Page 124 of Reclaimed

The story is sad, but the destruction he caused is tragic.

I’m beyond lucky to still be alive. If they hadn’t found me… I have to put the unfathomable possibilities from my mind.

My bladder gives another insistent twitch. “Aiden.” I scrape my knuckles against his scalp.

He lifts his head from my chest, his other hand caressing my growing belly. He’s been sleeping this way ever since he got me back a week ago.

“Mm. Comfy.”

“I think you’d be comfier if you used something other than my body as a pillow.”

“Can’t,” he mumbles sleepily. “Can’t fall asleep without your heartbeat.”

Said heartbeat skips and his heartbreakingly sweet words. His palm presses against my stomach. “He’s kicking.”

Closing my eyes again, I cover his hand with mine. Together, we experience the weak little punches.

I spent the night in the hospital after the ordeal for monitoring and dehydration. We got to see our little boy again, and the relief was so overwhelming both Aiden and I cried. I felt his little kicks while I was held in that cabin, but that hadnothing on seeing his heart beating on the black and white screen.

“How are you feeling?” Sleepy grit deepens his voice.

“I’m good.” I scratch his head again. “How are you, lover?”

“Content.” He yawns before giving me his soft blue eyes.

With a lingering kiss against my sternum, Aiden crawls down the bed. The heat of his mouth warms the cotton t-shirt draped over my belly.

“Hey little man. You’re only about the size of a spaghetti squash, but don’t beat up your momma too hard, okay? She needs her rest.”

His hands cup the sides of my stomach as he converses.

“We both love you so much already. I’m excited to meet you and find out what parts of your momma you have. Did you get her pretty blonde hair or her long fingers or her crooked pinky toe?”

I dig my foot into his ribs. “My toe isn’t crooked!”

Both of us look toward the end of the bed at my feet sticking out from underneath the blanket. I bite my lip to stifle a laugh at the sight of my little pinkies turned inward.

“They’re adorable, starshine. Perfect like the rest of you.” He leans toward my belly like he’s telling it a secret. “Shh, don’t tell your mom, but her imperfections are what I love most about her.”

“Okay, Aiden Powell. Get off me. I still need to pee and now I need to cry.”

He crawls back up the bed, a slow, devastating smile spreading across his face. He rubs the stubble on his cheeks against the swells of my breasts. My nipples respond to the abrasive touch. “Cry, starshine. Your tears are mine to dry.”

Cupping the back of his head, I bring his mouth to mine. “As sweet as that is, I’m not interested in wetting the bed.”

“Could be fun.”

“Aiden!”

He flops off me onto his back. “Hurry back to me, Isla. I need to fuck you before we head to my mom’s.”

My thighs clench at his blunt request. “Be right back.”

The receptionat the Powell family gathering would overwhelm someone who wasn’t just kidnapped. Everyone already checked in on us, either during my short hospital stay or at our house over the course of the week, but seeing them all at once gathered again has tears springing to my eyes.

So many people in this room played part in my rescue. Aiden told me how Corjan drove him to XO’s and the rest of the Powell men followed. How Juniper had the brilliant idea to check our location sharing. How Lee stepped in and kept Aiden from running into the cabin after me and more than likely saved him from getting himself shot.

Nancy and Frankie cooked up a storm and delivered us meals all week. Cortney took care of our animals so we could focus on ourselves. Bree and Whitney gathered totes of baby boy clothes and delivered them to Aiden’s house so that I didn’t have to worry about shopping now that I’m out of a job. Frankie and Jude went back to XO’s to get my replacement check.

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