Chapter 94

BELLE

After spending a very steamy rest of the morning in bed, Grayson insisted that we get something to cat even though all I wanted to do was rest.

I was finally starting to feel like I had some of my energy back after being with Grayson for so long, but I was still extremely exhausted.

I guess being away from your other half for three months really could take it out of a person.

We were standing in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing our teeth, Grayson behind me with one arm wrapped around my waist.

He was being completely crazy with his constant need to be touching me or freaking licking—yes, licking my mark. And as much as I would have never admitted it to him, I kind of loved it.

I needed his touch just as much as he needed to give it to me.

Once we were done with our teeth, I grabbed Grayson’s wrist and looked down at the watch on his

wrist.

“I have two hours before my shift at the diner starts,” I told him. “I have to go back to my apartment and grab a new uniform before heading out.”

Just as expected, his entire body stiffened behind me, his grip on my waist tightening. “No,” he grunted. “Absolutely not.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not quitting my job, Grayson. I know you want me to, but it’s not going to happen.”

“Actually, it is happening. Today. You are never going back there ever again.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

I tried to slither out of his grip, but he flipped me around so my lower back was to the counter behind me, and my front was pressed flush against his chest.

“They treat you like shit there, and I’ll be damned if I let my mate out of my arms for a single second today to work a job where they don’t care the slightest about her health or well–being.

“They worked you to the bone, baby. Your boss is a jackass and a drug dealer, and I’m not letting you anywhere near him again.”

Chapter 32 of 59: Chapter 32

Emergency calls only

MO

*家四22% 12:39

“What are you even talking about? A drug dealer?”

“He’s using his diner to launder drug money. He’s not a good person. And he takes advantage of

you.

I’m not going to stand for it, you understand? Not anymore.

“Not now that you know the truth, and I just got you back.”

The news about Jerry didn’t surprise me. He was always acting sketchy around the diner and was extremely weird about money.

I opened my mouth to continue arguing, but Grayson kissed my lips before I could. I slumped into him as he happily took my weight.

“Just give me today, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “Please. We’ll figure this all out some other time, but I think I am physically incapable of sitting and watching you work again today.

“I need you here where I can keep you safe and help you heal. Please, Belle.”

There was something about his pleading tone that made it impossible to say no to him. “Okay,” I finally said, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “Just for today, though.”

“Fine,” Grayson agreed, although he didn’t seem happy about it. “We’ll talk about it later.”

Without warning, his hands traveled down to my butt, and he swiftly lifted me onto the counter.

I gasped. “What are you doing?”

His eyes locked on my lips. “Need to kiss you.”

Before I could respond, his lips were on mine, coaxing me into a deep, passionate kiss.

I pulled away.

Grayson growled. “Not done,” he said, trying to pull me back to him.

I giggled. “Don’t we have things to do today? We spent all morning in bed doing basically this.”

“Nothing that is more important than this. I’m making up for lost time.”

Someone began violently banging on the door, shocking us both out of our intimate moment.

“Belle!” a voice shouted on the other side of the door. “Belle!”

Grayson growled under his breath, pulling me to him by my hips so I was flush against him. His

Chapter 32 of 59: Chapter 32

34%

Emergency calls only

$021% 12:39

“It’s Liam!” I said, recognizing his voice. I tried to jump off the counter I was sitting on, but Grayson’s huge body blocked me. “Grayson, what are you doing? Let me go! I have to go talk to

him.”

“No,” Grayson grunted in response.

“No?” I repeated, shocked.

“No.”

I scoffed, pushing at his chest again. He didn’t budge. “You have no right to tell me what to do.” I shoved at his shoulders, trying to get him to move but to no avail.

I was even more infuriated when Grayson grabbed both my wrists with a single hand, completely preventing my movements and ignoring my cries of protest.

Then he leaned down and gently nipped at my mark. I couldn’t help my body’s reaction as I melted. against him, letting him take the weight of my upper half in his arms,

“Belle!” Liam continued to shout. The door’s handle began to shake violently. “I know you’re in there! My dad owns the hotel, so I can get a key card real casy!”

Without saying a word, Grayson lifted me into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as if I were a child, and carried me into the bedroom, where he dropped me unceremoniously on the bed.

I could feel Grayson’s muscles as he moved away from me. “Stay here,” he said, leaving a lingering kiss on my forehead.

He took a step back, obviously planning on leaving me there on my own. I immediately jumped to my feet.

Grayson’s eyes snapped to me as I followed him. “What did I just say?” he asked, his voice sounding like gravel.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “What did I just say? Stop telling me what to do.”

His nostrils flared. “I will not have you anywhere near that vampire until I know what it is that he

wants.

“Do not test my wolf right now because it will not be you who will have to deal with the consequences. It’ll be him. So stay. Here.”

I knew I had no other option than to do as he told me. I watched him march away from me, noting that the width of his chest was slightly bigger than normal. his wolf trying to take over. Chapter 32 of 59: Chapter 32

Emergency calls only MO

021% 12:40

The banging on the door increased. Liam was getting impatient. I had no doubt the door would come crashing down at any moment.

“Grayson!” I called after him. He looked back at me, breathing deeply. “Don’t hurt him.”

His fingers curled into his palms, his dark brows slashing together. He studied me for several seconds, obviously struggling with my request.

“I won’t hurt him unless he gives me a reason to. Stay quiet, and everything should be fine,” he finally responded, his voice jagged and deep. He turned, and in a flash, I was alone in the room.

I heard Grayson opening the door outside the room.

“Where the hell is she?” Liam demanded, his angry footsteps entering the hotel suite. “What did you do with her? I can smell her, so I know she’s here. Belle! Belle, where are you?”

“You will not refer to my mate by her first name, vampire,” Grayson snarled.

My fingernails dug into the marble countertop as I listened, forcing myself to stay where I was so I didn’t endanger Liam. Why did Grayson have to be so abrupt with him and rude?

There was no way Liam was going to respond well to that.

“I’ll call her whatever the fuck I want because she’s my friend, and I’m the one who has been taking care of her.

“Where the hell have you been over the last few months when she wasn’t eating, sleeping, or barely even functioning, huh?

“What about when she had nowhere to live or when I found her sobbing in pain in the rain because of what you did to her?

“You call yourself her mate, but then go ahead and let her suffer, you fucking jackass.”

Uh oh.

I didn’t even have to be in the room to know that a fight had broken out. I could hear it.

Great. Just great.