Page 102 of Bonding with the Beta

Kayden’s free hand runs up and down my back soothingly. “Submit the damn paper before you lose it again,” he says into my hair.

I nod furiously as I pull back and reach for the laptop before submitting it.

“I owe you big time.” I slump back onto my bed as he perches beside me.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

Kayden’s hand raises as he pushes back my hair gently. “I’m sorry you came all this way,” I whisper, “and I interrupted your sleep.”

“I’m not. It’s worth it to see you smile.”

My eyes flick between his, tears threatening to spill again. I lean forward and press a delicate kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Do you want to stay?”

Kayden’s dimples deepen as he smiles. “Sure.”

I change into my pyjamas as he strips out his clothes altogether until he’s in his boxers. We both slip under the covers, and he entwines our fingers together. I snuggle into his side. My lips graze his collarbones as I look up at him.

“Sometimes, I wonder what I do to deserve you coming into my life,” I admit.

Kayden presses a kiss on my forehead. “I wonder the same thing.”

We stare at each other for a long moment, and my body glows from the inside out at the way he looks at me.

“I wish you were in my life a long time ago. Everything would have been better.” I whisper.

“I’m in your life now,” he murmurs, fingers tracing my shoulder. “And I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

I close my eyes and exhale when contentment takes over my body.

“Get some sleep,” he says.

“Goodnight, Kayden.”

“Goodnight, blondie.”

32

KAYDEN

With Kayleigh snuggled so tightly into my chest, holding onto me like her life depends on it, I smile as I brush back a few strands of hair from her forehead.

She slept like a baby. Not moving once. We stayed like this all night, which is normally a myth. But I didn’t want to change a thing.

It’s clear as day she hasn’t been sleeping and her workload has taken over.

Kayleigh stirs in my arms and stretches out before cracking open her eyes. Those circles are still there, but I cannot mistake the instant smile on her lips. That eight-hour sleep definitely did her good.

“Hi,” she murmurs, pushing her knotty hair away from her face.

“Morning,” I whisper.

Her fingers become caught in her hair, and she scowls. “I’m going to take a shower,” she says as she reluctantly hops out of bed. “I hate to admit this, but I probably stink.”

“Yeah.” I grin and twist onto my side, propping my head on my hand. “Maybe a little.”

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