Page 46 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

“H-hi…” I murmur timidly, trying to keep the heat from spreading across my cheeks.

Stryker continues to maintain eye contact as if searching my soul for an answer.

He probably doesn’t understand why he opened his eyes this morning to find me gone. The awkward tension rising in the air is bittersweet as what happened between us looms over our shoulders.

I have so much to say, but I keep my lips pressed into a firm line and let the words dangle on the tip of my tongue.

Where would I begin?

I’ll just wait for Stryker to say something, but he seems to share my sentiments as he scans the library as if it’s his first time here.

In his nine hundred and ninety-five years alive, he’s probably been in this room more times than he cares to admit. If his keen eye in the Fresno Museum is any indication of his preference for the fine arts, I’m guessing he spent much of his time reading books. But right now,, he acts nonchalantly as he crosses the room to the window and gazes at the garden of brightly colored flowers.

“You’re up early this morning,” he remarks softly, crossing his arms and then unfolding them again. The tribal tattoo of a magnificent dragon swirling between accents of rainbow-colored smoke on his right arm reminds me of the way that same arm had me pinned to the bed when he took my virginity last night…

Gulping hard, I rummage through my mind full of sinful thoughts and images in an attempt to find a suitable response. All I can come up with is a tentative, “Y-yes.” before I gulp again and wait with bated breath for his next reply.

“Good.” He turns to me, his head hanging almost as bashfully as it did in my dream. “Would you like to join me for breakfast?” he asks.

I shake my head slowly, feeling a wave of regret washing over me and my fully sated belly. “Olivia and I already had breakfast. She insisted…” My voice falters off, and I can only hope he catches the feeble excuse as my form of apology.

It’s not that I wouldn’t have agreed to join him. But the build-up of resentment over the past few days that led to an unplanned bout of passion last night isn’t something either of us expected.

I only feel guilty because I’m not sure what my ancestors mean when they keep reminding me of some unknown destiny.

I need time to figure out what it means.

I need to speak to my grandmother, but I know it’s something that won’t sit well with Stryker. Not until he can trust me. Not until I can trust myself.

He clears his throat, turning back to the window. “I’m glad Olivia is taking good care of you…” he comments with a curt nod. “I—”

Stryker’s voice abruptly comes to a halt when a blaring screech outside rips through the air. His eyes widen, his shoulders squaring as he stares out and curls his fists at his sides. He’s quiet for a moment—too quiet until he turns petrified eyes in my direction.

The softness of emeralds turns almost jetted and glossy for a moment. When his eyes return to their usual glow, he seems to snap out of a daze and reaches out to me.

“You have to go now. I need to get you to safety,” he warns in a low, domineering tone.

Without protest, I slip my hand into his, glancing at the window to see a handful of dragons flying into the hemisphere of the Aurora Island sky.

My heart skips a beat when I recognize the leader of the group.

The same dragon picked me up from the alley and fought Stryker when he saved me.

Then it hits me.

Stryker did save me, after all.

Just as he does now, vying to protect me as he rushes me to the elevator.

Chapter 15 - Stryker

Taking Camilla’s hand and noting that she makes no protest when she spots the group of dragons infiltrating the Aurora Island’s protective dome shield, I’m relieved.

I thought she’d fight me.

Waking up this morning in her bed to find her missing, I thought she was still angry with me. Even after being intimate last night, I thought she regretted what happened and chose to leave my side.

But finding her in the Aurora Island library gave me hope. It seems she’s not opposed to learning about the dragon shifter species.

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