Page 32 of Before Us (Next Generation 3)

“Piper,” he growled, coming toward me. “You deserve more than that.”

“I don’t care,” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face. “I need you.”

“Fuck.” Jaron crashed into me, wrapping himself around me. All we did was hold each other. I wasn’t sure how long we stood like that. After what felt like an eternity, he pulled back. “I got blood on you.”

I swallowed hard, looking down at myself. “I’m sure they’ll want this for evidence.”

“When I saw him on top of you. His marks on you.” Jaron pinched my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “I’ll never forgive myself for letting you walk away from me tonight.”

“Don’t do that.” My voice cracked. “It’s not your fault.”

He cupped my cheek, brushing his hand to the back of my head and held me against him. “Yeah, I’d like to report an attempted rape and murder,” he muttered.

A sob left me when I realized he had called the police.

“I just found you.” I pulled him tighter against me. “And now you’re leaving. You’re leaving me.”

“I’m sorry, Piper.” He pulled back and leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m so fucking sorry. I never should have pushed you away. I should have spent more time with you in Paris instead of just fucking you.”

“I’m the one who left you,” I reminded him.

“But that was on me.”

“I was scared.” I stared up at him. “My feelings for you scare me.”

“I know, baby.” He placed a hard peck on my mouth. “I know.”

Tears rolled freely down my cheeks. This was it. He would be taken from me for who knew how long. But no matter what he said, I would wait for him. Paris didn’t happen for no reason. We were meant to be. I knew we had a lot of shit to work through, but he was mine and I was his. Before we even began, there was something there. Paris reiterated that fact.

“Piper.” As soon as my name left Jaron’s lips, a hard knock sounded on the door. It was shoved open suddenly, revealing two police officers.

“No.” I gripped Jaron’s jacket. “Jaron, please.”

“I’ll go quietly with you,” he told the officers, ignoring me. “As long as you don’t cuff me.”

They glanced between each other.

“Fine,” the one officer said. “Don’t make me regret being nice.”

Jaron kissed my forehead. “I have to go.”

“Please. I lo—”

“What did I say?” he snapped.

My chest tightened.

One of the officers pulled him from me.

The last thing I saw when they took him out of the bathroom was the look of pain in Jaron’s dark-gray eyes.

I fell to my knees, sobs crashing through me. I couldn’t do this. I wasn’t strong enough. My heart felt like it was being ripped into a million tiny pieces. Jaron was an asshole most times, but he was mine. He had always been mine and, before we could move forward, we were set completely back.

Jaron

I RAN MYthumb over the black and white photo in my hand. It had been the only thing keeping me going. I pushed Piper away and yet she was still able to get to me. She wasn’t giving up on us. I didn’t deserve her. I didn’t deserve any of this, but I craved her just the same. I wanted her happy. I waited for the day I could put a smile on her face and make her laugh. I waited for the day I could tell her how I felt and hear her say the same.

“This is just sex, Piper,” I said, kissing the corner of her mouth as I ripped her panties free from her body. “That’s all I want.”

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