Page 172 of Bonding with the Beta

Right…he picked me up last night.

My heart races like a kid on their first roller coaster.

I flick my eyes over his resting face, seeing his lips slightly parted, and I resist the urge to raise my fingers and trace their outline. I brush a hand through my knotted hair and allow my gaze to dip down to his large bicep.

Yeah, something’s definitely changed.

“Quit admiring me,” he rasps, his voice deep and husky. “And come back and let me cuddle you.”

My mouth falls open as heat spreads across my neck. “I was?—”

“Shhh,” he says with his eyes closed. “Come here.”

My stomach muscles clench at those two simple words. I fold.

My back rests against the sheets as I turn to face him completely, creeping forward until his arms snake around my body, and he tugs me into his chest. His chin rests on top of my head as my lips press against the pulse in his neck.

Kayden cradles the back of my head and releases a satisfied sigh. My entire body tingles like I’ve been given an electric shock. I close my eyes for a moment and commit the memory of his arms into my brain permanently.

“How’s your head feeling?” he asks, rubbing his thumb against the back of my skull.

My head tilts up an inch. “Actually okay.”

“Good,” he whispers.

I open my eyes to look at him, and he tilts his head down, our noses brushing by a millimetre. He hums softly and smooths back my hair, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“I think I might be dreaming,” he says.

My brows crease. “What do you mean?”

“Because you have no idea how many times I’ve woken up with disappointment knowing that you’re not really there with me.” He swallows thickly.

I frown deeply. “I’m real.”

“I know, blondie.” He smiles and gives me a full view of those dimples.

My phone begins to chime its alarm, and I roll over to grab it.

“You didn’t set an alarm after a party.” Kayden rolls onto his back and presses his hands to his face. “That’s actually criminal.”

“I have therapy in an hour,” I admit.

His brown eyes soften as they gravitate to mine. “How’s that going?”

I hum. “Good.”

“Yeah?”

“Well,” I look up at the ceiling as his hand slips to my hip where he traces delicate shapes on my exposed flesh. “I supposeit’s good that I’m going, but it’s still tough. Especially the first time I went. I almost didn’t go because my anxiety was so bad, but I’m glad I did. It’s made me see life in a different light, and even though I’ve still got a long way to go, she’s given me coping mechanisms to take control of when my insecurities spiral.”

Kayden clears his throat. “What do you guys talk about?”

“Uh, my fears of being in a committed, healthy relationship, putting too much pressure on myself with my classes, the doubts and insecurities that followed after Josh cheated on me and how to learn to love myself,” I list slowly. “How I used to push people away to protect myself, being irrational and not thinking through my emotions first.”

“And it’s been helpful?”

I nod. “Yeah. It’s a long journey, but I already see progress.”

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