Page 16 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

The painting appears to be more interesting than I am.

“If you say so, Sir,” she murmurs with a dismissive shrug, her gaze fixed on the painting.

I’m going to have to work harder at this.

Gods, help me…

“It’s not,Sir,”I tease with a chuckle. “My name is Stry—Sterling.” Good gods! What was that?

Has the human disarmed me without trying? I’ve never been one to trip over my words or mess up an operation as important as this one.

Her cheeks fill with a hint of color, her lips lifting into a shy smile.

Good. We’re making progress.

“Sterling,” she repeats with a curt nod, only briefly flicking her eyes to me before checking the time on the thin wristwatch on her arm. “Excuse me, but my next group will be here.”

“Of course,” I assured, stepping aside and bowing as I stretched out an arm. “Thank you for the tour, Camilla.”

She bows curtly in response before leaving down the corridor, leaving me stunned.

Perhaps she isn’t as observant as I thought she was, considering that she knows every detail about the artworks displayed in the museum.

She doesn’t seem to notice that I know her first name, or that I’m trying to flirt with her.

In hindsight, she doesn’t know everything, I muse as I glance at the painting of Aurora Island and chuckle under my breath.

One day, I’ll tell her who the real artist behind that painting is.

She’ll be Camilla’s sister soon.

***

Tapping my foot on the bedroom's plush carpet in the best hotel that Fresno has to offer, it’s not comfort and ease I feel.

Instead, the four lavish walls of the hotel room feel as if they’re closing in around me, and my patience is hanging by a thin thread.

I could have been distracting myself with other measly feats in the mortal world if it wasn’t for Stryder’s antics that landed us in trouble in the first place. The other parts of California aren’t exactly safe, considering that it’s too close to the villa where he’d revealed his dragon identity to the group of criminals when he took them down on his mate, Olivia’s behalf.

Cut from the same cloth, I think sarcastically as I drag myself to the balcony for some fresh air.

The Vulkan brothers have all found their mates within close radius of each other. I can’t risk showing my face to the world in case anyone recognizes me from those sketches of Stryder that made the news a few months ago. At least not until the Council has decided to proceed with their plan to reveal our existence to the rest of the world.

When the crisp air greets my face, I realize how misplaced my irritation is. It’s not that I’m suffering from the fear of missing out on what’s out there in the world.

I could be anywhere in the world right now. Draco’s villa in Italy, or Felix’s farm in Greece. I just don’t want to be anywhere else.

I want to be close to Camilla, breathing the same air as her.

I’m just suffering from the withdrawal of being away from Camilla. It’s only been a few hours, and I can’t seem to get her out of my mind.

Running a hand through my hair, I take my phone out and stare at her number on the dialing screen.

In all the time I spent keeping a watchful eye on Camilla, I didn’t realize that I was soaking in her existence and becoming addicted to how it felt being around her. Now that I’ve spoken to her just a little bit, and have her number saved on my phone, I can’t help but wonder where she is, what she’s doing, and if she’s safe.

I guess this is the part I didn’t anticipate—being consumed by the very thought of her, unable to think straight, let alone do anything to keep my mind occupied and my time filled.

All I want to do is be around her as if my inner dragon is compelling me to do the unthinkable when I hit the “dial” button on the screen and press my phone to my ear. The dull ache in my chest is soothed the moment she answers, her tooth-achingly sweet voice dripping through the speaker and quelling my craving for her.

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