they had me on the ground and…” He cleared his throat, a