Motor City Witch by Cindy Spencer Pape Read Free Book Online Page B

back to the surface. In eleven hundred years, he’d never loved another woman the way he did the tiny Wyndewin . He’d looked for her after she left Detroit, left him, until her brother had told him in no uncertain terms to stop—that she never wanted to lay eyes on him again. After that, he’d buried himself in his work, trying to forget the woman who’d claimed his heart.
    Now, gods help him, another part of his heart had already been claimed by her—or maybe their—daughter. Why the hell had someone taken the girl? Because of him? It was the only thing that made any sense given the timing. He looked up into the blasting water, glad the shower would wash away the few stray tears that escaped despite his best intentions.
    Finally when he got mind and body back under control, he climbed out of the shower and dried himself off. Since he’d said he’d leave his door open, he materialized a pair of silk pajama pants and pulled them on before heading back into his bedroom. The soothing dark blues and greens of the luxurious chamber did nothing for his mood tonight—this morning—but even he needed some downtime. Muffling a yawn of his own, he pulled back the thick duvet and climbed between the sheets.
    Before he could turn off the light, his door, which he’d left ajar about an inch, slid further open. Aidan sat up in bed as Elise crept barefooted into the room.
    “Do you need something?” Gods, she was adorable in that virginal white nightgown.
    Elise shook her head. “Your staff is thorough. The bathroom was fully stocked.” She moved closer to the foot of the bed and wrung her hands together. “I—just—couldn’t sleep.”
    “Elise…” He had no idea what he was about to say, so it was good that she stopped him with one hand held in front of her.
    “Please. I…I can’t be alone right now.”
    He was throwing back the covers even before he heard the crack in her voice. “Come here, leannan. ” His arms opened wide.
    “Aidan!” She launched herself around the bed and into his arms.
    “I’m here, dearling.” He pulled her into his lap and dragged the covers up over them both.
    “I feel like I should be doing something—anything, but I don’t know what to do.”
    “I know. But right now we have to wait for information. I promise, we’re doing every single thing we can.”
    “The rational part of me knows that.” She gave a suspicious sniffle. “But the emotional part isn’t happy about it.”
    “You’re a mother, leannan . Of course you want to be doing something. But right now you need to rest. Taking care of yourself is important too.” He dropped a kiss on her silky black hair, inhaling her scent, as his hands coursed up and down her spine.
    “I wanted to tell you.” Her words came out so softly, he barely heard them. “I debated all through my pregnancy, wondering if I should call you, praying she was yours.”
    “I wish you had, dear one.” What more could he say?
    “I was afraid.” Her voice dropped even lower. “I didn’t want to tie you down, when you had so much else going on.” The emotion he heard in her tone nearly broke him. He’d made it clear that being part of a couple wasn’t his first priority. Aidan knew he was as guilty as Elise for the collapse of their relationship, maybe more.
    “I’ve missed this.” She nuzzled the base of his neck. “Nobody in the world smells like you do, so warm and woodsy.”
    She was killing him. Worse, she had to notice the erection stabbing up into her backside. Elise didn’t say anything, only shifted against his lap, inflaming him further. She nipped the tendon on the side of his throat and reached one hand up to stroke the point of his ear. Aidan shuddered as his entire body tensed. An elf’s ears were sensitive.
    “Make me forget for a while, Aidan. Make it all go away, if only for a few minutes.”
    “Oh, dearling, this is not a good idea.” Every cell of his being was screaming at him to strip off the sedate