Reclaimed (Powell Sanctuary #5)

Aiden

That Same Day

I flick my pool cue into the white just as my phone rings. The green stripe I was shooting for spins in a straight line to the right corner pocket. At Isla’s name on the screen, I straighten.

“Ready to get out of wedding dress hell?”

“How do you feel about March 7 th ?” she says, ignoring my question.

I work over the date in my mind. “What’s special about March 7 th ?”

She gives a breathy laugh. “It’s about to become our son’s birthday.”

I lock eyes with Jack across the sea of green felt. “You’re in labor?”

“My water broke all over the floor at the bridal shop. Poor woman was about to have a heart attack at the mess.”

“Shit, baby. We’ll send her flowers or something. How are you holding up?”

“Me and my wedding dress hell have it all under control, Aiden,” Cortney snaps into the phone.

“You’re on speaker,” Isla adds.

“Would have been helpful to know, starshine. I’m on my way, okay? Be there in five.”

By the time I hang up, Jack’s already collected the pool cues.

“How you feeling?” he asks as we climb into my sedan. Thank god we took my car today because I have Isla’s hospital bag in the back.

“I’m excited.” A laugh of disbelief falls out. “Fuck, man. I’m about to be a dad.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital so you can be with her. If the others haven’t already made the calls, I’ll take care of it once we’re there.”

Five minutes later we roll up to the drop-off zone of Fairview Valley Hospital just in time to see Cortney push Isla inside in a wheelchair. For some reason, my sister is wearing a wedding gown.

I leave Jack with my car and jog after them. The duffel on my shoulder swings against my back with every second step.

“Fancy.” I stop Cortney with a hand on her shoulder and lean down to kiss Isla. “Hanging in there, starshine?”

“I’m perfect.” Her eyes scrunch with what I assume is a contraction. “Everything is going dandy here, lover ,” she gasps around the endearment.

“Let’s get you upstairs. I’ve got it from here if you want to get changed, Cort.”

My sister releases the chair. “I left my clothes at the bridal shop. You’re not allowed to have that baby until I get back.” Cortney backs away, her index finger pointed at Isla.

“I have a feeling that won’t be an issue,” Isla retorts.

The automatic doors open to let Cortney out just as more members of my family file in. All the girls, Mom, and Jack.

“Jude and Lee are finishing up with a stray. Corjan’s on his way now after speaking with Scarlett about the change of plans.” Jack stops with his hands on his hips.

“Go on. We’ll find our way to the waiting room.” Mom engulfs me in a brief hug before giving one to Isla next. “Good luck. I love you both.”

With apprehensive smiles, we approach the front desk.

Five hours later, after one epidural and a bucket of ice chips, the team converts the bed, and Isla’s ready to push.

My heart pounds so hard I fear I might pass out as we get into position. Her gown is pulled up beneath her breasts and her legs are spread. One in my arms and the other held by a kind nurse. I brush the light brown hair off Isla’s forehead and lean down for a lingering kiss.

“You’re going to be the best mom, Isla. I’m so lucky to be here with you.”

“Promise you won’t leave me.” Her eyes flash with fear.

I grip her hand in mine. “They’d have to drag me out of here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then promise you won’t pass out.”

I chuckle. “That should be the least of your concerns.”

“Are you ready to push, Isla?” The masked doctor at her feet moves into position.

We share a tender glance before Isla nods her head.

“Ready.”

She pushes for an hour. Despite the exhaustion setting in, my girl doesn’t give up for a second. On and on she bears down with each contraction, and finally, at six-forty-three on March 7 th , our son enters the world.

His birth is a blur of activity. A pair of silver scissors is shoved into my hand and the doctor points to the thick, spongy looking cord. “Cut here, daddy.”

Daddy. Emotion punches me in the chest.

I fight against trembling as I slip the blades around the cord and snip the tether from baby to mother. The little guy is wiped and placed on Isla’s chest for a quick meeting before he’s whisked away for a check-up and a weight.

“Seven pounds, two ounces and eighteen-and-a-half inches long.”

Then he’s bundled in a blanket and a hat and placed back into his mother’s arms.

“Look at our boy,” she says happily. “God, he’s so beautiful.”

I find his little fingers in the blanket and wrap them around my thumb. His grip is tight. “He sure is. Beautiful like you.”

We spend an immeasurable amount of time just staring at our son in awe.

“What was your dad’s name?”

Her question takes me by surprise. I work to clear my throat. “His name was John.”

She looks lovingly at the baby and adjusts his little hat. “Then we’ll name him John.” She brings her gaze to mine. “John Myles Powell.”

“Isla, even my last name?” I choke. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She reaches out to cup my cheek. “You did it, Aiden. You took his advice. You got it right the first time and now you have me for the rest of your life. I think that’s worth naming our son after.”

“Thank you,” I gasp against her lips, not giving the first fuck about the tear dripping from my eye onto her cheek. Easing myself beside her on the bed, I slip the black box from my pocket. “There doesn’t seem to be a better time than now to give you this.” I flip open the lid.

The huge oval-cut diamond gleams beneath the bright overhead lights.

“Oh my god.”

“I don’t want to leave this hospital without all three of us sharing a name. Not after all you did to make sure we could be a family. You’re strong, Isla. A survivor. And I’m lucky as hell you’ve decided to do this life by my side.”

Thick tears course down her flushed cheeks. “When did you get that?”

My grin is lopsided as I pluck the ring from the box. “I’ve been carrying it around for about four months now, give or take a couple weeks, just waiting for the right time.”

Her mouth falls open slightly. “Well are you going to ask me?”

“Isla Fitzgerald, will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife?” My body vibrates as I wait for her to utter the word that will make her mine forever.

“Yes. Oh my god, yes.” I slip the silver band gently over her ring finger. “Love you, Aiden Powell.”

“Love you too, Isla. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I’m going to prove to you every fucking day that I do.”

Isla

Two Months Later

“The wedding is off.”

“What?” I set down the microchip scanner and stare at Cortney.

She throws her black hair into a messy ponytail and rolls up the white sleeves beneath her blue scrubs. “You heard me.”

Juniper and I exchange a concerned glance.

“What happened?” Juniper summons the courage to ask the question first.

Cortney slams a clipboard down on the makeshift exam table before whirling away. “Doesn’t matter. I just wanted you guys to know. Tell the others.”

“Cortney,” I try but she cuts me off, tears filling her eyes.

“I just can’t right now, okay? I need to do something. I need to work. I don’t even want to think about it right now I’m so mad. Sebastian is… is… He’s a jerk . A massive fucking jerk!”

I automatically reach out but let my hand fall before I make contact. “I understand. When you’re ready, we’ll be here.”

“Has anyone actually seen Spencer?” She bites out, her words louder this time.

Jack attaches a leash to a four-year-old black lab who’s about to walk out the door with his new owner. The eager dog sits patiently and wags his sweeping tail across the linoleum floor. Jack appraises his sister with a wrinkled brow. “Haven’t seen him.”

Cortney huffs. “The damn fundraiser is for him. You’d think he’d have the decency to show.”

“Sutton said he just got into town. Might not be ready to show his face yet,” Lee answers, his mouth creased as he stares as his sister like she’s lost her mind.

I ready an adoption bag and quietly hand it over to Jack.

Jack takes the handle. “It’ll be worth it whether he shows or not. We’ve pulled in a few hundred here, but last I heard from Mom, the raffle is a hit.”

The tension in our little circle reaches a level of uncomfortable I’d like to escape from. Across the room, Aiden talks with a couple of guys. He has baby John strapped to his chest, a big palm cradling the back of his head.

I lick my lips, missing the rest of the conversation around me.

Who knew dads could be so freaking hot?

As if feeling my heated stare, Aiden turns his head and catches my eye. The slow smile spreading across his face cranks my lust up a notch, and when he saunters over, my panties damn near combust.

“Hey, starshine.” He leans over and kisses me, holding John carefully between us.

“Hey, lover. How’s he doing?”

“Out like a light. He really loves to walk around in this thing. The movement puts him to sleep.”

I gently run my fingertips over his silky baby hairs. They’ve darkened some since he was born, giving him a full head of dark brown. “Are you ready to go? My shift is just about done.”

I think about what Cortney said and want to get Aiden alone to discuss.

“Ready as soon as you are.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. The tender touch zips beneath my navel, and my stomach clenches.

“You two can take off.” Corjan walks up, slapping a manilla folder against his hand. “We can manage the final hour.”

“You’re sure?” Aiden asks. “We don’t mind staying.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. You too, Jack. I just saw Whitney in a chair nursing Soren. We’re good here.”

“I’m not going to argue. See you guys later.” With a wave, Jack disappears. We say our brief goodbyes and follow.

Once home, we fall into our easy nighttime routine. Aiden holds John so that I can change into something more comfortable, and then we switch. Aiden takes care of Remy while I nurse John before he goes down for a few hours of sleep. And once our little guy is snoozing softly in his bassinet, the two of us gravitate together for a couple hours until John wakes up hungry again.

The last two months have been hard. Not because of the newborn, though that comes with its own unique set of challenges. The hardest part has been keeping our hands off one another.

“We should go,” I whisper.

“One more minute.” Aiden links his fingers with mine, drawing my knuckles to his mouth for a tender kiss.

I sigh softly. “How is he getting so big already?”

Aiden eases me into his arms and rests his chin on the top of my head. We gaze down at our sleeping son together. “I don’t know. He needs to slow down.”

John’s pursed mouth moves in a sucking motion, and we both freeze.

“We really should go. Before he wakes up,” I urge.

“I hate this part.”

“Me too.”

With one last lingering look at John, we sneak out of his nursery. Aiden carefully closes the door so the latch won’t startle him. He leans his back against it, hands still wrapped around the knob. The way he gazes down at me with those smoldering blue eyes reawakens the arousal I felt during the fundraiser.

“What now, starshine?”

I step into him, my palm flat against his torso as I rise onto my tiptoes. “My doctor cleared me today.”

His nostrils flare. “Cleared you how?”

I spin toward our bedroom, my hips swaying with every step. “I think you should come and find out.”

For a second, he doesn’t move. He watches me reach our bedroom and nudge open our door. I glance over my shoulder to find him still as a statue. All except his hand which steadily strokes over the length of his thickening cock in his jeans.

“Fuck,” he growls. In three strides he’s across the hall, hands fitted to my soft hips as he pushes me the rest of the way inside our room and closes the door. “You’re mine.”

“I’m all yours,” I keen as his eager mouth finds my neck. Licking and sucking the skin there, he walks us over to the bed.

“Strip, baby. I need you bare.”

I don’t waste time with a sexy show. It’s been a long eight weeks of waiting and teasing each other.

Aiden proves that to be true when he follows me up the bed, shoves me face first into the pillows, and eats me from behind until I scream his muffled name into the plush padding.

As he rolls me over, he doesn’t miss the dazed look in my eyes. “There she is,” he murmurs, stroking his finger down my cheek. He fits his hips between my thighs and settles his solid cock at my entrance. We moan together as he slowly pushes inside.

“Missed this.” He drops his forehead to mine. “Missed you.”

“Me too.” I kiss him.

He laces our fingers, planting them beside my head. “Can you take more of me?”

I tighten my thighs around his hips. “I can take all of you, Aiden. Please, give me all of you.”

“It’s yours.” He moves then, our bodies crashing together. “Every part of me belongs to you. My heart. My soul. My fucking life, starshine. Take it.” He thrusts harder. Deeper. “Take it until there’s nothing left but what we have together.”

We lose ourselves in each other. Words fall away to grunts and moans as Aiden drives me higher. His finger rolls over my clit so perfectly, bringing me to that blissful peak. My limbs tighten as my heart swells, and with a muted shout, he shoves deep and we both fall over the edge together.

As our breathing evens out, Aiden rolls, taking me with him. He settles on his back and rearranges me on his chest so my arm and leg straddle him and my cheek rests on his pecs.

“I have to say, as much as I miss the baby bump, it’s nice to lay like this without him getting in the way.” I squeeze Aiden for emphasis.

“I love it all. Every part. Every memory. Every single way you come.” Aiden kisses the top of my head.

I trace the muscles of his chest, running my index finger over his hard nipple. He jumps at the sudden touch. “You like that?” I grin in the dim light.

“It felt good.”

Leaning up on an elbow, I lave my tongue over the other one.

“Shit, baby. You’re getting me hard again.”

Slipping my fingers between us, I circle his half-hard cock. “You’re going to have to let me recover. I need to get used to this monster again.”

Aiden lightly runs his fingers over my ribs. “We have plenty of time.”

“Years,” I concur.

“I meant tonight.” Aiden laughs lightly. “John will sleep for another two hours. I’ll go gentle this time.”

My pussy throbs at the idea.

I settle back down on him, basking in the contentment I feel lying quietly in bed.

“Does it feel wrong to be this happy when your sister is suffering?”

Aiden stiffens. “Suffering how?”

“She said the wedding is off. Something happened but she wouldn’t tell us what.”

The tension leaks from Aiden’s muscles. “I can’t say I’m not happy she won’t be tied to that moron for the rest of her life, but I hate to hear she’s hurting. She’ll be okay, though.”

“How do you know?”

Aiden’s finger and thumb find my chin, lifting it until he catches my eyes.

“If you’ve taught me anything, it’s that no matter how dark your world is, the sun will always shine again tomorrow. She’s going through some tough things, but I know with a bit of support and love, she’ll figure it out.”

“I taught you that?”

“You did,” he confirms.

I settle into his side with a satisfied grin. “What else have I taught you?”

He rolls into me, pressing my back into the mattress. “You taught me exactly how to make you come.”

“What else?”

He kisses my sternum as he descends down my body. “You’ve taught me how to fuck you until you scream.”

“Mm. I remember.”

He fits himself between my thighs. “I think I might need a little more practice.”

For the next two hours until John wakes up, he does exactly that.