Page 88 of After Us (Next Generation 6)

“I love you too,” I whispered.

Jaron sat back, pushing his fingers through his hair. “What’s up, Sammy?”

Grabbing my beer, I headed to the kitchen to clean up from our dinner earlier. I heard Jaron’s muffled voice coming from the living room. Unsure as to what Sammy could be calling for, I gave them a moment of privacy. Just in case it was club business that I shouldn’t be privy to. Not that Jaron ever kept things from me but both Cyrus and Sammy had told me often how they filled him in whenever they went to see him.

Letting out a hard sigh, I leaned against the counter and finished off my beer. From where I stood, I couldn’t see Jaron, but I could hear him. His mumbled words, the gruff deep vibrato of his voice. Something was wrong. I wasn’t sure how I knew but I could feel it deep in my gut.

Jaron suddenly appeared in the entranceway to the kitchen. He was no longer on the phone but there was a deep scowl on his face. Whatever Sammy told him, couldn’t have been good. The lines etched on Jaron’s face told me that he was pissed. About something. But I had no idea what. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, to beg for his words, to plead for him to give me all of him. Every word. Every syllable. Every damn breath as he spoke his truths.

His hands were shoved into the pockets of his jeans, but I could still see the outline of his thick length.

My eyes glanced up, locking with his.

He smirked.

My cheeks heated at being caught staring at his crotch.

“Don’t.”

I swallowed hard at that single word.

Jaron took a step toward me. “Don’t ever be embarrassed for looking at me. You want something, you don’t even have to ask. Just take it, Piper. Take whatever it is that you need. I’ll always be willing to give it to you.”

“Even if we’re fighting?” I asked, my voice small and unsure. I loved him. I loved him with every inch of me, but I had never been in a relationship before. Were there rules that I didn’t know about?

He took those final steps between us and cupped my face.

I shivered, pushing my cheek into his calloused palm.

“Especially when we’re fighting,” he said, his voice low.

“Is everything okay?” I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he didn’t look happy after his conversation with Sammy.

“The mayor’s still causing shit.” Jaron cupped my jaw. “I don’t want you going anywhere alone. I know it makes me sound controlling but it’s the only way I know how to keep you safe. You want to go out, we go together.”

I nodded. “Okay but what if I went somewhere with the twins?”

A dark shadow passed over Jaron’s face. “I sure as fuck hope you mean Cyrus and Sammy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course.”

“Don’t roll your eyes, Piper.” His grip on my jaw tightened. “I remember how jealous you got when Candace called me.”

“That’s different.” But was it?

“It’s not but good try.” He smirked.

I huffed. “I won’t go anywhere with either set of twins, alright? Does that make you feel better?”

“No.” Jaron cupped my shoulders, running his hands down my arms. “Normally, I wouldn’t care if you went anywhere with Cyrus and Sammy but with the mayor sniffing around, I’d rather you be with me, so I know where you are at all times. I know that sounds even more controlling…”

“I get it.” Maybe itwascontrolling but after what we had been through already, I didn’t care so much. “Anything else going on?”

“No.” But as he said that single word, something flashed in his eyes.

I leaned back, staring up at him. “You’re lying.”

“It’s nothing, babe.” He kissed my forehead. “Let me worry about it.”

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