Chapter 79 – Kidnapped by My Mate Series II: His Lost Queen

Filed To Story: Kidnapped by My Mate Novel (Belle & Grayson) Online Free by Annie Whipple

But, yet again, I didn’t think killing people would be a good way of earning back Belle’s trust. It was tempting, though. Extremely tempting.

I watched with an unyielding gaze as Belle rushed behind the front counter to submit an order she had just taken. After handing it off to the kitchen, she made a move to turn but then abruptly stopped.

I stiffened, watching as her shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, and her entire body slumped forward, leaning slightly against the counter in front of her.

She was exhausted. She had been working nonstop since I had gotten here this morning, and it was well into the afternoon now—almost 5 p.m.

It was clear to me that my mate wasn’t sleeping, wasn’t eating, was in more pain than I could even comprehend because I was here, and, to top it all off, she was working herself to the bone.

I didn’t know how much longer I could just sit back and watch this.

I grew extremely close to breaking my promise to myself not to use my alpha tone or power of the Mortars on her and force her to hear me out so we could be done with this whole mess and I could have her in my arms again.

But I forced myself to be patient.

Belle tried to turn but fell forward, stumbling over her feet. Thankfully, she was able to grip the counter next to her, so she didn’t fall. She looked disoriented and tired.

I was up and across the room in seconds. I stood behind her, pressing myself up against her in case she needed to lean on me for support. I carefully placed my hands on her waist.

Her body tensed, and her breathing picked up.

“You need a break,” I growled in her ear.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “You can’t be back here,” she whispered back to me, making sure her voice was quiet enough so no one else would hear her.

She pushed at me with her elbow, but her attempts were weak and futile.

“You need a break,” I repeated.

“I’m fine,” she fumed, as stubborn as ever. “Leave me alone.”

Her annoyed little huffs were adorable.

“You’ve been working for nine hours straight without stopping for food or water.

And don’t even get me started on the damn shoes you’re wearing if you can even call them that.”

I glared down at the heels encasing her feet. “You need to sit down, eat some food, and rest. I’m not asking.”

She tried to squirm out of my grip, but I wouldn’t let her. She looked around at all of the customers. Their heads were turned, watching our interaction. “Please, Grayson. You’re making a scene.”

I didn’t give a shit. “You won’t like the scene I’ll make if you don’t do as I say.

“I would be more than happy to put you to sleep right now and throw you over my shoulder the same way I did on that plane to Paris if that’s what it takes to get you to take care of yourself.”

Her eyes snapped to mine, widening. “Y-You put me to sleep? How?”

“You became a member of my pack the moment I laid eyes on you. I used my alpha tone on you to calm you down when you were panicking.

“I haven’t used it since, but I would have no problem using it now as this is a matter of your health.” I didn’t bother mentioning that I now had the power of the Mortars too. All in due time.

Her eyes blazed with anger. “How dare you? You have no right to control or take advantage of me that way.”

She shoved at my chest but stumbled backward when another dizzy spell hit her from lack of food.

I growled and grabbed her before she could fall, tugging her against my chest. I took pride in how her body relaxed against mine, forced to give in to the mate bond even when her mind still struggled.

“I would never use it to take advantage of you, only for your own safety.” I pressed her as close as I could to my body before bending down and gently kissing her infected mark.

I needed her to calm down, and kissing that spot did exactly that. She melted against me even more, letting me take all of her weight with a breathy sigh.

And then the sweet scent of her arousal filled the air around us.

I held in a groan as I breathed her in, loving the effect I had on her and the way she squirmed against me, trying to get closer.

She was always so responsive when it came to my touch, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Obviously wanting more, Belle tilted her head to the side, her small hands gripping my shirt.

It was extremely unusual that we, as a mated couple, hadn’t completed the mating process yet. Her arousal was the mate bond pushing us together.

And now that I had her, it would only get worse until I took care of her in the way she needed.

But now wasn’t the time for this. She needed to rest, not get turned on.

With great difficulty, I was able to pry my lips from her mark and look at her. She was obviously still a bit disoriented from the kiss. Her eyes were glossy, and her pretty lips turned down in a frown.

My own body was buzzing from her touch. My wolf howled in my mind, urging me to continue with what we had been doing. I was tempted to follow his orders.

It felt so good to finally hold her again, even under the circumstances.

But the exhausted look in Belle’s eyes and the way her body swayed, barely able to support itself, was enough to hold me back.

We could— would—do all of that later and only when she was ready, not when the bond was pushing her. Right now, though, she needed me to take care of her.

“You’re exhausted, Belle,” I whispered to her, running my nose against her temple.

She was slowly starting to come out of her trance. Realizing what I had just done to her, her expression turned into a scowl, accompanied by a sweet blush. “Let go of me. I’m fine.”

I shook my head and then ran my thumb over the dark bags under her eyes.

“You’re not. You need rest and food. And I’m not leaving you alone until you get it.”

She studied me for a moment, deciding what to do. Finally, she said, “Why do you care?”

I veered back. “What?”

“Why do you care?” she repeated, her voice tired and quiet as she glanced again around us. People had started to lose interest in what we were doing, but she still looked wary.

“You didn’t care when I was starving at your pack house. Or when you sent me to sleep in a freezing cold room in the basement.

“Or when you left me to fend for myself while all of your pack members ignored and shunned me. Oh, and do I even have to mention the time you hit me so hard you broke my cheekbone?”

She laughed bitterly. “You don’t care about me, Grayson. You’re just trying to get on my good side so you can take me back to your pack and use me for power.

“I’m not falling for it. I don’t believe for a second that you don’t have some ulterior motive in all of this.”

Hearing about everything Azazel had put her through made my blood boil and my wolf surge forward, turning my eyes a deep black.

I was grateful the vampire side of me seemed to have better control of his emotions and chose to stay deep within me, worried about scaring our mate while she was in such a fragile state.

A loud growl reverberated from my chest before I could stop it. If the customers weren’t looking at us before, they definitely were now. All conversation ceased, leaving the diner in complete silence.

None of that mattered to me. They could look all they wanted. The only thing I cared about at that moment was how Belle’s expression turned from enraged to terrified in a matter of seconds.

I hadn’t meant to scare her. I just needed her to know that what I was about to say next was serious.

“I care because you’re mine,” I growled in a low tone. “And if you would let me explain what really happened back at my pack house, then you would know that.”

I gripped her waist, pulling her backside against my front. “You’re lucky I haven’t thrown you over my shoulder like a caveman and dragged you back home.

“Especially since I’ve had to watch you prance around in this little outfit all day, showing off skin in places only I’m allowed to see and wearing heels that make your legs look far too sexy for your own good.”

My hand drifted over the bottom of her skirt, lifting it up the tiniest bit. Her breath hitched when my fingers brushed the crease of her cute little ass, leaving delicious sparks behind.

She slapped my hand away, but it was a weak hit with no drive behind it. The corners of my lips turned up.

My mate was so stubborn, so strong-willed. It was one of the things I loved most about her. Even now, when I could so clearly smell her arousal clouding the air, she struggled against me.

Because she knew she deserved better. And she did. If I had really done all those things to her, I would hope she would run away from me and never look back.

But I hadn’t done any of those things, and her refusal to listen to what I had to say was doing more harm than good at this point.

“Grayson, please,” she begged, pushing on my chest. “People are looking. If my boss comes out and sees this, I could lose my job.”

“You think I care about whether or not you lose your job, baby?” I laughed.

“You getting fired would just be more of a reason for me to take you back to my pack with me, where I can provide for you and make sure you’re well taken care of.

You get that?

“It’s my job to take care of you. It’s what I’m doing right now. So you ~will~ sit down and take a break right now or so help me God—”

“Is there a problem here?” someone said behind us.

We both turned around, looking at Belle’s boss, who I knew was named Jerry based on the chatter I had overheard throughout the day.

I had also happened to overhear that he was secretly using the diner to launder drug money for some drug dealers.

It was fair to say I hated the man. And didn’t want him anywhere near my mate.

Even right now, he was too close to her for my liking.

Belle’s face brightened when she realized Jerry had been watching our interaction, and my automatic response was to pull her closer to me, wanting to comfort her.

It pleased me when she unconsciously leaned into me.

I stepped in front of her before she could say anything. I heard her huff with annoyance behind me but ignored it.

“Belle has been working for eleven hours straight,” I said. “She needs a break and will be taking it now.”

BELLE

My mouth fell open as I stared up at the back of Grayson’s head. I couldn’t believe he had just spoken to my boss like that! He seriously didn’t care if I got fired, did he?

I shoved at his shoulder, trying to get him to take a step forward so I could get out of the corner he had caged me in. Of course, he wouldn’t budge.

“I’m fine—” I started.

“And who exactly are you?” Jerry asked before I could continue. I could hear the challenge in his voice. Oh God, this was not good.

“I’m her… husband,” Grayson stated. “Belle is my wife.” He sounded far too pleased to be saying that.

“No,” I immediately disagreed, shoving at his back even harder. “You’re not—”

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