Ashes (Web of Desire Book 3) by Aleatha Romig

Author:Aleatha Romig [Romig, Aleatha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Romig Works LLC
Published: 2020-04-06T18:30:00+00:00

Patrick

Madeline trembled beneath my touch.

“What happened?” I asked either of the ladies.

When Madeline didn’t answer, I turned to Laurel.

“I don’t know,” she said. “We were just talking about my research and the institute.”

Fuck.

“The institute?”

I hadn’t had the chance to mention to Madeline about the Sparrow connection or Araneae’s plight to right the wrongs of the past generation.

Taking Madeline’s hands in mine, I squeezed. “How about we continue this conversation later?”

Madeline nodded as moisture glistened in her green eyes.

I stood back up as did Laurel. It was then that I noticed the tray with two covered plates on the breakfast bar in the kitchen. Meeting her gaze, I smiled. “Thank you for bringing dinner.”

“Sorry,” she said with a grin, stepping past me and picking up the tray. “This was for Madeline and me. I can say something to Lorna if you’re hungry.”

“I’m good. Sparrow and I ate on the plane.”

“Okay, I’ll let Lorna know that unless…maybe you called ahead and told her?” Her eyebrows arched.

“You know us, Laurel.”

“So you didn’t think to mention it.”

“Right. Please tell Lorna we’re sorry.”

Laurel placed the coffee mug on the counter and lifted the tray. “Don’t worry, Patrick. Lorna knows you are.”

I opened the apartment door and walked Laurel to the elevator. Once we were out of earshot of Madeline, I asked, “What happened?”

Her expression grew sullen. “I don’t know. We were talking and eating and then she offered me coffee and asked about my research. I wanted to give her some perspective and started talking about the institute and why Araneae started it. All of a sudden…” The elevator opened and Laurel stepped in. “…she became very pale. I think mostly she’s overwhelmed. I get it.” She kept the door open with her foot. “This place is a lot. I had hoped my visit would help.”

“I’m sure it did.”

Laurel smiled as the doors closed. When I turned around, Madeline was standing in the doorway to our apartment. Her dark hair was tethered at the nape of her neck in a messy bun and her sexy body was covered with jeans and a soft sweater. In three long strides I was in front of her, close enough to feel her warmth and inhale her sweet scent.

“I’m not usually this fragile,” she said, looking up at me.

Instinctively, I reached out, my hands moving under her sweater and my fingers splaying upon her supple skin of her lower back. Pulled against me, her neck craned upward and her breasts came to my chest. “I know you’re not fragile. You’re the exact opposite, Maddie girl. You have survived what others haven’t. You’re not fragile. What you are to me is precious. I want to wrap you in Bubble Wrap, protect and shield you from every horror, not because I’m afraid you’ll break, but because I fucking love you. I know you’re irreplaceable because for seventeen years I never once tried. There was no use.” I leaned down until our lips touched.

The kiss soft and sweet, my eyes closed as her arms came around my torso beneath my jacket.

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